It is indeed that time again! Preparing and typing this blog has been a marathon. Buckle in and enjoy the Hazard Family Update.
I had a great time reading through our year on the blog, and I am incredibly thankful to Logan for his diligence in creating this wonderful book of memories for our family. He is an excellent storyteller, and he is telling the story of our family that all of us will treasure for years to come. Thank you, My Love!
All of the norms
As a family, we are constantly out and about doing something. Our norms include: trailer camping in various pretty places, rock climbing at Q'emlin, Tumtum, and Vantage, Skiing at amazing resorts across the western US and Canada, hiking, kayaking, overnight biking trips, beaching (yes, this is now a word), Wallace weekends, etc.
Marissa and Wesley moved to town!
Marissa and Wesley have been eyeing Post Falls/CDA for about 10 years now. Wesley finished up his Radiology residency in Omaha, and they moved into town in June! We have loved having them here, and we have enjoyed BBQ's, hiking trips, Wallace days, Huckleberry picking adventures, etc. It is fun to show them around our old stomping grounds, now their new stomping grounds. Weird.
As we speak, they are up at Silver Mountain taking their kids skiing for the first time! Marissa and Wesley took their first lessons on Monday and have skied three days together this week, now their kids are learning. Let the fun times begin!
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| Stay tuned for more pictures with these guys! |
Needed items: multiple rackets for both sports, balls, and a Bluetooth speaker for Vampire Weekend or some upbeat tunes. We prepared a bag that was packed and ready to go, and at a moment's notice we could put said bag in the car and we were off! We are not a family to sit around for very long, and it became the norm to run to the park and play together. At the peak of summer, we have daylight until 10 pm, and there were nights that we used all of it.
Kayak Camping
Logan grew up running rivers with his family and his cousins. This year we took to the water and had a great time doing a three-day kayak/SUP trip down the Pend Orielle River. There were no rapids to speak of, but we had a wonderful time exploring this beautiful area that is less than two hours from our house. We will definitely be back.
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| It felt like we stepped out of reality for a few days. It was lovely! |
Huckleberry Picking
Huckleberry picking is quite popular here, but you have to know where to go. Last year we happened into a great area, and this year we explored and found two more! The season started early and continued for weeks. I loved the hunt for purple gold. I went weekly and was always able to find a partner who wanted to join in. Marissa, Wesley and their kids came often, as well. It was a lovely reason to go tromping around up in the mountains. Who needs an excuse for that?
Side note- Logan did not and still does not get it.
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| We have been seeing a lot of these cute faces! |
College Tours
Evelyn is a Senior. I need to take a quick minute to let that sentence sink in.
There have been a lot of moments that have hit hard in the last few months. The last Football pep band performance, the final Christmas together where we all LIVE at home, the last Christmas concert with Ev at PFHS, watching her drum at church and realizing that I can't take these little moments for granted. Evelyn is a big personality in our family, and her presence will be missed SO much.
As a family, we tend to go visit a lot of college campuses. This year, Evelyn, Adalie, and Jackson went on official school tours in the process of choosing one to attend. We also skied Bogus Basin for the first time because that was a big selling point for going to Boise. More about that in Evelyn's section below.
Wallace House Project
Logan and I enjoy having a good project to work on together, which The Wallace house provides. It is the perfect chance to improve our space but not have to live in the construction mess! It is also nice that this project was flexible and we could choose to work on it or choose to not.
Our motto for the project? "Why do it right when we can do it ourselves?" I have to say that we are pretty dang proud of our work. And we learned some crazy things along the way (who knew seaming carpet was a thing???).
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Family Trips
City of Rocks/Boise
We hiked around City of Rocks for a day, and this immediately became a favorite place for everyone. Next time we come we will definitely bring climbing stuff! I think all of us felt a bit sad that we had overlooked that idea for this last-minute jaunt.
We visited Boise and, notably, the three oldest took a school tour, we went to an awesome whitewater park, and we went out to eat at Barbacoa (this was a planned 'event,'), and it was memorable to say the least.
Portland
Cities hold secrets and magical appeal. I think Logan and I both, in our hearts, yearn for the city. This year, we visited Portland. We took time to explore on foot and find some of the most "Portland" of places, including: Washington park for roses (we also found multiple neighborhood rose gardens), Powell's City of Books (incredible!), the Hawthorne Asylum, the Pittock Mansion, The Screen Door (famous in Portland and a great space), the Portland Art Museum (art is always a family fav), and we made sure to traipse through neighborhoods and on as many walks through city parks as we could find! I feel like this just touches the surface of the experience. That blog, July 8th, 2025, is a good read if you are so inclined.
The next few days we spent at Evelyn's behest. She planned a multi-day hiking trip that involved seeing as many waterfalls as possible. It was a great trip. Thanks, Ev.
