a day at porcupine bay

Yesterday we enjoyed a quintessential summer day. Tony and I had the sleepy kids loaded into the car by 6:45 and we were off to Porcupine Bay. Just driving through Davenport brings back so many childhood memories. Our favorite breakfast spot, "Ellie's", has been replaced by a Mexican Restaurant so we stopped for pancakes at the Davenport Inn. Breakfast out is my favorite way to start a day.

It wasn't a particularly warm day, so the crowds were low. The kids spent the whole morning catching polywogs and burying themselves in the warm sand. We took Mom and Dad to the cove at the end of the river and spent an hour skipping rocks and skiing. Cooper got up for just a minute on the wakeboard and we were very proud of him for trying. We were glad to have Addy, Lane and Kimball with us, even if Kimball insisted on wearing his favorite swimming suit, a Snoopy Speedo! We also discoverd that Cocoa Rice Krispies make terrible Rice Krispy Treats.

I felt grateful to have access to such a beautiful place, grateful that the boat worked without a hitch and of course especially thankful for a "ready made family reunion" every weekend at the lake.

summer experiment

I always feel anxiety that summer is going to pass too quickly and I will have wasted the precious hours. This summer I will conduct an experiement to see if keeping a record of our activities will leave me feeling more satisfied at the end of August. It will also be a good way to expend the nervous emotional energy I have while waiting for my sweet little boy in Guatemala.

The kids have been out of school just over a week. We've been to the lake at least three times and the swimming pool at least five times. Our routines are going pretty well, the kids have already jumped off the diving board at swimming lessons, and everyone seems to be so relaxed. Today I took the kids to Manito Park in Spokane and we fed the ducks and picnicked with the cousins and Grandma. The boys were most enthralled with the catfish that ate bread and licorice from their hands. We also went through the Japanese gardens where the kids named all the Koi fish; "zebra", "baby blue" "big daddy anchovie." The kids were horrified to hear that the seagulls opened Grandma's sack, took her sandwich out and ate it before she even knew what was happening. Max pointed out another little boy at the park and proudly said, "He's black like me!" It was a really beautiful day.

Tomorrow I will attempt to imitate Jill's famous pickled asparagus, all 50 pounds. I think the kids are planning to sabatoge Tony with whipped cream as well. It will be the fifth annual Father's Day Whip Cream Fight.

Tuesday was Betina's birthday party and we painted her room. It was so much fun. I am determined to give service to all my friends for their birthdays because it is what I would want most and allows quality time together. Tomorrow is my friend Sara's birthday and we are going to weed her garden.

Lundberg Quips:
An angry Wilson asked this week why we didn't name Cooper "Butthead" instead of Cooper. He said it fit him better.
Max laughed when I told him I'd break his legs if he threw food on the floor and asked , "Again?!"
Cooper said at dinner one night, "This is the best part of the day when we can just be together and talk about our day." (Very reinforcing).
I overheard Eliza say to her friend Roxy, "We are pretty much the most special in the whole wide world, right?" To which her friend Roxy responded with a resounding, "RIGHT!"

I wish more than anything I knew what Marcos did today, what he smiled at and what made him mad.