Vacation Photos

I promise this is my last vacation post. Here are the requisite travel slides. For the full effect, imagine me reading the captions to you in Ben Stein's Ferris Bueller voice. "Bueller... Bueller..."

Here we have our three backseat drivers: :)



This was the first time Nicknack has ever ridden in his carseat facing forward. It thrilled my heart to be able to turn around and interact with him or just take him in.



My two guys at Schweitzer Mountain. Nicknack is always barefoot. I just went out today and bought him his first pair of sandals, so now he won't look like a caveman baby. But really, he isn't much of a walker yet, so shoes are pretty much decorative. Oh, that reminds me. He took his first steps (without holding on to anything) during our vacation! It was neat that his grandparents got to witness the momentous occasion!



The view down to Lake Pond Oreille:



Nicknack has never been willing to wear hats, until this trip. Persistence pays off!!



On the drive down from the mountain, we saw a bear. I'm in this photo (trying to point to the bear) so you can see how close it was to the road. I grew up in Alaska, so I don't worry about living in a place with bears, although I'm prevented from moving to half the continental US because of two inch spiders. Go figure.



Penn and I have a history of finding neat places by intentionally getting lost. We got a little lost but we weren't sure if it would pay off. We considered turning around but felt like something interesting might be at the end of the dirt road we'd found, if we just went around one more bend. This was what was around the corner:



The photos don't do it justice. This area (Kootenai Valley) is literally the prettiest place we've ever seen.



During this drive we discussed how lots and lots of different areas of the country call themselves "God's Country." It reminded me how Travis Cottrell said his hometown (Boone, NC) is where God gets his mail! :) I guess it makes sense that so many corners of the world are thought of as God's hometown. Because, really, they all are! He created and resides in every single neck of the woods. His imagination amazes me. He is the ultimate artist!



Here is a bald eagle:



This is the lovely Deep Creek:



We screeched the minivan to a halt to capture this gorgeous yard. It had the cutest chicken coop and loveliest garden, right on the creek bank. Can you imagine having your quiet time here every morning?



This is the view from our cabin dock:



We saw a moose!



Nicknack had a blast at the beach! When he wasn't trying to eat sand...



Wading... The water was BRR! cold. But that didn't stop dozens of children of all ages (including PENN!) from whooping it up on the docks and swimming.



The beach area also offers public tennis courts, volleyball courts, picnic areas, and is a very short walk from the downtown Sandpoint block.



Penn, his Dad, and Nicknack on the boat we rented:



Nicknack in his sunhat:



We stopped at my mother and stepdad's summer ranch on the way home. Don't worry, Penn took Nicknack around the driveway going about 1/4 of 1 mph.