Washington Trip in the Wonder Wagon: Ocean Shores & Columbia River Front RV Park

Mr. W had a work trip to Ocean Shores, Washington to demo a piece of fire equipment. We took the Wonder Wagon. We headed up Hwy 101 through Astoria, Oregon. Here we are crossing the bridge that spans across the Columbia River that separates Oregon and Washington.

This is the first trip that the Wonder Wagon has left the state of Oregon. I want one of those nerdy state maps for the RV so we can put a sticker for each state that we visit. I'd never been to Ocean Shores, Washington before.

The beach is different than the Oregon Coast. It is flat and wide open. Here the girls are when we took a walk on the beach after Mr. W did his demo with the local fire department.

On our way home instead of traveling Hwy. 101 home we cut across and took I-5 home. We stay a night at Columbia Riverfront RV Park, in Woodland, Washington. It was a great park. It was small located right along the river.  There were large grassy areas and open space along the river as well as fire pits and a playground. It was neat to see large tugs on their way to Portland.

The girls had fun running around in the large grassy area with Rudy. This would be a park that we would love to return to one day. We were hoping that Jake and Paige would come join us but they were unable to join us. Maybe next time.

Cousin Time at the Zoo

Wow, what a week of fun! The girls and I spent a week hanging out with the boys while my BIL and SIL spent the week with friends in the Midwest. Wow, four year old twin boys are super busy compared to two tweens girls. The girls were a lot of help. As Mr. W had to work. It was Auntie Em flying solo.

My motto for the week was keep them busy and wear them out. I don't know if they got worn out, but Auntie Em sure did! There was serious cousin time and lots of playing outside. It was hot.  One day I took them to the zoo. I thought it would be fun then I realized how busy the zoo is in August. I did it Duggar style and match up a big kid with a little one and we were off to explore!

Serious memories were made this week! We enjoyed lots of outdoor time. We explored a nearby park and had a fun day at the zoo. I love how close every thing is where Jake & Paige.

This is Grandma Edna's organ that now my BIL, Jake has. When Vivian and Olivia were little they used to love to play on it. This visit Vivian loved playing it along with the boys. I am sure that Grandma Edna was smiling down from heaven. Vivian had it rocking!

Life is About Choices

Even before Mr. W and I were even married we loved going on spur of the moment road trips. Our most crazy trip was driving to Canada last minute on a Labor Day weekend, a nine hour drive on a total whim. When we got married the pastor who married us wove into our ceremony and likened our impending marriage to one long road trip.  Never knowing what was around the next bend, highs and lows. Like the Shenandoah song, "There isn't no place that I'd rather be, Next to you, next to me."

Last spring Mr. W and I began to realize that our lives needed change.  Mr. W works long, unpredicted hours. The gloom of the Pacific Northwest is wearing on us both. Please don't tell me you love rain. To get to anywhere is a drive which is wearing on both of us thus my one year old Prius has 25,000 miles. Tuition only seemed to increase while my girls enthusiasm for learning decreased. Our parents are aging and experiencing health challenges, while our girls are growing up before our eyes. We are realizing that life is too short not to be happy. As in the words of Mr. W "We have nothing but options." Mr. W loves his job.  Mr. W gets six weeks of vacation time a year which he hardly ever takes. Yes, one day the rainy Pacific Northwest will no longer be our home but for now it is. It had us thinking what could we do to make life more enjoyable NOW.  We love traveling. We love road trips. We love history and learning. It has been our wish list and my vision board that one day we will own a travel trailer or R.V as well as the girls visit all fifty states before they turn eighteen.

We are revamping our lives or as I like to call it feng shui'n.  We are home schooling this school year. I have two fabulous mom friends who are wicked smart, funny and who both have daughters.  We share similar interests, goals and love vodka. We are doing the same curriculum but in our own fabulous way at home with our girls. We are each others support. We are excited for the future more importantly my daughters are excited.

This blog is for me to record our adventures for my girls. Where I can post pictures, share funny stories and my observations of this time in my life raising my girls.

Glamping with the Williams of the North

We went camping with my BIL & SIL, Jake & Paige and our twin nephews outside of Salem. It was more like "Glamping." No dirt, no camp fire but a heated outdoor pool. Only my BIL brings a TV satellite dish, a vacuum cleaner and a smoker along with him when he goes camping. This is the first time that we have been to an RV Resort. It's a whole different world. Paige and I have noticed that career glampers are serious about how they decorate their spot. There are statues, flags and lights. I must acquire some "flair."

The weather was perfect. We had fun exploring the RV resort with the kids. After hiking around the resort it was time to settle in our camp chairs and relax with a beverage. Paige figured that since we were glamping that we needed a step up from just regular red solo cups. As you can tell by the expression on Rudy's face, Rudy thinks we are be over the top. It was a fun weekend. We celebrated the boys and Olivia's birthdays. Olivia and Vivian were thrilled to go home with Auntie Paige and Uncle Jake and spend some time with their cousins for a week. It was a great trip.

Wikkiup Reservoir 8 Day Adventure

We embarked on an eight day trip to Eastern Oregon with a bunch our friends and their family. We stayed at Gull Point Campground in the Deschutes National Forest. It was our first long trip in the RV without hook ups (no water or electrical available).  Thank goodness for our generator.  We had never been to Wikkiup Reservoir before.

This is what our campsite backed up to.  The reservoir was right there!  It was beautiful. Our friends had a boat so we went out fishing and the girls had fun riding behind the boat on a ski biscuit. It was the first time that the girls had been out in a boat like that other than Fleet of Flowers in Depoe Bay out on Coast Guard boat. The girls had a total blast! There were other children camping with us. The girls were not in the water were on bikes riding around the campground.

Everyone in our group took turns preparing meals so it was nice not to have to cook every day. There was no storage of food.  It was relaxing enjoying afternoon by the water.  I enjoyed reading and napping in the shade of the trees.

By day six I was ready to go home.  My feet were beginning to crack from the dust. The girls skin was  irritated from being in the water so much and getting sunburned. Thank goodness for a  tube of diaper cream. It saved the girls legs from the life jacket strap rubbing on their thighs. Vivian's tummy was hurting from the buffet of crap food and our little Pomeranian had the runs. I was beginning to run low on clean clothes. I was dreaming of a hot shower.

Many laughs were shared. Memorable campfires. Long walks around the campground. Delicious meals and tasty adult beverages while enjoying the sunshine of Central Oregon. It was a fabulous trip. We learned a lot about our new RV and made lists of what to pack for our next off the grid camping trip. I stocked up on moisturizers, aloe lotion and chap stick as well as bug spray and sunscreen. You can NEVER have too much!