Ward Member's Recommendation now in Great Weather!

This last Monday, we went on another day trip adventure and it didn't turn out like we were hoping. We still had a lot of fun though. One of our ward members told us of this place to see Mount Rainier, but we couldn't see it though all the fog. Hans and I decided that we would try again today after another adventure didn't take us that long to do.

 Here are the Palisades. They are beautiful and the area around it is equally so. We were out of the car for 10 minutes and I got a misquito bite, so I didn't want to be there long. You would think that since they seem to enjoy me so much that I would always have repellent on hand, but I don't.

 Hans reading one of the signs while Arlee cheesed it up for me.

 This is at the same place as the Palisades. We weren't expecting this, but it is Mount Rainier.

 Mt. Rainier

  Mt. Rainier

 Waterfall off the side of the mountain.

  Mt. Rainier

 Water that is coming out right under mounds of snow.

  Mt. Rainier

  Mt. Rainier and me and Arlee

  Mt. Rainier, Hans and Arlee

Okay so this is from the Monday when we went up to see the ward member's recommendation. You can clearly see the difference in the air. If you were here taking this picture rather than looking at it on the computer. You would look to your left and see Mount Rainier. We were so close to it the whole time that we were looking around for it in the fog, which is a little crazy.

Since it was too foggy to see anything we missed this lake that is right behind this lake above. They are on either side of the street from each other and we could not see it.

 Same lake as above

 Same as the two above

 Mt. Rainier

This is an otter or beaver. Hans and I are not sure which one it is, but it is in the lake that is to the left of Rainier. Pretty cold water I would imagine. Good thing this little thing is used to it.

We've bought a new CAR!

Alright it isn't a car. It is an SUV, which I will forever car call a car even if it is a truck. Probably got this from my mom. Here are some pictures of our 2009 Toyota Highlander. Oh we got rid of my Jeep and got this instead. HEY now we can fit more than just a 1/2 person in a 5 person car once the new baby gets here. : )

 Don't mind Arlee's cars seat. I didn't think it was worth taking it out for this picture.

 3rd row down. These would be for the 6th and 7th seats.

 3rd row up.

 This is what it looks like from the 3rd row.

This is with one of the seats down with the 3rd row as well.

There you have a car in a nutshell.  Hope you like it, because we sure do. Arlee loves the DVD player so she can watch movies and I don't some more entertainment for her. This will really come in handy when we drive to and from Utah. Hopefully!

Washington Pharmacist

Hans' Washington Pharmacists was posted online this afternoon! He is now able to work. We are so excited and can't wait to get going on the student loans and put money in the bank as well. We just might be able to afford a house now. We are taking my Dad's advice and waiting and feeling out the area that we would like to live in. Also to make sure that we are going to stay in Washington long enough to even think about buying a house here.

YAY for the good news and for a pay check just waiting to be earned. We have been so blessed and can't wait to take advantage of what Hans has worked so hard for. Thank you for all the support that any of you have given him and our family.

The Hoges

Ward Member's Recommendation

Yesterday, at church Hans was talking to a member in our ward. He told him that we saw Mount Rainier and it was beautiful. After telling him about our adventure, he told Hans of a another place that is better and you can get closer to it. So today, Hans took us to the better way. Here are some pictures of our day trip adventure.

 This is one of several waterfalls off the road in Mount Rainier National Park, probably from the snow melting.

 Hans and I thought this was pretty funny. No Pets and the only way to get into this lake is by cross country skiing. We haven't come across a sign like this before. This is right next to the following picture.

 This is me next to all the snow. Let me tell ya. We were not dressed for such an occasion so this is the only picture with someone in it.

 Hans took a picture of the fog, but this isn't even as bad as it got. We weren't going to stop in any of those places either.

 This is where Hans hit a bird. Lovely isn't it?

 This is supposed to be a lake. We think this is the lake the guy from our ward was referring to. He told Hans that you could go to this lake and it would mirror Mount Rainier. As you maybe able to tell this is why we were confused as to where it was. You couldn't see anything off in the distance or mirroring it at all. We are going to find out when the best time of year to go and see this lake/ Mount Rainier. Oh well, we had a lot of fun checking everything out.

 Here is a close up of what the lake water looked like. Insanely cold I say, insanely cold!

 This is across the road from where I took the lake pictures. The snow pack was crazy.

 One of the look out points. B-E-A-utiful!

And the look out point again.

Arlee had a blast looking for all the waterfalls off the side of the road and they really weren't hard to come by either. When we would go through the foggy sections she would say, "YAY another tunnel." *When we went on our outing the other day to Clear Creek Falls we went through a tunnel and she loved it. When we started the venture out today she said she wanted to go through the tunnel again. I told her that we would have to see if we could find another one. She waited patiently through the car ride and when we came to the fog she said, "Yay, a tunnel!" When we would come to any of the other foggy patches that is when she switched to "Yay another tunnel!" Normally, she would clap her hands and get pretty excited. Her reactions were much the same when she would see all the waterfalls too. Driving in the car with her is not a hard thing. She loves to look at all the "Pokie trees" (pine trees) and "water" all the different rivers. When she sees them she will shout out whatever it is and tell you to look to. I am going to be surprised if she ever falls asleep on our little outings since there is so much that she likes to look at.

