To break up the long drive home from Rockaway Beach and spend some time with the Johnsons, we stopped in Centralia for a long break. We met Ruth at a park near the freeway to start. There was a playground and it was so nice to get out of the car. Then we headed back to their home and Ruth had toys all laid out on the lawn to entertain the kiddos. Cole really enjoyed getting a tour of the garden. Then, Ken showed Cole the ropes of "mole catching" and even let him feel a mole hole. They fed us a great dinner and we were back on the road to home!
We all rented a huge house on the Oregon Coast in Rockaway Beach just blocks from the sand. We all cooked meals together and spent lots of time in the sunshine. Mom nor dad had seen the coast so warm before, and mom ended up getting heat rash and having to spend a couple afternoons inside while everyone else went to the beach. Mom felt like by she got to introduce Cora to her father, since the Oregon coast is where his ashes were scattered last summer and a place he always loved. Mom met her friend, Jennifer Cooper, in Cannon Beach one morning and felt her dad's presence while they walked on the beach. We all went together to Cannon Beach the following day and explored the fun little town. Mom enjoyed introducing the kiddos to Gipetto's Toy Shoppe and Bruce's Candy Kitchen.
One afternoon we miraculously found a treasure chest buried at the beach. It had candy for the adults, baby dolls for the Cora & Addison and a Lightening McQueen car for Cole. What great booty! Unfortunately, dad got food poisoning from some mint chocolate chip ice cream the first night, but quickly recovered to enjoy the remaining vacation.
