Journey to Idaho

DeA and I have done quite a few trips lately, but they have been to Moscow for hockey, or Spokane for hockey, or Yakima for hockey, or Tonasket for basketball or...Basically, we needed a trip for ourselves. We found a closed Forest Service road and hiked about a mile and a half in and out.

Don't let the sunshine fool you, it was below freezing 

Our cute little cabin had a hot tub which was great on the cold nights.

We had a good weekend enjoying Idaho, but now DeA is wearing out Zillow looking for properties. Also, the house was set to 70 degrees but she was still rocking the burrito coat.

Rock's baseball jamboree did not happen. Cowards.

Rock and Ryker are now a Costco household. 

For a cat that isn't allowed in the house, Horchata spends a lot of time in the house.

Rock's senioritis is likely terminal. He came home from seminary and plopped down on the couch without a word. He did not wake up for school. Leo puppy, who does not have senioritis, still decided that a good idea is a good idea.

Poor Schnoogies has been very busy with her homework. She has spent many, many hours on the computer.

She took a little break to watch Rock's first baseball game against Chelan. They really didn't play as poorly as the 15-0 score indicated, every bleeder, blooper, and chopper that Chelan hit seemed to find the hole. Rock hit the ball hard both ABs, but right at somebody.

"At least it isn't snowy"

"Rock is interesting. He has your build, definitely, and my face. But where did he get his butt?" - His mother.

 

DeA is back in action

Schoogies got the go ahead to go back to working out. She is still strong and athletic.

I got to coach the softball girls for the first three practices. DeA helped me and showed off her new clearance by doing warm ups with girls.

I think she thought we were approaching the North Pole and not having softball practice.

Ryker had some wall space burning a whole in his head so he crafted another shelf. It's sturdy and well-made.

The teenagers sure love messing with their ma.

Oh, a normal jacket for practice. How appropriate.

Rock stopped by the office on his way to court to get a deferral for Jens not wearing a seat belt back in November. He looked quite dashing in his suit.

DeA wanted to be the cool aunt, so she bought some little capybara wind-up toys for Leo. She wasn't surprised with Luca and Sofia showed up shortly after wanting toys, also.

Ryker is back to his building obsession, and he's building me a proper woodshed so that we can have an appropriate place to beat them with switches.

Leo Boy made a new YouTube channel and I guess Jens was his first subscriber. Her reward was a piggy.

My "free" woodshed has only cost me lumbar, screws, nails, a new DeWalt framing nail gun, 100' feet of air hose, six trips to Home Depot, and a case of nails. Not bad.

 

Ryker and DeA Birthdays

Ryker wasn't quite sure what he wanted for his birthday, but eventually we landed on mac and cheese and chocolate eclair dessert. Hampa and Nama were out of town (I know, what a surprise), but Javi and Rissa were around and happy for a party.

Sofia is always happy for a party.

DeA's birthday was a lot more understated, we were relaxed and she got her ice cream cake that she wanted.

Oh, and a long nap. She loves naps.

Ryker decided that the propeller hate was back in style.

I had a patient bring her grandson in for her appointment. She joked that he should go with me to the radio station, and he held out his hand for me to grab and just came along with me.

Lil' Paxton is just a chill guy.

We tried to go to Wapato Point Cellars for DeA's birthday dinner, but they only do the full menu with her chicken picatta on the weekends, so we pivoted and went to the Landing. We lost Ryker to Wenatchee in the transition, so it was just Rock, Jens, Schnoogies, and me.

Isn't she just the prettiest birthday girl ever?

Jens knows how to eat a steak in public.

Hampa brought Sofia to the office for a little visit. She discovered the raspberry donuts that a patient had brought in for their co-pay.

She couldn't be bothered with sticky hands, so she had Hampa feed her bites.

Delicious

Leo Puppy isn't allowed on the couch, but somehow spends time "not" on the couch.

DeA has discovered the joy of C4, especially the Skittles flavor.

Volleyball is over, that means that it is time to catch Jens!

Rock is "locking in" for his potential trip to Air Force National Guard basic training in the summer. Locking in apparently means loaded nachos at 10pm. That's how I know he's my son.

The boys love their 4th meals after their real dinner. One night was frozen pizza, cookies, and frozen biscuits. This was after their real dinner.

 

We got more snow! Almost two inches! Rock was stoked, DeA was not so excited.

DeA is finally to the point of recovery where she can start exercising. She is thrilled.

Ryker had two games in Yakima over his birthday weekend. He did most of the freeway driving and DeA did well distracted in the back.

We hit up Mod Pizza for a late pizza dinner.

They were ecstatic. 

A quick stop on Coastal so that Ryker could look for clothes and Jens could see some chicks.

The Yakima rink looks to be a converted potato cellar. 

It was colder in the rink than outside it. 

Ryker got a lot of ice time and played well. He was checked and sent flying in the first game, he looked like a cartoon character because arms and legs went everywhere. In the second game, he gave the goalie glove an extra little smack and a big kid cross-checked him off his skates from behind so hard that he ended up in the face-off circle on the opposite side of the rink. He claimed that it didn't hurt, but the next day he was complaining that his back hurt.

Jorge and Tamara Barrientos came to watch Ryker's game and then out to eat at Miner's together. It was so great to spend time with them again.

It wasn't a super late night after dinner, so DeA made Ryker's chocolate eclair dessert for his birthday. It all was going well until she dropped the bowl in the frosting, but she recovered well.