J.W. FOUTZ FAMILY REUNION 2008, BELLA BEACH OREGON

Every three years my family, meaning my parents, siblings and all the nieces and nephews, get together at a particular location and have FUN FUN FUN!!! This year my sister Hannie was in charge and planned our reunion on the Oregon coast. For one full week this September we hung out together and made lots of good memories.



The community we stayed in was called Bella Beach. There are several private homes and town homes rented out to vacationers to enjoy the beauties of the coast. I loved Bella Beach for the quaintness, quietness and cleanliness. We were about maybe 1/2 block from the beach, so what more could you ask for.



This home is named CAMELOT and is where the boys and I resided for the week. It was beautifully furnished, spacious and totally met all of our needs. On the first floor was a family gathering room with a nice gas fireplace and dining room. There was a full service kitchen with a wonderful island to prepare meals at. Attached to the kitchen was a sitting room with a T.V. hooked up to cable so all the kids could keep in tune with the latest cartoon network episodes, the boys could watch the games and dad could keep up with the happenings of politics. There was also an eating room, laundry room and off the kitchen between the garage was a hot tub spa. Above the garage was a room and full bath. Upstairs were two bedrooms that shared a full bath and a master bedroom with its own bath. On the third floor was a very large loft, accommodated with three trundle beds, T.V., VCR/DVD combo, and full bath, where the "Four Musketeers" resided.


This is the other home we occupied called SUNSET. Downstairs was two bedrooms, a full bath and a larger bedroom with three sets of bunk beds. Upstairs was the master bedroom with its own full bath, a 1/2 bath, full service kitchen, dining room and living room. On the third level was a sitting area and family room with a hide-a-bed and entertainment center equipped with a PS2 but we never did let the boys find it.

Both homes were so nice, every family had their own room and our needs were met in every respect.


These next two pictures are of the beach. It was pretty drizzly and cloudy this day but even so the beach is so beautiful.



Here are Nicholas and Andrew playing on the beach and in the water with their cousins Hyrum and Zach.





What a glorious sight. Sunset on the beach. It just doesn't get much better than this. Thanks to Heavenly Father for allowing us to behold such beauty.



This photo is my favorite.


The first organized activity we participated in was CRABBING. We actually got to go out in the bay and catch crabs. This was one of my favorite things of the trip. The day was perfect and we had lots of fun and learned a few things as well. In the next several pictures I will take you through the whole crabbing process.

This is the boat we rode on to catch our crabs.


These are the crab pots which are the traps we will be using to catch crabs.


These two pictures are of the sunrise on the bay as we go out to catch those crabs.



This is the Yaquina bridge going over the bay.


Birds hanging out on the rocks in the bay.


Here they are so excited to catch that first crab.


This is step one in the crabbing process, throw out the pot into the water. There is a buoy attached to the pot so it can be located later and a mesh bag filled with dead fish for bait.


Next a log pole with a hook on it is used to grab onto the rope so the pot can be brought up to the surface.


After the rope is hooked it has to be reeled in. Here are the boys pulling with all their might bringing in that crab pot.


This is another shot of reeling in the crab pot.


Once the rope is reeled in the pot is pulled in onto the boat.


The pot is then carried over to the container which holds our catch.


The crabs are then dumped out of the pot.


The crabs are then separated by gender and size. We were only able to keep male crabs and ones who were the right measurement, if I remember right they had to be 5 3/4 inches across the back. We then took our catch back to port had them boiled and home to eat. YUM YUM!



The water in the Pacific ocean off the Oregon coast is SO VERY COLD, but that didn't stop my little dare devils. Here they are, probably after hypothermia has already set in, testing out their skills in the waves. They had so much fun. What CRAZY boys.




Here are the three of us taking our turn steering the boat. It was really fun having a turn. The captain had a neat navigation computer that showed the contours of the sea floor and where the best route was to steer the boat.




Here are some crazy people holding crabs. We finally learned the proper technique so we, or at least I, wouldn't get pinched. Notice the crabs that I am holding, one is a male and one is a female. The female has a larger base on the belly and the male has a thin narrow base.




The Oregon Coast is home to many male sealions. After mating in California they swim up the coast and hang out here to eat and play around leaving mom home to care for the pups. Typical male. (hehehe) This was my second favorite part of the trip. It was so cool to hear the noises they made and watch them just hang out.






Neices and Nephews

The 4 Musketeers - Andrew, Zach, Nicholas and Hyrum


Caleb (sorry bud I had to borrow this pic from Hans cuz I somehow didn't get a photo of you but didn't want to leave you out)



Emma and Kenzie


Dallin


Will


Ruby


Stan


Sierra


Chance


While at the park we walked through the forrest and found the oldest tree in Oregon which is estimated to be over 400 years old. It is pretty darn big.






Here the kids are playing at the park.

Nicholas giving Dallin a good push.


Kenzie enjoying the swing. Aren't her pigtails so cute?


Andrew in the drivers seat.


Nicholas crossing the moat.


Emma riding the tire.


Emma and her big smile.


Here is a neat little chair carved into the stump of a tree.


Views of the Oregon Coast








We had such a wonderful reunion. Everyone was there and it was so good to renew our freindships and catch up on what everyone has been up to. Next time it will be up to Jacob to plan our week of fun and excitement. Until then sending much love and more blog updates.