Part 2 @ Gleneden Beach, Oregon

1/2 way during the vacation we drove down to Gleneden Beach which is just a few miles south of Lincoln City. For a year now I've wanted to do what I did in the next several pictures. The ovens are extreemly hot, over 2000 degrees. I also learned blowing the air into the tube when they say gentle is key to making a circular float. Mine turned out a little like a hot air balloon shape.

I decided that when ever we go down to the Lincoln City area I want to make another one. Maybe over time I'll learn to make a round one.
This was our view. Isn't it beautiful? We were very happy because not everyone at this resort gets a view of the ocean. We like this area better than Seaside. It was way less crowded.

We drove farther south around Newport and explored more tide pools. This tide pool area had different things than the last one we went to. See some of them...

(BTW if you want to see the picture larger just click on it and it should get bigger.)

Tons of muscles.

More hermit crabs.

This poor Starfish was half buried. I hope it got free when the tide came back.

Do you see the pretty pink corral and the purple Sea Urchins?

There were seals in the Ocean playing. Do you see the tail in the water? It was funny because quite a few of them were just bobbing up and down in the water watching us watch them.

These Seals have the same idea of a vacation that my daughter Rachel has. Which is laying back relaxing and enjoying the suns rays on her.

Do you remember on the last post when I said I was glad I didn't hold the Hermit crab after all? They look like spiders that breath under water.

I saw Michael sitting up on this rock and had to get a picture. What do you think? I even got the waves splashing up on the rock.

Above the tide pools their was a lighthouse. We toured the lighthouse also.

Looking down the lighthouse stairs. We found out that Jill is afraid of heights. Do you see her on the far right of the picture? She wouldn't get close to the edge. Poor girl.

We walked the beach behind the condo to see what we could find. We found pretty rocks, agates and Michael and Jill was literally combing the sand to find these really tiny shells.

WOW! DO YOU SEE WHAT I FOUND???

NOT!!! Gotcha... This is the glass float I made at the beginning of the post.
The week was fun, glad we went and we will be going back. It was nice to get to know Jill better,we like her and for those of you who know what I'm talking about... Michael is Edward.:)

The Beach at Seaside Oregon

Larry, Michael, Jill (Michael's girlfriend) and I went to the Oregon coast last week. The first part of the week we were at Seaside Oregon and the 2nd part we were at Gleneden Beach, Oregon. I want to share quite a few pictures so I'm posting this in two seperate post.
Seaside, Oregon
We arrived at Seaside after stopping in Portland at the Deseret Book store of course. The resort at Seaside is 8 stories high and we were on the 3rd floor. The view wasn't all that great but they are nice rooms.
These pictures show some of the things that we did in Seaside.
We drove to Long Beach Washington to attend the kite festival. It started raining after we got there and it was cold so not very many kites were flying but it was still cool.

This is just a silly picture posted for the grand kids.

See how wet I am. Needless to say we didn't stay long.

We drove down the road to Cannon Beach and went to a tide pool at Indian Beach. Their was some neat things to see.

Larry and Michael went farther into the Ocean then Jill or I wanted to go. It makes me nervous on not knowing how fast the tide comes back. I wouldn't want to get stranded. Or them for that matter. Michael trust his dad that he wouldn't lead him somewhere unsafe.

On the other side of the beach were some more tidepools and these weren't getting covered up as fast. Look at the fun things we found in them.
Michael and Jill exploring.

A baby crab. Isn't Papa J brave?

The bigger crabs were fast and would hide.

Papa J holding a Hermit crab. I wanted to hold one but didn't and I'm glad I didn't. The next post will have a picture of Hermit Crabs without their homes. Stay tuned.

Can you see the lighthouse out in the Ocean? I really like to look at lighthouses.
They stand lighting the way for Seaman to know where they are and their boundries. It reminds me of Jesus and how He lights the way and helps us to know where our path should be so we don't get lost.

As I told you we went to other side of the beach and Larry and Michael couldn't help themselves they had to see what was on the other side of the jutted out land. It took forever for them to get back. They wanted to see if they could find a glass float and had to wait for the water to go out so they could make their way back in short increments.

