Spokane (Part 1)

The girls and I were able to go and visit my parents in Spokane for a couple of weeks. It took us a while to get there but we had lots of fun when we finally did. Luckily we were able to get a flight out of Roanoke for cheaper than D.C or Greensboro and so Mike was able to drive us to the airport instead of me driving 3-4 hours, parking the car and deal with the bags and kids on my own.

Our first delay happened in Roanoke where we sat on the plane for a while making us very close to being late for our connecting flight in Charlotte to Denver. When we did finally arrive in Charlotte we had about 15 min. to get to our plane. Of course we arrived in a different terminal than what our departing plane was in, so we had to run to catch our plane. I'm sure it wasn't a pretty sight seeing a 7 month pregnant women running through the airport. I'm lucky I didn't put myself into labor. So we made it to our gate just in time. Just in time that is to find out that our plane was delayed and that we would most likely miss our connecting flight in Denver. So after catching our breath we went and stood in the long airline customer service line to see what we were going to have to do to get to Spokane. They thought we may still be able to catch or connecting flight but gave us a hotel and meal voucher just in case. After getting something to eat we waited another hour or so for our flight.

The girls were really good on both the flights and waiting in the airport. Unfortunately both the girls only fell asleep about 10 minutes before we landed in Denver making it a long flight of entertaining the girls giving me no rest and then dealing with half a sleep kids getting off the plane. We did miss our connecting flight to Spokane, but only by about 10 minutes. So we got to start the adventure of getting to our hotel in Denver. It took about 1 hour for our shuttle bus to come pick us up and then the little 25 person bus was completely full. Another fun sight seeing a pregnant lady carrying a 18 month old, stroller and backpack while dealing with a 4 year old trying to get to the only open seats in the back of the bus. Not much aisle room and I had to hold the stroller the whole time which was about 30 minutes. It was probably a good thing that the airline kept our bags and so I didn't have to haul them too. I don't think I have ever been to an airport where the hotels are so far away like they are in Denver.

Our hotel was supper nice though which made up for it a little bit. After checking in we got a little something to eat from the hotel restaurant. The girls were supper great the whole time considering they didn't get to bed until 2:30am our time.

Eating dinner in bed at 2:30am

The next day we made the 30 minute trek back to the airport. Luckily the shuttle wasn't as full this time making it a lot easier. We ate a little McDonald's for breakfast and then got on our flight to Spokane. We arrived in Spokane about noon, headed to Grandma and Papa's house in Liberty Lake and relaxed for the rest of the day.

Friday we spent relaxing, touring Costco and its many samples and headed to the lake. It was still quite cold (pants and jacket weather) and so we didn't go swimming. But the girls enjoyed throwing rocks in the water and hanging out on the dock.

Throwing rocks in the lake.

At Lake Coeur d' Alene

Sunday we came in from the lake to go to church. Natalya was typhoid Mary and so I stayed home with her while Raquel went to primary with Grandma and Papa. After church we headed back out to the lake where we enjoyed a Father's day dinner for my dad.

I just want to say how a much I appreciate and admire the father's in my life. My dad is always there for me when I need him and willing to do anything for me. Mike is the best husband! He has been spending his free time remodeling our kitchen for me and what a great father he is to our little girls! They adore him and can't wait for him to get home each day from work. Happy Father's Day!

After a nice relaxing Sunday we set to work on Monday cleaning and cleaning and cleaning the cabin because my parents were renting the lake cabin out for the week and it hadn't been deep cleaned yet for the summer. After a long day at the lake we headed back to Liberty Lake to relax.

After a boring day of cleaning we decided to have a little fun with the girls on Tuesday. We headed to Riverfront park where we rode the train, carousel and played on the big red wagon. Natalya wasn't a big fan of the carousel which I don't blame her it went pretty fast.

