A Fun Weekend

Since poor Dave has not had a vacation all summer, we figured we would go camping on the coast overnight. It was one of those spur of the moment plans where you don't expect it to turn out perfectly but you want to go so bad you don't really care if it falls apart. Well we were really lucky because everything seemed to fall into place making it a great weekend!
I was frustrated earlier in the week because I called so many places to get a reservation and no one had anything! So we figured we would just go, and see if we got lucky. Well we did and not only did we find a place, but we got a cabin which made it even better. The funny thing was the cost of just a tent site was $30, but for a cabin, it was $50. Yeah that was a no brainer, "we'll take the cabin!"
After we got settled in we went to the coast and ate at Mo's for dinner because it just sounded too good. The weather was absolutely perfect, and after dinner we roasted hot dogs and made smores on the beach, which we've not done yet but was super fun! I think next time we go, we need to take crab nets and cook crab on the beach too.
We enjoyed the sunset, and the low 70's weather (even after the sun went down) it really felt like we were on the California coast and not the Oregon coast. We walked up and down the beach and enjoyed watching the seals struggling to get up on the sand. We stayed until about 9:30 which is the latest we have ever stayed on the beach before.

The next day we decided to hang out at the beach again for a while because the weather was once again wonderful. So we went to the D River beach in Lincoln City where they do all the kite festivals and just relaxed for a couple hours like everyone else was doing. Samantha enjoyed playing in the water and getting soaked, and then getting Dave wet.

Ahhhh....relaxation at the beach. So enjoyable

There are 2 kinds of people in this world!

Those who like Neil Diamond, and those who don't.

I...Love...Neil..Diamond! Here I sit on a Friday night jamming and singing (well trying, because I lost my voice this week due to being so sick) to the beautiful ballads that are his songs. What an awesome dude. He's like what 90? And he can still shake those artificial hips all over the stage. I have to giggle to myself a little because of how much fun I am having watching his TV special, my little sister Allison would consider it complete torture. Come on Al, how can you resist?....how can you not get up and dance to the tune of "Cherry, Cherry".."she's got the way to move me Cherry!"
such fun. I remember going to a Neil Diamond concert with my parents and my sister Natalie when I was in 10th grade, and even all these years later, it still remains one of the best concerts I have been to! Nothing says great like two old people singing to each other on the stage "you don't bring me flowers......anymore." And then all the old ladies jumping around with their relief society arms jiggling to the floor. Okay really, it wasn't just the old people, and that is one of the things that is so great about the man, he attracts fans of all ages! Heck he performed at the Grammy's this year, and they showed some of those rappers singing along with "Sweet Caroline!"
I can only imagine that is the song immigrants listen to crossing the ocean to our beautiful country....."We're coming to America!....today!"

I don't think you can say you love America unless you love Neil :)
If loving Neil Diamond is wrong, I don't want to be right!

My mouth hurts!

The last couple of Saturday's have been quite nice. Since we finally got both of our bikes and Sam's bike trailer in working order (now that it's toward the end of summer) we have been taking bike rides around town. If we didn't have apartment stuff to do, we might have ventured to downtown Portland and enjoyed the "bite of Portland" that's going on down by the Waterfront, but I wasn't so sure I would make the journey back (mostly uphill about 7 miles). I felt a bit more wussy today. But maybe we will try next week.
Last week was a bit depressing because I was huffing and puffing up the smallest hill. Of course I was also dragging about 50 extra pounds behind me with Sammy in the trailer. I was a bit discouraged. But then today, Dave hooked her up behind his bike and the hills didn't seem nearly as bad today. I thought "okay maybe I don't totally stink at this!" It was fun being outside, enjoying the nice low 80's weather, and getting exercise too.

The other adventure of the week was my second trip to the dentist for round 2 of fixing one of my side front teeth. My first trip a week and a half ago took about 3 1/2 hours, and the one on Wednesday took 4!! I love my Dentist and think he did a great job, but the whole experience was horrible. I have never been in so much mouth pain as I was on Wednesday night. That's all I'll say and now I think I have developed a complex about the Dentist now. Not...fun

This week was an awesome grocery shopping week though, so that was a good distraction. Albertson's had awesome deals. One was where you spend $30 on certain items and get $15 back in Catalina coupons, and most of the items I already had a ton of coupons for! So I have been to Albertson's at least 3 times this week and might go one more time tonight. They also have a Kellogg promotion where you buy 10 items that are on sale and you get a $10 rebate.



So yesterday I bought all this stuff from Albertsons. Out of pocket I spent $22.00, but got $15 in coupons back for my next purchase, and I qualify for the $10 rebate from Kelloggs! So it was like making $3!! My total savings on my receipt = $84.10!It was awesome. And that was only one shopping trip I made this week. Let's just say our pantry and fridge is completely stocked and we are having to put a bunch of stuff in the garage. Food Storage!! We finally have something! So if something horrible (heaven forbid) happens, it's nice to know we can survive on fruit snacks and dried cereal!