Our last couple weeks...

 We are studying ancient Egypt right now and so naturally Lucy is the queen.  It is really fun when my kids play the things we are studying.  They have also made robes out of sheets and gold jewelry out of construction paper.  You know, to match all the pictures in the books of what Egyptians looked like.  Daisy was a queen, Lucy a princess and Jack a scribe.  He even crumpled up his paper so it would look  "old".

 For PE the last couple of days we have taken to archery.  Daisy actually found this bow at the cabin the weekend and Casey told her she could bring it home.  They stopped on the way home and got some arrows.  Now we have an upside down cardboard box in the yard full of holes.

 That is one cute little archer!

 Jack is very proud of the fact that he can hit the box.  He and Daisy can get pretty competitive sometimes.  He did have to scootch a little closer than her to the box.  In his defense she has been practicing it since she got home; him not so much.

 She actually looks like she knows what she's doing, huh?  She got one of the arrows to go through the box today!  I think she really likes it.  She has been out there a ton shooting!  We'll see; maybe she'll go to the Olympics in archery someday.  You never know.

Hank on the other hand only cares if the things he is doing have engines and wheels.  He actually gets Casey's motorcycle magazines out of the bathroom and sits on the floor and flips the pages.  No joke.  He freaks out every time one passes us in the car.  And he begs for rides via standing in the garage pointing to the motorcycle making the vroom noise.  It scares me a little.  Casey took him, Lucy and Jack on the 4 -wheeler at the cabin and as they rolled back in I noticed that Hank looked very relaxed.  He slept almost the whole ride.  He hadn't had a nap that day and I guess he just couldn't fight the power of the motor.  Pretty funny.

All and all we are doing great.  The kids love it here and so do we.  Going for walks here is way better because the scenery is about 100 times better.  Driving places is fun because everywhere you look are mountains and water.  Plus, the real bonus has been getting to spend a lot of time with my sister-in-law and her 4 kids.  All the kids are loving getting to see each other so much.  The kids are in Awana together and we decided to try to do a little Lynch co-op on Friday mornings.  We had our first one last week and it went great.  My kids taught her kids the 4 kinds of spider webs and they taught us a couple of songs.  Then they all went out and hunted for spider webs and drew them.  Then after that they made a teepee out of a tarp and branches.  It was crude but they loved it.  The boys also killed a wasp nest-to make the day complete.  Hank and Paul played with the dirt and cars.  Lucy and Maddie colored, made a dinosaur out of the letter D and played dolls.  Everyone had a great time and the Lynch co-op is off to a great start!

So we moved...a month ago!

We have successfully transitioned from Washington to Idaho.  Well, maybe not totally, I still have a WA licence and license plate (which is expired) oops.  Anyway, we are here and it has felt much closer to a vacation and chaos than life in a different place.  Mostly that comes from the fact that we went to the Tri-Cities after only a couple of weeks of being here and going anywhere we please on the weekends.  We have been trying to move in and abuse the last warm days of summer here in beautiful North Idaho.  We live almost right on the water and it is a short 2 minute walk down the street to Pend Orielle River to swim.  The kids love having access to the water.  We also have the fabulous Riley Creek campground that is only a short 10 minute bike ride away.  It has a great beach and playground.  We have tried to go there lots too.  We have gone on many hikes including a day long adventure with the other Lynch family.  (It was not supposed to be all day).

It is super quiet here and that has taken little time to get used to.  I love that about it probably as much as  I love the scenery.  Today on the way into Sandpoint to go to the store the kids were asking about the low clouds that were trapped by the mountains and making the whole scene with the river and mountains and clouds quite the sight to behold.  My kids get to play in the front yard and think that is the best thing ever.  I am still trying to convince them that hanging out in the middle of the street is a bad idea.  Hank has run down the street once already.  Kate has run away many times but she always comes back.

My kitchen is much bigger and WAY better than my old one.  I can actually use my food processor and put a cookie sheet on the counter next to it and have the ingredients there too.  I actually almost took a picture of it one time I was so amazed.  Sad really; the things that excite me now.  The house has great space for us.  We have a full room for toys and school.  And another room for the couch and tv.  I am a big stickler for keeping toys in the toyroom or bedrooms.  One thing I didn't see coming was keeping kids out of my bedroom as a playroom!  My room used to be in the basement remember and so it really wasn't all that accessible.  Now it is very accessible and everyone thinks they should access it.  So, I had to finally tell them that I am not going to pick up after them in my own bedroom.  I need ONE space that doesn't get infiltrated by children and my room is it.  So stay the hell out.  I actually didn't say that last part but I was thinking it.

All and all I think everyone has transitioned quite well and we are all adjusting fairly well.  We are missing some of our Spokane people and our church.  But we LOVE being here.  Right now.  Talk to me in February.  I may drive south then.  I'd actually love to do that.  I just need to come up with the cash.
Hank on his first mini-motorcycle ride.  He has riden the big one and didn't care for it that much.  Jack is riding this little one by himself these days.  It is amazing what a month in the woods will do for you!

 This is what I see out the back of the house.  I love both of these barns.  They make me happy for some weird reason.  The old and the new.

 This is the water down the street.