Grand Coulee Dam

Chad has been working at Grand Coulee Dam every week this month...from Monday through Thursday. So, the kids and I decided to take a little road trip and visit him for a couple of days!

We left Monday evening and got there around 7. Daddy took us to an ice cream shop and then up to the Viewpoint to admire the dam and the surrounding views. Then we stayed up late to watch the laser light show on the dam. Nick and Gabby thought that was pretty cool...but they still both fell asleep before it was over.

That night Gabby woke up at 4 am with the CROUP! She's never had it before and she really scared us! She sounded so awful and was having such a hard time breathing. In the midst of my panic I remembered my good friend Kristi telling me about her daughter having the croup and how she treated it. I got her wrapped up in a blanket and had Chad take her out onto the balcony into the cool night air. Then I called the doctor's office where a nurse confirmed my diagnosis of Croup. After having her outside for about 10-15 minutes we took her inside to the bathroom for a steam treatment. She was much better and managed to sleep for an hour before she got up with another, less severe 'attack' . Needless to say, none of us slept well that night. She was much better the next day and coughed and sniffled during the next night but didn't have any 'attacks'. Now, a few days later, she's still fighting the cold and the cough (and I'm fighting a cough...probably from sleeping next to her for too many nights!)

We were still able to enjoy small amounts of time in the hotel swimming pool and hot tub while Chad was at work at the dam...and spent lots of time lounging in the hotel room. The kids enjoyed sitting on the balcony and playing with their small toys and watching cartoons on the cable tv.

The second evening there, we went on a tour of the dam. It was pretty neat. The kids really enjoyed going down the glass 'elevator' that goes from the top of the dam, down inside it. It was weird being inside the dam and 30 feet underwater!

We visited the visitor's center at the Dam just before leaving...our last chance to hang out with Daddy for a bit before we left and he was off to a meeting.

The kids and I left for home Wednesday afternoon so I could get home in time for a twins club meeting. Nick and Gabby stayed with Grandma Elaine while I went to the meeting...and then Nick ended up spending the night with her. He spent the night the following night too. That gave Gabby a little more rest than usual so hopefully, she'll be back to healthy little self soon!

Daddy got home again Thursday night and is now completely finished with the dam project (no pun intended...well, maybe!) Just in time for our vacation! We're leaving next week for the Oregon Coast!

Nick, Gabby and Chad enjoy the views from the viewpoint.

Resting after baths...poor little tired kids.

Enjoying the sun at the pool...

A few photos on the balcony...



The view from the Visitor's Center

peeking through an old underwater welder's helmet! It weighs TWICE as much as she does!

Obligatory photo of family in front of landmark! (Nick's mostly interested in the feather he just found!) Gabby, of course, is all into her daddy.

Another week of fun...

The kids took turns spending the night with Grandma Elaine last week...both of them on Monday, Nick on Tuesday and Gabby on Wednesday...making our week without Chad a little easier for me! They both enjoyed their alone time with Grandma and Grandpa and had fun running errands, pruning bushes, making homemade doggie treats, visiting the neighborhood donkey and dogs and splashing in the wading pool. They visited again Thursday evening while I got my haircut. Afterwards, we took Grandma to visit our puppies.

Friday morning we had a play date at the park with our friends from the Twins Club.

The kids then spent Saturday night at the Farm with the Farm Grandma and Grampa so Chad and I could go to a Summer Soltice party that evening. The Farm Grandma and Grampa are busy acid staining the concrete floors in their house and have a little 'studio apartment' set up in their family room. The kids loved the 'fun' of all this! They loved camping out in the family room and even took to using the porta potty outside! I don't think they wanted to come home.

When we arrived at the farm to pick them up, poor Chad was greeted with a whiney "We don't want to leave!" instead of a cheerful "Happy Father's Day!"

Here are a few photos from our week...

Gabby feeds Lucky homemade doggie treats!

Gabby and her friend Cheyenne at our play date.

Cheyenne, Gabby and Nick enjoy a picnic.

Nick too these photos of me and Gabby.

Puppies, Sprinklers, Eating and Dancing

Chad's been out of town Monday - Thursday all month so we're having some weird weeks. Last weekend, we had a garage sale Friday and Saturday. We did really well and got rid of a lot of stuff! Yay!The kids entertained themselves during the garage sale by building a little fort out of old crib rails and covering it with blankets. They also stuffed it full of blankets, pillows and toys.

Chad also managed to find some time on Saturday and Sunday to mow the lawn and finish the fence out back. The fence is now finished...we just have to level the ground in the newly fenced area and figure out what the heck we're gonna do as far as landscaping! We're thinking of putting in a little slate or brick patio with a fire pit.

We went to visit our puppies again Sunday evening. They are getting bigger every week and are so cute and fun! The kids just love them.

Lucky & Bingo

Nick and Gabby (holding Lucky & Bingo) with Michael (holding Spunky, the mommy beagle)

Our weather has been back and forth lately...we'll get a few nice warm and even hot days...and then a few overcast days with scattered rain showers. The kids have been beating the heat on the hot days with the sprinkler. They love running in the sprinkles and playing with the hose. Nick likes to get his entire face and head wet and Gabby likes to have the sprinkler on low and daintily hop through it, getting just her legs wet. We haven't filled our pool yet, but they have been using the pool at Grandma Elaine's house.

(below) She's watching carefully to make sure Nick isn't going to POUNCE on the sprinkler ring as soon as she runs up, causing the water to jump up into her face...

Here are a few photos from last weekend's visit to ArtFest. The kids had fun working on crafts and eating and dancing to the music.

MMMMM....ice cream. Gabby chose vanilla...Nick chose Huckleberry.

Learning to use Chopsticks...Gabby thinks she's "really good at it"

Fish prints...you paint a dead fish and then press your paper over it. They had cute little ocopusses too...but Gabby wanted a fish.

Wood sculptures

Sand Candles

Painting

Dancing to the Bluegrass!