Bikes + Sand + Smores = Kid Bliss

Fort Stevens State Park in Oregon is a place for kid bliss.  Great beaches (which mean sand castles and kites in Oregon, not swimming), safe biking trails, camp fires, smores and the freedom to get and stay d-i-r-t-y.  This year we got another great cabin, stayed for 5 nights, and overlapped our trip with 6 other moms I know + their kids ranging in ages from 3-14.  (Three dads were able to make it each for short stays, Mike came for Friday - Sunday.)  Second year running and it ranks as one of the best vacation stops ever (you know, on the Stephanie Charts).  The hardest part is packing, and I have a list for that, if you want it just ask.

kids at the shipwrecked Peter Iredale

flying a kite the relaxing way

this is what grown ups do on the Oregon coast = sit in warm sand

group meals here and there

Happy Birthday Mike!

Mike turned old -- OK, older -- while in Fort Stevens. We put up some decorations around the camp fire and had a lovely day.

 

 

A birthday portrait, Mike at 37.

Enchanted Forest

Each summer we head for a day in the Enchanted Forest (near Salem).  Home grown in Oregon, this is what Walt's park would have looked like if he hadn't had a massive bankroll and an empire building genius for a brother.  Storybook Lane and the Indian Caves just can't be any place but here.  We love Disney, but this is fun too.

the Witch's head on Storybook Lane

the Old Woman and her shoe turn giant slide on Storybook Lane

generally very fun

surprisingly funny theater

Wisconsin = Cousins! Cousins! Cousins!

This year's trip to Wisconsin to see the St. Clair side of the family was a little shorter than usual, and probably meets the standard of whirlwind.  Not enough family time on any visit, but we did our best to soak up some cousin time.


the lot of us

Cousins in the car,

Cousins up a tree,

Cousins in the bed,

Cousins on the dock,

Cousins in a boat,

A concert with once-removed cousins

And cousins watching the Mars launch

 

Two Weeks in a Prius

Our people are equally divided between the camps that expected us to take the Prius on the road trip (because of its gas mileage) and those that can't believe we lived out of a tiny Prius for two weeks.  Two weeks in a Prius looks like this.


driving

room for: 2 bags for food, 1 bag for food gear, 1 bag for life gear, 1 bag for toiletries, 2 gallons water, 1 bottle laundry soap, snow clothes in tire well, 5 days change clothes per person in soft luggage, 1 small cooler

extra shoes under backs of seats, pillows, bag for snacks, toys, laptop