Palouse Falls in February

Last month, we decided to pack up the kids and go exploring at Palouse Falls - a super interesting area where the Palouse river cuts through the scablands and down into the basalt below to create a lovely canyon.

I was hoping it was still early enough in the year to get some cool ice around the waterfall pool, but alas, it's been too warm this winter. You won't hear me complaining, but we will have to try again next year.

We stopped in Colfax to pick up Winston and then Nels and I had a good time getting to know the area better as we took multiple wrong turns shortcuts down muddy roads on the way there. Thank goodness for 4-wheel drive. :)

We checked out the overlooks and talked a lot about erosion, while Hazel told us about all the cool things she's been learning in her Washington history section at school.

Our girls absolutely adore this boy. Winston is Tracy's youngest son and just a year older than Hazel. Winston has always been a cousin favorite, but in the last two years that we've been able to see the Moores on a regular basis he's become more like a brother figure to our little women. They are constantly scheming about the time when they can see him next. Winston has a delightful, free-spirited imagination and our girls never tire of his company. I love his quirky humor and full-throated laugh.

It was nice to get out of the house.

It's been such a weird winter. With two moves in the last six months, I haven't been able to pull off my usual winter hibernation and it's been a bit rough on the psyche. It was therapeutic to take a day to get out of our "hobbit house in the ground" and enjoy the crisp air and some much needed movement.

Clara and Violet digging "snake holes". What a wonderful thing to be able to dig in the dirt in early February!

I love these beautiful faces.

After finishing up at all the paved areas, we spent the rest of the afternoon off the beaten path looking for arrowheads, bones, and paths down into the canyon that wouldn't kill us.

These loud-mouthed kids are so fun. I love them. They were slightly concerned about sitting on the railroad tracks. I assured them that certainly these tracks aren't used very often and all was well. Just smile for Dad and stop worrying. Ten minutes later a train came rumbling by. :)

I really liked this view. :)

Clara is absolutely fearless and does not like to be constrained or hold hands. Sometimes I have to figure out creative, nonchalant ways to keep her from plummeting to certain death as she throws rocks over canyon rims.

I love this man. I love that he indulges me when I want to go exploring and laughs when I get us lost. I love watching him with his camera and I love seeing him play with our crazy Clara.

In my ever-ready fashion, I had neglected to bring water with us and by the time the sun was setting we were all pretty parched. Even then, it was hard to leave such a happy adventure. We'll definitely have to come back.

Confetti

Yesterday I took the girls on a bike ride in search of interesting leaves for an upcoming Pinterest project. The day was crisp and beautiful. Millions of little bright blue gnats swirled through the setting sunshine.

There is a frisbee golf course running through the park and inevitably we were in the way at every hole. I felt like a mother quail with her chattering chicks in tow. :) 

I love adventuring with my little women! Everything becomes new and magical in their eyes as we search for acorns, colorful mushrooms, exploding cattails, and the roundest leaf.

They notice the snap of the twigs under our feet and watch in wonder as the gold leaves fall like confetti around us. Their imaginations and stories never end and the world is filled with props just for them. 

I'm so thankful for the beauty that surrounds me. Lilie said it perfectly in this card that she made for me this summer. 

"I love the sunsets in Sandpoint. Sometimes it reminds me of peace and happiness. Sometimes I imagine sitting on top of those pink clouds and watching the sun go behind the trees."

Sunshine is my Love Language

There was a time when I had envisioned that Mother's Day was equivalent to a Day Off - a Free Day. I even spent a few of them steaming about how they weren't.

I can remember tearful phone calls to my own mother, crying about how Nels was sick in bed or it was cold and I still was making dinner or how I missed my Mommy. :) She gently commiserated with me, recalling many, many a Mother's Day that was uneventful or stressful when I was the one twisting around on her skirt or having a meltdown in the front pew. Then she told me that she'd long ago decided to stop imagining Mother's Day to be something it's not and to spend the day enjoying BEING a mother.

Those words have stuck with me and sunk in a little more each year.

This year I LOVED my day enjoying those people that make me a mother.

As with every year, we took a beautiful drive. "Rachel, what do you want to do on your special day?"

I want to be outside with the people I love.

I am still amazed with the breathtaking beauty of this place. We drove up through Bonner's Ferry, waved to the Canadian border, and drove into lovely western Montana to stop at Kootenai Falls. So beautiful!

We then hiked downriver to the swinging bridge.

Seriously. Yikes! and fun. and Yikes! :)

Do they look nervous? Yes.

My two older girls were a *little* scaredy. 

The younger three? Fearless, I tell you! 

Skipping and hopping . . . I think age makes you more aware of your mortality. :)

^SHE^ made me very nervous . . . 

. . . not so nervous that we actually crossed the bridge like this - she just thought it was hilarious . . . 

. . . but more like this - where I almost squeezed her independent little hand off.

SHE LOVED THE BRIDGE!

She doesn't like to hold hands --- "NO! No, no, Mommy!"

photo bomb! :)

She made up for being a stinker-pot by giving me lots of kisses and hugs from behind. :)

I love these GoPro-wide-angle shots. They make everyone look funny.
I believe Nels is jogging in this picture. Violet clearly thinks it's a blast. :)

After some fun hiking at the falls, we headed down the road a bit to Ross Creek Cedars State Park - an old-growth cedar forest with some trees that are over 500 years old. It was beautiful and magical and we can't wait to return again when we have more time for make-believe.

The perfect FORT! 

Daddy helped explore hollow trees.

strike a COOL pose! :)

As we were hiking back to the van there was some kind of lovely whistling sound all around in the trees. Some sort of evening bird, I'm guessing? The girls preferred my idea that it was tiny little fairies. :)

It was such a beautiful day! How thankful I am for all that I learn and all that I give and all that I receive. I am so blessed.

And how thankful I am for my own sweet Mother. I can never be out in the glorious world without wishing that she were with me - without wishing that I could share the beauty with her - the beauty of the earth and the beauty of my happy children. I think of her daily. How grateful I am for her goodness, her selflessness, her love, and her example. I owe all that I am to my Mama.

I am blessed to come from a long line of beautiful, generous, hard working, faithful, strong women. I can't wait to know them someday. I can't wait to know my grandmothers for the incredible women that they are. I have great confidence that they are beside me often as I struggle my way through this life. I believe with all of my heart that a mother's love does not end with this life.

How thankful I am for that.

What a magnificent thing it is to be a mother.