The beginning...

What better time than now to begin a blog addiction? Spring Break has been a whirlwind for us- we have kept so busy, it's hard to believe the week is almost over. Last Friday, Clint decided we should up and take off to the Oregon Coast. Brian and Jaz were going, so they had been trying to talk us into following them and Clint caved...(although, it really doesn't take much to convince Clint to go to Oregon). I, however was a little more difficult to convince. But after about an hour of heavy persuasion and peer pressure, I too succumbed to the irresistible draw of the ocean. We left that night, for those of you who have small children, you'll understand why it's SO much easier to travel that way, and we got there at about 11:00 the next morning. We stayed with family that lives over there and that made it all the more fun. There were kids everywhere and my two were mere blurs amidst all of the running and playing! We visited the coast on Saturday and couldn't have had better weather, it was 57 degrees and we all came home with the beginnings of sunburns in our faces. Simply Beautiful. Cara got plowed by a wave in the ocean, it knocked her down and drenched her up to her neck in salt water. (This provided a hilarious interview on the video camera afterwards...) She was NOT impressed. Clinton had a lot of DRY fun, being very cautious so as not to set a foot into the ocean. He threw rocks and sand (almost tagging a local runner in the act) but, since then has been just as obsessed as the rest of us with the coast. Watching my children experience their own personal "awe" of the ocean was indescribable. It made all of the driving, fighting, and endless "I've got to go POTTY's!!!" worth it. To see the enjoyment they had while playing in the sand and water is something I'll always remember.

We visited the historic bay front and bought a few trinkets to bring home. Clint bought a lighter that shocks when the button is pushed. He, Kevin, and Brian had endless entertainment as they passed it around shocking various body parts and laughing at each others pain...(no thanks.) We hung out for a couple more days in Sweet Home and then headed back to Boise on Monday. That drive was not nearly as easy as the first, as we drove about 9 hours in Clint's small Subaru with our two BORED children, and without a heater. Luckily, the weather was fairly decent, so we didn't need a lot of heat- although that didn't really help with the "bored children" problem. We stayed in Boise with my dad for a couple of days, played a lot of Guitar Hero and Wii, ate at Olive Garden, (while my dad took the kids to POJO's ...ambitious man...) and shopped. It was awesome! Perfect vacation. We are now back home and re-entered into everyday life, and thoroughly depressed at the thought of school next week...(well, Clinton and I are anyway...) But I'm so happy we went. It's those "spur of the moment"- "fly by the seat of your pants" vacations that are always the best. Thank goodness I have my "peers" to "pressure" me into leaving it all behind- if only for a week. ;)