The Hazard Chronicles

We've had a lot going on this past couple of weeks. Let me start a few weeks ago when we got the phone call that my Grandma Hill had suffered a debilitating stroke. It didn't look like she was doing so well, and recovery was highly unlikely. Over time things went from bad to worse, and calls started going out to family to meet and say their final goodbyes.

Well...family met.

Almost the entire Hill family got together for Grandma's funeral. It was amazing. I do not think there has EVER been so much of the family all in one place as there was this past weekend. Seriously- I think that if Grandma could have seen how we came together then she would have been smiling and telling everyone how she loved us all "a whole bunch." This is the woman who moved to Provo so she could keep the family together as grand-kids started going to BYU. She opened up her home to anyone who wanted to come, and Rachel and I have many fond memories of family nights and drop-in conversations with her during our time in school there. Amazingly, she never missed a single birthday of mine, Rachel's, or any of our kids- I assume the same could be said for each and every other person in her family as well. And whenever we went to visit she was always sharing news of who was expecting, and who was getting married, and what number she was on for her famous "list" of family members in chronological order. Really, grandma was all about family. So the fact that we were all able to meet over this event could be considered, I think, as a worthy achievement on her part. Because not only did we meet- but we knew each other. Grandma would have been proud.

Besides meeting with cousins and other long extended family, this was also a fun time for us because we were able to meet with all of my siblings. My parents got hotel rooms for all of us, and we enjoyed being with each other and catching up on things. When the weekend was over, I caught a flight home, and Rachel stayed in Utah for several more days visiting even more family and friends. Overall, it was a very good trip. Sometimes unplanned things- even when the occasion necessitating them is unpleasant- can turn out to be really, really good.

As for me, I came home and cleaned the house on the first day. And then, the house stayed clean for the next FOUR days. This has got to be a record or something for us. I guess that's what happens when nobody is home. Rest assured that our house is back to it's normal state of semi-disarray now that the kids are back. And while it was nice to have it cleaned- it feels more like home to have it look "lived in." While everyone was gone I got a lot of climbing in, and am continuing to improve. I am regularly sending stuff in the 12b region now, which is better than I've ever climbed before. Also, I continue to meet cool people and enjoy the new friendships that come with a shared hobby.

On Thursday night Rachel got home with the kids. We had a good "Papa Friday," and the weekend has been a relaxing change of pace for us. On Saturday we went to the local YMCA for a thing they were doing and the kids had a good time. Today was church and relaxation. I made an excellent Chicken Madeira for dinner- although it still wasn't quite as good as the meal at the Cheesecake Factory. Things are good.

Maren at the YMCA. I promise we didn't drug her- she's just making a weird face.

Evelyn at Bridal Veil Falls in Utah. Her and I hiked up together to the base of the waterfall. It was a hard hike, but we made it.

Ev and Griffin at the waterfall.

Here are some pictures from Rachel's phone.  The captions are not working right, and for some reason Allison and Clayson's picture wants to be with these ones.  The top few pictures are from Easter morning at Grandma Wendy's house.  Our Easter bunny decided a few years ago to provide a very limited amount of candy and to give a small gift to each person.  This year all of the kids received fun games and outdoor activities in their Easter baskets.  These toys made for a great Momma Day at the park (somehow we only got a few pictures..). Ig-a-loo at 30 weeks is the next photo down.  The final picture is of Evelyn getting her groove on in a mini Zumba class at the Kids Health Fair this weekend.  She had some attitude with her dancing and she stood out as one of the best dancers in the group!

Easter morning!  I love the movement and excitement of this picture.

Allison and Clayson made the hike too. They were very gracious to carry Addy up to the falls, and then to sing Frozen songs with her all the way down. That is how you win friends with 4-year-olds.