Labor Day Fun

We had an amazing Labor Day weekend because our friends from Corvallis came to visit.  Logan and Taylor were counting the days and then the hours until they arrived.  They went outside and waited in the front yard for the last 20 minutes.  

Finally, we spotted their car.  The kids went crazy with excitement.  

Logan was thrilled to have boys to hang out with.  They played guns and who knows what all.  The kids went their separate ways as soon as they got here, the girls to Taylor's room and the boys to the backyard, which was nice because it gave us parents a chance to catch up too.

Taylor loved having another girl to play dolls with.  She had told me, before they arrived, how excited she was to be able to "play Twin Princess Fairy Mermaids" with her friend.  I asked, "Is that what you two play when you're together?"  She said, "No.  She doesn't know about this game yet."

Then we walked down to the beach.  

It was one of those rare, cloudless days on the coast.   

We enjoyed a late afternoon of watching the kids climb on driftwood and rocks. 

Then we were able to watch the sun set.  It was the first time we've been down on the beach for sunset.  It was lots of fun.

The kids couldn't resist digging in the sand even without any of their shovels or pails.  (We were saving those for the next day, when we'd have more time at the beach).

 Taylor & Ellie enjoying the sunset.

 We all enjoyed being down on the beach.

Our friends, with 2 of their 4 children.

And there it goes, for another night.

The next day, James, his friend Todd, and Todd's oldest son, went on a mountain bike ride.  

The rest of us went down to the beach, with our shovels and pail, this time. 

It was another beautiful day.   The kids got right to work, digging into the sand.

Logan made a moat around his sandcastle.  He filled it numerous times.  The water just kept seeping out.  He couldn't keep up with it.  

Taylor and her friend worked so well together digging a trench or whatever this is.  

We found a great place for the kids to play, near a little creek.  It gave them the running water they needed and kept them safely away from the waves.  

 Then the boys started making "warships."  

By the time we left, they had an entire armada.  

We loved having our friends come and play.  They had to go back home, of course, and that left us so sad.  I'm blogging about our visit right away, so the kids can enjoy the pictures.  Hopefully it will cheer them up and put a smile on their faces again.