The Bowens Take on the East (of Washington, that is)

I know that everyone's family is unique, but I feel justified in saying that mine is particularly colorful. I could nonchalantly tell you that we had a family reunion in Eastern Washington, and you'd say, "That's nice." Or I could tell you a little bit more and your eyes would grow wide. I will spare you the details here. Let's just leave it at: we spent a lovely four days on the WA/ID boarder with my delightful grandparents, wonderful parents, dearest sister, cutest niecey, and various other relations. The scenery was spectacular and the pies plentiful. This is an annual gathering, but Blake and I were not able to attend the last few years. Thanks to his flight benefits, this time we could go! Newport, WA is an old French fur trapping town, and is a little frightening (read: hillbilly mecca). You have to cross into Idaho to get there, and if you squint, you can almost see British Colombia. It's pretty as a picture, so here are a few pictures to sum up our trip (with words too because I love words):

This has nothing to do with the trip, but I couldn't resist putting up a picture of my pear butter!

We managed to get on all the flights we needed! We met Lindsay and Evie at the Spokane airport and drove hour to "the property" in Newport with them. We spent the rest of Sunday just relaxing (mostly on the front porch, where this picture was taken).

Blake and his niecey!

We went on an adventure to Boundary Dam with Linds and Ev. The girls have matching cars seats! They napped blissfully most of the way there.

Boundary Dam is on the Pend Oreille River, on the border with Canada. It was so beautiful, even if I'm scared to death of dams.

Blake and Rorykins relaxing on the river

We stopped in a city called Metaline Falls because we wanted to see the waterfall. We were tersely informed that if you stand on a certain bridge, you can see where the falls used to be. Seems it's a soar subject around there. We didn't let the failed falls stop us from enjoying the pretty river!

Aurora loved splashing in the water! She's also entirely fixated on bellybuttons, and she (notional baby that she is) chooses to reveal our navels at the most inopportune times, like at the airport.

We saw a lot of wildlife on our trip, including a curious snake, a flock of wild turkeys, deer, an owl, and lots of other random fowl. We heard a pack of killer wolves at night from our tent too. Oh, and let's not forget the rare furry-faced biped seen here holding Rory!

Rory was privileged to enjoy her meals between Grampie and Grammie on the couch.

My dad and Evie (he's more comfortable as they get older!)

Aurora was super excited to get her own play money during the annual family mystery auction!

After a fierce bidding war, Grampie unwrapped his winnings to find this lovely pink scarf. I shouldn't have given up!

Rory reading with her grandpa during the auction

The "other baby:" Thomas, the blind cat, on Grammie's lap

Grammie and Evelyn: we spend lots of time sitting around talking (mostly about food)

Dad and Blake got up ridiculously early one morning to go fishing. Despite being assured they would probably catch nothing, they each came back with a big slimy trout.

Rory and Evie both have bug outfits!

My daughter was dismayed when she was forbidden to pinch her cousin's tempting little legs.

I'm excited for them to be bridesmaids in each others' wedding!

We put our tent in the orchard to thwart the killer wolves.

Rory and her papa

Despite being half-Washingtonian, my child hates grass

"Get me off of it!"

Rory's finally decided that moving around is beneficial. Now she's walking along furniture, climbing stairs, and pulling up on everything. Maybe she will be walking by 18 months!

The girlies in their matching dresses

Little cuties

Evie found the photo shoot tiring, and Rory just wanted to pinch her.

They both look like their papas: I guess those Thomas genes aren't that strong!

 

We got halfway to town on Wednesday before Blake's coworker called and said he'd cover Blake's Thursday shift. So, we turned around and surprised everyone by coming back for one more day! We celebrated our five year dateversary by leaving babycakes with the family and driving to Sandpoint for a couple hours, where we went to the library (long story), drove across an exciting bridge, ate delicious cheese burgers, and walked along a marina.

I wanted a picture of us, the cool drooping tree, and the marina. We were not entirely successful.

A few leaves and a few boats- getting closer!

Ahh! Two droopy branches and some water. Good enough!

Bedhead

Me and my niecey poo

She will not eat pasta or chicken, but she loves salmon and egg rolls. Odd child.

Such a big girl, in her very own seat on the plane! Unfortunately, she will not sleep at all while flying. She takes five second thumb-sucking recharges, then is right back at removing the magazines and safety cards from the seat pocket, studying them, and casting them aside. Something about the Skymall catalog made her chuckle every time she saw it. Surviving flights with her is a full time job for both parents, and is doomed to fail if there are not ample snacks. We may resort to benadryl next time... But all in all, she was such a sweet, charming little cutie pie who's growing up so fast!