Softball Saturday

Ellie is playing softball at school when it starts next week, so yesterday we spent the day working on her skills. We went to the batting cages and hit some balls; we all took turns at it and I was better than I thought!! Here's a shot of Ellie about to hit a home run.

After the batting cages we went back to Shawn's where we played catch and hung out and had a good time just hanging around in the backyard. Here are a few videos of us on a lazy Saturday.

Spokane Indians Game

Last evening Shawn and I went to a Spokane Indians baseball game. It was dollar night, so we got in for $1, ate a hot dog for $1, had a pop for $1, and topped it all off with an ice cream sandwich for $1. That's a pretty cheap date night!

We had a fun time, and our seats were actually pretty good. We were in the first row, right next to the visiting team's bullpen. There's not like a fence or anything between them and the crowd so it was pretty cool interacting with them. They were actually more entertaining than the game! The Indians ended up losing, but we still had a really good time.

It's a Wonderful Life

Yesterday evening Shawn and I went for a bike ride. Often times we will go for an ride in the evening, but for some reason this one felt different. I found myself really soaking up the world around me.

It was a beautiful evening. It had been a very warm day, so when we went riding it was still in the upper 80's. The air was warm and there was not a cloud in the sky. Shawn and I rode around some neighborhoods and saw some new construction going on, so we stopped for a bit and walked in one of the homes that was almost done. We also rode by a park, so we stopped and took a ride on the swings. I haven't been on the swings forever, and it was so much fun! We were just laughing and trying to see who could swing higher. (Shawn beat me). Just as we finished our ride the moon was coming up. It was a huge full moon, and it seemed so bright and big. It looked like something out of a movie. When we got back to his house we parked our bikes and sat on the porch steps of Shawn's house and talked until it was dark.

It was a very ordinary evening, but it felt extraordinary. I had such great company to be with, such a beautiful world to see, and my health to be thankful for. I hope I never take for granted the ordinary days of life. Sometimes, those are the most special.

Olympics!

Is it just me, or is anyone else super stoked for the Olympics??? My work day today just couldn't go by fast enough because I wanted to be able to come home and watch the opening ceremonies. Call me a nerd...

The Hiawatha Trail

Thursday we went up and biked the Hiawatha Trail, which is an old rail trail that runs along the Idaho/Montana border. The bike path went through 9 tunnels, and over 7 little bridges. The total trail was 14 miles and it started off with a two mile ride through a pitch black tunnel. You had to have lights on your bike because it is so pitch black in there and you can't even see either end of the tunnel when you are in the middle. Crazy.

We packed a lunch and ate along the trail. It was so beautiful. Here's a photo of us after stopping for lunch. In the distance to the left of Ellie, you can see a little bridge, that's one of the bridges we went over. Pretty cool, huh?

The trip was actually pretty easy because it was all a 2% down grade the entire way. But it didn't stop me from getting a work out; and I had the sweat to prove it!!

Texas Trip - Day Four

Our final day in Austin started with a hike up to the top of Mt. Bonnell. It's really a walk up about 50 stair-steps, but it's the highest point in Austin and has a really cool view of the city. Here's Shawn and Ellie enjoying the view. After Mt. Bonnell, we spent the day around the University of Texas campus and did some sightseeing there. We enjoyed a laid-back day of walking around in shops and checking out the sights. Here's a photo of Ellie and I shopping among all things orange in the UT Bookstore. Don't you love our hats???
We met up again with Jalaine for dinner; this time at Carlos 'n Charlie's on Lake Travis. It was a little bit of a drive, but it was a great meal and had a cool view. After dinner we finished up our Austin trip by watching the 1.5 million bats fly out of downtown Austin. It was a fun trip, we got to see many cool things, and it was so good to see my friends again. Thanks, y'all for the fun time!

Texas Trip - Day Three

On day three of our Texas adventure, we spent the day discovering Austin. We met up with one of my oldest friends, Rushell, and her family. Her and her husband Jeff and boys Tyler and Dylan treated us to the Austin Duck Tour. It's one of those tour buses that takes you on a tour of the city and then also goes into the water for a tour as well. Here's a photo of us after the tour with Tyler. He was just so cute that I wanted to take him home!!After the tour we went with Rushell and fam to the Hula Hut for lunch. It's one of my favorite Austin restaurants, and it was fun to enjoy it with old friends. Shawn, Ellie, and I then went and toured the Texas State Capitol for a while. It is a pretty fascinating building, and we spent a long time in there discovering everything. Here's a photo of us outside the capitol.Finally, we met up with Jalaine for dinner at the Kerbey Lane Cafe, one of my other favorite restaurants in Austin. It was some good food, and some great queso.