Good Old Sam

So....where do I begin with this blog?? For those that don't know already, or don't know all the details, life has been a bit hectic for the Richardt Family since we returned from our Memorial Trip (see blog below). We got back from our trip this past Monday and on Tuesday morning Todd woke to some unbearable stomach pain. He rushed off to the urgent care near our house and called me about an hour later saying he needed to be rushed to the ER at Good Sam Hospital. I quickly packed up Emily and made a phone call to my mother-in-law and we hit the road. The whole ride down Meridian was the worst thing I have ever been through. I didn't know if Todd was going to pass out or what was going to happen. Fortunately we made it. I don't know how we made it thru but Todd and I sat thru 3 hours in the waiting room of the ER before we were taken back to a bed and then 7 more hours in the ER until they admitted him and got him into good old room #365. There we stayed for the next 3 days and it was like a very bad dream. Every day was new tests and bloodwork and ultrasounds and it was never ending. Turns out that Todd had a very bad infection and some issues with his liver but overall everything is totally fixable and he is on his way to recovery. We were finally discharged from the hospital at 2:30 today and are home and he's resting up. I don't know how we got thru this crazy week.....but I do know who helped. Our friends and family were such a great support and kept us in their thoughts and prayers and checked in daily. And my in laws took Emily much of the week to allow me to stay by Todd's side which was such a blessing in itself. The nurses were all so wonderful and took care of Todd so well, and eased my every worry that I must have worn on my sleves. I'm so thankful that my dear husband is ok and that this whole experience has definitely taught us how fragile our lives are.

Leavenworth Trip, Memorial Weekend

Leavenworth is where we go every Memorial weekend and it is a great place to go to relax! Boy did we need it and had we known what we were in store for when we got home we would have enjoyed it that much more (don't worry, I'll get to that in a moment). There was a group of 9 adults and 3 kids that went on this trip. We went to Blu Shastin RV Resort and stayed for 4 days. We'd get up early and make yummy breakfast and head to the pool and lay around pretty much all day! Occasionally we would get together and play some football or fly some kites. It was so laid back. In the evenings we would gather for dinner and huddle around the campfire and chat all night. It was such a great vacation. Here's some pics of the weekend:

Emily, Taylor and I enjoying the pool...doesn't it look refreshing?

Miss Independent did not want much help from me in the pool despite the fact that she doesn't float!

Todd enjoying some pool time too before the football game began

Kate and Todd laughing over some pretty funny things that Kate was saying....be sure to ask her about it!!

The girls: Jordan, Me, Kate, Jackie, and Franki (Jackie didn't want anyone to see her zit! lol)

The guys: James, Pat, Mark, Todd, Doug, and Taylor

Mt St Helens Trip

Todd and I are finally on vacation!!!! Do you know what that feels like? When you've been working pretty much all year and you just need a break? Yep, that was us. And so we decided to kick it off with some relaxing camping...we planned a trip to Mt St Helens. We hit the road on Sunday after lunch and Emily slept most of the way up to the mountain. We pulled in to find that our campsite was closed off because it hadn't been inspected yet for the summer. There were only 3 other campers there when we arrived, so we knew it was truly the beginning of the season. The rangers were great and said that we could pick any other campsite we wanted even a double. We found the perfect spot...number 84. It was right on the river....RIGHT on the river. And it was spacious and had a lot of sun. It was a winner. So we set up shop. During our stay we visited the river beach, hiked to the Layser cave, traveled into the town of Randle, and sat around the campfire playing games and eating yummy camp foods. It couldn't have been more perfect. Emily went down for her scheduled naps and at nighttime thanks to the greatest pack n play ever and a great tent heater. Our last day we were caught off with a surprise storm and ended up having to pack up and go home around 8pm rather than the next morning. The winds were really bad and the rain was coming. It was too much for us to handle in the middle of the woods with no one else around. So we headed home and sleep clean in a nice warm house. Our next trip is laster this week when we meet up with 6 of our other friends and head camping to Leavenworth!!!

All you need to backpack thru Italy: REI gear and a Ferrari

This past weekend, Todd took Emily and I to Seattle to see none other than the Ferrari dealership! We walked around looking at the pretty cars and Emily said "Ferrari" over and over again and pointed at the horses on all the wheels. Todd picked out some decals for our skybox and Emily and I pranced around checking everything out. One owner of a Ferrari walked in to drop off his car and was quite impressed that Emily knew "Ferrari" and she could "Vroom Vroom" to him.

After our car adventure we headed over to REI for their anniversary sale and had a good time checking out all the gear and dreaming about our upcoming camping trips.

That afternoon we bought Emily her first backyard play toy which is an activity table that you fill with water and play with boats and gagets. Check her out playing in the water!

Camping Season Begins!

Camping is our favorite past time in the Richardt family and we started it early this year. A group of our friends and Todd, Emily and I met up and went to a favorite spot off of Access Route 92 at Mt Rainier. There were about 20 of us and we definitely had a great time. The weather was questionable. It started off nice and cool but sunny and rain showers came and went. Some of the guys had gone up one day early and set up camp and hung out together. The rest of us arrived on Saturday and the kids ran around and had a great time playing in the woods. A group went out and paintballed. Some went quading. And Emily and I did a lot of relaxing at the camp. At one point we decided to all go up higher on the mountain and hit some golf balls...it turned out to be a crazy idea because it was pooring and hailing and the wind was insane!!!

That night we gathered around a huge bon fire and tried to stay warm. Thank goodness for a tent heater which helped to keep us warm also. The next morning was pretty miserable however. We woke with some flooding outside our tent, and we were cold and wet and tired! The sun was out though and that warmed us up and gave us good moods. We were ready to head home, but still looking forward to our next trip. Here's some pics of the great weekend:

Our camp site...you can't see it all but we had 5 rain canopies to protect us!!

Some of the guys hitting golf balls off the mountain. The view was so beautiful!

Todd and I can always have fun together no matter what the situation

Emily having fun in th sun...don't be deceived...it was cold!

Emily and Daddy...having a moment