An Idaho Independence Day! It’s become a family tradition. And this year, with school running so late into June, our trip east was the perfect way to kick off summer break.
It’s a bit of a trek to Post Falls, but the kids did great in the car, thanks in part to the six-dollar rubber pig I picked up for Isaac at the Ritzville gas station. Thanks also in part to Miss Rachel, the toddler whisperer/YouTube phenomenon, who we streamed on my phone from Ellensburg to Ritzville. It takes a village.
It was so good to land at my mom and dad’s front door – we set the kids free in the backyard and I was promptly handed a glass of chilled Rose. We made it!
Even after five hours in the backset together, these two still adored each other. No small thing.
Once we had Happy-Houred and eaten our burgers, we set out to the playground to let Isaac get the last of his wiggles out.
It seemed that nearly every park had a splash pad, so we took to packing a beach towel with us every where we went.
Isaac conked out in his makeshift closet bedroom with little fuss that evening and just as I was ready to put on my own pajamas, Juliette asked if she could play outside a little longer. I went out front with her and she did sprints across the park and back, asking me to time her on my watch. This girl’s energy knows no bounds.
There and back in less than a minute!
But she had to know…could she do it in 50 seconds?! (She could.)
We walked around the block and Juliette practiced her cartwheels at the edge of a field and I felt so damn grateful to have all the time in the time in the world to watch the sun go down with my best girl.
Monday! Isaac was up bright and early, but so was my mom, so we enjoyed a 6am coffee and then got to work in the yard.
Juliette and I did some thrifting with my mom in town that morning and we returned to the house with a treasure trove of toys and clothes for Isaac. I had booked us tickets for an afternoon cruise around Lake Coeur d’Alene, so we hit the water after lunch.
It was extra warm that day, but was a breeze on the water and the boat was plenty big enough for us to do some laps and find the shady side. We had a comfy table inside that Isaac spent approximately zero minutes actually sitting at.
Plus, ice cold cocktails! 85 degrees felt juuuuuuust right.
Land ho!
We disembarked and promptly headed to Vantage Point for burgers and brews.
And once we’d boated and eaten, there was nothing left to do but backyard gymnastics. These slow, silly moments were the highlight of my week.
Watermelon cheers before pajamas and bedtime.
W made it as far as pajamas, but…bedtime?! This boy had somersaults to do.
Finally, though, finally, Isaac crashed and then Shane, Juliette and I popped across the street for a neighborhood viewing of Star Wars. Someone passed around a tray of cookies decorated like flags and fireworks and if this isn’t quintessential summer, I don’t know what is!
(Fireworks start on the Third of July in Idaho…)
Tuesday the Fourth! Isaac was up early early, so we took a mid-morning porch nap before heading to the playground for splash time and a fried chicken picnic lunch.
Isaac brings the party wherever he goes…
Buddy was a little timid around the fountains, but eventually he just couldn’t resist the lure.
Sister showed him the ropes.
And then backyard sprinkler shenanigans with Grandma! My kids bring out such unabated joy in their grandparents.
We spent the evening at yet another playground (so many to choose from!), though this one scored extra points for a splash pad plus pickle balls courts. Juliette feels like the special-est kid on the planet when Shane’s able to take the time to coach her on her dink game.Â
Someday I hope I’ll get some tips from him as well, but right now, I’m content to be Isaac’s Golden Retriever and chase down the barrage of balls he tosses over the net while those two have their moment. It’s a short season in the scheme of things, this toddler phase.
Back at the house, the neighborhood fireworks really started popping an hour before sundown. Isaac heard a few, but was much too enamored with his popsicle to pay them much mind.
Once Isaac was de-stickied and jammied, we did a couple of small fireworks in the street before putting him to bed. He was mildly impressed.
My dad, Juliette and I took a walk through the neighborhood as dusk fell – kids ran through the streets with sparklers and dads started hauling their arsenal of explosives out into their driveways.
Here we go!
It was boom after boom after boom, with fireworks blooming in every direction.
Sweet Juliette, though, was just as excited by her sparklers.
Whew! What a show. Next up: next-level splash-padding!
