Fourth of July!!

I was sad that I had to work the day before and after the Fourth!?! I wanted to be able to go home.....watch the parade, see the races, and then go to Lava to enjoy the fireworks....Ahhh, the memories ;0) But I was so incredibly lucky that my friend Andrea invited me to spend the Fourth with her family. We went to the Freedom Festival in Provo, came home and made a perfect American dinner, spaghetti ;0), and then had fireworks. Her little boy Kimball, didn't know if he liked the fireworks or not....I think that in the end he was a little bit scared of them.

Andrea having more fun with the sparklers than the kids.....


Kimball had tried one sparkler, but decided that was enough, and he would just watch his mom play....


Kimball with his Grandma in the background.....trying to decide to laugh, or cry because of how noisy they were....


Oooh.... Ahhh....These were fun!!


When I was growing up, we would buy fireworks like these... but then when we got older, my mom decided to make the drive to Lava and watch their display, which for a small town, was truly fantastic!! So, while we were watching a movie this time, I heard the booming from the Stadium of Fire fireworks going off. I was so excited!! I would get to see my big fireworks!! We were lucky enough to be able to see them from her apartment. Now, my day was complete =0)

Hoggle Zoo

Stephanie invited me to go with her and her fam. to the Hoggle Zoo. I was completely excited, I hadn't been there since 6th grade. They have done tons of work on it and it looks so nice. I had to take pics of us at the lion drinking fountain....we took one when we were really little and went as a family....


We went to a bird show, and they had all kinds of species that were trained to fly here or there....it was pretty impressive....





They even trained a falcon to take money from people and place it into a donation box. How convenient is that? ;0)


They also have an exhibit featuring Madagascar. I didn't realize that there weren't the same animals there as in mainland Africa....kind of interesting. It was so pretty inside....


Here are the rhinos...


....the turtles....



....the monkeys....



....a peacock strutting his stuff....




...We ended with an elephant show. They've had a female since the 1970's who is oldest female African elephant in America. And the other elephant is 20 months pregnant....

My last day in Seattle

The Seattle Temple was the 19th temple in service. I was able to go and do baptisms with Joe, who was so great to take me there and then to the airport. It had been a couple of years since I did baptisms. There was such an incredible feeling there!! Because there weren't too many patrons, they confirmed us there at the font. I had never done that before....I loved it!! There was a family that came from Juno who joined us. Later, I was able to do an endowment session. The Celestial room reminded me a lot of the Provo Temple. I was so grateful to be able to go, and to partake of the blessings there. What a great way to end the trip!!

The grounds were absolutely gorgeous!! I loved all of the trees, and the flowers.....they had gardens along the front, that you could walk along the pathways....

Day 3....Seattle

I had no idea that there were so many islands there. Ashley took me to one of her favorite islands by ferry....Bainsbridge. It was such a beautful island full of quaint shops, fabulous restaurants, and gorgeous scenery....




This is a place that was recommended to us by a local....The Pub....


We ate out on the patio. What a fantastic view!!



We also had an amazing view of the Seattle skyline....

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.....