our last week back home

We really feel like we have two homes. Now we're in Rexburg, home #2... or #1? whatev Dave & Jessica came and helped us leave Seattle with a bang. I already had some of the packing done and Evan had caught up on some freelance work, so we could focus on just having fun!! They came Thursday night or early Friday morning, whichever you prefer. A couple of days into the trip Jessica, 9 months pregnant, said, "You know I was thinking, what if I had gone into labor in the middle of the night while driving through Montana?" Yes, that could have happened! Luckily it didn't happen, but we are still excited and waiting to meet little Penelope Nieman. Man Jessica is an amazing pregnant lady! She never slowed us down, which we would have been fine with, especially with a little one of our own in tow. We saw the sights. Then they left Monday afternoon ready to hit the road with a belly full of Dicks burgers & fries (aside from other occupants in Jessica's belly). Here are some of the sights we saw. This is a long entry, but I couldn't cut any out -- it was just so much fun, and I'm really impressed with these pictures.

DAY ONE


beautiful Deception Pass

that's dave on the beach below the pass

ferry ride back from Whidbey Island

The Crab Pot with Nina Christian & Sarah

DAY TWO


los Nieman and fish at Pike Place



Nina tired by the end of the market

can you believe Evan took this close up? flowers in a bouquet






at the conservatory at Volunteer Park, capital hill

awww








I spaced Jaq's stunning photos (above) from the rest, they deserve a place of their own :)



Nina & Aunt Jaqui, the Honey Hole (for any seattle-goers, it's on capital hill on pike, BEST sandwich shop)

Evan took this one too, in the conservatory
What does a pregnant lady want at the space needle? a chocolate covered frozen banana

DAY THREE - easter breakfast at my parent's, church, nacho easter dinner & Bryce's birthday dinner at the MacDonalds.

So we really packed it in, not to mention a trip to the outlets at Marysville, an Imax at the science center (albatroz and sea lions have never been so interesting to me, really!) a Colonies show (Evan Nina & I opted out cuz it had been a long day), and visiting Dave's old high school friend Amber. It was Jessica's first time in Seattle and yes, it rained. There are a couple of videos that hopefully I'll get around to posting too. We're so glad that we could also hang out with Sarah & Evan & the Shumates again before we left.

Last but not least, my favorite picture of the weekend, from the conservatory:

Nina rolled yesterday!

Joe saw it happen. We were around the corner in the kitchen. She was on her play mat that Cassy gave her. I was so proud of her!!! So we took a lot of pictures of her on her belly. She also learned last week how to grab things andd play with them while on her belly:

Perfect brightness of hope

Evan and I both really were moved by this talk given by Elder Holland at General Conference a couple of weeks ago. This is an exerpt from that talk. It was just in time for Easter but is important all year long. I hope that it touches your heart the way it did ours.