Hardy Highlights : *Ragged Mountain, July 2011

A family trip to Ragged Mountain for July was planned several months in advance. We had no way of knowing just how sick Grandpa would be when it came to go. I don't think we really knew what we were going to do until the last minute. We finally decided to go ahead and go up, but Grandma Bobbi would stay behind with Grandpa. So we all headed up on July 22, 2011. Everyone stopped by to visit with Grandpa one last time. It was hard to tell if he knew we were there, but I hope that he could and that he could feel how much we loved him. We didn't want to see him go but we didn't want him to be in anymore pain either.
The whole back of our minivan was filled with food for the reunion. Unfortunately, we got a little lost on the way and couldn't seem to find the turn off. There was no cell reception out there so we couldn't call anyone for directions. We finally figured out that the one we kept passing and saying, "It looks like that one but it's a different one" actually was the right turn off. We made it up there with all perishable food surviving.

     Like I said, there was no cell reception so there was no way to keep tabs with Daren's mom to see how Grandpa was doing. There was a phone up there but it was easier to call out than for someone to call in, since we would have to be near it to answer. The next morning, Jena hiked over to the phone to call her mom and see how Grandpa was doing. She got the news that he had passed away the night before and came back to tell us all. It was a sad moment but we were glad to all be with each other. Daren's mom had some things to take care of before she could come up with us, so she came later that afternoon. The funeral was scheduled for the following Thursday so we decided to leave Ragged Mountain on Tuesday. Mark and Dalyne left on Sunday so that Mark could put in a few days of work. That way their family could come back for the funeral on Thursday.
     It was a very emotional time but it was a nice to be all together. And we did manage to enjoy the beauty of Ragged Mountain while we were there.
     Sunday was Pioneer Day, July 24th, so the kids all dressed up like pioneers and went on a special mini pioneer trek. Someone went ahead and posted signs along the trail of different things that sometimes happened to the pioneers. The kids found these huge dandelion-like flowers. They call them "blowy flowers." They had a great time picking them and blowing the seeds all over the place. At one stop along the way, our little pioneers had to face some fierce Indians. Caleb had a good time playing the part of the Indian. :)

It was SO hard to keep Nathan out of this woodburning stove! We weren't burning anything but it was pretty dirty.

The pioneer company heads out!

Oh no!! A savage Indian! (Caleb Fleming)

Kelsey found a blowy flower!

Mackenzie found one too!

Cute pioneer girl Natalee!

Nate got to make the hike in comfort on Daddy's back.

Haylee got a flower AND some shade!

What a surprise to see Kelsey and Diana together. :)

The girls decided Nathan should get a blowy flower too.

Kelsey looks look even more like a pioneer with a bonnet.

I guess our hike went into naptime.

Julene did a great job planning different activities for our trip. The day after pioneer day was super hero day! The kids all wore capes made out of scraps of fabric and competed in different contests. Mackenzie won the superhero prize which absolutely thrilled her. She's not a fan of losing and she LOVES winning! :)

Haylee, Mackenzie, and Grant

Haylee

Ashley chillin' in the baby backpack.

The kids answering questions as part of their superhero contest.

John and Kyla

Mackenzie and her superhero prize!

After our superhero activities, we went over to one of the Ragged Mountain lakes for some water fun. It was VERY muddy!

Kelsey wasted no time getting muddy! I ended up just throwing her shorts away.

Mackenzie

Natalee and Caleb in the canoe.

Nate getting some snuggle time with Grandma.

Daren and Haylee walked around to the other side of the lake hoping for some better fishing.

The next day was "Halloween Day." The kids dug into the scraps of fabric again to make their own costumes. Natalee, of course, figured out how to be a cowgirl. I'm not 100% sure what we decided to call Haylee's and Mackenzie's costumes but they were happy with what they figured out. I think Haylee might have been a Muslim girl and Mackenzie a Greek girl. But that's what I get for blogging about events much too long after they actually happened.