Fairy Tale Birthday 2010

My birthday extravaganza started the day before my birthday. I got to work to find this beautiful cake on my desk. Ben had arranged it with my friend Rebecca so that it could be there first thing in the morning. It was white cake, fresh strawberry filling and whipped cream frosting from my favorite, Beaverton Bakery. So very yummy!Of course I saved some to bring home to Ben! Even after a relaxing, leisurely evening, it was hard to go to sleep. I was so looking forward to my birthday adventure. My alarm was set for 7 am because we were supposed to leave between 8 and 830. I was awake at 6 am! Finally it was time to get a clue...my first card of the day. It said that I couldn't start the day on an empty stomach. So we got in the car and went to Village Inn for breakfast. It's been a long time since I've been there and it was so good!

Then, breakfast was over and I got card #2... it said that the next hour was for relaxing. After driving through parking lots and going in circles, Ben parked in front of Massage Envy. I was ecstatic! After an hour with Leslie, I was a limp noodle feeling so very good! It was hard but I focused long enough to read card number #3. It said to sit back and enjoy the view.

After we drove through beautiful farm country, we found our way into the Tillamook State Forest. Ben pulled into Charles Sprague Memorial Wayside for what I thought was to stretch our legs. It was really a romantic picnic lunch from my new favorite, Panera Bread. Yummy Caesar salad and even my old favorite- Dr. Pepper!

After eating lunch, we got back in the car and headed toward Tillamook. This was a cool bridge over the Trask River. I really liked it!

We arrived at our destination, Oceanside! My darling husband knows how much I love being at the beach. I would go every weekend if I could! He couldn't have picked a more perfect place for me to celebrate my birthday. I am so lucky! (He looks so serious but this was right before he rolled up his jeans and put on flipflops!)

We were very close to some rocks so Ben decided to climb them. Remember, he was wearing flipflops (in his own words, they are not real shoes). But he found a place to sit down so I could take his picture.

I don't think I mentioned how high he climbed in those flipflops. Look how high up he was!!!

So we went around the side of the rock and I stopped to explore the crustaceans on the side of the rock. It was so cool to touch them and watch them move.

Ahhhh- the tide's coming in and that is some cold water!

We walked and walked and explored and splashed...what an amazing day! But the clouds were starting to roll in and all too soon, it was time to go. As we were walking back to the car, we came upon a wedding that was about to start. I took lots of pictures but this one stuck with me. Look closely at the look on her face...she is glowing...but not as much as me!

What's Tillamook without cows? A boring town and no ingredients to make cheese, lol! We saw lots of happy cows enjoying the sun as much as we did.

On the way back, we stopped at the Tillamook Forest Center. We didn't have much time to look around because they were about to close but we have already put it on our calendar to visit in August. The Wilson River runs by the Center and everything was beautiful. Can't wait to come back!

Always pushing the limits aren't you?! As I recall, I take these pictures of you on the wrong side of the fence pretty frequently, don't I? Didn't this picture turn out great? I agree!I love you darling- thank you for a perfect birthday extravaganza!