Off to Moscow

Yesterday we had the chance to head down to Moscow, Idaho and enjoy friendships I forged while attending the University of Idaho.  It's always a blessing to see great friends and watch as families grow with new spouses and children.  The weather was great, we got hot sunshine and an impressive thunderstorm to light up the palouse landscape.  I've posted some snapshots, here's a link to our web gallery.

Me with Russ and his daughter Rowan

Rowan enjoying chicken fingers and apple sauce

Left to right: Russ & Wendi (Sawyer t-3 months), Jason & Kaely, Me & Stacie

A quick historical note, Kaely and I have known each other since 3rd grade.  We shared all our schooling together, even battling thru our college mechanical engineering program!  It's always heartening to me to spend time with great friends.  It's similar to the feeling I get when coming back home after a long sojourn.  No matter how much time passes, it just feels right to be with the people to whom you're friendships are deepest.

-Kyle

Deacon's getting ready!

Today we took Deacon to the Vet for his international health certificate (this is more than Kyle & I had to do!- apparently it doesn't matter if we bring any diseases into the country).  After today's appointment, Deacon will have one more trip to the Vet 24 hours before we fly out and then he's as good as an official Scot! 

Here are Kyle & Deacon waiting for the Vet

Mercedes is going to stay with Kyle's mom in Spokane until we can send for her.  We decided that since our apartment is very tiny, it would be best to bring only one dog until we get settled and can find a bigger place.  Lucky Deacon is the chosen one. Kyle has been lovingly referring to Mercedes as "Timmy" (Tim LaHae wrote the 'Left Behind' book series).  We are very sad to leave without her but she will be very happy staying behind with her buddy Max. 

This is Max, Mercedes 150 lb.(75 kg- I'm practicing my metric system!) buddy

Only 27 days till we leave! 

-Stacie 

We're back in the Northwest!

Well, it is nice to be back in the Northwest.  We arrived in Spokane on Wednesday evening after a very eventful trip from Richmond.  While we were waiting to board our flight in the Richmond airport, Kyle's name was called over the loudspeaker.  Silly Kyle thought maybe they were going to upgrade us to first class (he's so optimistic, I'm more of a realist). What actually happened was that United Airlines informed us that our bag had gotten stuck on the conveyor belt and was "demolished".  They had to give us a new suitcase to put all of our stuff in and they informed us that a few of our things had been "shredded".  Turns out that only a few of my things were ruined  and we have to file a claim with TSA to get it all sorted out. What are the odds?!

On a more fun note, this weekend a few of our friends from Seattle came into town to hang out on the local lakes and enjoy the nice weather we're having in Spokane (the Lord has answered my prayers for cooler temperatures!!).  On Friday, we headed to Hayden Lake in Idaho to see if Kyle still remembered how to wake board (jk). 

Here's Kyle on Hayden Lake

The weather wasn't the greatest on Friday, so we headed to a closer lake on Saturday.  The weather was perfect and we were able to hang out on the boat all day.  Our friends Dan & Jodi brought their dog Roxy along.  Here she is preparing for a swim: 

Roxy sporting some goggles

Here are Kyle and Dan enjoying the lake 

All in all it was a great weekend hanging out with friends and enjoying the scenery!

-Stacie 

Everything's better in Texas...or at least hotter!

This past weekend Kyle & I traveled to Austin, TX to visit a few old friends. I prayed before we left that Hurricane Dolly would bring cooler weather to Texas, but my prayers were not answered they way I would have liked! (in the 100s is not cooler!) But, heat aside, we had a really great time. We stayed with our good friends from our Richmond days, Mike & Michelle. Kyle & Mike are kindred spirits and hit it off back in 2003 when we moved to Virginia. Since then, Mike has graduated from Business School and invests UT's sizable endowment.

On Saturday, we decided to brave the heat and crowds and visit Schlitterbahn. Schlitterbahn is a large water park just outside of Austin. It was fun, but very crowded! Our first ride we waited 2 hours in line!

