Riverfront Park

After water skiing with the Hodges, we went into Spokane to reminisce with the kids. 

We wanted to show them some of our favorite Spokane sites. (We lived in Spokane from June 1996-April 1998.) Rylee was born during that time, but was so young probably only remembers it from pictures.

First stop was Dick's Hamburgers...a low tech, greasy burger Spokane landmark.

Next, we went to Riverfront Park.

We ran with the "running people"..who pay tribute to the annual Lilac Bloom's Day Run.

We stopped by the "garbage goat"..but he was out of order.

When Rylee was little, she LOVED the garbage goat. She would run around and find little pieces of garbage and feed it to the goat. The goat sucks it up and "eats" it. --Whomever came up with this idea is genius. 

Treyson

Abree                                                          

Rylee

Taylee

The huge Radio Flyer slide is so fun.

See how big it is? The tires are taller than us.

The famous Spokane skyline.

Many of these things were built for the 1974 World's Fair in Spokane.

As we walked all over the park, we talked about our memories; the summer when we arrived and I was pregnant with Rylee and wanted to stop at each park bench to rest, the 4th of July where Rylee almost got burnt  from the cinders falling from the big firework display and the time Grandma and Grandpa Smullin visited and we rode the famous Looff Carousel.

We especially enjoyed walking over the bridges and looking at the rushing Spokane River. We wanted to go on the Skyride Gondola, but it was getting late and was closed. Bummer.

Rylee's legs started to show her wake board attempts, from earlier in the day. 

Ouch!

Jason and I had a lot of fun reminiscing..the kids tolerated it. :)

Water skiing with the Hodges

For our family vacation this year, we went North...Post Falls, ID. We stayed with Krissi and Steve Goodmansen, and their family, in their brand new home. They had just moved in on a Tuesday and we were there on that Saturday!

When Bob and Karen Hodge found out that we would be in the area, they invited us out to their home in Medical Lake, WA, for some lunch and water skiing.

The Hodge's home on their private lake.

Abree modeling her brand new swimsuit.

Are we ready for some FUN?!

Bob Hodge

Jason was first up..or should I say down. 

On his second or third try, he did the splits and pulled his hamstring. Later it turned black and blue and he had a big knot on the back of his thigh. It's been weeks and it still bothers him occasionally. He hurt himself good.

Bob showing us how it's done.

Taylee was next up.

She struggled to keep her skis straight up, so Bob got in the water to try and help. After many tries without success, it was someone else's turn.

Rylee tried to get up on the wake board.

She was determined, but didn't have success that day.

Bobby, Bob's oldest son, was a patient, kind teacher and boat driver.

Bob thought he had a solution to Taylee's problem. He duct taped rocks to the back of the skis so that they would stay down in the water. Taylee got a second chance. The skis stayed down... but so did Taylee. Lots of close calls, but no success at getting up.

Treyson decided he would try it too. After several attempts he called it quits.

He said, "Mom... I'm a quitter."

I said, "I don't think you're a quitter. I'm proud of you for trying."

Funny kid.

Our family didn't actually get up that day, but I appreciated their determination and was glad they had the opportunity.

Thank you to the Hodge Family for your kindness and generosity.

4th of July

We started our 4th of July celebrating by going down to the car wash for a BBQ. Jason provided the burgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks, while the employees contributed salads and desserts. It was a yummy lunch.

I saw this star braid on Pinterest and had to try it on Abree for the 4th of July. 

It turned out so cute she asked if I would give her doll, Piper the same hair-do. 

Later Taylee and Rylee joined the star club when they asked if I would braid their hair also.

That evening, we went to Grandma McKinley's neighborhood park for a family BBQ and fireworks.

Micaela

Lizzy-Taylee-Dean

Dean brought some little known facts about the United States that he shared with us.

Tyrel and Lexie.. the newly engaged couple.

Treyson and Sterling wrestling.

After a great dinner, we gathered for a firework display by Dean. You could say that some of us may have been a little nervous about how close the LIT fireworks were to the UNLIT fireworks.
We had at least one exciting moment, that had the kids and adults moving back a few more feet. I don't remember the details, but I do know that Chanel ended up with a welt on her cheek and Taylee got something in her eye. :)

Dean-Grandpa Waite

Candice-Jason

Treyson-(Brinton)-Jackson

Taylee-Micaela-Jackson-Treyson-Abree-Lexie

Jackson-Levi-Dean

The kids liked the POPS.

Abree-Lizzy-Rylee-Micaela-Taylee-Daisylyn-Amber

And they took turns with the roman candles. 

I was NOT put in charge of any sparklers this year...I think I may never have that job again...I have a bad reputation. :)

Happy Birthday America!

Workin' At the Carwash...

We've talked about it for years, but this summer it finally came to fruition..Rylee worked for Jason at the carwash.

Her first day of work, he texted me a picture of her drying off a car.
The text read, "A dream come true..I am a proud daddy!"

Typically they would go into work together early (6:30am!) and many days she would stay all day until he was ready to come home (5-6:00pm). She worked long, hard hours, but made good tips and good money for a 15 year old. She got along well with the other employees and really enjoyed her time there. She even learned some Spanish along the way.

One of her biggest concerns was the "carwasher's tan" she got, but she made it look good. :)