I’ve sure been quiet on here lately. A few weeks ago, I had a blissfully chill weekend at home while Jeff hit Vegas with his buddies. It was the calm before the storm (a good kind of storm!): On Labor Day weekend, my Michigander mom, dad, sister Lori, brother-in-law Cory, and nieces Ava and Macy rolled into town for a leisurely 10-day visit. Great way to close out a fabulous summer!

Our home away from home for 2.5 days

Realizing our one-bed, one-bath apartment could get really old really quickly, we rented a much roomier three-bed, two-bath beach house two blocks from the ocean for the holiday weekend. Cute place and great location in Seaside, Oregon. It was the first time my family got to see the Pacific! The weather was beautiful but true to the Oregon coast, the temp would dip or a misty cloud would settle over the beach in a heartbeat.

The first night everyone crashed by 9 p.m. (somehow I passed out at 7 p.m.!) but the second night we really took advantage of the ocean sunset. Clusters of people relaxed around beach campfires as Ava, Cooper and I dashed from incoming waves, Ava a ball of excitement. The rest of the fam just sat back and enjoyed the show.

Once the sun set, we young folk put the kids and parents to bed and walked 10 feet to the neighboring bar. A Trivial Pursuit drinking game and some Pabst Blue Ribbons (Lori was amazed/disgusted that PBRs are somewhat hip here) capped off the night.

So what’s this about 10 million calories? Well, I think my sweet tooth is genetic. My family was always up for dessert – it was a constant theme of the trip. We killed Seaside’s lineup of fudge and taffy shops – Cory and I downed a Boston creme pie elephant ear as Lori snacked on a six-pack of fudge. We drove up to Astoria (where Jeff and I recently celebrated our anniversary) and filled our bellies at the Sunday Market with coconut creme pie, homemade mini-donuts, shaved ice…oh, it was fabulous. I love my family and I love that they love desserts as much as I do.

Of course, we did more than eat. We checked out Astoria’s seals and sea lions – Cory even touched one! We paid a visit to the always-amazing Cannon Beach, although the girls were both snoozing and the mist was rolling in. We took Ava to the Seaside arcade. And after 2.5 days of coastal fun, we headed back to Portland and snagged some tots and beers at McMenamins’ Blue Moon Tavern before stoking the grill for our first family BBQ dinner.

Good times – and these good times are to be continued…with 10 days of sightseeing and 500+ photos, I need more than one post!

Cory, Lori, Dad and Macy near the Pacific in Seaside (and yes, I had a smudge on my camera lens)

Running from the waves never gets old!

Dad on grandpa duty with Macy

Me, Ava and Lori waiting for the sunset

Ava squealing as she chases ocean waves with Cooper

Enjoying the beach at sunset

Posing in front of the dazzling Seaside sunset

Cooper, Ava and me running from the waves

Heading back to the cabin after a spectacular sunset

The mist rolling in at Cannon Beach

Dad, Mom, Macy and Lori in front of Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach

Cory getting close to the sea lions

Lori and Macy near the sea lion docks in Astoria

Ava and Cory playing a candy crane game at Seaside

Playing some pool at Blue Moon Tavern

My adorable niece (and goddaughter) Macy