Wonderful Spokane

Spokane is a place filled with many childhood memories for Mike. His grandfather (also known as Papa or Floyd) lived in Spokane for as long as Mike can remember. He spent part of every summer growing up visiting Papa. His favorite memories consist of canoeing down the Little Spokane River, riding the Loof Carousel, and going fishing in the river and various lakes around the Spokane area. Papa was such a happy man all the time I knew him. He took walks everyday and was one of the healthies eaters I knew. He loved his garden and gave us so many wonderful raspberries. He also loved to go huckleberry picking. We were sad when he passed away a couple of years ago. We miss him so much. We try and visit Spokane often so we can be reminded of Papa and to do all those fun things Mike remembers doing as a kid. Our boys do remember Papa and visiting Spokane just gives us the opportunity to talk about him more. We realized that the last time we visited Spokane was during the fall of 2006. The picture above is of Papa and Emma at the carousel during the summer of 2006.

We wanted to take one last trip to Spokane before our big move next June. The weather was supposed to be in the 60's but at the last moment a cold front came down from Canada and it ended up being in the 40's. BRRRRR!!! We did all the major things that we do with the kids when we visit Spokane: ride on the Loof Carousel (100th year anniversary this year), play on the gigantic radio flyer slide, feed the metal goat (you push a button and it sucks up your trash), ride on the Gondola down to the falls (first time with the kids), walk around the indoor four story mall and Riverfront park, and drive by Papa's house. The Loof Carousel has been rated one of the best carousel's in the nation. It is quite fast for a carousel and you can grab rings each time you go around and then try and throw them in the hole in the wall on the other side. When Mike was younger they would have one gold ring during each ride. It was always the dream to get the gold ring. In the summertime Riverfront park has all of its rides open and it is a blast. This year we just walked through the park and enjoyed the sun. It was too cold this trip to go down the Little Spokane River in the canoe. Even though the cold was a bit of a shock to our systems, we still had a blast being together. We did go and buy hats and gloves for the girls though. It was good that they needed them anyways. We were able to visit with Mike's Uncle and Aunt over lunch. It was great to catch up with them and for the kids to meet them. Thank goodness for the hotel pool and fun movies to entertain us in the evenings when it was too dark and way too cold to be outside. Mike and I must be getting old because it took us a while to get used to the pool. I only spent about five minutes in the pool before heading over to the hot tube. Abby sat on my lap on the steps and just played in the bubbles. We all got to watch Ice Age 3 for the first time and just loved being together for the weekend without any distractions. This was probably our last little trip before the winter really comes our way. I am not sure I am ready to bunker down just yet!

DOWNTOWN SPOKANE

LOOF CAROUSEL

GONDOLA RIDE

RADIO FLYER SLIDE

PAPA'S HOUSE & FAMILY