Natalee's Birthday

(photo by EB)

Natalee, our sweet baby girl, turned 12 last month. Her birthday fell during our spring break. Her present was plane tickets to spend a few days with Aunt Jill and Uncle Larry up at Ensign Ranch. She had been talking about it since last summer, when Aunt Jill first suggested it. It's funny, I wasn't worried about putting her on a plane by herself until the plane lifted off the runway - then it hit me - a little too late.

Here are a few pictures she took at the ranch, looking very different in early spring from when we normally see it in the summer. Natalee has a really different perception of nature and animals and I love seeing things throug her eyes.

Here is a herd of elk on the property.

Elana was able to meet them in Seattle and together, she and Jill took Natalee to experience Pike's Place Market. Here she found a neat little hand-made hair ornament. Isn't she beautiful?! She was "given" a horse, Zach, to walk with and spend time with all week.

Here's Zach: she'd have brought him home if he could fit in her pocket.

The beaver's had been out if force and showed her their work:

And the rope swing over the lake is still there and waiting for it's summer visitors.

Upon her arrival home, Natalee was welcomed into young women's with a "heart attack" on our front lawn from the Beehives (the 12 and 13 yr old girls group). She is really enjoying church much more now, especially the weekly activities.