August 5, 2017 Weather: 92 and sunny Hours Driving: 30 minutes States Drive Thru: Utah Miles: 19 miles Restaurants: Aristo Greek Cuisine, Harmons Grocery Store Movies: Games: Books: Hotel: Fairfield Inn Salt Lake City South Marriott What a GREAT day! It''s going to sound like we ran around crazy all day but it was such a calm, smooth, fun day. After breakfast we headed out to do another hike up another big hill/mountain in Salt Lake City called Ensign Park. It seemed similar to the one we did the day before which caused the kids to look at us like, "Are you joking? Again?" We said trust us and they did. This one was longer and harder than the last (Camel's Back). The views got better and better as we climbed. It took us about 45 ... read more

August 4, 2017 Weather: 105 and sunny Hours Driving: 6 hours 39 minutes States Drive Thru: Oregon and Idaho Miles: 431 Restaurants: Boise Fry Co. Movies: Games: Books: Dog On It (Biddy), Dunkirk (Matt), Tuesdays At Morries (audio-everyone) Hotel: Springfield Marriott Today, we ate breakfast, found a post office to send postcards to themselves, and set off for Boise Idaho. Uneventful drive. It took us almost 7 hours. We listened to Tuesdays at Morries. Everyone seems to like it. We arrived a Springfield Inn Marriott to 105 degrees and it felt like it. Boise is a really nice, clean, updated city. We really like it. Lots of restaurants and nice places to be outside. We are impressed. The kids swam a bit, then we headed out to dinner to a place recommended by my sister-in- law ... read more

August 2, 2017 Place: Portland, Weather: 77 and sunny Hours Driving: 4 hours States Drive Thru: Washington and Oregon Miles: 238 Restaurants: Subway Movies: Games: Books: Arf (Elizabeth), Dunkirk (Matt), El Elefante sin Memoria (Ben-for Spanish) Last night was our last night on the houseboat. We all slept very well on the boat. I'm a little surprised seeing that it wasn't the greatest mattress and Paul and I felt a little like our feet were higher than our heads just slightly. Yet, we boat slept well. Maybe it was the ever so gentle rocking. I mean gentle because any more than that might have had me at the Lake Union Courtyard. I woke up and brewed my coffee and went to the roof to watch the scullers (rowers) silently cutting through the water just as the ... read more

July 31, 2017 Place: Seattle, WA Weather: 80 and sunny and blue skies Hours Driving: 20 minutes States Drive Thru: Washington Miles: 5 miles max Restaurants: Crepe de France (pike place) and The Athenian (Pike place) Movies: Games: Water tag Books: Hotel: Ginger Houseboat on Lake Union What an amazing day in Seattle. I knew what I was going to do first thing this morning the night before which actually came earlier than I expected, 5;30 AM though I didn't stay awake. I am not sure if it was the boat or time difference or Marne's texts that Mike was going into shoulder surgery (he is well and recovering). I forced myself back to sleep until 6:51. I made myself a coffee with Elizabeth and we went on the roof of the boat and took in ... read more

July 29, 2017 Place: Bozeman, MT Weather: 91 and sunny Hours Driving: 8 hours States Drive Thru: North Dakota and Montana Miles: 433 Restaurants: Movies: Games: 20 questions (or 20 insults) Books: Dunkirk (Matt) Hotel: Marriott We had a nice sleep last night. We had our typical free Marriott breakfast which really isn't all that bad (unless you are gluten and dairy-free). They had omelettes, scrambled and hard boiled eggs, sausage, Canadian bacon, all kinds of sweet rolls and breads, oatmeal, make your own waffles, coffee, juices, yogurts, fruits and more. Not bad really. We had a funny breakfast conversation about movie choices. Elizabeth has a very limited genre library due to the fact that most things are too scary for her. For instance, someone getting a paper cut or a lost puppy might stress her ... read more