After leaving downtown we went to check out Northwest Feed and Seed, its a garden center and pet store. My mom use to take me when I was a little girl and I loved it and so I thought it would be neat to take my little girls. Both Raquel and Natalya had a blast looking at all the animals. Its more than a dog and cat pet store, they have a wide range of animals. Baby geese, chickens, dogs, cats, a large turtle, snakes, an alligator, tons of fish and birds are just a few of the many animals that we got to see and pet. It was as fun as I remembered it and will become a regular stop whenever we visit Spokane.

Getting ready for the train ride.

Looking out over the Spokane River in downtown Spokane while on the train.

The Carousel

(Raquel, Grandma & Natalya)

The garbage eating goat!

Riverfront Park!

At Northwest Feed and Seed enjoying the animals.

They have a wide variety of animals from chicken, geese, snakes, rabbits to dogs, cats, mice and turtles. The girls had fun looking and petting most of them.

Butterflies!

For her birthday Raquel received as one of her gifts a butterfly habitat. It came with a coupon for caterpillars that you send away for and receive in the mail. We waited until the end of May to make sure it was warm enough and that we were seeing butterflies out side before we sent away for our caterpillars. They came in a cup with five small caterpillars, which looked like they were dead. But within a few days they were up moving around and growing. The food was in the bottom of the cup and so all we had to do was watch them grow and grow! It was neat to see how big they got everyday, they really grow fast!

The growing caterpillars

Then after about a week they started hanging upside down on a paper disk that was attached to the lid. Then with in a few days they had all formed a chrysalis. Once they formed their chrysalis we removed them from the cup and attached them to the side of the butterfly garden. Raquel patiently waited for another week for the butterflies to emerged from their cocoons.

Natalya enjoying watching the butterflies

Getting ready to let them go in our front yard.

We enjoyed them for about 5 days, feeding them fresh cut watermelon and oranges and sugar water on flowers. We were leaving on a trip and so reluctantly had to let them go. The girls had fun taking the butterfly garden outside and letting the butterflies emerge from the habitat and watching as they flew around the garden. It was a neat experience for the whole family and one we want to do again next year.

Our butterflies!

Mike's Birthday!

Mike celebrated his birthday today! He started the day with Raquel running into our bedroom so excited that it was daddy's birthday saying, "This is how we sing happy birthday at my school. Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday, to you, to you, to you! Do you want baby chickie claps, alligator claps or shark claps." Mike picked shark claps!

Yesterday Raquel and I went out for groceries, but also snuck over to Mike's work to decorate his office. Raquel helped pick out balloons and candy from the dollar store and then help decide where all the decorations should go. If it had been up to her she would have filled the whole room with balloons and streamers leaving no room to work. I made Mike's usual German Chocolate Cake for his birthday cake and picked up pizza and drinks for a little lunch party with all the staff at work. The girls and I had fun hanging out with Dada for his birthday while eating lots of good food.

In the car heading to Daddy's office.

Raquel was super helpful in getting everything ready for dad's special day.

Last Day of School!

Ms. Jones, Raquel & Mrs. Ingram

Today was Raquel's last day of Preschool for the school year. She had lots of fun meeting new friends, playing and learning at school. She learned to spell and write her name, and loved all the art projects and Music. It was cute hearing her sing little songs that she learned at preschool and seeing the excitement in her eyes when she saw her teachers in the morning and the love and smiles she gave me when I'd pick her up in the afternoon. Raquel had the best teachers, Mrs. Ingram and Ms. Jones. They really made her feel extra special everyday she was at school and helped her learn and grow this year. For a thank you gift for her teachers Raquel painted a clay flowerpot, planted a beautiful flower and made a little flower sign with her picture that said, "Thanks For Helping Me Grow!". They really turned out cute and she was so excited to give them to her teachers.

Right Now!

Its so exciting when your kids start to say their first words like Mama and Dada. Its so cute when they start to jibber jabber at you and carry on a conversation even though you can't understand a single word they say. But when they start repeating things you didn't know you say its a different story. Natalya has starting saying, "Right Now!" She will go around telling me right now when she wants things. She is really starting to pick-up on more words and can say uh oh, a ring, No(Nose), Eye, itty (Kitty), and Daddy to name a few.