Every winter we go to the beach with our friends the Simmons family. I am not sure if this is our 4 or 5 trip together, but it is nice to have such traditions with friends who have become family. Over time, we have added numbers to our ranks, their sons Alex and Gabe, and this year, Sophia! We were there together this year for President's Day weekend which gave us a nice chance to stay 3 days.
It was a wonderful time together, although not exactly restful. 3 children under the age of 5 are not quiet or calm, but they are a lot of fun. Gabe is almost exactly a year older than Sophia and the two of them played fairly well together, except for the frequent toy theft. She found him quite fascinating and followed him around a lot. Alex at almost 5 was a little left out, but he had us grown-ups to entertain him, and we did our best. I love winter on the Oregon coast. The ocean is very rough and stormy and the tides are quite
high. It's great fun to sit and watch the ocean. This, however, is not very conducive to kid-fun as they want to get out and do something active. The weather and tides were not helpful to a lot of playing on the beach, but we did our best. We also took them on 
a hike at Oswald West State Park, to the Tillamook Cheese Factory and to the tide pools. Although we were pretty tired at the end of the weekend, it was a great time and I'm looking forward to next year.
high. It's great fun to sit and watch the ocean. This, however, is not very conducive to kid-fun as they want to get out and do something active. The weather and tides were not helpful to a lot of playing on the beach, but we did our best. We also took them on 
a hike at Oswald West State Park, to the Tillamook Cheese Factory and to the tide pools. Although we were pretty tired at the end of the weekend, it was a great time and I'm looking forward to next year.Sophia also achieved a milestone this weekend: the end of baby food. Her level of frustration with mushed-up food has become pretty high and meals have become quite a war. She is clearly ready to feed herself, although not yet with a spoon, and eat regular food. So, we've started feeding her cut-up portions of what we're eating and suddenly she's having fun at meals again. Over the weekend we added ground beef and 
turkey, bell peppers, french fries, fish, saltines crackers, and (her favorite) cheese to her diet. Cheese seemed an especially appropriate thing to add to her diet when we were in the land of Tillamook Cheese. Plus when at the factory we bought cheese curds, which have a lovely mild flavor, and she adores. She is a much happier baby and dinner involves a lot less wining which is good for all of us.
turkey, bell peppers, french fries, fish, saltines crackers, and (her favorite) cheese to her diet. Cheese seemed an especially appropriate thing to add to her diet when we were in the land of Tillamook Cheese. Plus when at the factory we bought cheese curds, which have a lovely mild flavor, and she adores. She is a much happier baby and dinner involves a lot less wining which is good for all of us.
