Updates from our trip coming soon!

OK...I have tried to connect to wifi three different times now on this trip, with NO LUCK of uploading pictures!!! Sorry!! I've typed up everything from each day and selected all of the pictures I want to use.......so TOMORROW, when we're home I'll do some MAJOR uploading so you can see out AMAZING trip!!!!

Day 5: Packing, Ft. Clatsop, Port of Play & Brett's Concert!

The girls entering The Fort!

Abigail, Isaiah, Jonah, Norah and Victoria at Port of Play!

Brett's performance in Cannon Beach!

Our last full day in Astoria once again began with drizzly and overcast skies! But I finally got a good night sleep, so I didn't mind getting up =)! I had a long list of things to do today to prepare for our week long camping trip. Early morning shop at Fred Meyer, laundry, cooking food ahead of time, organizing the trailer, organizing all of our stuff........ So while I was getting a lot of stuff done, my mom took the girls to visit Ft. Clatsop and see where Lewis and Clark set up camp. My mom took several pictures and the girls had a great time.

After lunch I took the girls to the Port of Play, which is a fun indoor play space for kids that resides in what used to be called Gray School. We met Sabrina and her kids there for just over an hour of fun! The kids rode scooters and bikes, played doctor, played restraunt, and ran all over the place! Super fun place. Hopefully it wore them out a little so they will go to bed easily for my mom tonight.....

Brett's workshop this week was put on by Rod Eichenberger. He taught them about conducting - less is more and how to space singers to enhance the overall sound. In order to teach these techniques all of those in attendance have been singing through music all week long as several lucky people practice conducting. The final evening (TONIGHT) they perform all of these songs (26 total!). So my parents watched the kids and I got to go hear all this beautiful music. It was wonderful, such a treat to hear quality choral music performed!!

Day 4: Slow Day and a DATE!

Steve and Sabrina Hill

Happy almost 11 years..... (date night gift from my parents!)

Shanghaied in Astoria!

The basket we won!!

Well after a not so good night of sleep AGAIN, my day started a little earlier than I expected. The delightful fog was ever present when I awoke and a very light drizzle visited us off and on during the morning. We slowly got moving for a long morning of shopping. My mom did some Costco shopping (she doesn't have her own card) and I picked up some Pirate Booty white cheddar popcorn for our camping trip!! (Brett always tells me no, but he wasn't there =)!!!!) YUMMY!!!!!!

Then we went to Fred's and my mom did more talking than shopping......but at the end I got to see my church choir director from back in the day! She is also a former elementary music teacher and really shared her LOVE for music with me as a young teenager.....so great to see you - Mrs. Betty Barnes!!! Then a few more hours relaxing before our date tonight with Steve and Sabrina!!!!

We went to dinner at the Supper Club, great new restraunt in Astoria. The food was delicious, but we had eat quickly in order to make it to the show! My vote for the BEST fries in town!!! The place was packed, so our dinner took a long time to come. We literally gobbled up our food (boxed half up for later) and ran to the car....ouch on a full belly and LOTS of water for me! We got to the show with 2 minutes to spare!!

Now as someone who grew up in Astoria - I mean I was born here and lived in the same house until I went to college - I have known people that performed in Shanghaied, I have heard about Shanghaied, I have seen people in the costumes for Shanghaied, BUT I had never been to a show!!! So my parents bought us tickets and took care of the girls tonight so we could go see it. Such a sweet almost 11 year anniversary gift! I invited Steve and Sabrina to join us, it's always more fun with good friends! It was a lot of fun....interactive, silly, great local talent, and LOTS of popcorn!! It was a great night! During the second intermission they announced a raffle to help raise money for the Astor Street Opry Company to purchase the building and make it their permanent home. Brett seems to think I am lucky when it comes to raffles.....so he spent $5.00 and got 12 tickets - he thought we had pretty good odds! Turns out he was right and won a basket filled with gift certificates, a digital picture key chain and a ton of stuff I haven't even looked through yet!!! Great way to end the evening!! Now.....maybe I will get to sleep all night tonight...........

Day 3: Baking and The Clatsop County Fair

Abigail and Norah baking pretzels with Oma:

Cinnamon & Sugar and Garlic & Cheese!

Isaiah, Norah, and Abigail painting the mural at the fair!


The 1 ride the girls went on at the fair!

