Logan...finally!

We had planned to go to Logan about a half dozen times before it actually worked out.
We went the end of July (so this is late). Here we are driving through Sardine Canyon.
Anika did surprisingly well on the drive there.

We were able to stay with the Bakers. I worked with Kevin for a few years before
Nathaniel took over for me right before we were married. I've known them for over 6 years!
They are wonderful people!

Here is the picture they took of us.

We miss the picture we didn't take at Yah Poh with the Lindstroms and Bennetts :(

Nathaniel participated in our old ward's biathlon that the Willeitners had planned.

He was doing really well until he sprained his ankle.

But he still managed to win. I guess his bike commuting was what did the trick,
along with Brianna's nice road bike.

LE and Anika. They happened to have matching USU dresses, and I happened to take Anika's.
So of course we put them on and took some pictures. Too bad these girls can't hang out more often.

Potluck @ Adams Park

Good friends and yummy food. We miss the other people we didn't get to see,
as well as those who have already moved.

Anika enjoying her banana through a mesh feeder during the potluck.

Kris and Than trying to entertain Anika in the car. We made sure to get in
a game of Settlers with the Bennetts.

Here we are at Gossner's Cheese Factory. Hooray for samples! We were very disappointed
to find out that they stopped making half and half. We also made a stop at Casper's.

We wish we had taken more pictures, seen more people, and had more time. It was really
great to finally go and visit though. It was weird to think we hadn't been to Logan for more than 7 months. At one point I must have been on auto pilot because I started driving to our old apartment. Unfortunately the drive home wasn't as good. We left Logan... and then 1 1/2 hours later we left Brigham City.

So...

We ate at a fun crepe shop in SLC with the Merkets. It is called Lunaberry.
What great service and yummy crepes!! We loved the Mango Chicken crepe and
enjoyed the samples of tasty frozen yogurt that were offered to us. The lady even
gave us a free dessert crepe (bananas and Nutella) "for the mothers."
You should eat there too.

Nathaniel finished classes just over a week ago. He starts again next week.
He still rides his bike to work (and school) and enjoys his job.

Anika is now 7 months old. She is having more fun with "games" now.
She likes peek-a-boo and Nathaniel's hand-in-mouth game.

We have a hummingbird nest in our backyard. We used to see her all the time,
and could see the baby hummingbird's nose poking over the side of the nest.
It is on the branch under the dead leaf, a little left of center.
I made some apricot leather. I love apricot leather; my grandpa used to make it.

Nathaniel made some currant jam and syrup from the currants in our yard.
I saw a box and suddenly had the urge to put the baby in the box...

We had two expired coupons that were still honored: free crazy bread and
$.99 Rootbeer freezes from A&W. Yum! "The worst they can say is 'no.'"

Nathaniel made this table with his dad. He just has to put sealant on it and brace it to the wall.
Our garden sort of tanked this year. Sad. But, we ate our first zucchini the other day,
and it was delicious. If you're trying to get rid of some (it seems like people always are),
we'll help you out :) I would put a picture of our garden, but it would be too terrible.

We're still using cloth diapers. Our Fuzzi Bunz came the other day.
These are pocket diapers instead of prefolds with covers. Me gusta.
Some fresh homemade French Bread. Courtesy of Nathaniel.

Us

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FamilyPicture2010.jpg

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Here is the group. There has been one baby born since this picture was taken,

and another one will be here in a few weeks/month-ish!

Hardman Reunion

Nathaniel is the youngest of nine. His family is pretty big, so it is difficult for
us to all get together. This year his sister was good to get the ball rolling for a reunion.
One sister came from California, a brother from New Mexico, a brother from Logan,
and another brother from Georgia (although they went home to New York).
The rest of the family is spread around Utah County.

One day was spent at Deer Creek Reservoir. We rented a boat and a wave runner.

Sylwia, Grandma and Lauren preparing dinner.

Anika checking out the water. She didn't have much of a reaction...

The activity to entertain Anika after she was upset while Than and I got a
turn on the wave runner. If she started to fuss, they would pick up the blanket
with her in it and swing it a few times.

What is a reunion without healthy food? It is a twinkie split open with a
tootsie roll inside, topped with pull 'n' peel licorice. Very clever.

Anika and I attended the little kid extreme fun activity.

Anika's First Blog Post

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6 Months

I'm a couple weeks late on this post...

I made this dress for her. I sort of started it quite awhile back,
but then finally finished it in time for my sister's wedding.


She can sit all by herself now.
We've started her on solids.


She is finally pushing up on her arms while lying on her stomach.
She will then scoot herself backwards by pushing away using her arms. I guess I used
to do that, and would get stuck under the couch and cry, get pulled out, and do it again.


Every time they see her, our neighbors from Peru say, "Ohhh, que liindaaa,
que hermoosaaaa!" "Ohh, que preciosaaa!", and something about "Mucha leche"
as they squeeze her fat little legs. It's fun, so I say it now too.


Anika is getting so big! At her last appointment,
she weighed almost 16 lbs and was 26 1/4 inches.
That's an addition of over 10 lbs (5 lbs 3 oz) and
nearly 10 inches (17") from her preemie days.


(My old roommate reminded me that she's not machine washable.)

She gets a big smile on her face every time we start singing "Popcorn Popping,"
even before we do the actions. She also loves "If You're Happy and You Know It."
Another favorite is "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." It is really funny
to watch her (I'll touch her head, shoulders, etc.) while I sing
it because she will get a funny squinty-eyed smile on her face
in anticipation of me touching her eyes.


She LOVES to play in the sheets. I'll put her on our bed under the sheet
and then lift it and lower it while she squeals and squirms and reaches for it.


"What a hard day."