"Laboring" at Liberty Lake

Clay missed the maiden voyage of the green boat, so we HAD to take her out to the lake when he was home!  So we headed down the road to Liberty Lake (literally just down the road!!!) and had a great time playing in the sand, cooling off in the water, and just chillin' as a family.  Clay took the kids out in shifts in the green canoe and Laura "worked hard" holding down the fort on the beach!!  What a great way to spend the day!

Home for Labor Day

Total Solar Eclipse of the Heart

"On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature's most awe-inspiring sights - a total solar eclipse."

Everyone was talking about the Eclipse...cities in the path of totality were getting ready for floods of people, disaster, chaos, etc.  Both Julie/Isaac in Bend & Brett/Kathy in Rexburg were both in locations of totality.  We debated on traveling to experience it, but honestly we didn't consider it too hard.  We had just driven across country to move, Clay just left for Oklahoma, and Laura was getting settled in our new home in Liberty Lake with the kids.  Sure...we would have loved to go and experience totality, but it just didn't happen this time around.  

We didn't even have the chance to order special eclipse glasses...so when it came time for the eclipse - Laura gathered the kids,  went outside - got the welding masks (Clay's idea) and watched the eclipse from the convenience of our driveway. 

 It got a little darker and hazy, but nothing real significant...after hearing stories of people who experienced totality - it was quite a let down....but we did get to rock out to Total Eclipse of the Heart with Jake Rabe, our new neighbor, as he sat in his lawn chair enjoying the eclipse rocking to appropriate music!!!  

IT's Slurpee Time

Nothing Says Summer like Slurpees and nothing says Slurpee like bring your own container day!!!!  We definitely made our way to the Post Falls 7-11 and participated in "Bring your own container" and fill it for a $1.99 day!!!    We had fun searching the house for the perfect containers - we ended up with water bottles, canteens, camping pots, large mugs, tupperware, etc. and We then headed out and filled them with our favorite slurpee flavors!!  

Slush it up Baby!!!

Unfinished Hike

When we lived in Spokane 8-10  years ago, we started this hike several times but never finished it...we would get a good start, then when we would get to the beach area, we would say, "let's stop and let the kids play, then we will finish the hike"  well, each and every time - we said and did the same thing... but we never finished the hike...it was always either too late and getting dark after we were done playing, or everyone was hungry, or everyone was tired so we would just head back the way we came rather than finish the hike.  We always had a fun time - so we never had any regrets, but well...we just never finished it... so when Laura told Becky and Brayden about the unfinished hike, they said...lets go and do it and finish it! Well....

I guess we will have to leave this unfinished hike on the unfinished bucket list a little longer... we gave it a good attempt, but  that beach area is just too tempting!!!  Becky and Brayden...there ya go - another reason to come up to Spokane again - we HAVE to finish this hike!

The Coeur D'Alene Hike

Yes, we just saw them a few days ago, but when you live this close - you can see each other all the time!!!  So on their days off of work this week, Becky and Brayden came up to Spokane to spend a few days with us!