This Christmas we decided to stay home. Travel during the holidays can be messy for us, especially with Charlie. And besides, we spent a lot of time away from home this summer. Staying put for a while has its appeal.Knowing they would be deprived of their only and cutest grandson during the holidays, Keith's Floridian parents took a chance on our flighty Idaho weather, and hopped a jet to visit us in the middle of July. You can see from their expressions below, they were very happy they took that chance. They came for the most perfect five days of weather the Northwest has to offer.
We met them in Spokane the morning after their flight, stuffed ourselves at Perkins (or was it IHOP?) and then drove to Coeur d'Alene to spend the day. We visited downtown and had to stop in FigPickels, er, PickelFiggels, er, well this really cool toy store. If Charlie had been any older, this could have been very unwise. But we had a great time.
Yes, that's me picking the moose's nose. No one else realized I had done this, but the moose appreciated it. ... Okay moving on. After walking about a bit, we hopped on a ferry to take a tour of Lake Coeur d'Alene. It was a lovely ride, the same ride Keith and I took on our second anniversary. And I got sunburned then too. And Charlie slept when he wasn't giving me a heart attack by leaning and standing on the railings. The end of our ride wasn't so serene though. In fact, we felt like we were in an episode of Bay Watch, minus the scantily clad rescue team. Here's what happened: Just as we were nearing the shore, we were all watching the fancy moves of some windsurfer. He had his big parachute thing that was pulling him around. Everyone on the boat oohed and awed for a while. Then there was a lull. And then a woman behind me said "Oh no." Just "oh no" but in a voice that makes you realize something very very bad has just happened. And I heard and felt a sort of "bump bump" under the boat. Keith ran to the back of the boat and peered around. People were saying "Where is he? Where did he go?" What?!?! Did we just hit someone? Well, yes actually, we had.
Somehow, or other, a windsurfer (a different one) and our boat met up. Our boat cut off his wind supply and he was dead in the water (so to speak). Then he collided with the boat and just... went under. Our boat was going slow, but still had the propeller going. Are you following? You can guess what I was thinking, what we were all thinking: The guy's a gonner. But then, he popped up! Yes, there he was floating in the water and yelling something. At first I thought he was saying "I'm okay!" But then he was holding his leg up and repeating what he had said. "9-1-1!" And then we all got a look at his leg. (Insert shudder here.) His calf muscle was flayed open in a long gash, six inches at least. Keith said he saw the white flash of bone. Oh my. To end this story quickly, he got on an ambulance (finally) and we all got off the boat after leaving our "information" with the police. I don't remember exactly, months later, but I think we heard about it on the radio and he was alright. Whew. Welcome to Idaho, Dimelers!
The rest of their visit, thankfully, was much less eventful. But we did have a lot of fun! We went to the farmer's market, watched the neighbor's house get all kinds of work done on it, basked in the sunshine and shade of our backyard, went to the pool, took a stroll through the arboretum, ate a lot of food, and drank a lot of wine and beer (responsibly, of course).
And then is was Christmas in July. After watching Charlie endlessly "digging" with a trowel I picked up at a garage sale, Granny and Grandad decided it was absolutely necessary to get Charlie an early Christmas present. A sandbox! Ooooooooh, does Charlie love it. And we do too, even if I am occasionally surprised to find sand pouring out of his pockets during a diaper change. Hey, that's what vaccuum cleaners are for, right?
Keith also sent his dad out on a motorcycle ride. Looks like a natural, don't he?
And of course, Mom-dime needed to feel the Idaho wind. Go-Granny-Go!
Their last day we drove up to Spokane and had a delicious meal at Luigi's Italian Restaurant. Everything that was ordered was scumptious (I know, I ate the leftovers... later that is. For lunch. The next day. I'm not a pig! I even shared with Keith.) And then we sent them off.
The rest of their visit, thankfully, was much less eventful. But we did have a lot of fun! We went to the farmer's market, watched the neighbor's house get all kinds of work done on it, basked in the sunshine and shade of our backyard, went to the pool, took a stroll through the arboretum, ate a lot of food, and drank a lot of wine and beer (responsibly, of course). And then is was Christmas in July. After watching Charlie endlessly "digging" with a trowel I picked up at a garage sale, Granny and Grandad decided it was absolutely necessary to get Charlie an early Christmas present. A sandbox! Ooooooooh, does Charlie love it. And we do too, even if I am occasionally surprised to find sand pouring out of his pockets during a diaper change. Hey, that's what vaccuum cleaners are for, right? Keith also sent his dad out on a motorcycle ride. Looks like a natural, don't he? And of course, Mom-dime needed to feel the Idaho wind. Go-Granny-Go! Their last day we drove up to Spokane and had a delicious meal at Luigi's Italian Restaurant. Everything that was ordered was scumptious (I know, I ate the leftovers... later that is. For lunch. The next day. I'm not a pig! I even shared with Keith.) And then we sent them off.So here we are, nearing Christmas, remembering July. Thanks for Christmas in July Mom and Dad Dimeler!
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