We went to Ocean Shores and Long Beach, WA this past week. We had a great time, the weather was typical beach weather, although we had one sunny day that was 70 degrees. We were actually staying in Copalis Beach, which is just north of Ocean Shores. We would usually go to the beach in the morning and then we would spend time in the pool after that and again in the evening. One day they spent 4 hours in the pool. They are already looking forward to it next year.

Anna liked drawing pictures in the sand, smiley faces were her favorite that day. (the picture didn't load right)

Dave flying a kite on the beach.

Anna in the hot tub with her life jacket (just in case).

Madison in the pool with Dave. Usually the girls use floaties, but they didn't allow so they used life jackets, which they discovered were better. Madison found new freedom with the life jacket. She jumped in the deep end, swam all over and had a great time.

Madison running from the waves.

Anna flying her Dora kite.

Anna liked to build sand castles rather than play in the water, it was pretty chilly.

Madison posing strangely in a tide pool.

Anna and Dave in the pool. Anna finally strayed from the shallow end by the end of our stay.

Anna in the wading pool with her life jacket.
After spending 5 days in Ocean Shores, we went to Long Beach for two nights. We went to the beach right after we got to Long Beach in the afternoon. It was the peak of high tide, so there wasn't much beach.

Madison with another strange pose on the beach.

Anna and Madison running on the beach during low tide the next day.

After the beach we explored Long Beach. Anna and Madison rode the carosuel in downtown Long Beach.

Posing for a picture while I'm shopping.


We went to Cape Disappointment and walked to the Lighthouse and around the Lewis and Clark Museum. This picture was taken at Dead Man's Gulch.

Madison posing by a large tree on the path to the Lighthouse.

Wallace, ID and Silver Mountain

We went to Wallace, ID - the Silver Capital of the World. The park in Wallace highlights the mining history of the area.

Anna is posing in the mining cars that took the miners down the tunnels.

Madison is doing a stripper pose on the drilling exhibit.

We took a tour of the Sierra Silver Mine outside of town. It was really interesting and the girls did really well, although they got sick of wearing their hard hats.

Madison in front of a mining cart.

The girls after the tour, they were glad to be outside again. It was about 50 degrees in the mine.

After the tour we had lunch in Wallace and then we decided to take the Gondola up to Silver Mountain. The ride lasted about 20 minutes and the views were beautiful.

Grandma Marilyn, Myself and Madison on Silver Mountain.

The girls on a bench on Silver Mountain (made out of a snow board), the only picture they cooperated for. Anna fell at the playground and got a large scratch on her leg, so we took her to Ski Patrol and they bandaged her up. It was an eventful trip.

Anna & Madison turn 6

The girls turned 6 in July and we went to Spokane/Couer d'Alene to celebrate their birthday. We arrived in Spokane on Wednesday and stayed with my Aunt and the girls woke up on their birthday very happy to finally be 6. Madison thought she looked a little taller.

Mom & Dad came up on their birthday and we met them at Riverfront Park in Spokane. We spent the rest of the vacation with them. More pictures will follow of Couer d' Alene adventures.

Anna on the Carosuel at Riverfront Park.

Madison posing with the vacuum garbage goat in Riverfront Park.

We went to Silverwood, which they had been looking forward to all summer. It was a perfect day, not too hot. The girls both went on their first big wood roller coaster (goes through three tunnels very fast) and Anna loved it. Madison thought it was too fast and opted not to go on the other wood roller coaster. She stayed with Mom and Dad while we went on it. I don't have many pictures of silverwood, Dad took more pictures so I will post those later.

Anna on the train ride through Silverwood Amusement Park.