Aunt Lori!!

Aunt Lori!!

Tyler's sister Lori came for a quick visit the day after my Rebel Junk show. We were so excited to be able to spend some time with her. She lives in San Diego and we don't get to see her as often as we would like to. The timing worked out great. I was worried that she would come while I was busy with my show but having her come the next day was perfect. She and her friend Claudia were visiting friends in Seattle and planned a little detour to Spokane. We had so much fun!!

The first day that she was here we had a great time hanging out at our house and catching up!! So much to discuss and so much news to catch up on. Plus we got to meet her friend and neighbor Claudia. She is from Austria but now lives in San Diego and was such a sweet and interesting person. A new lifelong friend for sure. We just loved her. It helps when you arrive with European chocolate and gummies!! We went out for dinner that night at one of our new favorite restaurants Republic Pi. It is the most extraordinary pizza. As I have mentioned a million times I don't like pizza. I also hate pears. But...this should tell you how good the place is...I LOVE their Fairview pizza which has garlic cream, ham, a cheese blend, pears, gorgonzola, and a white balsamic reduction sauce on it. OH. MY. GOSH. It is absolutely amazing. I also love their brussel sprouts appetizer with fire roasted bacon, balsamic, salt and pepper and chili flakes. It is so good. This time Claudia and I tried the pickled egg appetizer. Surprisingly good!

After our delicious dinner it was back to our house for a little birthday party for Lori. Her birthday was the week before and it was fun to have a belated birthday party for her. We all stayed up super late laughing and chatting into the night.

The next morning we were up and out the door bright and early. We went out for breakfast at our new favorite breakfast place...Yards Bruncheon... and had chicken and waffles, huckleberry pancakes, the Irish Benedict, and all kinds of good things. Then we attempted to walk off our huge breakfast in the Kendall Yards area and then it was onto Riverfront Park.

Even though Riverfront Park is currently all torn up with a huge reconstruction of the park; the Spokane River and Falls were the most spectacular that I have ever seen them. All of our massive snow fall is now flooding the river and creating the most incredible water flow over the falls. It is truly breathtaking.

Claudia and Lori...they had never seen water like that before!!

Getting the shot! Ha ha!

A few videos:

Here we are getting totally soaked!!

Then we were off to spend the day in Coeur d' Alene. We stopped along the way at the Post Falls dam so that Tyler could show Lori and Claudia one of the hydropower dams that he inspects. Then it was onto Lake Coeur d' Alene. We were hoping to see some bald eagles as Claudia had never seen one before and Lori has only seen one once. We are definitely blessed in the bald eagle department around here. But...unfortunately not a one was in sight.

But the sun was out and boy that water looked inviting!!

You couldn't keep us out! Good thing we had our rain boots. I had mine on and was in the water too.

Then it was time for some SERIOUS rock throwing and rock skipping competitions!!

If only these pictures had sound. There was so much laughter and smack talk!! Yep, they are all related and are all super competitive!! Aunts and Uncles who play and act silly with their nieces and nephews are THE BEST!! And...much beloved by their nieces and nephews. Kameron ended up winning the distance and the skipping contests but Lori wasn't too far behind. She used to play softball in high school and has a great arm!!

Big Sis and Little Bro

Claudia relaxing in the sunshine

Then we walked and hiked around for awhile and headed over to the resort for a late ice cream lunch. Lori REALLY wanted to try those enormous ice cream sundaes aka gooeys that she kept seeing us eat on Instagram and we were very happy to oblige!! She and Claudia are fans!! Unfortunately the boardwalk was partially submerged due to the high water levels and we didn't get to walk around it but we spent the rest of the afternoon playing in Coeur d' Alene and enjoying that beautiful thing called SUNSHINE!!

Sibling Love!

Then we headed back to Spokane and to our house to hang out for awhile. No one was hungry for dinner.  Lori kept the kids stocked up on candy and more candy and gifts throughout the day. She spoiled those kids rotten. They had a pretty spectacular day as they also got to skip school to hang out with their aunt that day too. That night we had a late dinner at our favorite Nudo and introduced Lori and Claudia to the ramen burger and our favorite Tonkotsu. So good. It was another late late night but such great fun-filled day!!

The next morning it was back to school and back to work and time to say goodbye. Lori and Claudia were heading back to Seattle where another friend from California was flying in and they were going to spend another couple of days there with her.

Lori needs to come back for another much longer visit ASAP!! We love her a lot!!