Saturday, July 26, 2014
Jen's 30th Birthday
My best friend Jen, celebrated her 30th birthday in mid-June, but we delayed the celebration until we could all be together. She made plans with another friend to take us out on Lake Washington in Seattle on his yacht! It was a beautiful day, warm and not windy. We enjoyed a relaxing time on the boat and then headed out to dinner with more friends.
Camping at Salmon la Sac
Just prior to all the fires starting in Washington State, we were lucky enough to get out camping to one of our favorite locations - Salmon la Sac. It was a HOT weekend, but the shaded campground and the nearby river made it easy to cool off. We love these large family camping weekends!
The same crew from our last camping adventure last fall!
We drove about 9 miles up a mountain to find beautiful waterfalls, rivers and amazing scenery.
A trip to Sandpoint
In celebration of my dad's 60th birthday earlier this year, we planned a family trip to Sandpoint, Idaho. We rented a beautiful home on the Idaho Club Golf Course just outside of town.
It started with dinner at McDuffs - they have the best beer cheese soup. On our way there, Ellie and I found this fun, colorful alley.
It started with dinner at McDuffs - they have the best beer cheese soup. On our way there, Ellie and I found this fun, colorful alley.
The next morning we ventured out to the beach on Lake Pend Orielle. It was a bit cold that morning, still under 60 degrees, but the kids didn't seem to mind.
showing off her moat - she named it Moses Lake
Lunch at Bricks and Barley
The Idaho Club has an interesting history which includes Jack Nickolas, a fire at the 9.2 million dollar clubhouse, and landing in a sheriff's auction as of a few weeks ago. Sure hope to see the group that bought it restore it to what it had been.
Adventures in Dental Work
Ellie has a pretty substantial cross bite. We've known it for awhile, but the earliest they will do anything about it is 4.5 years old and really depends on the kid's personality. We hit that magic number and Ellie seemed to be pretty calm at the dentist so we tried it out. She had an appointment to get fitted for the rings that would attach to her molars and have a mold made. During this first appointment, Ellie was amazing. They tried 6 different rings on the first molar and 2 on the second. Ellie was just as relaxed as could be. When we went to take the impression, she had more difficulty. The goo started to gag her and she freaked out a bit. Once we sat her up right that helped with the gag and she calmed down.
And in another appointment they attached the device. This was not as easy as the first appointment. The minute they put the device in she freaked out. I promised her a lot of things to get her to calm down but nothing worked. We ended up giving her some nitrous and that calmed her down just enough for us to work. We got it in and in a matter of minutes she was back to her happy self. I kept my word on all those things I promised - ordered the Elsa (Frozen) doll in the parking lot from my phone on Amazon Prime, we made cookies that week and we also went and had pedicures at a nail salon (a first for Ellie).
What's more impressive, is that we had to 'turn' the device every night. Ellie did this without issue! She would plop her butt down on the floor every night, open her mouth and tilt her head back for me. Sometimes it was a struggle to get the little 'key' in the hole, but even when it wasn't quick, Ellie was calm.
Unfortunately for us, this all came to an end this week. She had her 2 week check up and determined we needed 10 more turns. And then the device would come out in 4 more months. Jared had done the last few turns while I was gone for the weekend, so when I turned it Monday night I was surprised to see some of the composite that holds the front of the device in place missing. Not sure how it didn't get caught at the appointment, so back she went on Tuesday. What they found out is that the entire device was loose. So they had to take it out completely and reglue it. Except that it wouldn't hold. The device had some issues and ultimately was too loose. Because Ellie had a similar reaction to taking it out and putting it back in this time as she did the first time, the decision was made to just wait a couple more years until she was more comfortable to remake the device and put it in again.
Although it was a little disappointing to have wasted so much time and effort on this, I am glad that the dentist has her interest in mind instead of financial gain. Additionally, they refunded our payment because it was a device problem and nothing to do with Ellie.
And in another appointment they attached the device. This was not as easy as the first appointment. The minute they put the device in she freaked out. I promised her a lot of things to get her to calm down but nothing worked. We ended up giving her some nitrous and that calmed her down just enough for us to work. We got it in and in a matter of minutes she was back to her happy self. I kept my word on all those things I promised - ordered the Elsa (Frozen) doll in the parking lot from my phone on Amazon Prime, we made cookies that week and we also went and had pedicures at a nail salon (a first for Ellie).
This is the device in place
Special lunch date with Dad after appointment
What's more impressive, is that we had to 'turn' the device every night. Ellie did this without issue! She would plop her butt down on the floor every night, open her mouth and tilt her head back for me. Sometimes it was a struggle to get the little 'key' in the hole, but even when it wasn't quick, Ellie was calm.
Unfortunately for us, this all came to an end this week. She had her 2 week check up and determined we needed 10 more turns. And then the device would come out in 4 more months. Jared had done the last few turns while I was gone for the weekend, so when I turned it Monday night I was surprised to see some of the composite that holds the front of the device in place missing. Not sure how it didn't get caught at the appointment, so back she went on Tuesday. What they found out is that the entire device was loose. So they had to take it out completely and reglue it. Except that it wouldn't hold. The device had some issues and ultimately was too loose. Because Ellie had a similar reaction to taking it out and putting it back in this time as she did the first time, the decision was made to just wait a couple more years until she was more comfortable to remake the device and put it in again.
Although it was a little disappointing to have wasted so much time and effort on this, I am glad that the dentist has her interest in mind instead of financial gain. Additionally, they refunded our payment because it was a device problem and nothing to do with Ellie.
