The Cousins are Here - Days Three thru Ten

We have been busy! Day three of the visit consisted of hanging out at the Moscow pool. Later in the afternoon India became ill and was out for the rest of the day.

Day Four - Annabelle had a wellness check-up and then grocery shopping which took a grand total of four hours! When we arrived home India was finishing up her recovery. Nate set up the little pool in the back yard and the girls played for several hours outside while I packed up for our McCall adventure.

Day Five - We hit the road for McCall shortly after the paper route was finished. We ate dinner in Riggins. The girls were so tickled to catch a glimpse of some elephants as the circus was in Riggins. We arrived in McCall at 9:30 pm to which the girls all ran down to the beach and soaked their clothes.


Day Six - We all hung out at the beach all day. The girls got along fabulously with all of the children. We played in the water, at the neighbors water trampoline, water skied, tubed, kayaked, and ate a lot of great food.


Day Seven - A lot of the same. Butterscotch passed out next to this Corona bottle. She'd dig a hole in the sand and then fall asleep.


Nate, Ray and Chris play some beach music while Sydney sits and listens.

Day Eight - Time to pack up and head home. Awwww! It was so beautiful and relaxing. Yes, with 10 adults and 15 children running a muck it was still relaxing it could've been the full bar that was ever present.

Day Nine - While the girls are still sawing logs from all the excitement and activity over the weekend our day will consist of going to Ferdinand's Creamery in Pullman and watching 'Journey to the Center of the Earth'. Mom and Carrie will be arriving later this evening and then India and Sydney will be heading back to Libby sometime tomorrow.

We sure have enjoyed their company and hope we can make this summer week visit an annual event. They're special girls and we are privileged to be related to them. Great job, Kurt and Carrie!

The Cousins are Here! - Day Two

We woke up to overcast skies so I knew immediately that today was the day for the "photo shoot". After breakfast we quick got our hair done and threw on the new outfits. I wanted to go to the UI Arboretum but knew how squirelly the girls were already being so just went the few short blocks to East City Park.

The shoot lasted a mere 30 minutes for everything as trying to keep four active kids to sit still for longer than that is quite impossible.


Josie, as always, was the first to jump ship and declare "I'm done with the photo shoot!" after only 10 frames.


Sydney was much better at holding still.


Annabelle could have had her picture taken for hours with India running a close second.










After the shoot we came home for lunch and some much needed FOOF - feet off of floor - TIME. Tonight we take Butterscotch to her Rally Dog Obedience class and a viewing of UHF - a Weird Al movie as India is a huge fan of Weird Al.

The Cousins are Here! - Day One

Annabelle the dog painted by India

We picked up India and Sydney after our fun weekend at Silverwood and brought them to Moscow to spend 10 days with us.

Our first full day together was spent driving to Lewsiton to watch the Kit Kittredge movie. Each of the girls dressed up our American Girl dolls and took them down to watch the film with us. We met up with the Rembert family as well. The movie was cute and all the girls (and Matthew) enjoyed it.

After the movie we shopped at Wal*Mart and noticed it was lunch just when the Remberts called to see if we wanted to meet them at McD's for a bite and some play time. It was a brilliant idea so we hung out there for a spell.

When we got home Josie and India did the paper route. Late in the afternoon I found the girls totally ensconced in face painting. here are the results of their art work.


India the Clown done by Josie


Josie the Clown done by India


Sydney had a lightening strike painted by Josie. Her arm was done by her.


The wild and crazy girls. Shortly after they washed their face and jumped in the hot tub.

Happy Anniversary to Us

Nate and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary at the beautiful Cameo Heights Mansion located 25 miles west of Walla Walla WA. Josie is enjoying a week at Twinlow Junior Camp and Annabelle is getting some good one on one time with Grandma Linda and Pocka Bill.

Nate and I left Butterscotch in the care of Windy Ridge Kennels and then took off with some carefree attitudes. We geocached along the way and stopped at the Soggy Bottom coffee shop in Pomeroy which is a quaint little place with great coffee drinks.


We stayed at the Bed and Breakfast the entire time we were there and enjoyed all of the home's amenities. Our highlights included watching a Dave Matthews Band concert in the home theater and lounging by the pool most of Wednesday afternoon. We were spoiled with delicious meals and afternoon lemonade. We highly recommend going here if you're looking for a romantic getaway.


We stayed in the Greek Suite which had it's own private entrance to the pool and hot tub. It was lovely to just hang out, play a few games of Yahtzee and have real conversations with each other without being interrupted as well as watching what we wanted to on TV and not the standard Hannah Montana that's usually on at our house.


Nate enjoys the wake up service - coffee and a homemade danish - before making our way upsatirs for the real breakfast. It was hard to come home after being so relaxed.

Next stop: Silverwood to pick up the kids!

Camp Silvernale 2008

We were invited back to Mary Silvernale-Shook's "cabin" on Lake Couer d Alene, June 29 - July 3. Annabelle, Chapin & Arden Sprott, Grace & James Shook, and Sarah Thorsteinson all attended Lutherhaven camp this year, so the younger - Piper Sprott, Jennings Shook and Eric Thorsteinson - and the older - Josie and her friend Kammi - had the privilege of chilling by the lake for the week.

Mary and Constance ordered up a nanny, Alyssa, for the week and as much as I thought they were weird for doing so I quickly changed my mind within minutes of Alyssa taking the kids down to the beach while we adults made ourselves comfortable with beverages and crafting time. She even watched the kids while the four of us went into Couer d Alene for dinner one night.


Constance, Mary and Anita enjoying a beer at the Ironhorse in downtown Couer d Alene.


These pictures aren't in order. This was all the kids singing at their closing ceremonies at Lutherhaven.


We had some awesome meals at the cabin. Mary cooked steaks, Anita made pita pizzas, I provided Asian faire one night and Constance closed us out with a south of the border meal. Yum!


Piper celebrated her 4th birthday at the lake. She supplied us with a giant sugar rush with the pool inspired cupcakes.


Pool blue frosting lipstick. What more does a girl need?


Getting ready to pick up the girls. Annabelle and Grace bid farewell to the Flying Squirrel cabin.


We had fun making these tissue paper flowers for our centerpiece.


Mary gave us all a ride on the Cobalt 200. We went to Harrison for some ice cream. Josie stole a quiet moment at the public beach before journeying back to Mary's.


One activity that we do while at the cabin is put together puzzles. Josie and Kammi worked on this one themselves mostly.


Kammi had fun with a pair of goggles. We had a wonderful time and hope to be invited back next year.

In Loving Memory

Grandma Spain passed away this winter but requested to have her memorial service in the summer when all of the relatives could safely travel. this was very sweet of her given that this winter was a treacherous one.

All of the immediate Spain family - expect for James, Missy and Trinity - made it over to Hamilton, MT to pay their respects to the matriarch of the family. She and Grandpa will be missed.