Spirit Lake Adventure

We just got back from our first overnight trip out of town with Hope - - the big family reunion to spectate and support as Jeffrey competed in Ironman Coeur d'Alene 2008. We motored out in an RV, and stayed in a luxurious "cabin" on Spirit Lake in Idaho, where no amenities were spared and the trusting and wonderful owners had a strict "open pantry" policy for anything we might need that can be found in the house. You name it, they had it, and we were welcome to use it - from pasta and baking essentials, to your choice of lake transport, fishing gear, a hot tub, Finnish sauna and steam shower, choice of 3 cribs, right down to a hammer and nails, all we had to do was wonder whether something was available, and there it was. The property was enormous, beautifully and meticulously decorated and landscaped, yet still maintained a cozy, friendly feel. We could have happily stayed for many weeks, but begrudgingly piled back into the RV for our scenic drive home.

A few highlights:

- Driving East, retracing our steps from the move back in 2001
- Relaxing in the sun with Hope on her outdoor blanket
- Enjoying time with Uncle Jeffrey pre-and-post Ironman (he finished 406 out of almost 2000)
- Paddleboat with Pappy, fetching a mid-lake ball for the dog who refused to swim
- Bryan cycling around Spirit Lake with several whole roasting chickens in his backpack
- Fishing with Uncle Phil, thinking I'd caught something only to wrestle a tangled mess of old fishing line and algae onto the dock...
- Getting to know Chelsea (she's lovely)
- Great meals in somebody else's kitchen
- Taking tons of family photos with Grammy, Pappy, and the gang (now on Flickr)










Hope really dealt superbly with the trip, from hours in the RV to the excitement of 12 family members together at our peak. She had one big fussy evening, which will forever be remembered as the night the Aunts broke the rules. :) She got the better of all of us, refusing to nap through the afternoon into evening, preferring to spend zombie time with company rather than to settle quietly into her crib.

After a good hour and a half struggling upstairs to calm her down, Bryan and I took off in a paddle boat to let off steam while she continued to fuss. In our absence, Aunts Jan and Martha snuck up in an unsuccessful bid to sooth Hope despite strict orders to let her cry it out (at which point Martha, with a "you don't mind, do you?" to Jan, left her glasses in the room, causing yet another search that had the house stymied until bed time). Upon our return, a re-energized Bryan came to the rescue, finally lulling Hope to sleep in the cool of the cabin basement.

We all laughed about it later, and agreed it was probably harder on the grandparents and aunts than it was on me and Bryan (and certainly Hope), since we had taken the position that our daughter should learn to put herself to sleep, while everyone else was worried there might be something truly wrong. But just when we think we're becoming impervious to her charms, there's that toothy smile, and we melt all over again.

What a wonderful trip! Thank you Uncle Jeffrey, for being the catalyst to bring us all together. YOU ARE AN IRONMAN! :)