Thank Goodness for Ruby's Poop

On Sunday heading back to the Burg, we left a little later then we had liked but we were still on the road by 8am. We were doing fine and planning on driving straight through Pendleton and stop in Mt. Home, when I realized Ruby pooped and we had to stop and get her changed.

After we filled up on gas and had Ruby all changed we were ready to go. BUT the car was not. It wouldn't start. It was having trouble turning over the whole trip, we just didn't think it would stop on us now though. We figured it was the starter. But don't forget...it was Sunday. So the auto shops were closed and we were stuck at a gas station. But this isn't just any gas station. It's Arrowhead gas station on an Indian reservation. Meaning it had a t.v. room with nice sofa chairs. It had shower rooms, AC (which was super nice since it was a billion and one degrees out), and a McDonalds attached. Oh and a buttload of Indian/old lady trinkets. The manager called a mobile mechanic. It took some time for him to get to us and he had a $120 fee just for coming out. Then he charged $105 for labor at a min. of 2 hours. So we knew it was going to be spendy. But then again it was Sunday, and he was coming to us, and we were stuck at a gas station. His name was William (Golf Shoe) Johnson Junior. Not only was he a mechanic but also a previous semi-pro golfer, and a vet! How much cooler does it get??? We made Eric ride with him back into town to get a new starter. They got back and were out working in the heat while Ruby and I stayed inside. I felt a little guilty watching A&E in my nice comfy chair in the air conditioned t.v. room so I didn't stay in there long. Plus the three truckers sitting next to me eating their gas station popcorn were a little scary.

Then Eric said they had to go back into town because they had the wrong starter...after about an hour of trying to put it on. We found out later from Eric that it actually had been the right starter and William (Golf Shoe) Johnson Junior forgot to take off the bolts and he was embarrassed and didn't want us to know. Anyways after it was all said and done, William Golf Shoe Johnson Junior (it's impossible for me to not refer to him by his full name) thought Ruby was so cute and we were so patient that he bought us all McDonalds! He was a super nice guy and so if anyone ever has car problems and needs a mechanic in Pendleton, Oregon please call Willam Golf Shoe Johnson Junior! We finally were on the road again...5 hours later then we wanted. We were all zombies by the time we got back to Rexburg! But thank goodness for Ruby's poop or we may have never met our best friend William Golf Shoe Johnson Junior (yes, I will slip his name in there as many times as possible) and we may have ended up stuck at a crappy gas station or in the middle of no where.

More WA Adventures

After the 4th of July we were trying to find places to go that did not take a lot of driving. We decided to go to Fort Vancouver (most of us went there on field trips when we were younger) and the Pearson Air Museum.

Sadly The Fort wasn't what we expected! Usually they have some people doing reenactments or working in the blacksmith shop but there was not a single person there but the person at the front desk. They also don't take cards and when we said we had to go get cash they just let us in for free. It was a good thing too because I wouldn't have paid for that! Next time we know to come when they have events scheduled. Poor Eric...this was like when we went to Yellowstone and saw a squirrel and a fox....literally. But it was still cool to look in the buildings and take some pictures.

Photo Bomb

I'm too sexy for my cheap gas station hat 

Since my parents didn't spend any money at the Fort, I suggested we all get some seasonal raspberry Burgerville milkshakes. Ruby for sure was obsessed and we couldn't shovel it in fast enough. We love our BV! 

The 4th of July

I always love going home to Washington. It is a nice change of scenery from Idaho. I also haven't been home for the 4th in 5 or 6 years. I spent a couple 4ths in different countries and then in Idaho and Utah.  My family planned a nice little picnic at the waterfront in Kalama. I don't think we had ever really been to the waterfront there and it was pretty nice. It was a little windy. But we loved it. We ate, played with the kids, and walked on the sand. Ruby loved the water!

Mimi would kill me if she knew that a picture of her eating fried chicken is here for all to see! 

Ruby was afraid of Boppa....but then he gave her not 1 but 2 otter pops! (Yes I allowed it, but it took me a second to remember what she had that made her bounce of the walls that night!)

Mimi can I have some chicken

Asher was a little unsure about how he felt when Kj held Ruby

Kj loved Ruby

And Ruby loved Kj! 

Ignore my white legs....they really don't glow like that all the time! 

After our picnic, we went to Kj's and Aaron's house for some dessert and fireworks. The neighbor had some intense fireworks which of course scared me and not Ruby! Eric also lit off his first firework ever! 

Everyone looks thrilled in this picture

After a short night of fireworks (we were all tired by 10pm) we headed home only to have the most odd thing happen. Zach wanted to show Lizzy this one road that has hill after hill on the way home. We of course like to speed down them so our stomachs are in our throats. As we were heading over the last hill, I could see something up ahead in the road. I started yelling, "Zach deer... DEER!" Zach was able to slow down and as we got closer we realized it was NOT a deer....

We thought it was an Ostrich at first. But after calling my mom, she informed us it was an Emu. She said there was an Emu farm near by. It was actually rather large and probably taller then the car. We thought it was hilarious and assumed he was strolling along to view the fireworks :) I also did a little research and discovered (yes on wiki) that they have super strong legs and claws that can rip metal fences. I am assuming this is how he escaped! What an eventful 4th of July.