Utah and Washington--Here I Come!

Time flew by way too quickly and after nearly two weeks, it was time for Grandma Laura to take Lauren and Hannah back to their home in Utah. Their parents and three brothers had returned from Brazil and were home now. (I will try to share some of their amazing experiences they had there in a later blog when I get back to Utah.)

Hannah and Lauren, leaving Grandpa and Grandma's house. They say goodbye to Arden, our next-door neighbor who they played with while they were here.

After changing terminals four times in Atlanta alone, we finally made it to Utah 13 hours after leaving Jacksonville. You would have thought we were going to China! Anyway, I spent a fun-filled day with Kevin & Angie's family, and Kyle and Kim's family before leaving for Sunnyside, Washington. I was going there to take care of Kent & Natalie's children while Natalie goes to Fiji for the week to see her parents who are on a two-year mission for the Mormon Church there.

Natalie and I got to spend the day together before she left. We got to see Ethan's graduation from pre-school.

Then we got to go see Ethan's daddy at work--my mouth just dropped with amazement. The dental office was gigantic, and they are adding another huge addition. They will soon have 25 dental chairs and a whole surgical wing. Every chair was occupied and the place was buzzing was wonderful and friendly hygientists and dental assistants.

"Dr. Copeland", Laura, Ethan, and Ella in the new addition that is being built.

The older clinic which is next to the street.

Here is the new section which is being added on.
We then went home to do the last minute preparations for Ella's birthday party--and what a party it was! Natalie went all-out (as she always does) on making it a darling polka-dot tea party! All the little girls sat at a long small table with little plates and tea cups painted with their names on them.

Ella's cake was a huge cupcake! I think she liked it a lot!

She received dolls, clothes, a care bear, dress-up items, books, you name it, but all she wanted to play with or even look at was the Thomas the Train set she got. She is Ethan reincarnated! She wouldn't even open the rest of her presents without protest once she got that. We couldn't believe it!

After the party, Kent took me on a little tour of the area and where they would be building a new home. The area is gentle rolling hills with mostly grape vineyards, corn, and apple trees everywhere you look. The two-acre lot they have purchased from Dr. Martin, the dentist who started the practice, is on a hill with green and much open space all around. It is going to be in a beautiful location. They are just getting the plans finalized now and will start building soon.

Their house will be approximately where the light green starts.

Looking from top of the little hill where they will build their home.

On Saturday, Natalie and her sister (who was meeting up with her in Salt Lake) was off for hopefully wonderful experiences in Fiji. They actually wouldn't be arriving in Fiji until Monday--extremely long flying time! She took along all kinds of school supplies and clothing for the children there from the Primary children here in Sunnyside who wanted to share these items, plus cards they had made. Natalie will bring cards back from them along with pictures of her presenting all of their items to the little children in Fiji. Isn't that wonderful!