Kalaloch

We just returned home from our summer vacation to the Olympic Peninsula with Justin's family.  We stayed for 5 days in cottages perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Kalaloch Beach.  We had a fabulous time and the kids loved the beach.  There was a mix up with our reservations and we ended up in cottages with out kitchenettes.  Justin's mom Kathy is always up for a challenge and we managed to cook our meals outside except for the day when we had pouring rain all day long.  Luckily, there was a lodge on the premises with a restaurant in it, so our contingency plan had us eating dinner there that night.  

The scenery was spectacular and the temperature topped out a balmy 65 degrees.  Justin was the only adult who braved the cold ocean along with all the kids.  We had fun exploring tide pools and finding starfish, sea anemones, barnacle covered rocks and other mollusks.  My kids could not stay out of the water, even when dressed in jeans and long sleeved t-shirts after roasting marshmallows over a fire on the beach.  All three ended up soaked from the chest down.

  All of Justin's brothers and their families were there for at least part of the time.  It was the first time all of us had vacationed together and it was a lot of fun.  The kids sure enjoyed playing with their Washington cousins.  At one point during the trip Brynne turned to me and said with much derision in her voice, "Mommy, how come we have to live by YOUR side of the family."  

Brynne, Barrett and Blythe the first time Barrett saw the ocean.

The kids playing on Kalaloch Beach.

Brynne, Emma and Blythe setting out on a nature hike.

Justin playing with Dallas, who loves her Uncle Justin.

Driftwood on the beach, making it superior 

to any beach in California according to Justin.

Barrett trying to balance on some driftwood.

The kids asleep on the futon in our cottage.

Barrett only lasted a few hours with the girls before

returning to his usual spot in the middle of our bed.