North Cascades
We took our trailer to Mazama, and we used it as a jumping off point for hiking, sightseeing, and climbing. This area is breathtaking and home to some formidable mountains!
Bike Packing
This is our second year biking the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's, and it probably won't be the last. This year we condensed our three day trip into two.
Dating
Logan is pretty much the best partner that I could ask for. We make a good team, and we know how to have fun together! The yearly update would not be complete without a few of the enjoyable things we have done as a couple this year. Not pictured are the countless conversations we have deep into the evening, or the long drives we have enjoyed together, of which there are many. I sure love this guy!
Arbor crest
Arbor Crest continues to play a front and center role in our dating life. We enjoy dancing dates, lunch dates, and sharing this gem with family and friends.
Plays
Logan and I continue to enjoy live theater together, and our taste in plays has definitely changed. We enjoy watching cerebral plays (for lack of a better term) that stay with you for days after they are over. Stage Left in Spokane has become a favorite.
Side note- Kinky Boots was the first play I ever interpreted. It is one of my favorites of all time, and we took the family to a special showing this year! Also, we discovered student rush tickets, and our lives will never be the same!
Work family
The Syringa Family is definitely part of our lives. We hang out with them on a regular basis, play fantasy football together, and I even have a monthly Bunco group with the ladies of Syringa.
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| In other Syringa news... The new building is underway! |
Anniversary Trip
Every year, Logan and I try to take an "us trip" together. This year we came to two conclusions: lake kayaks would be fun to try, and our kids are pretty cool people that we actually enjoy hanging out with (these trips were much more essential when they were young). After these realizations we decided to buy a few lake kayaks, make sure Logan and I did some overnights together, and take time with the kids because they will not be with us forever.
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| Good words to live by! |
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| This is Popcorn Island. It is about 40 minutes from home and only accessible by boat. We have come back many times! |
Earth care
Logan and I are on the Earth Care committee at our church. We have enjoyed doing this together, and recently I headed up the design and implementation of a community garden area by our church. We work with a great group and it is fun to give back to a church that has given us so much.
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| Phase one is complete- Phase two coming in the Spring. |
Wallace overnights
Logan and I take every opportunity to go to Wallace together for a quick getaway. We always come home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Other Family Happenings
Church Performance
Ev and Logan made regular appearances in the church band. It is always fun to see them up there together. Adalie, Maren and Lindsey made appearances this year as well.
Ski and Snowboard Club
Evelyn, Adalie, and Jackson are again involved in Ski and Snowboard club through the high school. They are on a trip as we speak, and they get to share their love of sliding down mountains with their friends.
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| And their love of playing and having fun! |
Ski Trips
This update would not be complete without mention of skiing. Skiing is an imporant part of our family. we have built bonds through road trips, hotel stays, lift rides, pushing our limits together, cruising side by side, and in the planning of these wonderful trips. Here are a few picture highlights of the year.
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| Hotel stays are always a highlight! |
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| Adalie just being herself at Mission Ridge |
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| Mission Ridge Fun |
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| These two are from playing at Bogus. I have so many questions, Ev... |
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| A different kind of playing on an epic powder day at Alta |
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| The famous Snowbird tunnel of magic |
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| Jackson Hole waffles at the top of the tram |
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| Fun at Silver |
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| These two were ski dates with Jack and Maren |
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| Ski days with Josh |
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Lunch at Big Sky- I am surprised L is not in the elevator!    Closing day is always bittersweet. Until next year! |
Evelyn had a great idea for new years resolutions. In the beginning of January each of us created a bingo card filled in with things we wanted to accomplish/do in 2025. Most of us kept these cards and diligently filled them out throughout the year. We made these cards again this year, and I am already getting to work on my goals.
Logan
Logan has a lot of emergency training as a doctor, but he has never completed a Wilderness First Aid training course. This has been something on his bucket list for a while, and this year he took an intensive course and was able to attain his certification.
I have never met anyone as well rounded as Logan is in the area of physical fitness. This year, he excelled in all areas of fitness and it was cool for me to sit back and watch him exceed his goals. During the Summer, he logged 60 miles rollerblading per week, ran a 20 min 5k (ok it was a few seconds over, but the goal was sub 21 min), and he bench pressed 1.9 times his body weight, and in his spare time he climbed The Grand and skied 50 days. I would say he succeeded at being a well rounded athlete.
Anyone who knows Logan, knows that he is a 43 year old man in a 25 year old's body! He put this to the test on our bike packing trip. He took a flying leap off of a dirt bike jump... while pulling the trailer. The landing was spectacular, and completely unexpected by him! He was off of his bike in a hot second and laying in the dirt. Unperturbed, he jumped up and kept biking. I knew something was up when he took a quick stop in Walmart (the only store on the bike trail), and picked up a wrist brace. Three months later, still in a bit of pain, he went to the doctor to have it checked out. The incredulous man told Logan that his wrist was broken. Oops. Since that time, Logan has rested and cared for it until it is now as good as new, almost. He will probably do push ups on his fists from here on out, and if he ever has a mantle while climbing he is going to have to creatively figure out a different option. That actually sounds like a fun challenge!
