Ruth and Maren's visit

Last week Ruth and Maren flew up to visit us for a few days. Bryant hadn't quite started school yet so we were able to do some really fun things while they were here. Unfortunately, on the first day of their visit we went to Manito Park and I dropped our camera. It wasn't a really big drop, nor did it land in any water or anything...however the camera is broken. The lens thing won't close and it won't focus on any pictures. I have to say I was devastated! I have really enjoyed this camera (it was a christmas gift from Bry a few years ago), plus I didn't want to have to go buy a new camera. So, I have a few pictures from our excursions last week, but most of them are on Ruth's camera. On a good note though, we are now the proud owners of a brand new Casio Exilum camera that has 12.1 megapixels instead of the 7.1 that our old camera had. So, hopefully we will go find something else fun to do so I can post more pictures!

Anyway, we did do some fun things while "the girls" were here, and I will share the few pictures I did get. On Thursday, we went to Manito Park. I know I posted pictures several months ago, but everything was in bloom when we went last week and it was just gorgeous! We really enjoyed walking around and seeing all the different gardens and flowers they have.

These are pictures of the Duncan Gardens...where I dropped the camera. But it is beautiful!

All of us girls (April, Gracie, Ruth and Maren)

(Gracie, April and Bryant)

On Friday, we went to the Cataldo Mission and Lake Pend Oreille/Farraget State Park. I don't have any pictures to share with you from this trip, but here are a few pictures from when we went a few months ago!

This is the old Cataldo Mission. The oldest standing building in Idaho.

Farraget State Park with Lake Pend Oreille in the background.

Saturday we went up to Green Bluff. It's a big orchard place they have here in Spokane. Surprisingly enough, Bryant and I had not made it to green bluff until this trip even though it's only about 20 minutes away from our apartment. It was really fun. They are doing a big apple festival right now so they had fresh apple cider and lots of different kinds of apples for sale. They also had a big pumpkin patch which Gracie played in for a few minutes. The most exciting thing is that I found some peaches that were a good enough price to get so I could try canning them. I will for sure be posting about that soon!

These were a few pics taken on Bryants cell phone. I figured out how to get them online. Isn't she such a cute little chubby baby! This was the pumpkin patch they had set up. It's really a fun place!

Sunday we just went to church and hung out at home. Maren enjoyed watching lots of movies....especially the special features of movies while she was here! On Monday they flew back home. It was nice to have them visit for a few days. We sure hope they had a good time seeing where we live now and spending some time with us!

A Day to Remember

All day today I couldn't help but think about this day 8 years ago. 9/11/01 will forever be a day in history. I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. It was my first semester at BYU-Idaho, my first time away from home. I was going from a computer class to a Book of Mormon class when I heard all kinds of chatter about something going on. I didn't pay much attention to it because I only had a few minutes to get to my class. Once I sat down and class actually started the teacher began talking about this horrific act and comparing it to the Book of Mormon. I still wasn't quite sure what was going on until I got home an hour or so later and saw it on the TV. I was sickened as I heard messages being sent to loved ones from those in the twin towers who would not be going home safely that night. I called my dad to find out what in the world was going on. It took about an hour to get through to him because phone lines were so jammed up. I had two roommates from Connecticut, just a short train ride away to NYC. They were terrified for their families and friends. It will be a day I will never forget....a day I hope America never forgets.

Today has been a pretty normal day. I got up, made breakfast, went to the gym, cleaned my apartment while Bry took Gracie out for a while, it was really an uneventful day for us. I can't help but feel a little sad for those innocent lives that were lost. Despite the political turmoil our country seems to be in right now, I can't help but to be so very proud to be an American and grateful for those who have fought for our freedom and safety.

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing 8 years ago today?

Miracles happen...even when they're not expected

Okay, so I have the BEST news/story to share. I hope you all will think this is as amazing as I do, and since I really don't have any pictures to add, I really hope this doesn't bore you! That being said, here is our incredible story:

As most of you know, Gracie and I spent most of the summer in California with my parents. There is an older couple in their ward, the Mayos', who are good friends with my parents. We were leaving church one day and Brother Mayo said to me, "hey we'll catch you next time you're in town, we're leaving for a few months." So of course I asked where they were going. He said they have a place up by Eugene Oregon. That caught my attention right away and I explained that Bryant has a 10 week internship next fall and he has been assigned to go to Eugene for it. I asked Bro. Mayo to keep an eye out for any nice yet inexpensive apartments he might see or know of, and perhaps ones that might be semi-furnished. (We really don't want to have to haul a bunch of stuff for 10 weeks!) He said he would check around for us, and that was the end of that conversation.

