Dwayne fixed the door easily so we had enough time to explore the river.

One of Dwayne’s hidden talents is rock stacking, and I love that the kids are emulating him!

The first day is always exciting, and we didn’t take advantage by booking across the state.  We got to meet Papa Jim for brunch before traveling over to Leavenworth—a place the kids haven’t seen without snow.  We got enough sun to get halfway through a long walk before the sky poured out.  Luckily, the  Gingerbread Factory is always open when we need it!  A little shopping, a little dinner, and then a little adventure. 

The step was supposed to retract every time we closed the door; the manual said so.  The manual did NOT say what do when the step stopped retracting.  In a parking lot. At a rainy 9pm, a solid 3 hours after any useful stores closed.  Turns out you wrestle the pin out the mechanism and hold the steps in with a ratchet strap, for the rest of the trip.  So grateful I married a useful problem solver!

A few weeks ago, after brainstorming (and pricing) several other travel options, we stopped by NWAdventures in Lynnwood and rented a 32’ Class C motorhome.

Our trip in a nutshell:

• 7 nights
• 1,490 miles
• 27 hours of driving

With its own sense of humor, Easter came on April 1st this year, inciting Wesley to chant “I can’t wait for Easter Fool’s Day” in anticipation.

My own expectations coupled with my kids’ unsubtle demands left me with the following to-do list:

1) Be the Easter Bunny

2) Sprinkle in April Fool’s jokes on the children

3) Organize and host Easter dinner for 34

4) Organize an Egg Hunt for 13 children

5) Still make Easter somewhat spiritually meaningful for the family.

Easter baskets were easy—each got an appropriate knife, Wesley’s 8 year old jackknife, and the girls each got the recommended knife for their summer survival camp, as well as some books and a chocolate bunny.

Sadly, they also got the following letter when they woke up Easter morning:

Dear Children,

I have outdone myself this year. Remember in the past when you would find your baskets in less than an hour? Well, I will weep if you can find them without tears of frustration before 8:45am. You each have different colored paper bag with your name on it hidden somewhere downstairs. Truly, I had no pity when I hid these. You won’t find anything upstairs or outside. Nothing for you has been hidden in the guest room—your mom will kill you, and then me, if you try digging through the stuff she has piled in there.

In addition to your Easter bag, there are a dozen little cute eggs hidden between the playroom, bathroom, hallway and office. You should be able to find about 3 of them. I will tear my clothes and gnash my teeth if you find all twelve.

Don’t wake up your parents, especially your mom, with all the crying you will be doing when attempting to do MY egg hunt. You are doomed to failure and I shall finally reign triumphant!

Love,

The Evil Easter Bunny

At least two children cried in the hour it took them (and a few very pointed hints) to find their gifts, but they got to sit down their the breakfast of “hamburger and fries”.

And that’s pretty much the last unblurred picture I took for the day, but the to-do list got done enough, and it was an excellent day.