Just another gorgeous Sunset at Manzanita! The sand was so soft!

Our first full day, we went to Ecola State Beach, which actually had me remembering a beach we went to in Ecuador. You know what's crazy to me? I was an adult with 2 children when I first saw the Pacific Ocean. It was when we moved to California that I first saw the Pacific (life changing btw). But my kids? They have seen so much already! Holly and Greta have been to the Pacific Ocean up and down the coast and in Ecuador. It's just a different world for them.

We loved playing at this beach. There was a little stream running into the ocean which was perfect for little ones. The older kid crew were in and out of the water so much. And Maeve and Simon - gosh those two were so cute the whole weekend! They played together so well and so much!

Gosh, and the weather! So, so warm! Conor and I were convinced that we never enjoyed a day with weather this good in Northern California!

After the Tillamook Factory, we met our friends on the beach in Manzanita to watch the sun set. The kids were all so happy and excited to be together! And gosh, this sun set was breathtaking. There's just something about the ocean...

We finally made our way to the Oregon Coast! We planned this trip with friends over a year ago and I was so happy when they sent us a link to the place they booked and just made it happen! Yay for that!

Our very first stop was the Tillamook Factory. That was a bucket list item for me, judge me all you want! In our house, we 100% prefer Tillamook cheese and ice cream. Why spend money on anything else? So it was really fun to go to the source. As it turned out, we ate ice cream before dinner. Nothing says, "vacation" more than dessert before dinner.

Here we go! Not sure that the math is correct here, it seems to me that if I have 3 children going to school, I should have less than 2 at home... but I guess it does add up because I really do have 5 kiddos. Whew! I think and hope that having the older three at school will free up some of my life a bit, but the first day all three were at school, there was dirt all over my living room (my poor house plants) and toys everywhere. So am I winning? I think I just need to buy more toys, haha. Or an heirloom play kitchen, right Conor?!

Here's Greta on her first day! She's in sixth grade this year, her last year in Elementary school, although you could say she's a middle schooler because she's doing a middle school curriculum. I really hope Greta has a good year. She has some pretty great friends and she's going to try some new things (basketball, an instrument) this year while continuing with activities she knows and loves (cross country, soccer). How is it possible that she's already this old??

And my Holly girl! Holly is in eighth grade, her last year of middle school. Next year, we won't use numbered grades, instead she'll be a freshman! Okay but let's stay present in this moment. This girl has a heart of gold and I'm really proud of her. She's a hard worker and I'm so grateful she has an awesome friend group at school! I can't imagine Holly having anything other than a good year. Crossing my fingers because those middle school years have the potential to be hard.

And oh my little baby off to kindergarten. I joke that her teacher is going to correct all of our parenting failures, but am I actually joking?! Maeve is very excited about kindergarten. Greta helped her pick out her outfit and did her hair too. When Conor told Maeve he would miss her, Maeve told him that she was going to come back. And then when we were all walking with her to school, she asked us why we were coming. She's just so eager to be a big girl walking to school with Greta and the neighbors. When we were within sight of the school and she could see the quantity of children, Maeve became nervous. And so then I think she was glad her parents were with her! I walked Maeve into her classroom and she was definitely nervous, but she had a great day! Next week she goes every day, full days! I think she's going to be so tired and grumpy, but we'll get through it! She can do it!

And now I'm trying to not think too much of next year when I have 3 children, in 3 different schools and maybe Enoch in preschool? I don't need that anticipatory anxiety!