I was going to plan a big birthday party for Gunnar, but I got sick, plans changed, and we ended up just taking cupcakes into his preschool class. It was fun and he enjoyed it and felt special.
He got tons of Ninja Turtle Legos, he really wanted a spaceship (Papa and Grandma later hooked him up with this) and robot, but was perfectly satisfied with his legos. After we celebrated with his class, we packed up and headed to the Lochsa River with Peak 7.
Peak 7 was generous enough to allow the kids and I go with them on their staff training event. I know anytime you take toddlers and a baby with you it is more effort than just taking a group of adults. It was a quick trip, we left Spokane at 4, ate dinner in Lewiston, arrived at the Lochsa River around midnight. Then we set up camp, were up around 6:30am, ate breakfast and then off for training they went. I stayed back with staff member Leah who cleaned up camp and then we took my boys and another young boy, Dane (who Gunnar isn't forgetting said "you are my best friend forever") out on a little hiking trip. We then returned and Leah and I got our turn to go down the river. It was so much fun. Our boat flipped twice, but it was a fun little adrenaline rush and was so refreshing. I realized that I needed to stop smiling because I was drinking so much water with my mouth open all the time...I was just having a great time. Ryker thought it looked like so much fun, he would cry whenever he would see Kyle or I on the raft. Gunnar, thought it looked scary.
We after a few runs down the river we then went back to camp, ate lunch and packed up and headed to Jerry Johnson Hot Springs. The boys loved the hot springs and Gunnar won't stop talking about them and wants to go back. Much different from the water in the lake they are used to swimming and playing in. The water was the perfect temperature, any hotter and I wouldn't have been able to let the boys in, it was really perfect. After an hour in the springs we hiked back to the van, I cooked up some soup on the side of the road then we loaded up and headed back to Spokane. I believe we got in around 1 or 2 am. Thankfully we were able to sleep at the Peak 7 program house so we were able to get some sleep and not make the journey back home until morning after we got some rest.
I have to say that the outing while quick and exhausting was really good for me. Rarely do I have a chance to go out with friends. It was so nice to be out enjoying God's creation with people like-minded. Having Christian friends is such a gift and I enjoyed my time. My kids enjoyed their time. Seriously, they had 15 people loving on them, playing with them, and caring for them.
That weekend, my sister Jami graduated with her Master's degree in Psychology. So we went down to Spokane to her graduation. Then we took her and my brother's family down the upper Spokane river. It was perfect weather and we all had so much fun.
So while Gunnar didn't have a big party with his little friends we did celebrate with some great people and he had a great week. Seriously, camping on your birthday, I doubt it gets much better than that!
Pardon the delay in posting. I wrote this some time ago, was waiting for a least a few pictures, then forgot to come and update! Better late than never.
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