21 Days. 3 weeks. 30,240 minutes. That’s how long it has been since I last wrote a Thursday Rundown. New job and vacation kind of interfered with my weekly topic dump. I hope you can forgive me…

Standing Out – Way back in 2021, I wrote a couple different blog posts that addressed how a family Mexican restaurant can stand out from competitors (here and here). The posts centered on chips and a complimentary dessert option. Thanks to a recent visit to a Spokane Valley Mexican restaurant, I can offer an additional differentiator: a colorful bathroom sink. The below image is from the men’s restroom at the Rancho Viejo in Spokane Valley. How creative and pretty is that? It made me want to wash my hands for five minutes.

I thought this bathroom sink in the Rancho Viejo men’s rest room was very colorful and inviting.

Annual Silverwood Trip – During the school year, Sloan and Beau participated in the Silverwood Theme Park Read 2 Ride program. Because they each logged 10 reading hours, they each received a free pass to the park. We let the kids enjoy the fruits of their labor during the time I had off between jobs. We enjoyed scoping out the water park’s significant improvements and watching Beau navigate his first Silverwood experience. Thanks to Silverwood for offering an educational program with a worthwhile reward.

We had a great family Silverwood trip at the end of July.

Shirley Temples – While in Leavenworth, we gave Sloan and Beau each $30 to spend as they saw fit. It was a good exercise in budgeting and planning. When we ate at restaurants, we stuck with water. However, at one particular spot, Sloan wanted something different. On the kid’s menu at Rhein Haus it listed Shirley Temples under the beverage section. Sloan asked for some of her money to purchase one (it was a restaurant where you went up front to put an order in yourself). Even though Beau had no idea what a Shirley Temple was, he wanted to follow the suit of his sister and order one too. They got more than they bargained for when the bartender mixed up a couple of Shirley Temples in the below big beer mugs. It was one of the better purchases they made with their spending money.

Beau and Sloan with their Shirley Temples from Rhein Haus. 

Alphorn Concert – One other Leavenworth tidbit I will share with you was the alphorn concert we were treated to each morning at breakfast. The Enzian Inn offers two alphorn sessions each morning and our kids were all about it. They would go out on the balcony when the musician would play and then visit with them (a couple different musicians rotated throughout our stay) afterwards. This photo shows Sloan and Beau hanging out with one of the alphorn players who also happens to be the owner of the Enzian inn.

Sloan and Beau pose with Enzian Inn alphorn player (and owner).

Happy Anniversary – I want to wish an early anniversary to my parents. Tomorrow my mom and dad will celebrate their 43rd anniversary. They were married at St. Francis Assisi Catholic Church on Aug. 16, 1981. I am so grateful for the incredible example they have set for what a fruitful marriage is all about.

My mom and dad celebrate their 43rd anniversary tomorrow. They were married at St. Francis of Assisi on Aug. 16, 1981.

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It sure feels good to be writing Thursday Rundowns again! Thanks for reading and I wish you an awesome weekend. Don’t Blink.