Our Little Ladybug

Amber was in rare form tonight. We took her out with Grandma and Grandpa to go Trick or Treating in our neighborhood. Amber ran and ran so much we could hardly contain her.

our cute little bug

in search of spider webs and pumpkins

Trick or Treat!

Amber has no idea what candy is but she sure loved picking out little boxes that shake.  We didn't expect her to get any candy (we just wanted to show her off) but she loved holding her treasures. 

Pumpkin Patch

Every October, we visit our local pumpkin patch.  This is the first year Amber interacted with it. 

looking for the perfect gourd

Pumpkins are just the excuse we use to get down there.  The real reason for our expedition is to see tractors.  They come in pairs, each time unloading and loading people to take them to the pumpkin patch.

Tractor Ho!

standing at attention to pay honor to the tractors

 Amber also wandered into the hay bale maze and found her way out.

surveying her landscape

pondering which way to go

executing her plan

Big Sister!

Amber is excited about Baby Sister coming.  She loves to look at mommy's tummy and see her baby sister.  She also likes to sit on Baby Sister's lap.  When we sing 'Ba ba Black Sheep', Amber makes sure Baby Sister gets a bag of wool too.

Amber has no idea what's coming her way....

Trip to Tillamook

It has been over a year since we took Amber to the coast.  We decided to wait until the fall and hope for a good weekend. We had a great time.  The weather was beautiful Thursday afternoon when we arrived.  The tide was out and the sun was up.  Tide pools abounded.

Grandpa and Amber

It didn't take long for Amber to take to the beach.  She quickly found the tide pools and waded in.

 

Amber has a salty-tooth and she enjoyed tasting the ocean water.

Amber and Grandma

We stayed in a little community near Oceanside (near Cape Meres).  We walked by this marsh on the way to the ocean from our house.  The scenery was gorgeous.

On Friday afternoon (in lieu of a nap) I took Amber back to the beach to play in the sand.  I had more fun with the actual sandcastle pieces but Amber loved playing with her shovel.   

On Friday morning we drove to Cape Meares to see the lighthouse and 'Octopus Tree.'  I didn't know this at the time, but Sandi's family grew up going to Cape Meares and Oceanside.  I've only been there a few times so it was fun to hear their stories of past adventures.

3 Arches rocks, looking toward Oceanside

Octopus Tree (and family)

Cape Meares Lighthouse

3 generations of Cape Meares travelers

Amber loves animals and had no context for the beach or the ocean.  Before we left on vacation, Amber would say "Maybe see giraffe" or "Maybe see Bear" or "Maybe see [insert any animal in her animal book]" or "Maybe see dragon."  I remember playing this game with her waiting for our group to assemble before the beach.  The good news is that by saying 'maybe', she is not overly disappointed when she doesn't actually see a hippo walking on the sand.  We tried to manage her expectations by saying "Maybe see cows." or "Maybe see birds."
Amber, Gerald and I were walking back to the house from the beach on Friday afternoon.  The street we turn on had a house with a large front yard and a dinosaur.  Hey look Amber, see the dinosaur! 

Maybe see dinosaur.

On Saturday we drove to Tillamook.  Sandi and I love to stop at the Blue Heron French Cheese Company.  Its fun to sample all the cheeses and sauces they offer.  They also have a little farm with goats, llamas and chickens.  Amber loved seeing the farm animals.

There's a goat in there!

Come here little chicken

We had such a great time.  Amber got to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa at the coast.  Mommy and Daddy got to see their little pumpkin play at the beach.  Amber entertained us every chance she got.