Logan got an electric skateboard for his birthday. It has officially become one of his favorite possessions, and you can find him on the trail, street, or dirt road most days.
Rachel
This year has been a landmark year for interpreting. I took on my biggest theatrical challenge to date with Hamilton and I began diving into the world of deafblind interpreting. I have a little bit of experience in traditional forms of deafblind interpreting, but this year I took extensive training in Protactile communication. I have also been learning braille and haptics to compliment this new learning (read- nerdy geeking out).
I took a step back from CDAIDE. I have been volunteering with them for many years, and I stepped down from being the silent auction chair. I will probably help out this year during the event, but my role is greatly reduced. I have enjoyed my time, and I am on to new things.
My favorite bingo card selection was to bike 1,000 miles in 2025. During the course of the year, I changed the timeline to 6 months. I had a great time with this one! Instead of training for a race, I decided to bike the Centennial trail from end to end in celebration (CDA's Higgens Point to Nine Mile Falls, north of Spokane). This is a lovely trail with a lot of memories for me. To say that I enjoyed it would be an understatement. It might have been my favorite ride to date. This year, I put away my phone and just rode for fun. It was blissful. Aside from biking, I have been keeping active with weight lifting, climbing, and even a stint of running.
Many years ago, I decided that I had a brown thumb and was not a good gardener. Fairly recently, I took care of my friends garden and plants while she was away. I realized that while I was watering them I felt like I was adulting, and I enjoyed it. At that moment I decided that I didn't have a brown thumb, but I was just lazy! Since that day, I have owned and kept alive houseplants. This year, I decided to go all out and create a raised garden. I collected all of the layering supplies and set my plan in motion. Part of that plan was to plant raspberries from Marissa's garden. These berries were currently growing in Omaha. She shipped the bareroot plants and I was on my way! Those plants did not fare very well, but Marissa brought some potted raspberries with her in the moving truck. I spent a lot of time planting and cultivating a planter of raspberries, strawberries, and assorted vegetables. Success! My strawberries and raspberries absolutely thrived, and I enjoyed a lot of home grown vegetables. I am excited to expand my garden next year!
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| I climbed a lot this year with a group of 'Babes," and we had some great times. |
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Evelyn
I think that Evelyn had the most eventful year out of all of us! She has lived a lot of life in the last 12 months.
Evelyn was accepted to Boise on the first day of the first round of selections! We are beyond proud of her and excited to see what the future brings! As of now, she is planning to become a Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Way to go, Sweets!
Drumming continues to play a large role in Ev's life. She is involved in 0 hour Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, and with an extracurricular drum line group. She practices daily and misses her drum kit when we are away.
I mentioned previously that this is her Senior year. She is rocking it, yet again. She has maintained a 4.2 GPA, but that isn't half of it. Last year and this year she has maintained, not only an A, but a 100% for every single class that she has. She knows that the percentage doesn't make a difference when it comes to college applications and scholarships, but it is a personal goal that she made. She is crushing it.
We attended an award ceremony for top Idaho scholars where she was presented with a certificate and a scholarship. Students traveled from across Idaho to receive attention for this honor. We are very proud of her hard work in all aspects of her life.
Evelyn has had a bit of a rough go this year. She had a fender bender, and a few tickets to deal with- including a need for a lawyer to reduce a ticket. I can tell you that right now she might be the safest driver on the road! She goes exactly the speed limit and is crazy attentive. The wake up call worked!
If you were to ask Ev, she would tell you that her biggest accomplishment this year was climbing the Grand Teton with Logan. They set off at 3 am, and 18 hours later returned to the car. She tested herself physically and mentally on this climb. I know it was emotional for Logan to have this adventure with her, and they will remember it for the rest of their lives. Again- way to go, Ev.
Employment has been a thing for Ev this year. She has worked as a dishwasher at a local sushi place, and as a team member at Five Guys. It has been a bit rough, because keeping up her grades, ski trips, and band events have really limited her availability. She is currently looking for a position that can be very part time. Hit her up if you have any ideas!
When Evelyn gets a goal in her mind, she will do anything required to reach that goal. This year, she decided, on her own, to get baptized. She had been reading the Bible and meeting with Pastor McLane. We knew she was considering it, and one day she invited us to come and see her be baptized the following Wednesday. It was a lovely moment on the beach with family and a few close church friends.
Evelyn and Josh are still together and hanging out a lot. This year he got a season pass to Silver, and he joined us almost every weekend. We are looking forward to seeing him more this year.
