We are in the arduous process of selling our first house and it's easy to get caught up in all of the discomforts, irritations, and worries that the process entails. Let's just say I am ready to completely turn my back on everything in the STUFF category and move to a cave in the woods! Are there any 3 bed/2 bath caves available? Along with a solid dose of family fun, our day trip to Walla Walla was a reminder that we can do hard things and be happy along the way. It was fun to show the kids places they don't remember and let them create their own memories of those places. Walla Walla was not the first place we lived (it was actually our sixth home) and we only lived there for a year, but we loved living there, our first child was born there, and Walla Walla will always have a place in our hearts. And Fast Eddy's has the most divine milkshakes (cue: lactase pill).
Since Jeff and I can rarely resist a refreshing trail run, we took turns running in Walla Walla. I ran at Rooks Park while Jeff played frisbee and scoop ball at the playground with the kids, then we drove around to the other side and Jeff ran at Lake Bennington while I went on a hike with the kids. It was the kind of outdoor rambling adventure that my dreams are made of. I love taking it slow and watching my kids explore, play, and discover out in the wilds. The wilds in this case took the shape of a half-drained reservoir lake bed and surrounding trails and fields, but we'll take what we can get!
The dry lake bed:
It reminds me of The Lion King when Simba meets Timon and Pumba.
Stick, rock, dirt: Amber heaven.
The sparse early spring foliage at the lake was prickly and scenic.
The game is afoot! We exited the lake on the far side and headed down the trail. The kids chose our heading and which trail forks to take: deliciously free wandering at its purest.
Amber made dozens of stops along the trail to test her stick in the dirt.
This almost did not end well.
The big sticks swinging were worrisome, but nobody lost an eye, ear, or skull.
Amber could hardly believe her luck and freedom. Stick in one hand, rock in the other, she resolutely tromped after her big brother and sister.
The trail looped around to the part of the lake that still had some murky water in it. Mentally prepping for some serious mud, I let the kids run for the water.
In the absence of rocks, Amber threw sticks into the water, stepping an inch closer to the wetness with every throw until I pulled the plug and we headed back to the trail. When you're an hour and a half from home on a chilly day without any spare shoes or clothes, certain precautions must be observed.
Jay discovered a soft dry rotten stick that left marks on the log like a pencil, so everyone took chunks of it and started scribbling and drawing.
Artistic intensity.
I coerced the crew into some tall-grass pictures on our way back up the trail.
Jeff found us re-crossing the dry lake when he finished his seven mile trail trot. We loaded back into the van and drove back into Walla Walla.
Fast Eddy's for lunch! It's a burger drive-in like Sonic where you sit in your car and order food, except they have waiters walk around taking the orders instead of speakers at each parking spot.
Jeff got the Eddy Burger--a massive two patty, ham, cheese, bacon, etc. concoction nearly as big as my face.
While we were eating, we drove to our family favorite Lions Park. The kids fed the ducks Cheerios while Jeff and I finished our burgers.
When Jay was a baby I used to take him to this park.
Recreating a classic Jay-picture...
MAN he was a cute baby.
Jay standing outside his birthplace: St. Mary's Hospital
It's been almost eight years since Jay entered the world inside this building.
We love Walla Walla!
No comments:
Post a Comment