A Fun Day at Mobius Kids Museum!

Today is Sunday -- so we had a pretty lazy morning. I mad the girls blueberry pancakes for breakfast, and then we brainstormed ideas for us to do today. Mobius Kids Museum won! I had been given 2 free tickets at a b-day party a couple of months ago, so that made our decision even easier! It opened up at 11, so we were there soon after that. It was especially wonderful because we were pretty much the only ones there! There were a few other kids, but basically, the girls had the run of the entire museum -- which meant they didn't need to wait to use anything at all! We played for a couple of hours, then walked across the street to have a "Girls Lunch" at Red Robin. The girls had mac-n-cheese with mandarin oranges and water, and mom had a grilled chicken bruschetta sandwich with garlic fries -- Yummy! We felt so special having lunch together and talking about the fun we have had together the past week or so. Todd and his family arrive today and we will see them tomorrow -- so be on the look out for more posts on our fun with them! Here are a few pics of the kids at the museum today......

Summer Fun with Mom!

Since Martin is in Nicaragua, it is up to me to make sure the girls are having a fun summer! I am having fun with them -- this vacation has been perfect (except the fact that Martin is not with us!). Here is a run down of some of the things we have done this week......

Sunday June 28th: Went to visit friends Matt and Angie at their cabin on Lake Coeur d'Alene. Read post to get full scoop of this fun day!

Monday June 29th: Went to Urgent Care, got xrays, found out my feet are severely sprained, but not broken! We were home bound because I couldn't get around very well, so we watched lots of kiddy shows, played Webkinz, pbskids, sproutonline and Jig Zone on the computer, too! Foot raised up and ice, baby, ice!

Tuesday June 30th: Took the car down to get the back hatch fixed, then took the girls to Jump and Bounce for a little more than an hour. This was a good activity for them because it got them out of the house and they were able to burn off some energy while I sat with my foot up watching!

Wednesday July 1st: Went to see the movie "Up" -- which was absolutely fantastic. We all want to see it again. This was another good option for us while my feet are still healing. Later that afternoon we headed over to Matt and Angie's house for some homemade spaghetti and meatballs! Angie made a yummy bruschetta on french bread and then whipped up some fresh basil pesto! She is such a good cook. The kids got to play again and they really had a ball while Angie and I cooked and chatted. Again...foot up and iced!!!


Thursday July 2nd: Drove out to Coeur d'Alene to see my childhood friend, Kara, and her kids. We took them to the free movie Veggy Tales Pirate Movie, then on to McDonalds for lunch. After lunch we took the kids to a great little beach where they could play in the water. They had a lot of fun! That evening we were also able to go and see the Christensen's new house -- they are moving this week, although the house is up near Mullen Road Elementary, so they won't be too far away! We are sure going to miss our awesome neighbors!

Marissa, Sarah, Audriana and Sofia in Lake Coeur d'Alene -- (visiting the Steinbergs)

Christensen Family at their new house! We love "The Kids"!

Friday July 3rd: Drove up to Greenbluff and got some nice strawberries! The kids enjoyed an ice cream treat while we listened to some music up on the lawn at Harvest House. We also picked up a pizza for our traditional "Friday Night Movie Night"!

Fun at Lake Coeur d'Alene!

We were so lucky to be invited by our friends, Matt and Angie Meadows, to come to their lake cabin on Lake C d'Alene this past Sunday. Since Martin was still in Nicaragua, and I needed something to do with the girls, I thought it would be the perfect thing.....and it was!!! What an absolutely beautiful place. We left the house at 9am and drove out the Palouse Highway, to Highway 27 and turned off at Sun Up Bay (just a short 45 minute drive or so). We parked the car at the boat launch, got all of our stuff out -- life jackets, snacks, water, towels, beach toys etc, and waited on the dock for Matt to pick us up. The most exciting thing for the girls was that they got new life jackets for our lake trip (necessity!). They loved wearing them and Audriana even wanted to sleep in hers the night before! The second most exciting thing for the girls (actually, it probably competes for the number one spot) was that they were going to get to play with their friends Justin (5) and Jakey (3)! Matt and Angie's boys are awesome and full of energy. The 4 of them have a great time together. Anyway, Matt and the boys picked us up and boated us back out to their cabin (which is in Powder Horn Bay). It is heaven on earth. What a peaceful and beautiful experience for us. Just to be on the boat was something special for us. After we took a tour of the cabin and had a bit of breakfast we all headed down to the water. Angie's friend Robin and her daughter, Chelan (5 1/2), were out visiting as well. All the kids got along really well. They began by wading in the water, but were soon "tubing" behind the boat! I couldn't believe that even little Sofia wanted to do this. They loved it! As the day progressed, we decided to pack a little picnic lunch and all get back in the boat to head over to the beach at Harrison, ID. The kids played in the sand and the water and had a great time. Then we all walked up to the little ice creamery and got cones! What a perfect day -- hot and beautiful. We boated back to their cabin, relaxed some more on their deck overlooking the water while the kids chilled inside watching "Snow Buddies". They were all so exhausted from the day. Here are some pictures of our day....
Audriana and Sofia ready in their new life jackets!

