Sunday, August 15, 2010
Dear Max
Today we drove up to Astoria. I'll tell you all about that in one minute, one thing I forgot to tell you about is our 12 passenger van we've been sporting. Driving a 12 passenger van in Oregon is a bit controversial, you see Oregon is very "green" and our 12 passenger van is not. I wanted to make a sign to put on the back window that said, our other car is a Prius to help with the dirty looks, but that would have just been a lie. Daddy and I drive the farthest things from a Prius. But we all fit so nicely and it was loads of fun to be in the car all together. Maybe that's why we were getting dirty looks from passer by's? With such a big vehicle we had plenty of room and could have even added 3 more to the crowd, you know, now that I think about it, it was mainly the hitchhikers on the side of the road that were giving us the stink eye, they were just mad that we weren't stopping to pick them up in our big rig! It worked perfectly, and we did have room for the hitchhikers and others, when we picked up Elder Cox and Elder Wilde it was so nice, cause they could just jump in our big rig and drive with us. As a matter of a fact, when we all started loading out at Outback for dinner, Elder Wilde looked around and said,
"was she in the van with us" pointing to Natalie.
"Yes" We replied.
"Oh? I didn't even see her in the Van!" Elder Wilde was so confused.
Now, that's a Vehicle! You by far had the best seat in the house. Your car seat on the first row in the center, you had a clear view of the open road.
Now on with our adventure to Astoria. Tobin and Chi came along with us in our 12 passenger van. It was family vacation road trip all over again!
Oh - Daddy dressed you today
Our first stop was at Fort Clatsop the final stop of Lewis and Clark as they explored America.
They have a whole replica of the living quarters that Lewis and Clark built.
One of the park rangers showing Daniel how to use the grip sander
Brother Cousin Daniel (that is how Daniel describes who he is to you).
Our family on the walk down to the river bank to see the canoe's that Lewis and Clark built
Aunt Jali with Sacagawea, we should have strapped baby Natalie on her back too.
The river bank
Mommy, you and Daniel at the fort
The Canoe
Our next stop was the city of Astoria. The ONE reason we came to Astoria, to see the Goonies house. This is legendary! The Goonies is a movie that your Daddy and I grew up with. You will for sure see it in your lifetime and I think you will appreciate it as much as Daddy and I did. We were so excited to explore this little city and see all the landmarks from the movie, but we rolled into town at lunch time and a band wagon of 11 people wouldn't wait on lunch. So the first stop... FOOD.
We tried to eat these... but you had to buy them and take them home to cook.
So we ended up eating here...And you'll never believe who we met? Yup, this boy LIVES IN THE GOONIE HOUSE!!! What are the odds that we would run into the boy you LIVES IN THE GOONIE HOUSE! He told us all about his life growing up in the Goonie House. About how they would watch the movie in the house it was filmed in. How unbelievable is that? Exactly, it is completely unbelievable. After we got sucked into his web of lies, when we went to see the house we ended up meeting the actual owners, and let's just say this boy, he totally got us! Oh well, makes for a fun memory!
We had a great lunch, I got to share your adoption story with Tobin and Chi. This was their first time meeting you and had not got the FULL story in person, so were thrilled to listen, and I have to say it was so nice to tell it again. I like telling your story and remembering back to the emotions of that time.
So our belly's were full, so it was time to start our Astoria tour of The Goonies!
Opening Scene of movie... Were the Fratellis are breaking the brother out of Jail.
Here we are... At the house. It is up a hill, so the REAL owners ask that you park down below and walk up to help with traffic.
Their it is!
And here is the view from the house. I want to live there!
Next stop, the Astoria tower.
Daddy was a big trooper and went clear to the top with his wooden glider plans and threw them off so you could watch.
Daddy's view from the top, can you spot our 12 passenger van. It's the white one on the end!
We then took the bridge over to Washington to see some lighthouses.
Talk about the road that leads you into the water. Once over in Washington we went to see a lighthouse. I didn't have my camera with me (I'll have to get the pictures from Uncle Geary and Aunt Jali) but on our visit to the light house we saw a whale in the ocean. I couldn't believe it! I can't tell you how many times I've paid money to go on a whale watching cruise and never seen a whale, but here when I least expected it (didn't even have my camera) we spot a whale in the ocean. It was so cool. The other sad part, was many of the 11 passengers in the 12 passenger van had fallen asleep, so it was only Uncle Geary, Aunt Jali, Tobin and I that made the adventure down to the light house and got to see the whale.
We enjoyed a quiet trip back to to Cannon Beach, Tobin and Chi headed back to Salem and our family headed over to Mo's for some Clam Chowder (your favorite!) and then for a late night walk on the beach. Great way to end our day!
