On the third day, we woke up and then went for a walk around the neighborhood. We loved the beautiful plants, the fun company and the great berries we ate (salmon berries and huckleberries).
Caden's cousins were picking flowers and instead of just picking the flower, he picked the whole plant! It was so funny!
Then, after all the kids insisting on going to Bruce's, we went to downtown Cannon Beach (a small main street with a variety of small shops). The fun thing is that most of the shops haven't changed much since we first went there almost 20 years ago. Our favorite shops were the Mariner's Market (we would stop there first to buy a Clearly Canadian soda), the shell shop, the kite stores, the infamous Pizza 'A Fetta (best pizza ever!!), and the much anticipated Bruce's Candy Kitchen. That is where we spent most of our money! :)
At Bruce's Candy Kitchen, you can watch them make salt water taffy. It is always a highlight of going there, and of course you have to buy some taffy to take home!
Then, we stopped at the infamous shell shop. I taught Caden and his class in preschool about how you can hear the ocean in some shells, so now he tries to hear the ocean in every shell he sees.
We stopped by the fun toy shop. Caden started making his Christmas wish list.
Caden had been asking all his cousins, ever since we got there, if they wanted to play Red Rover. We finally got a group together. After a few mistaken clothes-lining incidents, we all played a lot softer. Oops!
That afternoon, we made the normal trip to Tillamook Cheese Factory. You can watch them make cheese in the factory, sample all sorts of cheeses (especially squeaky cheese/cheese curd) and then enjoy some delicious ice cream!
On the drive back to Cannon Beach, there is a beautiful overlook. We got a picture there 3 years ago when we came and had to take another one this time!
We woke up and went on hike through the lush forests to a beach in Oswald State Park. This was the most peaceful, heavenly part of the trip. I soaked up every minute of the beautiful greenery and I was happy to share it with Russ and Caden (and the rest of the fam)!!
There was a beautiful waterfall on the beach!
Caden finally was brave enough to touch the anemones.
Me and my Pops with Caden. My Pops is the most gentle, loving, patient father!
After the hike in Oswald State Park, we went to Hug Point to walk around the caves there and to walk to the other side of a huge rock (since it was low tide).
After that, Russ was kind enough to take Caden and I out to eat at Pizza 'A Fetta. He is the best husband ever! You have no idea how excited I was. Well, I guess the pic shows it.
Then, he even let me walk over to Bruce's Candy Kitchen one last time just to see if they were making taffy...and they were! At this point, I was already getting sad about leaving the next day.
We had to go back to the beach as a family and play in the waves and sand more. We had the traditional bonfire on the beach to roast smores and starburst.
There was a small freshwater creek leading to the ocean, so we went over there to throw rocks in the water. Then, the boys (old and young) and some girls started building a dam. It turned out really well!
After the kids were in bed, we had the traditional tie exchange. All the men bring ties to trade and then they take turns picking ties. It is a fun tradition.
The next morning, we packed up and drove back to Utah and then back to Colorado. We were so sad to leave because we had such a great time in a great place!
