Volcanoes and Beaches

We just spent a fun (and hot) week on vacation. 

 

We spent two nights camping near Mt. St. Helens.  It was HOT, but we found a great swimming hole in the Toutle River to cool off at each evening.  We learned a lot about the volcano and its eruption in 1980.  Even though she was a little over 200 miles away, Mom can still remember the incredibly loud boom and the windows shaking in her house when the mountain erupted.  Therefore, of the many things we learned, Mom was most amazed that people who lived within a 50 mile radius of the mountain did not hear the eruption at all because of the manner in which the sound waves traveled. 

 

We hiked up to the Johnston Ridge Observatory.

I was so busy catching a beetle at the observatory that I was somewhat oblivious to the amazing view in front of me.

Driving a helicopter.

This is one happy pilot!

You know it's a good camping trip when you eat breakfast in your bike helmets!

We were surprised to find the Ackersons at our campsite when we returned home from swimming on the second evening.  They had been backpacking up at the mountain, and had been driven out by the mosquitoes.  (There were LOTS of them!)  We were so glad they found us.  Elsa brought her hammock, which we all had fun playing in.

 

We spent the next night at Cape Lookout State Park in Oregon.  The weather and the beach were perfect.

It's hard to leave the beach on a night like this.

The next day we hiked at Cape Lookout.  These two hikers were delightful for the entire 5.2 mile trip.

 

These two hikers were delightful, too! :)

What a view!  Don't let the pack trick you.  Nathan hiked all but the last three minutes of the hike to the viewpoint.

 The locals.

 

Back at the beach for more play time before packing up to go to Rockaway Beach.

 

We met three of Mom and Aunt Katy's friends and their families in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, for three days of fun.  These ladies have been Mom's closest friends for nearly 25 years and it is always so fun to spend time with them.  We were missing Dani, Mary, and Nicole, but we thought about them often!

 

Happy birthday, Uncle Sam!  We watched a great 4th of July parade and got lots of candy.  (Holden, Nathan, Evan, Elsa, Emma, and Abby.)

 

 Beautiful morning on the beach.  (Uncle Joe, Aunt Katy, Josh, Lily, and Daddy.)

 

 Love the sun!  (L to R: Evan, Nathan, Lily, Josh, Abby, Emma, Aunt Katy.)

All the kiddos: Elsa, Holden, Lily, Evan, Kate, Abby, Karen, Emma, and Nathan.

Waiting for darkness (and the fireworks).  (L to R: Daddy, Josh, Nathan, Lily, Emma, Karen, Abby, Holden.)

 

A walk for all the ladies and some of the kids before the fireworks.  (L to R; Rachel, Evan, Mom, Nathan, Megan, Karen, Janie, Lily, Aunt Katy, Elsa.)

The show is about to begin!  We had a lot of fun making up songs for the fireworks.  (L to R: Abby, Emma, Evan, Josh, Lily, Elsa, Janie.)

 

 Evan, Elsa, and Holden playing in the pits that were all over the beach on the 5th of July.  This provided two more days of fun!

We treasure the memories that we made this week.  We can't wait for the next trip when Nicole, Dani, Mary, and their families can join us!