Oregon Coast Aquarium

While we were in Oregon (a month ago now, I know...), we went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport.  We found a coupon for admission here, and if you know me, you know I love something even more if I got a good deal.  There were so many fun and awesome things to see.

After the aquarium, we went to the old historic bayfront of Newport.  We went to Rogue Ales Public House for dinner, then got some Tillamook ice cream and found the sea lions.  Well, one sea lion, anyway.

Yes, this was the best group shot we got.  

The Tortoise and the Hare

A couple of months ago, my dad asked if I had any epic plans for costumes for the girls.  I admitted than I did not.  He suggested that Elaina would make a good little turtle, since she was almost crawling at that point.  I loved the idea, and decided that Chloë and her high energy levels would make a perfect hare.  And so the idea of Tortoise and Hare was born.  My mom found a stuffed rabbit at Goodwill, so I washed it, cut it into pieces and made Chloë's costume.  My dad worked some magic by shaping a tortoise shell out of good ol' paper-mache, we sewed on one of my old belts, and my mom and I went to work painting it.

A few days before halloween, our church had their big annual Fall Carnival, so we dressed the girls in their costumes, and I got out the face paint.

At the Fall Carnival with my very own tortoise and hare.  (Thanks Bryan, for taking all the pictures!)

On her mark...

The Vegetable Toss game.  Chloë did pretty well from about a foot away. 

We stood in line a long time for the archery game.  I tried to help Chloë do it, but she'd never used a bow and arrow before, and wasn't quite sure how to make it all work.  At least she got some candy in the end.

I got up on the stage with both the girls for the first category of the costume contest.  They both fell into the newborn to 2-year-old category.  The infant viking on the right took 1st place, I believe.

The 15-and-up costume category.

We had to get back up on stage for the Group Costume category.

There were some pretty creative group costumes!

We got lots of candy, and had as much fun.  Chloë especially loved it all, and keeps asking for me to do her face paint.

The Fair

I love going to our little county fair. Every year, I head straight for the elephant ear booth. My parents and sister were in town, and we devoured three elephant ears while we sat in the grass and listened to the band on stage perform music from the 70s.


Then we looked at all of the animals. Elaina wasn't quite sure what to think, but Chloë really enjoyed seeing so many animals.

Chloë loved looking at the baby goat kids, and the piglets and rabbits. She was peering into a goat cage when a goat loudly bleated in her face. The poor kid was startled and started crying, and said "daddy goat too loud!"


Looking at a mama pig and her piglets.


Elaina seemed slightly interested in the goat kids.

After we looked at all of the animals, we headed towards all of the bright lights and rides. Bryan had suggested taking Chloë on the ferris wheel, but I wasn't sure how much she would like it. We stopped and watched a few of the smaller rides, and after a minute of watching an orbiting hot air balloon ride, she said "I want to do it!" I wasn't sure if she would be tall enough to qualify for the ride, so we had her stand next to the 36" measurement line, and the top of her head just barely reached the mark. So she and Bryan got on the ride.

She was really excited for the ride to begin.




I think the fair ride was the highlight of Chloë's entire week. She kept talking about it for the rest of the evening, and will occasional remind me how much fun she had. "I like the spinning ride! Uh, spinning and go so high! Was SO FUN!"

We Went to the Zoo

While we were in Oregon, we got to take the girls to the Portland Zoo! I was really excited about Chloë's first visit to the zoo. She loves looking at her animal books, and I was eager for her to get to see some of God's amazing creatures in person.






The Beckers came with us, and double stroller worked really well for Aaron and Elaina.