Vacation 2020

  Last week we went on vacation on a Lake in eastern WA.  (I capitalize Lake because that is how I grew up saying it, "the Lake," "we're going to the Lake," "how was your trip to the Lake?" it is Deer Lake, near Spokane, WA.)  We have been going to "the Lake" for five years now.  I don't remember why we decided to start going, prior to 2015 it felt like we weren't wanted because of one of my aunts.  That year, I thought the house was going to be cluttered and terrible, but Chris really wanted to go.  We usually went camping on San Juan Island for a week, maybe that year we didn't have a lot of money, I don't really remember, but we went.  And we LOVED it.  It was a little cluttered (hello, family of hoarders) but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  That year we actually wished that we had more time there.  

Last year we were only able to go for a long weekend.  We went on Labor Day weekend because our normal week there, the first or second week in August, we were on a cruise to Alaska (remember when that was a thing, and we didn't have to worry about it?)  Well, this year we've officially been there 3 times this summer.  We went in May, right before Chris went back to work after being furloughed for 2 1/2 months.  Then we went again in June when our camping trip got canceled because everything is closed.  It was a great week.  I forgot how much I loved the Lake while it's quiet.  Last year we were there on Labor Day, an automatic busy weekend, and the year before we were there on the 4th of July, another busy time, and the whole week was busy.  We never really saw the same amount of people, which I was surprised about on the weekend.

The first evening we were there.

My first morning in my favorite spot

Maddox and his friend, who came with us, built an island on the beach.

Diving off the dock.

Sunsets there are always beautiful (unless you can't see it).

Paddleboarding

My Dad came up for a day

The next day my sister came with her son and our niece. 

My last sunset for the week.  :-(

A group picture right before we left.

We really are very lucky to have this house to go to every year, especially this year while things are so crazy.  My oldest son, Damian, was supposed to come as well with his son, but sadly the house wasn't done with it's construction/facelift, and taking a 10 month old to a house with plywood floors and debris everywhere, just isn't a good idea.  I was pretty bummed they couldn't join us this time.  Maybe next year . . .