Deception Pass, fishing, and other adventures

DECEPTION PASS

We got to spend a night camping with the Dyers and other friends from their ward up at Deception Pass. The combination of islands, beaches, lakes, and forests make this place absolutely stunning and sadly the pictures do not do is justice. 

Esther's favorite games while hiking (and every other time) are galloping like a horse and playing hide and seek with daddy. Can you find them?

 Boo!

FISHING
Apparently, the Salmon run up a river near us so we (meaning Chris with my full support) are taking up fishing! I was surprised by how fun it was for the whole family.  Esther explores along the river and, inevitably, gets soaked in the water, Sam sits with mom while I read, and Chris does the actual work (naturally) of fishing , and we all get to enjoy being outside in a pretty place. Now we just need to make it out to the river this week since the fish are actually running!

Snohomish River

DONKEYS

Up the road from our house is a pasture with miniature donkeys that are SUPER cute. Esther and I have had to pull over on several occasions to admire them. So when we learned that one of those very donkeys would be at the Snoqualmie Ice Cream - o - Rama (what exactly is an O-Rama anyway?) we knew we had to be there.  We met Little Red Man, but Esther who was in desperate need of a nap, didn't get her usual thrill out of the donkey.  We also got to see some goats, a miniature horse, chickens, and best of all, some Alpacas which are very cute and apparently quite lucrative since their fleece can be sold for up to $30 an ounce. Who knew? Chris is considering them as a future pet for our kids since they fairly easy to maintain AND they are an income producing animal unlike dogs, cats, and especially goats. (The Hardy can understand.) 

Utah Trip Part II

Our second week in Utah, while my parents were at the MTC, we got to spend a couple nights with my sister who just moved to Salt Lake from Chicago.  We had a picnic at Sugar House Park, played games, ate gelato, talked, played with cousins.  Love having them closer!

 We even had time to visit with some dear friends. 

Adrianne and Rachel from High School.  They are even more amazing as they were back then.

Meredith and Brittney  - wonderful room mates from BYU.  These two women taught me so much about obedience and commitment to the gospel.  Love them! (Since I forgot to get a picture with them, I stole this from Facebook since it was only taken a couple weeks later at Brittney's wedding. Wish I could have been there!)

The Hansens were our dear friends in North Carolina. Luckily we both were visiting Utah at the same time so we got to spend a lovely afternoon at Aimee's parent's house. I love how Aimee incorporates regular gospel teaching in her home.  She is one amazing momma.  Love this family!  

We're keeping this picture for when Grant and Esther are both at BYU...to remind them to be friends. :)

Wednesday, we went back to Kaysville to welcome my parents back from the new mission president's seminar. They had just spent 5 days being taught by living apostles of Jesus Christ along with other church leaders, and when they walked in the door we all noticed a visible change in them. They were radiant! They were both so excited to get going. It was a special evening to sit and listen to them tell us of their experiences. The whole family is starting to catch on to the missionary spirit.

We spent the next day just enjoying be together one last time. 

Sam and my grandma Beth who will be 95 next month. She is amazing!

Then early Friday morning we all donned our Cyrillic "I love Ukraine" tees and went to the airport.  

There were smiles...

...and even more tears.

                                 
                                 

Away they go!

(To this day, Esther still thinks grandma and grandpa are at the "air fort.")

Goodbye mom and dad. We'll pray for you every day until you come back.