Steele 2.9, Adia 1.5

We arrived home from vacation with the latest and greatest updated versions of our children. Wow! We should have updated a long time ago! Version 2.9 now goes to the bathroom on his own. Version 1.5 is walkin', walkin', walkin'.

Along with these two exciting milestones we also had a really nice vacation. I got sick about two days into it. Fortunately I didn't feel really miserable at first, I just didn't have much of a voice. And actually, as sicknesses go, it wasn't that bad. There was only one day that Adia and I stayed home while everyone else went to the beach. But between you and me... I kind of liked having a little peace and quiet for the day.

The weather wasn't great - but that wasn't unexpected. We tried to take advantage of the sunny moments when they arrived. We stayed at the Yachats Inn in their "luxury suites." I don't know how "luxurious" they are - but they have a great off-season deal that we've taken advantage of two years in a row. (although now that Lisa told me she stays at the Shamrock Lodgettes I'm dreaming of them - they're right next door to the Inn) It was most fun to be just a few doors down from my parents' unit. Abbey and Gabe do a great job at occupying Steele - he has way more fun when they're around. And Gabe keeps a watchful eye out for Steele (more on that in a moment).

My mom and I planned several meals that we all shared. One night everyone piled into our unit and watched Enchanted. I think even my grandma enjoyed it. We took a couple day trips - one to Newport where we visited the aquarium, Mo's, the waterfront and Rogue brewery. Here's a little tip about Mo's in Newport though. If you want some good seafood don't go to Mo's Annex. We chose the Annex over the original location as it's a little more kid friendly but they have a completely different menu. I mean, they don't even have a deep fryer!! Which means no fish and chips! What Mo's doesn't have fish and chips for cryin' out loud??? My favorite Mo's by far so far has been the Mo's in Cannon Beach. It is literally right on the beach and there's a park next door so you can go play on the beach after you eat. The service was far and above the service we received in Newport (I think the girls in Newport needed a little more sun or something) and the atmosphere was light-hearted.

We took another day trip down to Florence where we spent WAY too long at the Safeway picking out soda to go with our Subway sandwiches and the cutie-est little downs syndrome courtesy clerk said to me, "Hey! How are you?? Long time no see!!". I didn't have the heart to tell him, "no time no see" - he was just too cute and excited to see me. Then we headed down to historic Florence and shopped. I really prefer Florence as far as shopping goes. While they do have some of the usual touristy/beachy type stores - they also have some really nice other shops that are fun. One of our favorites is the Funky Monkey toy shop. The owner there actually gave us a bunch of free stuff to go along with the stuff we bought! I bought a Putumayo kids cds and he gave me two full length demo cd's he had. Abbey and Gabe bought some toys that he was afraid might malfunction so he gave them each a free toy as well. Pretty cool. I also bought myself some new black shoes (per Kate's advice) at On Your Feet and peeked in to the Mother May I childrens' shop which is always fun (sorry, no web sites for those). Justin bought some Mexican Coffee at the Siuslaw River Coffee Roasters store that he loved from last year. And of course we headed down to the sand dunes where we ate our sandwiches and salt n' vinegar chips and played for a while.

We also had our first 'freaked out parent' moment while we were away. I think we were doing pretty well with none in 3 whole years but this was enough to make up for a few. We were all in my parents' unit getting dinner ready and Justin went back to our place to get something. I remember Steele asking me where papa was and the next thing I knew, Justin was back and Gabe was asking where Steele was. We quickly scanned the rooms and Steele was no where to be found. So I grabbed somebody's shoes that were too big and falling off my feet (who knows why since my slip-on shoes were right next to them) and headed out the door, down the concrete stairs and ran to where I hoped Steele might be.... west toward the ocean and not east 10 or so yards away where Highway 101 lay. Fortunately it only took a moment before I saw and heard Steele standing near our van crying and screaming "Papa! Papa! Papa!" He was so frightened that he couldn't find his papa. Heart pounding, I scooped him up into my arms (with Justin close behind me) and took him back to my parents' where we disciplined him and explained why he must never go anywhere without his mama and papa. I think the whole bunch of us were crying afterwards as we realized all that God had protected little Steele from. Fortunately I'm not the type of person to dwell on "what-ifs" - my grandma does that enough for all of us. In fact, she reminded me of it again just this Wednesday. Aren't grandma's great for that sort of thing?

I realize this is getting long... (and I haven't even included pictures yet!) so I'll wrap it up by saying that my mom and I have already started planning for next year. Even though Yachats holds a special place in our hearts we're thinking someplace a little further north (a comfortable day's drive) might be nice. We'd really love to get one house for all of us to share. I can't wait.

Our van was fully loaded.


Steele with all his favorite things: a guitar, frogger,
the chief's car and... a newspaper?
This is also the bed in which my 80 something year old great aunt Ginny found my underwear after we left...
yah. um. moving on....


"Groompa" Charlie reading to the kids.


Adia Moon doing push-ups like Papa.


I love that Uncle Gabe and Steele have such a special relationship.


This rain cap was way more fashionable than the
plastic grocery bag my grandma used on her head last year.



I love this picture of Gabe for some reason.


Justin always takes such joy in our children.


Before bed on the way home we were cracking up at Adia peeking out and saying "hi!" to my grandma from the bedroom.


I think this girls' beautiful...