Until next time,
The Hoges

103 Degrees and 20 weeks

Yesterday, Arlee woke up with a fever of 103. It was Sunday and Hans and I were assigned to talk in church. Hans called and told them that Arlee was sick and I was going to have to stay home. Hans was willing to go and give his talk so they just had one of the missionaries speak in my place. Of course, he didn't have that long to prepare, but I am sure that he still did a great job. On the hand, I was prepared and ready to go, so I was actually a little sad not to be able to get it over with. I didn't feel emotional about this one either so chances are I wouldn't be crying like I normally do. So darn, I guess.

They have assured us that I will get another speaking assignment very soon. Hopefully it is on the same subject so I don't have to prepare for something else.  While Hans was at church Arlee and I just vegged and watched movies. It was nice to just have her cuddle with me, but at the same time she was a little too warm to make it really nice. Arlee and I also took a nap and she ate a nectarine with me and some cheese. Before Hans was home her fever was normal and went up a little after about an hour.

We didn't know why she had such a high fever until later. I was hoping it wasn't going to be another blowout session like she has had around her birthdays the last two years. When that would happen, she would have a temperature for "no reason" and then the next couple days blow out after blow out. Since she is no longer in diapers I was really dreading it. Luckily, this was not the case. I had looked in her mouth earlier, but didn't see any teeth coming in. Right before she went to bed Hans and I looked in there with a flashlight and saw a little piece of evidence of a 2 year molar coming in. So there you have it. She is getting a tooth and not just any tooth her 1st 2 year molar. Arlee has always been a little bit slower on getting her teeth in, but I thought this was a little bit too late.

For the next little bit she will be having 4 come in and sudden fevers. Hopefully we can stay away from the blowout sessions and ear aches. Oddly enough, there was no red swelling gums to play part with this tooth coming in. I am glad that it wasn't anything serious. She is a tough little girl and I didn't get any pictures of her while yesterday, but just by looking at her you could tell she didn't feel well.

**Little side note for my funny record keeping of Arlee: When Arlee has gone to the bathroom yesterday and today if it was poop she would say, "I feel all better now mommy." She makes me laugh. I love that little girl so much.

20 weeks- I am 20 weeks along today and we will be having our ultrasound on August 1st to see what we are going to be having. We are really excited to find that out. Arlee for the most part still says that we are having a girl, but yesterday she told me it was going to be a boy. I have had dreams of it being a girl and it being a boy. Who knows, maybe I will have both of them eventually. That is a hope for sure. I would love to have them both, but I will be fine with whatever Heavenly Father gives us.

I am guessing a boy, because this pregnancy has been so much different than when I was pregnant with Arlee. Hans is going with girl, because he would like to have a boy this time since we don't have one. We are just so pleased to be having one at all really that it doesn't really matter. A girl, would obviously be easier since we have all the stuff, but I would like a boy at one point. All in all it doesn't really matter. We will keep you posted when we find out and of course are anxiously awaiting our appointment, next Monday.

Love and miss you all,
The Hoges

Day Trip

We decided to go on a little day trip. On the drive we went to see a few things that Mother Nature has provided for us. It was a great trip and something that might become a tradition since there isn't a lot to do around here in Yakima.

Arlee talking on her shoe phone. When she does this she'll make the beeping sounds and act like she is dialing on the real phone. After that she will put her shoe up to her ear and start talking to whoever. Most popular people are her Grandma Wooo (my mom) and Kasiah. Most of the time she doesn't talk long on the "phone",  which is a lot like a real phone conversation with her.

 Mount Rainier. We actually found this by accident, but this is one view that I wasn't upset about any extra driving. This is a volcano for those who don't already know that. In Yakima you can see just the tip of this mountain over some other mountains.

 Here is Rainier closer up. Beautiful isn't it. We are standing on a cliff with railing (view point) so there is a deep valley underneath us.

 Hans and Arlee

 Hans, Arlee and me. If you look closely you might be able to see my baby bump....

These next pictures are of Clear Creek Falls. When we planned our outing this is what we were planning to see. We passed it the first time, because Hans didn't think that we were far enough to stop where I saw the sign of "Clear Falls" I didn't get to read the whole thing before we passed it. Which is a good reason to not stop if it isn't the right title that you are looking for.

 Arlee loves picking up sticks.

 Me and Arlee walking to see the falls

 Clear Creek Falls. This is right up highway 12 and still in Yakima County. Crazy huh?

 I just thought this looked beautiful

 On our drive to find the falls Hans pointed out this crevace which was right before our pull off to get to the falls and might be why we didn't see the sign. This was taken while we were at the falls.

 This is a tree looking up into it. I loved the way this looked, but if you don't... oh well. The tree has moss on it. Actually it reminded me of the ones in the south.

 This picture is of one of the two falls. This one goes right down the rocks while the other goes more over a cliff.

 Hans and Arlee headed back to the car. Arlee was booking it!

 This lake is huge. It is right off the highway and has several different campgrounds to camp on. The water to me seemed a little cold, but nothing compared to say Echo Lake or Lake Tahoe. There were a few boats on the lake while we were there.  This is some place that I think I would like to go to next summer after I have the baby if anyone wants to come up. This is called Rimrock Lake.

 Arlee and Hans in front of the lake.

 Me and Arlee

On the lake they have little islands. I would say there are at least ten of them.

We loved our little day trip and look forward to figuring out what else is close by to enjoy. If you have any ideas make sure to let us know.

Also if there are any visitors that would like to go and explore with us you are more than welcome to. We would enjoy the company. : ) Hint hint.