The Best RV Park Ever!

Doctors orders were to 'avoid travel', so we cancelled our trip to Glacier and the Bitteroot area of Montana. We decided a nice compromise was to hang out at the RV pad at my dad's place in Coeur d'Alene.

80 acres, panoramic views of the lake, and loads of quiet except for the noises of various birds, honey bees, grasshoppers, frogs, and the occasional elk bugling. Plus some time with grandma and grandpa. Not too bad, right?!

My amazing hubby surprised me with a birthday present of a 'spa day' at the Coeur d'Alene Inn: a pregnancy massage, facial, and pedicure. I've never done a true 'spa' experience and it was pretty awesome. That evening, we enjoyed a nice dinner on the back patio with a lovely sunset. I'm looking forward to another great year.

While in town, we got a couple visits in with my best childhood friend and her fun family. Here, we enjoyed playing and swimming at the Mica Beach.

[K is pretty sweet on this little girl]

[the clan with K & I...me looking ridiculously huge and uncomfortable
(did a little too much that day).]

[K thought it was awesome to have a bunch of kids in his Airstream room. 

Five kids in one tiny space!]

[The kids get a lesson on honeybees from Grandpa Dale.]

We also enjoyed an evening kayak and paddle board session at Loff's Bay, unpictured as we don't have dry bags for our camera yet.

Paddling around the marshy ends of this lake are some of my best memories as a child. I sat in the middle of my grandparents' large aluminum canoe while they paddled. I imagined myself to be a little 'Indian' girl (that was the term we used back then). We were quiet as we looked and listened for birds and wildlife. Thirty-plus years later, K sat quietly in front of me, while we dipped our paddles in quietly and looked and listened. We saw a little turtle, a heron, some geese, and a few fish.

On another day, B went fishing on the St. Joe (also unpictured...sorry). It turned out to be quite a long drive but he enjoyed himself anyway. We will try to go back there to camp and fish more. While he was away, I played in the shop with the router and scroll saw, making a sign for a friend's yard.

[K occupied himself with a 'construction project'.]

[the almost finished trail sign]

Priest Lake

Having spent a lot of time in Northern Idaho in my lifetime, it is somewhat funny that I've never been to Priest Lake. I guess we always figured that we had a beautiful lake to play in, so why go to a different one?

After years of hearing about the clear waters and unpopulated shores, I wanted to check it out. Being quite pregnant, it sounded like a great trip, since I can no longer do long hikes, mountain bike rides, or rock climb due to premature labor concerns. We made the short drive from CD'A to Priest Lake and settled into our campsite. With a little time before dinner, we decided to do a short hike out of the campground to a viewpoint.

K was slow to start but became highly motivated to hike once we found huckleberries. I'd go a little ahead and he'd say, "Momma, did you find some?!" When I replied 'yes', he was quick to come up the trail behind me. 

In this fashion, he hiked on his own 2 miles with some elevation gain too. 

It was a muggy night, but the coolest weather we would see the whole trip; hiking, even short distances, became out of the question once the heat set in. And so, we spent our days chilling by and in the water, which is truly crystal clear.

 Trying out the new paddle board

Where are the hordes of people?!?

(They did come on the weekend, but week-days looked like this.)

We really enjoyed the Indian Creek Campground and would like to go back again with a large family/friend group. The beach is spectacular, the little campground store (5 minutes walking) sells ice cream, and there is something for everyone: beach volleyball, horseshoes, frisbee golf, and 'nature education' programs too. Plus, after you got all grubby with sunscreen and sweat, the free, hot showers were appreciated.

Happy 4th of July!

(think he's a bit too hot...sorry, no smile)

Finally Doing It!!!- CD'A

The school-year came to a close, the Airstream had some minor repairs done, and we were ready to hit the road...finally!!!

Just prior to the school-year's end, K and I enjoyed some trips to Rattlesnake Lake.

A dear friend let us play around on her paddleboard in the shallows. We were hooked and decided we needed our own, so B ordered one to be delivered to Stop 1 on our trip, my dad's place in CD'A.

K and I headed there a few days before B, as he had to work. We enjoyed running around the land, helping grandma with her watering, driving tractors, and some trips to the lake.

Grandpa and K

The guy that hosts this beach/campground purchased a bunch of dump trucks, and labeled them 'Mica Bay Construction Co'. Pretty cute. And also very difficult to lure my little guy away from. 

After some cajoling, I was able to get him to the lake where we both cooled off.

Family Fun

In late May, we enjoyed a visit from family. It was somewhat ironic that the best place they could find to rent was at the pass, just down the road from the house we sold one month previous.

K with his cousins, all captivated by a cartoon

Headed on a walk to the lake

We have rarely felt compelled to swim in this lake, except maybe on the hottest day in August.

This year, it was comfortable before June. This should've been our warning that 

this summer was going to be ridiculous.

While everyone was in town, we had the chance to celebrate 

cousin M's 1st birthday at the splash park. Happy Birthday Cousin M!!!

K and C, soaked and happy

There was also time for a quick trip to the ocean for a picnic.