Adalie
Adalie finished Driver's Ed! She is working on getting driving hours to get her license. Driving is not necessarily her favorite thing, but she is already looking forward to the freedom that having her license will give her. Adalie is always up for adventure, and she is getting ready to plan her own. Road trip, anyone? She is game!
There was a bit of emotional turmoil when Adalie left her stuffy, Puff the Owl, in a Boise hotel. After months of phone calls (no one knew what was going on at that hotel and there was a myriad of stories told by different people), we were able to get to Boise to rescue Puff. We are all happy to have him back.
Adalie is killin' it at school! She is acing all of her classes, including the plethora of honors courses, and staying active playing the tenor saxaphone in 0 hour Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble. She has a great group of friends and she can be found creating funny music videos with Faith, or hosting her band group at our house after concerts. This year she joined the Theater Club, and she has a great time with that group after school.
Adalie has a magical way of making things look effortless. I love skiing with her because she dances down the mountain, and her skis rarely stay on the snow for long. She constantly finds side hits and jumps big and small to fly over. She has a playful style that makes me smile. Every time!
Oh. And Adalie is learning Braille with me. We may or may not send text messages in Braille now. Kinda dorky, but fun. (Don't think too hard about that concept... It is definitely something that sighted people came up with!)
Jack
Jackson has really come into his own with snowboarding this year. It is fun to watch him cruising down the mountain. He has great style, and he is starting to push himself on the steeps. He loves snowboarding and will try his best to convince anyone who will listen that it is better that skiing. So far it hasn't worked on most of us, but Lindsey has been giving it a bit of a go recently. There is hope yet, Jack!
This semester marks the second that Jackson has made it on to the Honor Roll at school. He has been working hard and prioritizing school work a bit more, and this is exciting! He stays after school for the Anime/Manga club, and he is still developing and practicing his drawing skills. I love seeing his creations.
Jackson is wildly creative, and he is constantly designing or inventing something new. We recently discovered Gizmo. This is a makers space at North Idaho College. They have all of the equipment to make anything your heart could ever desire, such as; wood cutting, electric circuit boards, clay, 3D printing, vinyl sticker making, sewing, iron working, soldering, etc, etc, etc. Sarah, one of the leaders, has been in contact with Jack and created a class specifically designed for him. The class was focused on taking apart small machines and recycling their motors and parts to create something new. They are now scheming a way to make Jackson's recent idea, a magnetized door lock.
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| Placeholder for a drawing coming soon. |
Maren
Maren discovered her voice a few years ago, and she continues to take lessons and amaze us at her recitals. I love watching her perform, and every time I hear her I am blown away (This may be because I am her mom, but I digress). Her favorite recital song this year was, "Once Upon a December" from Anastasia.
Maren loves the theater, and this year her goal was to be in play. She had one shot... Why? Because rehearsals were in the months between summer activities and ski season! She was cast and she did a great job as a New Yorker and in her speaking role as a Macy's Employee.
Adalie and Evelyn both went on the DC/NY 8th grade trip, and Maren has been actively saving for this trip since 5th grade. This year she went all in with a huckleberry fundraiser, and selling earrings at the local frozen yogurt shop. She is crushing her goal, and is excited for her trip!
I asked Maren about what she was proud of this year, and she mentioned that she upped her ski game. She has been pushing herself and has done a few extra steeps this year. She is a rockstar on the slopes, and she can be counted on as the skier who does not fall. She is solid, and a fun ski partner!
Maren has been working her heart out and has almost all A's this year! Her only B is in Math, and I will happily take it. She is a smart, sweet, awesome girl!
Can I just add that Maren is growing up so quickly! She takes time to do her makeup and hair everyday, and she looks lovely!
Lindsey
Lindsey took a quick 3 month break from Irish this year to audition for Elf the Musical with Maren. We were excited when both of them were cast! We gave up many Fridays and Saturdays for the rehearsals, but were glad they both had the chance to be in a production. Lindsey was a New Yorker and the reporter, Charlotte Dennon. She rocked it, and her sass was a perfect fit for that part!
Irish is now back to being a big part of Lindsey's world. She is back in lessons and loving it. Her class had an opportunity to perform in the lobby before Riverdance. We had a great night out, and it was fun to watch her perform live (normally they do a music video). Besides her lessons, she is constantly creating choreography for some of her favorite songs. She plans, rehearses, and performs these numbers for our family. She has great style and sass when she dances, and I can definitely see her performing on a dance team in High School.
In February, Lindsey went with her school math team to compete in a "Math is Cool" competition against nine schools. Lindsey placed first in her school, and ninth overall. That was pretty cool. She is a smart cookie, and she definitely loves math!
Lindsey has been in Challenge all through elementary school, and she recently participated in a STEAM night. She had a booth and presented on a robot that she created and programed. She gave people quick instructions to teach them how to program the bot. It was fun to see her in this role, and she had a great night.
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