Here we are before the waiting began

As many of you may know, Texans are famous for being overly proud of their state. " We used to be our own republic" is a statement I've heard multiple times during my years in Texas (Sic'em bears!). So, while at Schlitterbahn I counted the number of Texas related tattoos- 21! Not too shabby Texas!

On Sunday, we got to hang out with one of my favorite college friends- Hilary and her husband Ryan. I finally got to meet their children, the infamous Hollis and his sidekick Martin.

Here are Martin & Hollis striking a pose!

Much to my chagrin, we also went to see the World's Largest Urban Bat Colony, which conveniently is located in downtown Austin. I wasn't aware until this trip, that I have a strong dislike for bats. Aside from their consuming thousands of pounds of bugs, they largely have no redeeming qualities that I could extrapolate. However, I was one of the many standing on the Congress Street bridge to see the 1.5 million (yes, million- that is not a typo) bats fly out at dusk. You can kind of see the black figures in this photo.

Here are the bats leaving for the night.

We ended our trip with one of my favorite activities- eating ice cream! Amy's Ice cream is well known in Austin and of course I had to try it out.

Me, Michelle, Mike & Kyle enjoying some ice cream

We flew back into Richmond last night and are heading out tomorrow night for Spokane. We are some travelin' fools!

I'll post again once we're back on the west coast.

-Stacie

Real BBQ

Now here's something that will stick to your ribs!  We had the chance to head over to Buzz 'n Ned's in Richmond for some good old fashioned BBQ.  Growing up on the West coast I wasn't aware how naive I was to how many ways pork can be slow cooked to create heavenly deliciousness!

Every time we visit Richmond we stop by Buzz 'n Ned's and I think you'll see from our smiles below... they didn't disappoint.

-Stacie & Kyle

Ode to the boxer

Today we had the good fortune of getting to play with a baby boxer.  As is blatantly obvious from our blog- Kyle & I love boxers (especially our own, but not exclusively).  For those of you who are "non-dog people", boxers can seem (and rightfully so) rambunctious, hyper and overly friendly. However, for those of us who are "dog-people" boxers are one of the sweetest breeds of dogs. They are friendly, loyal, love to cuddle and are the type of dog that makes you feel like royalty or at least like a celebrity being followed by the paparazzi (because they follow you everywhere you go like what you're doing is obviously the most important thing in the world- which to them it is...it's quite an ego booster).  Needless to say, Kyle & I were very excited to get to see this little baby boxer today!

  The owner called this her "party collar".

On an unrelated boxer note- I would like to point out that for some unknown reason (at least to me)- God has decided to punish the South.  It is sunny, in the upper-90's and humid- everyday! There is no relief and Seattle has made me soft.  I am feeling perpetually exhausted and cranky due to this weather. I am actually dreaming of cloudy days! That is some irony for ya!

-Stacie

Better late than never...

The overarching policy on the Sale family blog is state the facts first, then give your opinion.  Fact, we've been delinquent in posting.  Opinion, it's because we're on vacation and having too much fun to keep up and therefore excused from our duties.  

Two weeks ago we went with Stacie's parents, Dave and Judy, up to Philadelphia.  I've long wanted to visit Philly since reading* David McCullough's biography of John Adams.  

*Editor's note:  I read the book before the HBO miniseries made it popular.*  

Anyway, Philadelphia was the epicenter of so much of the American Revolution.  Nearly all of our foundational documents were conceived there.  It was inspiring to stand in Independence Hall, in the exact same rooms, where our fore fathers debated the details of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  To reflect on the fact that these great (albeit flawed) men put together the system of government that guides us today was moving.

Independence Hall

The Liberty Bell

We also got to see the U.S. Mint stamping out coins, Betsy Ross's house, the first penitentiary in the U.S. (thanks to the Quakers), Christ Church...the list goes on.  I recommend a trip to Philly for anyone, it was educational, inspiring and the cheese steaks lived up to the hype!

Eastern State Penitentiary

We'll try to keep the blog updated a little more regularly.  All last week we were in Corolla, on the N.C. coast basking in the sun and enjoying the water.  Life is rough right now but we are diligently plodding along!  Here's a link the the rest of our Philly photo's.

-Kyle