We made it to SPOKANE!!!!!!! Yay!!!! This week the boys slept in 7 different cities in 7 nights. They are champs. We spent the first two days and a night in the Redwoods. Though we almost didn't. We accidentally reserved a handicap site and they told us that we could NOT camp there by law and the camp site was full. Landon was so sad. I felt so calm when she told us that (after 15 hours of driving). I went back and talked to her and just asked questions about where we could go and what we should do. And after about ten minutes she said "ya know, I think we have on site open tonight for one night." Done! Phew.
The redwoods were incredible. But it was freeeeezzzzziing that night. We were up all night finding new ways to add more layers onto the boys. At 2am I brought ty into my sleeping bag for a few hours. I felt so much love in that moment. "I'm a mom sacrificing all of my sleep so my little perfect angel could be warm. This is an amazing experience." I kept thinking. Moms are just the coolest. All moms do this. Anyway, by the end of the night. All the boys had all the blankets including our sleeping bags and Landon and I were sharing a picnic blanket. We were shaking like leaves. At about 6:00am Jax said "mommy?" "Yeah Jax?" And then he sticks out his hand, which is no longer covered by his glove and says, "my one hand is cold." I just started laughing so hard. My boys had no idea what we did the last 12 hours to keep them warm and I was completely okay with that. A child never will know a parents love until they have their own. But I felt so much joy knowing that I had accomplished my mothering task of keep my kids warm all night. For some reason it was a really spiritual experience for me and I forgot that I only got 2 hours of sleep.
We finished up the redwoods by doing a booklet of activities so Jax could become a Jr. ranger. He was so proud.
We then headed up the Oregon coast! Beautiful. Spent the night in a hotel and all slept in til 8:30. Beautiful again. Headed to the Hirschis in cottage grove for a day and a night. Then the Hess' in Lacey Washington for a day and a night. Then the Laws in Seattle for a night. We love all these families so much and it was so good to catch up!!
Landon went to the USA copa America game with his friend Trevor!
Such a fun week. I did however start to cry when we finally pulled up google maps and typed in Spokane. My little family had the adventure of a lifetime and we have no regrets! but it's time to have a home again. And even though we are staying in a semi gross extended stay place the next three days, we are in Spokane and routine and real life is in our reach.
We have pictures of all the magical moments. Here is a list of the Bloopers!!
Bloopers:
1: Luggage falling out
2: Reserving handicap campsite and almost not being able to camp at the redwoods
3: Boys being pretty sick Utah
4: Landon Throwing up at 2:30am after eating a hot dog camping
5: Waking up the ant infested Travel Lodge bed AND breakfast in Willits CA
6: Forgetting to give Ty a bath for 7 days
7: Not getting a picture of the Oregon coast, even though we drove two hours out of the way to drive it, because the boys were asleep
8: Sleeping in 40 degree weather
9: Leaving Tys carrier backpacks sun cover in Spokane
10: Not seeing everyone we wanted to
11: Jax crying multiple nights because he misses Indiana and his friends
12: 100+ hours in the car ;).
Also happy Father's Day to our dads and to Landon. It's been a crazy five weeks and we definitely didn't give this day what it deserved. Love you three(dad, papa, Landon).
He got a little teary eyed when I told him we were finally going home to Spokane. So did I.
