Tillamook, pumpkins, apples, and the ocean

My surprise 4 day get away with Bill is now officially over.  Boo-hiss!!  We are home and are right back in the midst of homework, dishes and baths.  But boy, was our 4 days away a really nice break and we had a lot of fun!!  I like to think back on the anticipation of leaving for the trip.  I truly believe that part is almost the best part of it all!

We left Saturday evening around 5pm and made it into Portland about 9pm.  Guess what?  It was raining!  We were prepared though and we pulled out our Columbia waterproof jackets and never looked back!

Sunday morning we got up nice and early....not only did we have the  west coast time change, we also had Daylight savings to add to the time difference.  Did not bother us one little bit-after all there were no children's schedules to contend with, just our little ol' selves!  We hit the road and headed to the coast.  We were heading to the Tillamook Cheese factory and then the factory outlets in Lincoln. 

It was strange to walk into the Tillamook factory at 9 in the morning, knowing what we would be eating soon, but we didn't get any weird looks when we sat down with this little baby- 

Yep, it's tradition now at Tillamook to buy a half gallon and see how much we can make disappear (and it also cost the same to get a half gallon as it would have to buy two separate scoops.  Where's the economics in that?!).  Granted, the last time we did this we had some 'extra' help (in 2008).

However, Bill and I managed to put a major dent in this half gallon, although I'm not sure that's something we should be bragging about!  We posed with spoons and then headed for the car

......munching the whole way to the outlet center.  We ended up finishing about half...well, maybe more......

 Along the way to the outlets and a super great Children's Place Outlet purchase, we came across a quaint little roadside farmer's market type place.  The weather was misty and rainy, and the grayness of the moment set the colors and displays out front of the place off brilliantly.  We stopped because we remembered it from our 2008 trip and we wanted to purchase some local fresh honey, another vacation tradition.  I snapped a few pictures to capture the feel of the morning.  Actually, I snapped more than a few...........

Our time was limited since we needed to be back in Portland by 6pm to get ready for the SYTYCD live tour.  Before we headed the car back that direction, we took some time to enjoy the ocean view while eating a late lunch.  Despite being cold, we could have walked and walked and walked, enjoying the sound of crashing waves.

 The one great thing about the long drive to and from the coast?  I was able to read aloud while Bill was driving from a book we've been trying to finish for MANY months.  We got back into Portland by 5:30 pm and then got ready to go to the show.  And it was FANTASTIC!!  I snapped a few pictures during the performances.  Well, actually way more than a few!  A post all its own later......