Oh, how I love the ocean!

While we were in Washington, we took an over-night trip to Westport and Ocean Shores with Grandma, Aunt Elizabeth, cousins Devon and Brandon, and Uncle Aaron and family. We wanted to go to Forks 'cause they're supposed to have the best shells, but because of that silly vampire series, there was not a hotel to be found. Next time we'll plan ahead and go to Forks, and the rainforest.

One of my favorite parts of visiting Washington is all the water! Todd's mom lives near Silverdale (see map above) and it seems like every park we've visited has water access. It is so different from Utah...

Here is a picture of Brayden, Caleb, my neice Makensie, Dillon, and Todd waiting for the fishing boats to come in at Westport. While we were there we got freshly made salt water taffy (they had every flavor you could imagine from pomegranate to mint oreo), and of course we had seafood for lunch. I had deep-fried breaded salmon. I'll admit that I wasn't too thrilled that so much of the menu was deep-fried, but I have been CRAVING this salmon ever since. I want to drive back to Westport just for another taste. Really. I wonder if Barbara's by the sea will deliver to the middle of nowhere Utah...

The rest of these pictures are out of order, but I'm too lazy to fix them. After Westport, we drove to Ocean Shores where we had a quick dinner at "McDonald's by the sea", played on the shore for an hour, and watched the sunset. We stayed in an inky-dinky motel that had a few "issues" but I thought it was perfect. Food, family, and fun.

Dillon had a great time in "the world's biggest sandbox" and couldn't have cared less that there was water nearby. He played in the sand all day.

"Us older kids" spent our day knee-deep in the ocean searching for unbroken sand dollars. Our goal was to collect 25, but I know we found more. The water was a bit chilly, but once you couldn't feel your feet anymore it was just fine :o)

Here I am, flapping at the seagulls. We "kids" figured out that if we stuck a handful of wheat thins in various locations around one of our sandcastles, and then backed up and waited a minute, we could gather quite a crowd of seagulls. Then we'd count to three and take off chasing them. It was GREAT fun until Grandma discovered where all her wheat thins were going and killed the fun. ;o)

I love memories like this. The whole family sitting around in the inky-dinky motel, enjoying McDonald's by the sea, and letting our true colors shine. I don't remember what Uncle Aaron was saying, but it looks like it was important. (I took a similar picture a minute later, and Grandma had her finger up just like Aaron. I love it.)
Here is the sunset at the beach. There were cars lined along the shore waiting for this, and we got through the drive-thru and back to the beach just in time to enjoy.
Did I mention I love the ocean?