Day 2....Seattle

The second day that I was there, Ashley and I went to Pikes Market Place....which was one of my favorite things to go to!! Talk about fantastic produce, flying fish, and fresh flowers in abundance. I absolutely loved it!!

Pics of the fresh flowers, peonies....



A man making balloon hats....


Yummy....



One of the things Pikes Place is famous for....throwing the fish around to eachother....



We went to a place that makes cheese. We tried flagship....fantastic!! This is a pic of us with them making their own cheese in the background....


Then Ashley dropped me off, and I was able to meet up with a my friend Joe. We went to the Aquarium....





We also did the Underground tour of Old Seattle, but I left my camera in the car =0( The day ended up with a Mariners game. How much fun is that!?! It was my first Major League baseball game. The Mariners beat the Padres 4 to 3, with 3 home runs!! Thanks to Ashley and Wendell, I have some great pics!!






Ken Griffey Jr. #24, designated hitter....





Ichiro Suzuki #51, right fielder and an amazing hitter!!

My first day in Seattle!!

I was able to go to Seattle and stay with an old roommate, Ashley, from my first year in Ricks College. We hadn't seen each other since her mission farewell in 2000, so it was so great to see her again, and to meet her husband Wendel. They live in Covington.

I had everything perfectly planned, however, we all know how that works out.....my car rental fell through!?! But Ashley was a complete saint, and was able to pick me up.

Here is a pic from the plane of Mt. Rainier.....absolutely beautiful!! I feel in love with Washington right then and there....look at those trees!!



After Ashley picked me up, we went to Dash Point beach...










My mom asked me to get a pic of a lighthouse....this is what we found....



Doesn't it look so nautical!? Sorry mom, but at least I tried...

Ever since I saw Seven Pounds, I just can't look at jelly fish the same way. This is out there, where these people were swimming.....

The sprinkler system

My dad broke his leg not too long ago....and the doctor gave strict orders to not put any weight on it. That is asking for quite a lot for a man that spends all of the daylight hours working with water. So, Stephanie, Jeff and Kevin planned to put in a sprinkler system to help my parents out with their yard. Yes, and even I helped out ;0) It was quite the undertaking, due to the rainy weather. How fickle are we to be upset when we need the water so badly....but everything was pretty much finished by Monday.

Fishing in Idaho

The kids with their trophy catches....


My dad has a friend who has a private pond.....I tell ya what. There is nothing like casting in your line, and waiting for only a few minutes only to feel your line jerk!! Now that is what I call fishing!! ;0) It was so much fun to see the kids yell with excitement, and then squirm away when the fish came a little bit too close....

Stephanie, Jenna and Mom....


Aimee and Alyssa waiting patiently....


Jared....


Adam and Ben....being a little bit curious....do they dare to touch it?


Jacob, Beth, and Kevin....


Everyone enjoyed the fantastic trout that was cooked on the grill by yours truly and Kevin....many asking for seconds and even thirds!!


Us, silly?! Nah.....

Oquirrh Temple Open House June 15th

For almost a month our family had anticipated Kevin and Rachel's family coming to visit. It had been almost two years since they have been here. We all went to see the Oquirrh temple. Kevin's kids have never been able to go to an open house before. Stephanie's family was able to come too. It was such an incredible experience to be there together.





It was fun to see the kids' faces light up and fill with wonder as they saw the different rooms. After it was over, I asked the kids what their favorite part was.....the most common reply was the baptismal font. My favorite part was looking up the stair well, seeing it wind up all the way to the spire; sitting together in the sealing room; and standing in front of the mirrors with Adam, looking at our reflections continue on forever....

All of the grandkids in front of the temple....


Stephanie and Jenna....


All of us in front of the temple....


Rachel and Kevin....

May 18th

My day started out at midnight with work and a phone call from Kevin and Rachel singing "Happy Birthday"!! Later that day, Mom and Dad also gave me a call and sang to me. Stephanie and Jeff's family invited me over for dinner on my bday. They made me a cake (they were even kind enough to just do 2 candles in the middle with 8 candles that surrounded it. I guess that after a certain age, the fire hazard goes up ;0) ) and Stephanie made me a cute purse...Thank you so much to my family. You all made my day =0)





The next day, my great friend Andrea took me out to the Olive Garden and to see Angels and Demons.....Later that week, Andrea and Sheri went with me to Gardner's Village. So much fun!! Thanks you two for the fun =0)

May 1st

Alyssa and Aimee's 6th Bday!! They invited friends to come to an elegant tea party. Stephanie made the cakes.....she does such a great job and tries so hard to make everything so nice.

Alyssa

Jared and Aimee

Jenna

Jenna and I