Mt Rainer

July 7th was the last full P day we would be getting for awhile so we took advantage of it and went for a little trip to Mt.Rainier. We left on Tuesday evening after work and drove until 9:30 and got to a little town called Potrock and spent the night.

This was the view from our motel window. (cool)

They didn't seem to be a bit afraid of us.

This little lady managed to get on the motel's lawn and have a little breakfast.

Our first glimpse of Mt. Rainier from our car window.

There are lots of places to hike. We decided to first head out to the Grove Of The Patriarches.

There were lots of "friendly" and "unfriendly" creatures along the way.

"friendly"

"friendly"

"unfriendly!"

Just kidding, they were all "friendly" stuffed creatures in the rangers visitors center.

The Grove of the Patriarches was really amazing. These trees are over 1000 years old and so huge. Harry is trying to show how big this tree is. When the trees fall and block the trail they saw them in half and you pass through the two halves.

One tree that didn't have to be sawed in two.

This tree was so big. The end closest to the camera is where it broke off and the end down by the fence is it's other end.

These pictures don't do the beauty of this place justice.

How can you "hug a tree" when the tree is this big?

Here we are among three, 1000 year old giants.

Trying to show how big they are. I don't know if the giant red woods in California are bigger than these but they sure were big and beautiful.

After we went to the Grove we hiked up to Silver Lake Falls.

I wasn't too nervous about crossing the bridge until I saw the sign that said "one person on the bridge at a time is recommended."

Silver Lake Falls

Harry enjoying the falls.

It was really beautiful up there.

More of the falls.

Me at the falls.

The trees here were all covered with moss it makes them kind of errie. I wouldn't want to be here at night.

On our way down I had to stop and cool off my feet. It felt so refreshing.

Problem was getting my socks back on.

Getting closer to Mt. Rainier. It is actually a volcano.

Yes, this is snow and ice on this lake.

Of course Harry had to throw a few snow balls at me.

A beautiful sunset to end our day.

It felt good to get away but I was also glad to get back to the Ranch. I kind of missed it and everyone there.

I didn't have my camera with me until Wednesday, by then Annie was starting to look better. She no longer had her NG tube (a tube that was keeping her stomach empty and came out her nose) Annie called it a long bugger.

A first real smile!

Daddy gave Annie a special friend to help her get feeling better. She quickly named him Jess

Ouch! Annie's zipper (what one nurse called her incision)

MMMMMM. Green Jello, Annies first taste of some real food


Annie's two best friends Emilee and Ashlee, came to vist her at the hospital. Together they discovered the play room. They had a great time making dolls then playing Dr. on them.


Annie had a special friend come visit...her name was Liberty. Liberty is a volunteer dog, she goes around to the children and lets them pat her, even gets in bed with them if they want. She is a standard size poodle (big), I have never seen one of these dogs up close and I have to say she is so pretty and so very sweet.

There is no place like home...or the smell of home. When we got home on Saturday Annie walked in took a deep breath and said "Ahhhh the smell of home".