The Living is Easy

We've been doing our best to experience everything this part of Oregon has to offer. That includes a day trip to Salem to see the Children's Museum and ride the carousel at the riverfront, several trips to the beach, and time with cousins. We just about have our daily routine figured out and have settled into our little apartment quite nicely. The relaxing aura about this place is the best thing ever. (It's probably just me being slightly removed from the real world that has the relaxing effect, or it could be the constant sound of the waves and cool breeze, but we'll pretend there's an aura.) There's still laundry and dishes and groceries and dirty diapers and picking up after our messy selves, but something about it is so much easier. I've been able to grab a catnap here and there, and even if it only lasts 15 minutes, it's always heavenly.

Pizza picnic at Fogarty Creek

Finding treasures at the beach

Sitting in the normal part of the cart is reason enough for a tantrum, but riding where the groceries go is a thrill ride. The toddler temperament is so exhausting.

Tractor maintenance in Salem.

Round and round a 1,000 times.

Rides #1 and #2: Best thing ever. Ride #3: Tantrum the whole time, I could hardly keep him from twisting out of the safety belt and launching himself to the floor.

Minuet in D. With a Hot Wheels.

Working on something important.

Playing with cousins!

Quick evening trip to relax for a few minutes.

Weird guy.

"All dirty" he says. The most accurate statement next to "Poopy butt" when he makes a dirty diaper.

Learned an important lesson about sand in the eye.

The reason it takes 20 minutes to make the 100-foot walk from the beach.

Chasing after Gavin 24/7 is exhausting, but it's a good kind of exhausting...we're having a great time. I haven't spent this much time with him since he was a newborn. When we're at home he'll stay with Dylan while I sneak away or he'll go to Dawn's or visit my parents...or at the very least I can unload him at the gym nursery for an hour here and there. The breaks are non-existent right now, but I get plenty of time to chill during nap time or after he goes to bed. The guy is such a little rascal that I crash hard at night, and it feels so good! Since I haven't been able to go to the gym, I'm almost glad that I have to carry 30-something pounds of dead weight across the sand. We fit in daily walks to get the blood pumping a little, and I manage to do some light weights or a yoga video after he goes to bed, and that's that!

I'm sure I'll be ready to get home by the end of the month, but right now I'm happy as a clam. I miss my husband and my dogs, but I don't miss the grind of life or the Arizona summer, not even a little bit.