This past weekend we decided to go to Utah! We (more like I) really wanted to meet baby R a lot sooner than over the July 4th weekend! So we went and we had a blast, but we also had some ups and downs. We planned on Friday to run a creek over by Orangeville, Utah. It was called straight creek canyon and it was low water, but runnable. So Friday we got to straight creek canyon at 12 and then we waited for Donny for another 2 and 1/2 hours! It was long, but he had some car problems so no worries. We finally got on the river and started down. The route was beautiful and the water was so clear and blue! It came out of the Joe's Reservoir which was stunning. Unfortunately, I fell out 3 times because there were so many rocks and if we did hit a rock (which was a lot) it was not slick. Instead it was like sand paper and since I was in the front it just threw me out of the kayak. So the third time it happend I had had enough and I got out and walked along the road the last mile (more liked jogged so I could keep up with Colby and Donny). We did get some fun video of me falling out! Colby did fall out once a really rocky rapid and the whole kayak seemed to flip. Colby and Donny finished and since I was out of the kayak it was a lot easier for Colby to control and he did great the whole time especially on the big rapids which I am so thankful I was not in the kayak! But despite falling out it was still fun and Donny and Alyssa gave me the videos of it so scroll down if you want to see. We did not have good footage of the second time when Colby and I both fell out, but we have the first and the third time that I fell out. now I will say that the third time was really weird because before we started going down we got stuck on a rock right at the top so that did not help us in the least. Thanks Donny for bringing the gear and the cameras!
Now we get to the craziest part of the trip! After the river we packed up the cars to go to Payson. Donny wanted to try a new way, but we decided that we did not have enough gas to go his way. So we went a different way that the map showed us, but when we split Donny took the map because it was his. So we thought driving to Ephraim would be the quickest for us and it looked like it too on the map so off we went! We hit a dirt road really quick and I started to become anxious because we still did not have a lot of gas. After driving for about an hour and seeing no one, but the deep forest we came to a clearing and a ridge. We thought for sure we could go over the ridge and hopefully see a city on the other side, but to my dismay we hit snow that blocked the road!! It blocked the road for about 50 yards and then it was clear the rest of the way! By this time I was freaking out! I did not want to be stranded with hardly any food and no gas for my weekend getaway. And we had no cell service and no one knew we were there!! It was a terrible feeling! We saw a sign that said Ephraim's tunnel that went around the snow so we followed this very muddy road and it only led us to a steep hill that big four-wheel trucks get up or down depending which way you were coming from. I decided to get out of the car at this point to walk up the hill to see if we could see anything on the other side. But once I reached the top it was just more hills and trees for as far as I could see. It was another pit fall feeling. My stomach sank and I ran down the hill depressed. But right when I lost hope I heard this horn. I turned around and looked up the hill and a truck pulling a camping trailer and car trailing behind was there. I could not believe this tender mercy of the Lord. He really was watching over us. After talking to the family for a bit and they being very kind and giving us a enough gas to get back from where we came from I was so grateful! We also learned that Ephraim from that point was still another hour away and that they were trying to reach Joe's Reservoir the place where we came from. I still think it was a gracious tender mercy of the Lord for our paths to cross right at the exact moment we needed it. I wish I could tell this story out loud with everyone with me because my words are not doing it justice. But anyways, we then both went our separate ways and we finally made it to Payson around 11:30pm. It was a lot later than I had wanted, but better than spending the night in the forest with nothing and not knowing when we would leave.
That was the crazy down part of the weekend, but it got a lot better when I finally met baby R! He is so sweet and good. He is very patient, calm and observant. He likes to look around and he looked a lot at our faces he is just so cute! I know Donny likes to hold him a lot too and I am thankful he let me hog baby R for a couple of days.
The next day, Saturday, Colby did some school stuff at BYU and I ran some errands. Then we met up and went to seven peaks. It was so much fun! It seemed like there were lots of people and there were, but the lines were not horrible and the rides were so worth it. We soaked up the sun without getting sunburns and had a snow cone afterwards. It was a good day.
Colby and I have been missing in action for quite sometime (since halloween) that I have decided I should finally update our blog! Yeah! Once again, I am a terrible blogger and have not gotten into the whole thing, but I am trying and it is a nice way to stay in touch with friends and family. Colby and I are now in Colorado for the summer for Colby's paid internship which is so nice! I have not been home for a full and whole Colorado summer since I started school in Idaho in 2010! It has been nice being back and there are no wild fires Hooray! The weather has been perfect not to hot or cold which is how I am been acclimated my whole life! If it gets above 75 degrees I want to die it is too hot for me. We are currently living with my parents for the summer which means Colby has an hour commute and if there is traffic, then it is about an hour and half; however, we did try to find somewhere in Denver to live, but no one wanted to give us a 4 month lease. So here we are and we love it! Colby said that he is so use to the drive that it does not bother him anymore and he gets to listen to whatever music, talk show, or anything he likes since I am not in the car :) For me, I have been helping my parents out with my siblings and working as a nanny here and there (look below for a funny video of my little sister). I also will probably get a job with an in home senior health assistant a couple times a week. So I have been keeping busy too!
Colby and I can't wait for all the summer plans this summer! Colby gets every third Friday off so we are coming for the Hazard Reunion and we are both so excited! We missed the first one in California and can't wait for this July to see everyone especially the new babe, baby R Hazard! For memorial weekend we went to South Dakota with my family to see Mount Rush-more, Crazy Horse, Reptile Gardens, Black Bear Country, the Needles, Custer State Park, Devils Tower (in Wyoming), the cosmos, Mammoth sites, and had fun swimming! I will post some pictures because it was so much fun! Also, this June I am leaving after Colby's birthday to see my sister in Boston and helping her move to Las Vegas! I am so happy she is moving back to the west she has not been this close to us for 6 years and we are so happy! I am going to drive across the country with her and then hopefully see there new built home soon. I am excited that when Colby and I go back to Utah she will only be 5 hours away about the same to Rexburg so we will be making trips down there for sure. I am sad that my other sister won't be in Rexburg anymore after this summer because they are moving to Texas, but I am so happy that we still have tons of Colby's family there because we love seeing them and I love Rexburg! We are so excited to see everyone soon and are sorry that we will miss Kl and Taylor before we get there, but we wish them the best of luck in Washington D.C and hopefully we will see them soon!
This huge guy was crossing the road and I am glad we were in a even bigger truck! He looked mad...hehe
Oh no! The snake has them!
Carsten is super happy and amazed because this huge tortoise is moving, but Jonathan looks concerned...
Just chillin in Black Bear Country
Jonathan wanted a turn to carry Carsten so we let him try haha
Oh, and a quick update on my sister Felicia. For those of you who do not know she is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She will be serving and teaching others the gospel of Jesus Christ for 18 months in the Temple Square, SLC, Utah mission! She will also study sign language so she may teach those who are deaf in their own language. She has been in the MTC for since April 24th and will go into the mission field from the MTC on June 12th! She is doing well aside from some minor medical issues, but is fine! She had her 21st birthday on May 20th and she wrote to us about it was one of the best birthdays she ever had!
We decided to pack the kids up and ship them right to Filly!
Felicia is 21 years old!
Felicia and the other sign language missionaries
Also, Sierra, I want you to update your blog! If I can do it then you can too! :)
Talk to you all till next time...which hopefully is not another 7 months! Oh and below is a funny video of my little sister Katie being a goof!
