Newport Reunion Time

It is Hardester Reunion time so we are in Newport Beach at the Marriott timeshare. It is lovely as usual. Greg, Claire and I arrived down here on Sat. the 23. We couldn't check into our room until 4ish and we arrived down here around 1ish so we had some time to kill. So, we ate. We ate at the Pita Jungle and it was delicious! We recommend it. After we ate, we headed to the Marriott and on the way came to a familiar intersection that we pass by all the time on our visits down here. On one corner there is a lovely gazebo surrounded by beautiful flowers. There is also a large sign for "Roger's Gardens". Every time we've passed, I have wanted to go see what is there. It takes up such a large space, this gazebo and sign, I just knew it had to be a special nursery. We decided to go check it out and we were not disappointed! First off - there was this super fun ice cream cookie truck in the parking lot. We had to give that a try.

Claire had a cookie with ice cream: chocolate brownie with german chocolate ice cream inside. I had a chocolate chip cookie. Was delicious. And this truck, being mobile, moves around! I asked if they were always there and I was informed that they never know where they'll be from day to day and that we should look on their website to find out where they'll be next. www.chunknchip.com. They go all over so they haven't been all that close to us since. :-( Onto the fabulous nursery. It was great - lots and lots of plants beautifully displayed but it also has a large selection of patio furniture, and a large gift shop and a silk flower and indoor plant section as well.

It was lots of fun and I'm so glad we stopped to take a look.

It was so pretty

I went to Uvas Canyon today for the first time ever - can you believe that? Well, you can if you've never heard of it. It is a county park about 40 minutes from home. It has camping and trails, and lovely little waterfalls. Liz and Dane had visited there recently and I had seen their pictures. It was so pretty I was curious to check it out. Claire, Liz, Maxwell, Kaitlyn and I went this morning.

What you can do when you are 18

Claire's birthday was Thursday, June 14. She turned 18. She spent time on Wednesday the 13th asking around what she should do on her birthday since she'd be "legal" to do certain things. Two things that came to mind were to buy spray paint - she thought it would be fun for her and friends to paint shirts. She didn't end up doing that. Another thing, which I didn't know and am still surprised this is so, she could buy a gold fish. Did you know that in some stores - in San Jose anyway - you must be at least 18 to buy a gold fish? She ended up buying a goldfish yesterday, Saturday. She also bought a little tank with a filter. She named her goldfish Kevin. I asked her who was going to take care of Kevin when she went to college. She explained that Greg and I would want to take care of him because we would be so lonely for her. Here is happy Claire with Kevin. Today, Sunday, Kevin died. Claire posted about this on facebook. Her response to one of the comments was that the pet store people told her that if she bought a bigger tank he'd live longer. She didn't buy the bigger tank but she didn't know he was going to die the next day if she didn't! RIP Kevin. Tomorrow she buys a Betta.

SAE Competition in Marshall Michigan

What? SAE - what is that? It is the Society of Automative Engineers. Eric, and the rest of the BYU Super Cat team, went to Marshall, Michigan last week to compete in the SAE Supermileage Competition. They passed inspection on Thursday. And Friday, June 8th, Eric slipped into the Super Cat and drove the car to a 2nd place showing! They achieved 1134 mpg and were awarded for Best Newcomer Performance. YAY ERIC!!!! And since several people enquired what 1st place achieved - it went to Penn State University-Behrend College for 1485. 3rd spot went to Universite' Laval (Quebec Canada) they achieved 1051

My turtle swims sideways...

She did it - she graduated on Thursday, June 7th, from Leigh High School - just like that - in the blink of an eye - she grew up and then walked across a stage - and walked off a graduate.

The last...

There are a lot of "lasts" going on today. Last day of seminary. Last day of school (so she says, but she graduates on Thursday and I'm pretty sure there is some sort of school next week ;-) Last child to have a last day of seminary and last day of high school. We commemorated these lasts with our first "last day of school" picture.

She looks nice for her last day of school doesn't she. She says that's what seniors wear on their last day of school. And here's the happy soon to be high school graduate.

Andy and Jamie got married!

Beautiful bouquet - arranged by Joslyn

Beautiful mom and sisters

Beautiful bride and groom

Happy Mother's Day!

Can you guess what this is?

A Beautiful Day in Idaho (April 21)

The weekend following BYU graduation, we went up to Tremonton. Evan joined us but Claire had left us to go to a dance in San Jose. But all the boys were together as well as Garry and Harris cousins. We had a very nice time. On Saturday we went up to Oxford Idaho, near Preston, to visit the Harris Farm. The Harrises grow alfalfa and wheat on 600 acres.

There are a lot of vehicles - work and play. Eric is in there. But he didn't drive it.

Lots of storage and equipment. We helped lay some sod by a quonset hut.

Target practice!

Was such a fun afternoon!

Have I Done Any Good

We had our stake Mormon Helping Hands day yesterday. Our family wards cleared weeds and spread mulch in the park area around Jensen's home - we were all spread out along the way. There was day care for younger kids and quilting for those who weren't up to pulling weeds and hauling mulch. And the YAs and missionaries worked with another church to clean up a rough part of town. Was a good morning of lots of work getting accomplished. Afterward, the family wards had barbecue at Almaden Lake. Here is a music video - made to promote Mormon Helping Hands. Notice anyone familiar?