On the boat!

Matt and Angie's beautiful boat!

The cabin and dock

Eating breakfast on the deck

Miss Sofia ready for the water!

Our little swimmers -- swimming around the dock. Justin leading the pack, then Audriana and Jakey bringing up the rear!

What will she see down at the bottom? Hmmm....

The kids in the big floaty thing....

Whoa! Look at those muscles on Justin!

Getting ready to go tubing! Chelan, Jakey and Sofia

Now Audriana is on - they are ready!

Weee...........

Hold on kids!!!!

Just awesome Audriana here.....

Justin and Chelan lookin' good!

The kids with Chelan's mom, Robyn

Heading towards the very small town of Harrison, ID for fun at the beach!

Look at Jakey's arm around Sofia -- precious!

A special treat of ice cream in Harrison, ID

Back on the Meadow's dock -- this is the life, I tell you!!!!

Nothing more beautiful than this....


***ok....so just a small side note at the bottom here, because I didn't want this to take away from our completey awesome day at the cabin and the lake. As we were heading back down the steps of the deck to get back into the boat to head home, I missed one of the steps and fell. I went down hard and ended up spraining both of my feet. I somehow got home (by the grace of god) and had my sister take me to the Urgent Care on Monday morning. The good news is that nothing was broken, but both feet were severely sprained. I came home with Ibuprophen, a foot boot (which was a godsend!), crutches to stabilize me while I limped, and a wheelchair! What a klutz I am! It hurt so bad -- but is healing up very well. I'll be good to go back to the lake again in another couple of weeks! ***

June 19th, 20th, and 21st 2009
Note from Pam: After pressing "click to play", press the "full screen" button to enlarge the pictures .

Manson with the Keeney's

We all traveled over to Manson with the same intention -- to say a final farewell to my Aunt Tonn. She passed away unexpectedly in January, but it was decided that we would do a formal memorial in Manson and Chelan this summer when everyone could come. This was the weekend. Everyone came -- except for Todd and his family (but they will be visiting Spokane in the next few weeks and will take a trip to Chelan then), Conor and Emily, and Dave jr -- they all live on the east coast and could not get back to Washington. Anyway, it sure felt like the entire Keeney Clan converged on the small town of Manson -- and it was wonderful. Uncle Tom found a big (ok, huge) house for all of us to stay at. It was so nice for all of us to be together. Here is who was able to attend: Mom and Jay, Mike, Kristi, me and the girls (Martin was on his trip in Nicaragua), Tom and Bonnie, Jeff, Linda and Baltimore, Dave and Kathleen, Shannon, Neil and Clara, Marc and Jenny, and Tim. The house was in Manson, just down the road past Willows Park -- fittingly called "Quails End". What a gorgeous retreat -- so peaceful and beautiful. It was quite a hike down to the lake, but boy was it worth it! Stunning views of the most beautiful lake in the world! The water was so clean and clear -- but dang that glacier water is cold! The dock had a table and chairs on it, so it made it fun for all of us to congregate down there. Once you got down.....you thought twice about going back up! The girls didn't seem to mind at all -- running back up and down quite a few times. I'm sure their calves must have hurt the next day!!! LOL! On Saturday morning we all drove into Chelan to attend our service for Aunt Tonn. Father Cesar presided,and me, Jeff and Shannon did readings, Kristi and Mike brought the gifts up, and Uncle Tom did a very moving (and thoughtful) eulogy of his beloved sister. Many tears were shed -- but only because we miss her. We all felt a sense of calm and completion after the mass and burial -- knowing that she was in the exact spot that she wanted to be. Her and Myron were buried right next to grandma and grandpa in the Chelan cemetary -- up on the hill surrounded by beautiful hills and orchards. After the mass, we all went up to the cemetery for the final goodbye. Mom had the girls help her plant a few pots of Pansies a few weeks ago and she brought them for the cemetary -- they were Aunt Tonn's favorite flowers and they looked perfect. It was a beautiful goodbye to a very beautiful person.

Goodbye Montessori Central!

Well....after 4 long years (I mean, short years!) Audriana will be leaving Montessori Central school. Dawn Pipella is the director of the school and we could not have been more happy and pleased with the care and education that she received there. It's a bit sad....4 years is a long time for a 6 1/2 year old! She loved every day -- literally -- at this school. She never liked the summer and winter breaks because she couldn't go to school. She went in just as she was turning 3 and I remember her first day being such a happy day for her. Her dear friend Caroline Hawkins, who was 1 year older than her, took Audriana under her wings that first day and showed her the ropes. She wasn't scared or the least bit hesitant.....she never clung on to me like you see some kids doing when their parents dropped them off....she said goodbye to me and walked right on into the classrooms and began working. The perfect Montessori learner -- very focused and very busy completing "work" everyday. The amount of knowledge that she has garnered is unbelievable. We are so in awe of her and are so proud of her! COngRaTUlatIonS!

Audriana and Miss Kawabatta

Dawn Pipella and Barbara Medina

Both of these teachers were with Audriana all 4 years! A big thank you to these two wonderful ladies!

Audriana and Lauren
Audriana and Grandma!