This is what summer looks like

I am pretty sure that I grew up in the greatest place that summer ever came too.  We have lakes, rivers, swimming holes, and all your friends are right there.  Camping, parades, and everyone you know.  You know that smell under the pine trees on a really hot summer day?  That is the smell of summer, and it came from here.  I so look forward to our "vacation" to my mom's house every year and I can't wait until my kids are as excited about it as I am.  Although Dietrich put on a good show with his life jacket on before we left running around the house screaming "I swimming!"

 First on the agenda, the Down River Days Parade.  Did you know that in big cities (like Spokane) they don't throw out candy anymore because crazy mean people might do something bad to the candy before the kids get it?  I learned that while at Winco buying 50 pounds of candy with a baby strapped to my chest and a toddler VERY patiently waiting for his little bit of candy that he picked out.  But at this parade people, the kids bring grocery sacks and our pelted with PILES of candy.  And I'm not worried for a second that somebody did something bad to it because, you know, I know them all.

 Grandma Jane's PUD float!  Dietrich and I even helped decorate a little...

 Lenorah's first parade!

 Then we went to the Lake.  The Lake is my favorite place in the world.  When someone says "think of a peaceful, happy place" this is my place.  The water is clear and cold and the mountains are beautiful.

 And when you go, there will be a pile of little "babysitters" so you can leave the baby in the shade and enjoy the water.

 And if you need one, just take a nap on the beach.

 This is the "swimming hole" by Box Canyon, we grew up calling it "The Pond."  As I got ready to meet up with my childhood friends and all their babies I asked my mom how often in the summer did you take us to the pond?  Because in my memory it was pretty much everyday.  Turns out it wasn't quite that often, but what a great way to remember it.  I love this picture because this group of girls (minus one but her kids were still with us) could have been in this very same place with our mom's 20 years ago.  Now here we are with our pile of kids!  (9 all together, 4 of them under a year old)

 Dietrich and Lenorah took their first bath together.  And Dietrich dumped a cup of water over Lenorah's face, she didn't care.

 And back to the Lake, we usually camp here as well but with two little one's this year and not a lot of vacation time I wasn't up for it.  So we just spent a few days there with our camping friends.  Of course what little boy wouldn't need a manicure while on the beach.

Then it was over, and I wish there was some way to live in both places at the same time...at least during the summer.