Seaside OR 2010

Last weekend we headed down to Seaside OR to join Gramma Kitty, Grampa Don and Aunt Trudy for Hazel's 2nd Dixieland Jubilee jazz festival. With the aid of earplugs, Hazel actually sat still for over an hour and listed to Blue Street perform. She especially enjoyed the New Orleans style parade, as the musicians sauntered around the room and played to individuals. We also spent some time in Cannon Beach and Tillamook, where Hazel enjoyed watching cheese being processed and ate some yummy chocolate chip mint ice cream. Weatherwise, it was February, so we had two rather misty/rainy days and one lovely last day for playing on the beach. Too bad we left Hazel's new umbrella at home - she does like her umbrella. I bet she'd like Gene Kelly's routine.
What do we do while it rains? New puzzles - four pictures of construction equipment. Very cool.

Where's the beach? Right over there?

There it is. What a great view we had this year!

There was a store in town with some pretty nifty NASCAR souvenirs. Hazel likes the M&Ms, and Mom and Dad like the driver - Ken Schrader. She looks a little too comfortable, don't you think? How old do you have to be to race go-karts?

At last, what Hazel was waiting for... the beach! Aunt Trudy is the best playmate!

They started with some bubbles before moving into construction.I made several runs to the water's edge to fill Hazel's water bucket, so she could make more "mud sand." Got to have mud sand for solid building.

Do you think Hazel was overdressed? I saw at least one little girl in a bathing suit - brrr...

Some kids create the standard castle at the beach, but Hazel built a volcano and then poured water on it for lava.

She spent a lot of time raking too.

There was no need to get dirty, as long as you're short and flexible and can squat inches from the ground. When she complained that her hands were dirty, I told her to just brush them off on her pants and demonstrated on my own pants. So she walked over to clean her hands on my pants. I don't think so.

Aunt Trudy planted a flower garden at the base of the volcano...

...which Hazel was watering, so the flowers would grow. Her grasp of physics is fairly rudimentary, and the flowers melted instead.

Is that the Tsunami they warned us about? Nope, just another wave.

Trying to scoop only water, and not the zippy water bugs enjoying a swim.