Oh Washington!

We had so much fun last summer, we knew we had to go back! With Covid hitting Washington hard, we didn't know what to do. But in the end, we went for it and it did not disappoint! Chad was so excited to surprise his brother at his office in his romper that he wore it the whole day in the car on Tuesday! (We left Monday night after a soccer game and made it to Pocatello, then hit the road early Tues.)

We ate at Cafe Rio in Montana and I was sure Chad would get beat up amid the cowboys in big trucks! HAHA he got a few great comments along the way. 

This view wouldn't ever get old! Pine Trees as far as you can see! Amazingly beautiful! And I didn't get car sick this time!

Mindy suggested Chad act as one of their Reps and ask to see Chet. The front desk ladies couldn't hold it in and busted up laughing about his outfit, but they were good sports. 

When we arrived at their house, the motor machines were hot and running! Brielle was ecstatic to show us that she has been DRIVING the 4wheeler!

I'm surprised we didn't leave more of a track in their grass wit how much these machines ran!

And the day we got there, Bri lost her first tooth!! Unfortunately she really LOST it in the carpet. But the tooth fairy still came!

This year, we rented a house down at Lake Roosevelt just minutes from the water! We got packed up and headed to the house Wed morning and asked a local where the closest beach was to us and he was super helpful and showed us a great little beach in a cove. The kids wasted no time in hopping in the water!

And in no time, Mollie's lips were blue! The water was pretty warm and it was hot, but where we were it was a bit colder. But look at this place!!!!!!

Once my toes hit the sand, all my unsettled feelings from the previous months melted! I didn't think about covid hardly at all this trip. My soul needs sunshine and I got just that and much of it! 

I played with the kids on the beach while the others got the boat ready. They were all ready to go and we were on the water all afternoon and evening!

We had several karaoke sessions and dance parties on the boat. So much fun partying with cousins!

The pictures do most of the talking and really we just played and played and played! Rylee napped in the boat every day and all the kids did so good. 

Sweet boat...even sweeter kids!

We had more time to play on the beach while it was windy one day and the kids just loved it. 

I made this little stack of balanced rocks just for fun but after looking at it I realized how symbolic it was for my life right now. I need balance so bad! In my social, spiritual, physical, intimate, relationships, and me time. Right now it is all out of wack! Sitting on this beach reminded me of some areas my life is lacking in and set some goals then and there of what I'd do better once we got home to get my life back in balance. 

The kids kept plenty busy building forts, sand castles, trying to hop on the surf board in the water and using nature around them to create fun things. 

We were way excited when we looked up and saw not one, but TWO bald eagles! So cool! They are so large and majestic. 

And every time we left the house there was a group of deer bedded down somewhere or eating fruit off the trees. It was so fun to see them everywhere!

We did not want to leave this gorgeous place but we know we will come again sometime. We love Chet and Mindy and their family and absolutely cherish this time with them. We can't wait till next time! 

The only thing that made leaving easier is getting to see Clyde and Evelyn on the way home!! They got permission to come home for Kari's wedding and we got to stop in pocatello again on the way home and spend the day with the rest of Chad's family! It was so great to see them. They seem so peaceful and happy. We are so grateful for their righteous examples for our kids. We sure love them and loved getting to see them for a few hours before they headed back on the road to Indiana!!!