Larry and Michael skim boarded a little. I should say Michael skim boarded and Larry tried. I didn't try but Jill gave it one shot. Someone has to take the pictures you know.

These are the pictures from Seaside I'm sharing. Of course Larry and I got in a golf game. Jill and Michael shopped and looked for shells. We all went to a movie. Seaside is a busy place with lots of people. It was fun though and I'll post the next stop of our vacation tomorrow hopefully.

Larry's family campout reunion

Recently we attended Larry's family's family reunion at Wapato Lake which is by Lake Chelan, WA. This is the second year we went to this particular campground. It's interesting because two family members have posted this event already on their blogs and the post are each tailored to the individual family's highlights. Here are the pictures I'm sharing...

Larry and I like to go up a day early so we can spend some individual family time, which is usually a golf game. Larry's niece Chantal went up early also to help Grandpa drive and so we took her golfing with us. She had not been on a golf course before and so she was checking out the putting green grass. She was getting the "swing" of things by the end of the round.

Great Grandpa borrowed a boat from a niece and her husband that had some glitches at the beginning so it broke down and Larry and David were rowing it back. Sean and Michael were pushing the boat with Rachel and Mae encouraging them all along.

The kids were having fun floating on the tubes. They didn't need to be behind the boat for them.

Bocci anyone? Several games of Bocci were played. Take note of Misty in the back ground reading. She is reading Breaking Dawn. We went to the book release party in Chelan right before midnight the night before. Misty, Rachel and I were reading the book off and on all day Saturday. It was hard to put down. We all enjoyed the book.

Mae trying to escape the play pen.

I thought this was a nice picture of Clara and Misty.

Their is a tradition in our family that Michael isn't fond of but it just feels like it's part of what needs to happen when ever Rachel is around Michael in the mornings.
Before we even got to the Camp ground - before Rachel even showed up. Michael asked me to not let Rachel come in and wake him up. Saturday morning he was in the clear but come Sunday morning Rachel said "oh I have to go wake up Michael" and instead of stopping her I ran to get my camera. Yes, she proceeded to jump on Michael and get in his face to wake him up. He's pretty good at ignoring her by now.

Like mother like daughter. Pestering must me a learned skill.

Recipe for Rachel's Yuppie Smothered Burritos

I tried to recreate the Smothered Burritos that Rachel made Larry and I a few weeks ago. They were really good if I do say so myself. Rachel didn't have a name for them she said to call them Smothered Burrito's. So as Michael was eating them Matt said they were good and natural. Michael said so you mean Yuppie? and that's why we have named them Rachel's Yuppie Smothered Burritos's. Here are the pictures Rach. How did I do?
Instead of grilling up chicken we had a roasted chicken from Costco that I used.

-Can of Black Beans drained
-Cooked Rice
-Grilled Chicken, Steak or Pork seasoned with your favorite taco or fajita seasoning. I used a roasted chicken from Costco that I shredded. I sauted the veggies, then added the shredded chicken and seasoned it all with the taco seasoning. I then heated it through.
-Mexican Hot Sauce
-Chopped and saute the veggies in the same seasoning you used for the meat. (your choice of veggies...yellow, red or green peppers, Onions, Zucchini, carrots or whatever you want to saute and have in your burritos. I used red and yellow peppers, zucchini and onions.
-Sliced olives
-Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
-Shredded Chedder Cheese
-Large Burrito Tortilla Shells
-Red Enchilada and/or Green Enchilada Sauce

Assemble the burritos with all of the above ingredients to your taste. Pour the enchilada sauce inside. Fold the burrito how you like and pour sauce on top. Sprinkle with more cheese.
These are Rachel's actual words...
Cook @ 500 degrees for a while (watch it) until bubbly and then turn on the broiler and make the top crispy (again watch it).
Enjoy, they are yummy!

Before cooking.

 After cooking

They were a hit Rachel so thank you for sharing!

-I found a taco seasoning online that I like that I make here at home to use in this and our tacos. Here it is in case you want it.
1 tbl chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder (or dried onion flakes)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes or 1/4 tsp ground chipotle chili pepper
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

In a small bowl, mix it all together and store in an airtight container.
Use 2 1/2 tbl for 1 pd. ground beef.