Weekend Getaway- Oregon Coast

We just got back from our 4 day getaway to the Oregon coast, hubby surprised us by booking the beach house just two days before we had to leave! I am not a spontaneous  person, I like to plan things and make lists, so this was a little crazy. But it was just us going, so meal prep was easy and I made a point to pack light, because there was a washer and dryer at the house. 

It being April, and the NW coast, I wasn't expecting good weather or anything, I just thought it would be nice to cozy up by the fire, read a book and go on walks. However, the weather was amazing! It was chilly the day we drove in, but the next three days were fantastic. It even reached the 80's on Sunday. 

Staying at this beach house house felt like a dream. It was just steps from the beach. Roomy, and beautiful inside. We got to eat with a ocean view three times a day and people watched from the balcony. I loved that it was so close to the beach, I could put William down for a nap, and sit and watch hubby and the big kids outside. 

-isn't it dreamy?-

-how did she get so big!?-

-William loved the sand, he kept piling sand into mountains and then decorate them with sticks and rocks-

-Saturday morning. I hoped to sleep in, but the kids were up bright and early ready for a day at the beach, which I didn't mind. Hubby and I drank our coffee and tea right there on the beach-

Gardening with the kids...

Emily goes back to school tomorrow after a wonderful spring break. Her backpack is hanging downstairs, her pencil box is filled with new sharpened pencils and a fresh new eraser. Lunch is packed, and the dress she chose to wear tomorrow is folded on her dresser. As think about our spring break, I can't help but smile. Although, we didn't get to go on a family vacation, as I hoped we would, we still managed to have a nice spring break, filled with memories. We went to the zoo, the tulip farm, family bike rides, parks, multiple frozen yogurt runs and so on.  We spent the rest of the time we had in our back yard, the kids came up with new games daily, they were pirates one day and pioneers the next. As I watch them play, I can't help but think back to my childhood. I was blessed to grow up in a large family, we didn't have a TV, so most of our time was spent in pretend play. I remember hauling tons of toys outside and setting out our "houses" or "stores".  

Since we have been spending so much time outside, it was time to spruce up the yard. I loaded the kids into the SUV this morning and headed not to one, but two home and garden stores in order to get everything on my list. While the kids and I planted our garden, hubby built shelves in the shed and organized it. We brought out all our patio things and set everything up. The yard looks so great now, and we are looking forward to spending a lot of time out here. 

 Thanks for visiting, 

Trip to the Zoo (spring break)

We are on spring break this week! So excited to sleep in and just go with the flow. If we feel like staying home all day, we will, if we feel like doing something we will. While eating breakfast today, we decided that we should go to the zoo! So we cleaned the kitchen in a flash, packed a diaper bag and were on our way!  We go to the zoo pretty often, atleast 4 times a year, and I never tire from it, there is always so much to do and see. 

Visit to the tulip farm...

We went to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival today. The last time we went, I was pregnant with Nicholas, which was over 5 years ago. Every year we have wanted to go, or should I say "I" have wanted to go, but something always came up, anything from no free Sundays, or non stop rain. Plus, this is not something my husband likes to do. He considers it "boring",  but I told him that we haven't been in years, we can take some pretty pictures and well your wife wants to go. LOL, I don't know which did it, but he finally agreed. We beat the crowd by leaving right after breakfast, and after about an hour, we were there. It was such a beautiful day, sunny and 75 degrees. There were 40 acres of tulips, absolutely stunning.

-We met a couple at the farm with 2 young kids, they offered to take our family picture and we returned the favor. We joked  about how we have to 100 pictures in order to get 10 good ones. Very true. Most of our pictures turn out something like these two pictures-

-But, I always keep a few "out takes", because life isn't "perfect" and I want to remember everything. Even the struggle of having a two year to stand still for 5 seconds. -

-Our family- love this picture because everyone is looking in the "direction" of the camera :) -

-My darling girl-

-Can you believe this pose?? I can't stop smiling. This is my boy who hates taking pictures, I can't believe I got a smile and a head tilt :) -

-Nico worked really hard on getting this rusty tractor started, however he had no luck-

-Always running away and looking back to me to make sure I chase him, If I am not, he comes back and tries again :) -

-These tulips are huge! Almost as tall as William-

-Pink John Deere!!! I want one on my "imaginary farm"-

-Tractor ride-

-Cute dutch kids :) -

Thanks for visiting, 

Garlic Herb Roasted Salmon

The butter, garlic and herb combination makes this salmon recipe amazing. It is extremely easy to make and tastes so good. 

Even my kids who are picky ask for seconds. 

I love how flaky the salmon is, I like to serve it with rice and roasted veggies. 

Click to print the recipe here

Ingredients:

salmon fillet (16 oz)

3 TB butter

4 cloves of garlic

2 TB chopped parsley

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp lemon juice

black pepper

olive oil

Directions:

In a glass measuring cup, melt butter. Add garlic, parsley, salt and about 3 dashes of pepper. Stir well until combined. Arrange salmon on a baking sheet or casserole dish. Spoon the garlic herb mixture on the salon and coat the all sides well. 

You don't have to marinate. If you have fresh salmon, you don't need much flavoring. I however prep my dinners in the morning/afternoon. So I cover the salmon and stick in the fridge until dinner time. 

Preheat oven to 400F.

Drizzle salmon with 1 TB olive oil, bake salmon for 20 minutes. 

Remove salmon to serving dish and drizzle with pan drippings. Serve with lemon wedges. 

Enjoy!