It started out as a slightly cloudy morning, but then the SUN CAME OUT!! (I know - totally shocking as we are, let me remind you, still in Astoria!!!) The girls had a productive and relaxing morning. We baked 4 loaves of zucchini bread (we have enough grated for at least two more) from the HUGE zucchini we harvested prior to leaving. The girls also made some yummy homemade soft prezels. They dipped some in cinnamon & sugar and others in garlic & parmesan. It was a little messy and a LOT fun =)!

After lunch we headed to the Clatsop County Fair with Sabrina and her kids. The kids made masks, fish and helped paint a mural in the free kids craft area. Isaiah was super brave and rode the mechanical bull - he did a GREAT job. We also saw "Best in Show - Swine", the girls were unusually interested for about 40 minutes....not sure what to make of that! We enjoyed the petting zoo, lots of animals to interact with. We finished the trip with one (yes 1) ride at the carnival. It cost $3.50 for each girl to go on a ride, I guess that's not terrible, but a lot of money for a short ride. The girls selected a tilt-a-whirl type ride. They LOVED it, so it ended the trip on a fantastic note.

We then took a drive down memory lane. Everything looked the same, but a little better. The trees had grown up where they logged years ago and most of the houses were fixed up and looking great. My old house, on the other had, was a wreck! Pretty sad to see, but I did enjoy the memories it brought back. It was fun to share with the girls and show them a little bit of my past! We end the day just relaxing and watching a little tv.....

Day 2: Swimming/Trolley and Seaside!

The DeYoung Family in Seaside, Oregon!

Oma and Norah at the Seaside Carousel!

In the late afternoon we drove to Seaside to meet Brett after his workshop. Norah enjoyed the carousel, my mom took the girls to the aquarium, we enjoyed a delicious pronto pup, Papa and Brett took the girls on the bumper cars, Abigail enjoyed a bowl of chowder, and Norah won a candy stick at the Candy Man!! It was a fun trip in spite of the drizzly overcast weather! Now for a good night's rest.......off to the fair tomorrow!!!

Abigail and Norah waiting for the trolley!

We woke up to a "drip drop" day! (Norah's word for drizzle....so cute.) We had a declious breakfast of french toast and sausage and then it was off the the pool! We had a great time with my mom. The girls played with noodles, kick boards, and floaty surf boards. Once the small slide opened the girls went on it NON-STOP! They had a great time.... We then went across the street and hopped on the trolley for a fun historical ride. I was hoping for a tasty basket of fish and chips from the Bowpicker - alas.....the line was SUPER long....I'll try again before the week is up!!!!

Day 1: Visiting Friends and The Astoria Column!

Brett and his girls at The Column!



All the DeYoung girls!

When Brett got home from his workshop we had a delicious dinner of fresh tuna and corn on the cob with my parents. Then we drove up to the column. It was overcast, drizzly, foggy......ah beautiful Astoria - you never disappoint me, I always expect it! But we had a great time inspite of it. We climbed to the top, the girls sort-of counted all the stairs (several numbers were reapeated=)!) We couldn't see a lot, but the rivers and the bridges were all visible. We took paper airplanes for the girls to launch.....they did more of a nose dive....but we had fun watching them and were able to retrieve them at the bottom. We walked around the grounds and the girls each took a turn looking through the binoculars. The exterior looks amazing, it's the first time I've seen it since the renovation. A great evening!!!

Me and Nicole!

Soren, Synnove, Abigail and Norah

Monday morning.....cloudy, cool, misty.....ah we're in Astoria! The girls made a delicious berry cobbler with their Oma this morning. Then we drove out to Knappa for lunch and play time with my friend Nicole and her kids! Nicole and I grew up going to church together, it was great fun to catch up and see how her kiddos have grown. Abigail, Norah, Synnove, and Soren made some decorations (stars for me, flowers for Nicole) and decorated the outside for a "party"! They also prepared a plate of pretzels and crumbles of cheese. Once we came to the "party" there were games. We played toss the huckleberry, dig for plums, and can you find..... quite entertaining!! It was a wonderful visit and fun to be out in the country!

Our two week vacation begins.....

We arrived in Astoria yesterday.....welcome to the overcast/fog/cooler temperature.... =)! We are staying with my parents for this week. Brett is taking a week-long conducting class in Cannon Beach. So while he is busy learning and growing as a choral director, the girls and I will be having all kinds of fun!! We are headed to spend some time with my friend Nicole and her kiddos today. We also hope to go to the pool, the Clatsop County Fair, the Astor Column, Seaside, and spend lots of time with my best friend, Sabrina, and her family! On Saturday we will begin our camping trip down the coast line, all the way to California to see the Red Woods! I'm going to try to figure out how to upload pictures daily and keep this blog updated!! Here we go.......