Well, about a week and a half later or so, I get a call from Bro. Mayo. They had gone to a high priest breakfast or something and he made just a general announcement while he was there that a young couple with a baby was coming to Eugene next fall, etc. etc. A sister that was there raised her hand right away and said give them our number and we'll take care of it for them. So, he called to give me her phone number. We are still a year away from going to Eugene, so I was slow to give the sister a call. Finally the other night I did call, just to get the ball rolling, and also so we could get an idea of how much this would cost so we could make sure we would have enough to get through the rest of school. Anyway, I talked to this lovely sister who explained that her husband is from England and he and their sons are planning a trip to Europe next fall. (They're kids are all grown, so it's just the two of them at home now.) She is going to do some traveling of her own and then she will meet up with her husband in London to visit with his family for a while. Anyway, she offered us to stay in their house and "house sit" for them while they are away for a few months next fall!!!!!!!!! And the story gets even better. She said if we didn't want to stay at their house they do have some rental properties. Of course we'd be honored to stay at their house, but they are planning to be home the endish of October (plans are still being made at this point) so I asked if they would be willing to let us rent one of their apartments from the time they get back in October until the middle of December when Bryant's internship ends. She said "you know we have plenty of room here, and you'd be welcome to stay."

I seriously about started to cry. I know it's still a ways away, but I have been really worried about how this is all going to work out. For a while I thought Bry would have to go by himself, but being away from each other is too hard and it's really hard for Gracie. I have also been worried about finding a decent place that isn't too expensive. Pictures can be very deceiving.

This has been a huge testimony builder for me. Honestly, I haven't even really prayed about Eugene yet since we still have some time, but now it seems we already have a place to stay. It is just a reminder to me that Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives and he can make these little unexpected miracles happen. It also made me think of how blessed we are to be members of the church. This couple has never met us, yet they trust us to stay in their home simply because we are members of the church. What a great blessing and privilege it is to have the blessings of the gospel in our lives, and to always know wherever we might go in the world, there are members of the church willing and waiting to welcome you.

Snoqualmie Falls

I forgot to mention that we managed to all stuff into just 2 cars to get to Guemes Island. We took advantage of our 6 seat belts in our car...which I must say made a tight squeeze, but it made the cost of the trip really inexpensive, and it was fun to travel together. So we had two carseats in the back and Andy sat with the babies for most of the trip, and Bryant, Jen and I shoved up front.

Anyway, on our way home from Guemes Island, we all stopped in Seattle for a few hours. The Gwilliams (who have the cute twin boys) and the Harris' decided to go the the Aquarium in Seattle. While they did that we headed to the outlet stores just outside of Seattle and also decided to stop at Snoqualmie Falls. We were told it is actually taller than Niagra Falls and since it was just a few miles out of our way, we headed over to see it. It was amazing I must say. We didn't get back home until like 11:30 at night, but it was worth it to see all these new places.

Here is a pic of all os us in the car...It really was a tight squeeze!

Snoqualmie Falls

Bry, Gracie and I

The Howards and the Days

Family, Friends and Fun at Guemes Island!

Funny story....we booked the hotel for Seattle on Sunday morning to leave Tuesday and get back late Wednesday night. Sunday afternoon some friends came over for a BBQ. Our friends Andy and Jen Day came with a "proposal" for the coming Labor Day weekend. Andy's great Aunt has a cabin/small vacation house on Guemes Island. For those of you who don't know where Guemes Island is (like me) it is a very small Island north of Seattle. You have to drive to Anacortes and take a ferry to the island. Anyway, they wanted to get a few families together to go for the weekend and they wanted to leave Friday. Of course we wanted to go. There were 4 families that ended up going. We enjoyed getting to know our friends better and making some new ones as well! So we had a very busy week. We left Tuesday morning for Seattle and got back really late Wednesday night. We had Thursday at home to get ready and left Friday and got home very late Monday night. It was a busy week, but so much fun!

Bryant and I checking out the beach right outside the house we stayed in!

The next door neighbor brought us a fresh caught crab. This is Andy, Aaron, Cade and Connor (the cutest little 3 year old twins I've ever seen!) shelling the crab.

The view from the house we stayed at. GORGEOUS!

Just another view from the Island.

A quick family pic one evening. I sure loved opening the door to that view every morning!

Our spontaneous Seattle trip

You know, it has been so nice to have Bryant home for such a long break before he starts school again! I have loved having him around and we have been able to do some really fun things on the spur of the moment. Last week, we decided we should see about a quick trip to Seattle before school gets started and we NEVER see Bry, and before the weather gets too bad to do anything. It all depended of course on how much it would cost. Well, you know Bry....he'll do just about anything to see a Mariners game! So Sunday morning before church he was looking at hotel costs and when the Mariners would be in town. He found a super deal on a hotel.....and I mean a SUPER deal for that Tuesday night. It just so happened the Mariners were playing the Angels on Wednesday afternoon. So, though it was very short notice, we went for it and decided to book the hotel and head to Seattle for a day or so!

There is a little town called Leavenworth not too far from Seattle. We have to take a different route from Spokane, but I really wanted to go. It's a Bavarian town so it looks like you just stepped into a town in Europe. I LOVE this kind of thing....(secretly I want to be part European I think!) We spent a few hours in Leavenworth before heading onto Seattle. Here is some pics of our fun trip:

A few pics of Leavenworth....the town was WAY cooler than the pictures show!

We went down to the piers before the Mariners game. Gracie had a great time running after the birds!

Of course we took a walk through Pike Place Market. Here is just one of the places to buy fresh fish.

Here we are at the Mariners Game. Gracie did great! We made it through all 9 innings, and the Mariners won!