Sandcastles...

Last weekend we headed south to spend the weekend in Oregon with Alysha and Jason.

Two words: gorgeous drive.

Two more: bad mother.

Because when your kids are thirsty and you're out of water, you do what you have to do.

Moving on.

We spent Saturday at the coast -- first stopping at Cannon Beach to check out a sandcastle contest.

Fate smiled upon us and granted blue skies for most of the day -- a small miracle in this part of the world.

 These sand artists were insane.
I had no idea sand could be morphed this way.
 

It seems like an entirely depressing profession -- spending hours on a masterpiece only to watch the ocean destroy it soon after completion.

I think I'll stick to digging holes.

Lola was in heaven.
The ocean on one side, princess castles on the other.
What more could a girl need?

We met up with the Atwoods, and James immediately fell in love with Scotty the pup.

Cannon Beach is one of my favorite places on this planet.