One thing this year is teaching us is to be creative in our pursuit of entertainment and gathering. We haven't had family dinners for months, but it is hard to give up our holidays! So, along the same lines as our Memorial Day get together, we needed to think outside of the box for Fourth of July. It is way too hot, like Hades hot, to just chill outdoors with the family.
So, we had our festive food indoors, while annexing the elder family members to their own table so no covid droplets were potentially being shared during the meal! ha!
Riverton City did not hold the Freedom Fest where we always go to watch fireworks, understandably. Hundreds of people packed into the park like sardines could potentially be a super spreader event. Because we weren't going to the park, we parted ways with family after our dinner and fourth of July fashion prep and spent the evening at a friend's house to swim and watch whatever pyrotechnics surrounded their place. It was pretty amazing.
So, big thank you to the Martin's for letting us enjoy our holiday in a new way!
While we were sad not to spend the entire holiday with the fam, the kids got lots of family time at Spruces campground for a campout! Because Shannon is a camping guru and super Aunt extraordinaire, she offered to let the kids sleep up there with her-Dave and I wouldn't even have to go. Don't get me wrong (or Dave for that matter) we both love love love the mountains, hiking, spending time in nature, the views, the fresh air, the disconnecting with the fast pace of 'real life.' But...we also really like showers and a bed that includes a mattress. I took Shannon up on her offer and helped set up camp, spent the day, then came back to sleep at home.
We had never been masked in the mountains before, never thought we ever would need to be, but now we can check that off our of bucketlist...
It was a special occasion treat because Haley and Gage drove over from Colorado to join in the fun too.
There is nothing like camping out- I bet! Ha! Really, there is nothing like the great outdoors. It is refreshing and fun, a time to bond,
a time to let it all out.
Mountain Magic
The girls were lucky to spend more family time in July-this time with the McArthur side in the blazing heat of Arizona. Dave met Kimber half way, dropped of our little ladies and they spent 5 days with cousins and grandparents swimming and summering just as it should be done every year!
The boys stayed home with me. Grant worked (he got a job at Iceberg Drive Inn in May), hungout with friends and bummed around. Harrison spent one of the days at Lagoon with Porter and Jaylee, Paige and Shannon. Really, it was the people mentioned minus Jaylee most of the day.
Jaylee wasn't having the Lagoon atmosphere. It was our first time trying Lagoon a Beach. I wish I could say it was our last time, but I am afraid my kids will drag me more. There are few things I despise more than water parks- the pruney fingers and toes might be the number one reason. Shrively digits are the textures of my nightmares. Anywho... it was so fun to spend the day with them there (once we got to the rides)! Harrison loved the water slides and I am sure he will want to take the other kids there soon. I will endure the agony.
I am actually not a huge water play fan, in general. I would regard myself as brave, but deep ocean makes me a little leary, if someone is trying to swim in open water without a life vest, I am on high alert. I don't want to go scuba diving, like, ever. Harrison has become fascinated with ocean travel lately, particularly the Titanic disaster. Why? who really knows?? He is constantly looking up facts about it, printing off coloring pages, and explaining what went wrong. Here is a lovely diagram of what happened that he illustrated.
He did do marvelously at swim lessons this year, so he has no fear of water. It has been nice to have things to break of the routine of the every day.
We have all been home a lot doing the same old things...you know, lockdown and all that.
We had a lot of trips planned this year, Girls Camp, EFY, youth conference, family vacation, Ireland/President's Club...can't even hardly talk about that one! It has been a tough pill to swallow to give those adventures up. We were yearning to hit the road and wanted to do it in a safe and quick way, so we packed up the sanitizer, masks, wipes and took a long driving, quick road trip to see Blake and co.
Wow, people weren't exaggerating with the whole Coeur d'Alene is breathtaking description.
We drove all day, arrived at night and in time to take a stroll at the lake. Wading revolved into self inflicted wedgies, apparently, and frightening the ducks that were trying to enjoy their evening.
We stayed in a hotel, but fully sanitized the room, hardly went through the lobby, wore a mask through our entrance and stairway and pretty much isolated in the accommodations. We ate at some fun restaurants, took the kids with Blake and Grace to the lake to swim and jump in from the rocks, met up with Suzanne and Caitlyn for food, and the girls slept at their house one night.
By far, the best thing we did was the bike ride on the Road to Hiawatha. It was incredible and unforgettable. Picture a mile long dark tunnel, a dirt path down a mountain, train trestles, trees and lush scenery, and you can almost imagine what it was like.
We weren't sure if Harrison would be able to bike the entire 15 miles-it is downhill, but he is a newbie to the whole bicycle feel in general. So, we decided to rent a bike that was pretty much Dave pedaling and Harrison connected on the back to a small bike, but he couldn't steer or regain balance. At the beginning, when those two tried to attempt a ride, Harrison jumped off and screamed that he would not be joining us. That sums up his dialogue. We had to send Blake and the rest of the crew ahead while we coaxed Harrison back onto the bike and encouraged him through his loud screaming that he was going to be great and love it! Eventually, Master Harry got on the vehicle, but every time Dave stopped to check on someone, or if they ended up in the last spot, the tantrum ensued. Despite the yelling and crying, he loved it! Haha! We all finished up muddy and looking like a diaper exploded up our backs, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Next time, we would just get Harrison his own bike!
It's funny to me how we see our own behavior as perfectly reasonable, but when someone else may be exhibiting similar reactions, we find them to be irrational. When Brenna was yelling at me, Harrison turned and said, "um, mom, is she having a breakdown?!" It is nice to know other people go through our emotions and experiences. We have one person leaving the braces camp at our house ...(David-30 lbs lighter, teeth straighter, shortened and whiter-hopefully preventing any gum grafts)
and little miss Katelee is embarking on her orthodontic journey.
Before shot..
to picking junk out of her teeth...I swore I took a pic right out of the ortho office, but this will have to do because I can't find it.
We are so grateful for these fun things we have been able to do this month! It's amazing how the little things start to matter so much more. This may be a bit crude for some, but Harrison ran into the bathroom the other day and had a really long pee...then he exclaimed, "that was heavenly." Isn't it funny how things we don't think twice about become heavenly?? I think that mind set is one I want to always keep and we can thank this year for teaching us that.
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