4th of July - Black Butte
This year we did something different for the 4th of July. Our friends, Joel and Cailin, invited us to Black Butte, Oregon to spend the weekend with Cailin's family at their cabin. We had a wonderful, active weekend, filled with golf, pool time, bike rides, walks and more!
We left on our trip Thursday afternoon, as its just barely under an 8 hour drive. The kids did so well - took naps, colored, watched movies on their portable player, sang songs, and played I Spy. We arrived just prior to 9 pm and the kids stayed up a bit longer since they were soo excited to have finally arrived.
Friday morning, Cailin's mom had a surprise for Ellie - decorations for her bike, so she could ride in the bike parade. An annual tradition at the Black Butte Ranch. We took a long bike ride, probably 4-5 miles to get to the location where the parade starts. There were soo many people there. It was really amazing to have so many people gathered together celebrating Independence Day with a bike parade. All the kids bikes were adorable. Ellie rode her bike the whole way through the parade - We were so proud of her. Cailin has a picture of her bike decked out I need to get still.
We later headed off to the pool later that afternoon. Ryan probably drank a gallon of pool water - what a goofy boy.
That night we went for a nice long group walk across the golf course. It was a beautiful evening and fun to see so many other people out enjoying the beauty of nature.
Saturday the boys went golfing in the morning and the girls adventured out for a bike ride with all the kids. It was really quite an adventure. We biked through the meadow again (which is filled with cows and horses). The kids moo'ed and neigh'ed all the way through it. Then we rode over towards the general store, where we got to see different horses in the stables and treated ourselves to ice cream.
The afternoon brought more pool time and fortunately less water drinking for Ryan this time. Later in the evening we saw deer right out back of the property. The kids were really really close. Ryan told everyone, while using his hands, "I want to pet it. I want to hug it. I want to shoot it." Guess he really is his father's son. We as a little family went on a walk later on too and saw more deer - actually a lot more. Two males who barely had nubs, a doe and her tiny baby who was nursing and a couple others from a distance. It was pretty amazing.
Sunday was a short day, but we made the most of it with a morning bike ride. This time we went towards a natural ground water spring, which was soo cold and refreshing. We also went to the lodge where we had the most perfect view of the mountains - Sisters and Mt. Washington.
A long trip back to Spokane was in our future, but again the kids did wonderfully.
All in all it was a pretty wonderful weekend. Ryan made a new dog friend in Gus (Cailin's parent's dog). He was so sweet petting him all the time and giving him hugs. Ellie was infatuated with Lily. She wanted to help her do everything, sit next to her all the time and was just generally in awe. Ellie was also very sad about leaving and wouldn't say goodbye to anyone. She said she never wanted to leave.
We left on our trip Thursday afternoon, as its just barely under an 8 hour drive. The kids did so well - took naps, colored, watched movies on their portable player, sang songs, and played I Spy. We arrived just prior to 9 pm and the kids stayed up a bit longer since they were soo excited to have finally arrived.
Friday morning, Cailin's mom had a surprise for Ellie - decorations for her bike, so she could ride in the bike parade. An annual tradition at the Black Butte Ranch. We took a long bike ride, probably 4-5 miles to get to the location where the parade starts. There were soo many people there. It was really amazing to have so many people gathered together celebrating Independence Day with a bike parade. All the kids bikes were adorable. Ellie rode her bike the whole way through the parade - We were so proud of her. Cailin has a picture of her bike decked out I need to get still.
We later headed off to the pool later that afternoon. Ryan probably drank a gallon of pool water - what a goofy boy.
That night we went for a nice long group walk across the golf course. It was a beautiful evening and fun to see so many other people out enjoying the beauty of nature.
Saturday the boys went golfing in the morning and the girls adventured out for a bike ride with all the kids. It was really quite an adventure. We biked through the meadow again (which is filled with cows and horses). The kids moo'ed and neigh'ed all the way through it. Then we rode over towards the general store, where we got to see different horses in the stables and treated ourselves to ice cream.
Lily and Liam (cousins) - Lily is Joel and Cailin's daughter. Our kids borrowed a bike trailer exactly like this and loved it!
the meadow
Getting some ice cream at the stables and general store
Cailin's mom holding Lily, Cailin, Liam and Cailin's sister in law
The afternoon brought more pool time and fortunately less water drinking for Ryan this time. Later in the evening we saw deer right out back of the property. The kids were really really close. Ryan told everyone, while using his hands, "I want to pet it. I want to hug it. I want to shoot it." Guess he really is his father's son. We as a little family went on a walk later on too and saw more deer - actually a lot more. Two males who barely had nubs, a doe and her tiny baby who was nursing and a couple others from a distance. It was pretty amazing.
Sunday was a short day, but we made the most of it with a morning bike ride. This time we went towards a natural ground water spring, which was soo cold and refreshing. We also went to the lodge where we had the most perfect view of the mountains - Sisters and Mt. Washington.
This spring was sooo cold!
Sisters mountains
A long trip back to Spokane was in our future, but again the kids did wonderfully.
All in all it was a pretty wonderful weekend. Ryan made a new dog friend in Gus (Cailin's parent's dog). He was so sweet petting him all the time and giving him hugs. Ellie was infatuated with Lily. She wanted to help her do everything, sit next to her all the time and was just generally in awe. Ellie was also very sad about leaving and wouldn't say goodbye to anyone. She said she never wanted to leave.
Gus - aka God's dog
Ellie just in love with Miss Lily
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