Riley Creek...Crank it up to BROIL!

Mead Schools ended on a half day ON JUNE 25TH, for crying out loud, so we were packed and ready to go camping for a week at Riley Creek.  Little did we know, the week ahead of us would hold temperatures over 106 degrees!

We put the paddle boards in the water as soon as we got there, and had so much fun using them everyday.  We had to go early to stake our spot in the shade by the swimming area, and then when it was so hot everyday, we'd spend the day in the water, the only place where it was cool!

Nessa chewed right through this lead rope and chased the campground host's dog down the lane.  We were asked to keep our dog on a leash.  We're trying, lady!  :)

Shade, water, air conditioned campers and trucks, and restaurants with AC were our saving grace this week!  (Grace DID throw up from heat exhaustion, though.  Not totally saved.)

The Ross Family ended up tent camping right across from our spot!  It was so fun to share a little sweat and heat exhaustion with them.  Oh, and AC.  

Nessa broke right through her harness when she reached the end of the dog lead.  Yikes.  Drew and Annie told us that Swede did the same thing as a pup--almost broke his neck!  Eek.

We ended up leaving a day or so early--as did many in our group!--but we thought we had enough sweaty memories to last us a lifetime.

Josh Finishes Elementary School

Ah, this Ms. Leary will be a favorite of ours FOREVER.  This sweet teacher talked Josh off the ledge of anxiety at the beginning of the year, when we were sitting at home for an extra week during Smokapocalypse.  Josh was worried about being at a new school: will he have any other Midway kids in his class? will he know where to go? who will his teacher be?  He was worked up.  We emailed Ms. Leary and she emailed back RIGHT AWAY, alleviating some of Josh's worries.  Throughout the year, she allowed Josh to work ahead of his grade level in math--instant favorite!--and introduced him to some great novels.  So when we went through the "graduation car wash" this evening, I was a wreck!  i couldn't say a word, overwhelmed with the sweet people that helped make Josh's last year of elementary (and only year at MR) so wonderful.  Just try to watch the video below and NOT tear up...I wish you luck!

 

School Year = DONE

There is a bottle of Malbec at Twigs that gets consumed every June when Melissa and Kristen (and Cassie) and I send the kids home for last time!  Sweet relief with good friends, with the summer before us.   This year was especially monumental, as Melissa and I are looking at our jobs changing next year.  We tried to FaceTime Cassie while we were there, as her empty chair is a hole in our hearts!  The call worked for a few moments, but in the end we gave up and toasted to her health.  What a LOOOOOOOONG year to be a teacher...it was so good to remember all the hurdles we'd jumped in 2020-21.  Cheers to a relaxing summer ahead!

A Pup and her Cookie

If she only knew that in a few days she's going to have us ALL HOME, ALL THE TIME...

Jeff's Father's Day Bike Ride

After his Saturday bike ride, Jeff came home with an idea for how he wanted to celebrate Father's Day: a family bike ride on Mt. Spokane!

It was a great day...no injuries, little whining, lots of exercise. Jeff says it was a dream come true.  :)  Then for dinner we had Katie's family over for MEAT.  And 4-square volleyball, thanks, Eddy!

THE ROCKING LAWN CHAIR--best Father's Day gift, ever!  Grace helped me spy it at North40, LONG after we'd looked for it.  Yay, for another shipment!  Jeff was so surprised!