Fun with the Kiddos

I post a lot of travel stories on my blog, mostly because that is the most interesting part of my life haha, but sometimes people ask me if I ever actually do any work! Well, let me dispel that myth! Yes, I do work! Actually, I work heaps and heaps! The life of an au pair is one of being with kids alll the time, trying to keep up with the never-ending laundry, and trying to contain the trail of toys and kid's stuff that somehow makes its way into every corner of the house. Some days are full of tears and tantrums and whinging; other days are great and full of fun! Every day is different - never a dull moment, and always full of energy and fun!

Here is a glimpse into my work life, the fun I have with my kiddos (there's a video too so have a watch! haha)

Funny faces!

Sliding down slides! (Thankyou to whoever came up with this wonderful three slide design!)

Even I love slides!

Rolling down hills!

More rolling down hills! Oh we do love it so much!

Intense indoor volleyball tournaments

Indoor volleyball court

Talking a stroll

Locked in a cage

Pyjama party!

Epic war battles in the dark

Cuddles :)

All singing all dancing!

I have to say, looking over these photos just reminds me again and again that I LOVE MY JOB!!! :):):)

Walking (Driving) Among Giants

Despite being in the USA for over a year, I still have not completed everything on my travel list. Perhaps that is because my list was crazily ambitious, but that is beside the point. The point is that I am still determined to complete all the things on my list before I return to New Zealand. (The list is getting smaller! Whoohoo!). One of the things on the list that I really wanted to do was to see the mighty redwood forests of Northern California. And last weekend, this is exactly what I did!

The redwood forests contain the tallest trees in the entire world, the largest of which is 379 feet tall, a whole six stories larger than the Empire State Building! These huge trees dot the coastal areas surrounding Eureka and Crescent City in California. In amongst it all is a scenic drive called the 'Avenue of The Giants', a world famous 31 mile road that meanders right through these gigantic trees. I was so keen to do this trip, all I needed was a free weekend and a couple of friends crazy enough to do the 1500 mile (2400km) trip in 48 hours! 

Finally I found my opportunity, and I leapt at it with both hands! I found some friends to come with me and off we went on a Friday night. We drove all night and arrived in California at 8.30 in the morning.

Welcome to CALIFORNIA!!

The beautiful and rugged west coast, all misty and bleak

Strange roadside attractions

Doing what I love: roadtripping with good friends, good music and good scenery!! My idea of heaven :)

We passed through the small town of Klamath where I had heard there was a tree large enough that you could actually drive a car through it, and for a large tourist-hiked price, we took that opportunity!

Driving through a tree!!!

Tourists :)

We continued South down the famous 101 highway towards Eureka. On the way we stopped at a few small coastal communities and were awed by the magnificent views of the coastline.

Misty but still so fiercely beautiful!

ta-da!

Small fishing towns

We got to Eureka right on lunchtime (how perfect! did I plan that? why yes, of course I did!). Eureka was a gorgeous little place. The waterfront part of it had lots of charming Victorian buildings and houses.

We stopped for lunch in a small cafe, tucked away off the main road - we were recommended by some locals. It was great! I always love getting recommendations from locals!

After our meal we continued down the highway towards the Avenue of the Giants. We were in for an amazing ride!! These photos do not do ANY justice to what we saw, what we experienced. My neck was in such pain from craning up to behold the full height of the trees.

I think the most amazing thing was that the road ran right through the forest, these massive trees were right up to the roadside! It was incredible, truly incredible.

Trees so big you can climb inside!

Wow

Does not do it justice!!!

We finished the wonderful road and began our trek back North. We stopped at a rest stop just north of the Oregon border and slept in my comfy Stallion. 

The next morning we were driving through Oregon and it was fabulous sunshine all day, we all felt amazing!! We stopped in Eugene, Oregon for some sightseeing and lunch. We tasted some famous Voodoo donuts, which are pretty much the craziest donuts I've ever seen

Bacon on a donut????

We took a selection of donuts (not the bacon one thank you, I have class!) and we headed to a local market where we got some delicious soup and salad. We sat outside and basked in the sun, eating and relaxing. It reminded me of great times in New Zealand, eating lunch in the sun. It was always one of my favourite things to do - enjoy a lovely cafe meal in the sun! And the best part is that we were not in a rush to leave! There was no time limit!! We sat there for a loooong time and it was fabulous to not have to look at our watches!! As au pairs we are always running to time limits, always in a rush. It was absolute luxury to eat slowly and sit down and just chat.

Sunny and happy!!

It was the perfect end to our roadtrip. From Eugene it was 4 and a 1/2 hours back to Seattle. We got back, exhausted but so happy. I slept well that night! What a fabulous weekend, I love taking opportunities!!

Spontaneous Roadtrip: Long Beach, Washington

Ooooh there is nothing I love more than spontaneous road trips!! The other day I was sick of the city, feeling the itch of the travel bug coming up and stirring my soul!!! So after church on Sunday my au pair friend and I took off driving South of Seattle, I had in mind Long Beach, but I wasn't quite certain because the weather was changeable and there had been forecasts for rain. Anyway, we just kept on driving and it seemed the weather was holding up well, in fact it was almost sunny at several points! So we continued and continued the full 3 and a half hours that it took to drive there, we passed through the Oregon township of Astoria on the way and got to go over the lovely Megler-Astoria bridge (it was not my first time, I've been to Astoria before, but none the less exciting the second time around!) 

Oregon

We pulled up to the seaside village of Long Beach, the weather was perfect! We immediately headed to the beach. Long Beach claims to be the longest beach in the world......

............buuuuttt actually it is not! When I got there I was looking at it and I was thinking that hmmm yes its long but I was not convinced that it was the longest beach in the world, and after a quick google search it turns out that it is not the longest beach, and in fact some of the longest beaches in the world are in fact in New Zealand, Australia, South America and Bangladesh. So I was right! Haha! But, it tries to be more accurate in claiming to be the "World's Longest Continuous Peninsula Beach", and also claims to the world's longest drivable beach. Well, I didn't need to be told twice, a beach I could drive on, I was there! haha. We pulled up to the beach carpark and I just drove right onto the beach, we had an absolute blast driving up and down the beach! My trusty Stallion with its 4wheel drive meant that I wasn't afraid of getting stuck in the sand. Oh it was so much fun, we turned the music up loud, sang out at the top of our lungs and tore that sand up!

Whoohooo!

After our sand trekking adventures we parked the car and walked along the boardwalk in the grass.

We walked up to the water, it was beautiful.

I decided that since I was wearing gumboots I was going to walk right into the sea, so I did! It was great, until I was posing for a photo and a wave came behind me and caught me off guard and my boots were filled with water! I had to make the walk of shame and defeat back to the sand, with my soaking wet and squelching boots. My friend never let me live it down! haha.

Walking in the water with my wet boots, still smiling!

As we continued walking down the beach we found some old whale bones found by an explorer over a hundred years ago, and I have to say, they were still in pretty good shape considering they are out there in the elements with all the salt and everything.

Whale bones to the left

Great day at the beach!

We wandered slowly back to the car and then drove back down the beach (teehee) and went to the township, looked through the shops and this funny roadside museum called Marsh's Free Museum, similar to Wall Drug in South Dakota - filled with random obscurities (and FREE! haha it got my attention). It sure made for some fun! 

As time went on we left and began the trip back to Seattle. It was such a good time! It made me feel so liberated!!! I need to feel that. I get too bogged down in everyday life and routine and I just feel the need to break out! After all, I am a traveller :).