Silver Mountain Birthday Party

My sister-in-law Mary and my brother Mike celebrate their birthdays 12 days apart.  This year their daughters decided to split the difference and celebrate both their birthdays on the same weekend.

Mike turned 70 on June 14.  Mary likes the bragging rights of claiming for 12 days that she's a year younger than Mike.  On June 26 every year, those bragging rights are put on the shelf until Mike's birthday rolls around the next year.

Daughters Maureen and Laura planned a weekend party for Mike and Mary at Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg.  

Besides the indoor water park, the resort is not far from the Hiawatha biking route, which covers an old railroad bed and includes several tunnels along with a whole lot of history and pretty scenery.

So, while they were probably wrapping up their bike ride, Bill, Willie and I left Sandpoint about an hour earlier than needed to meet the other family members for a 4:30 dinner celebration. 

Bill wanted to go to a boot store in Kellogg.  So, we got off to a good start, only to meet with a road problem about 23 miles south of Sandpoint.

A dump truck had hit a power pole, knocking it over and causing lines to fall near or on the highway.

We sat waiting for traffic to start moving, but after several minutes and the announcement from a passing motorcycle rider that it would be "three hours," Bill came up with an alternative route.  

We pulled out of the long line of parked vehicles and backtracked about a mile, turning off on Homestead Road on the west side of the highway.

Homestead Road is an old railroad bed through a forested area with railroad grade gravel for a surface.  So, the Suburu got a workout, including an area where lake-sized mud puddles led to a little mud bogging. 

At one point, we were driving parallel to the working railroad track, really close, in fact, but not close enough to be too frightened when the freight came roaring past us. 

Eventually we came out west of Athol and arrived at the party right on time.  No boots for Bill on this day. 

We had a nice dinner at Noah's with good food and fun visiting.  Then, we were told to head outside where dessert would be served.  That meant more visiting and then a good bye to all. 

I think Mike and Mary enjoyed the festivities, and I know we did.  And, on the longest day of the year, we still had a little daylight after our drive home from Kellogg. 

Thanks to Laura and Maureen for arranging a nice celebration for their parents.   More photos below of the two clans who joined forces when Sandpoint High School 1962 graduates Mike and Mary tied the knot a "few" years ago.

I like to refer my longtime Thompson friends/relatives "the outlaws."  

Bill and Chris visiting

Bob, husband to Sig (Mary's sister)

Cheers!

Bob digs in to a BIG BURGER

Thumbs up on the sliders!  Gracie (a triplet and granddaughter to Mike and Mary)

A pensive Jacob and a pleased Rory (Mike and Mary's grandsons). 

Laura and Sefo (Mike and Mary's daughter and son-in-law and parents of the triplets)

Mary and her youngest brother Chris enjoy a chuckle. 

Mary and her sister Sig (a new retiree!) 

Maureen visits with Judy.  Maureen is Mike and Mary's older daughter, and Judy is their sister-in-law. 

Tanner (Mike and Mary's grandson) with Maureen.

Maureen, Sig and Mike and Mary's nephew Jeremy "JT" Thompson. 

Party planners, Laura and Maureen. 

Sefo (Mike and Mary's son-in-law). 

Judy, Sig, Mary and Mike

Checkin' out the menu:  Willie (Mike and Mary's nephew) and Justine and Jacob (their grandchildren--members of the triplet squad). 

Just a nice moment with the honored guests:  Happy 70th, Mike and Mary.