First Hike of 2021

Happy, happy day!! Last Saturday was the official kick-off for the 2021 Fox family hiking season.  It was absolute perfection.  I've been thinking about it ever since and am anxiously awaiting our next opportunity to take to the hills.  Darn these children and their busy schedules!  Kidding.  I love these children and their busy schedules, but I am looking forward to when we get out in nature all together again. 

The visor club.  Our hike ended up being about 4 miles and that little Greta did it!  She complained a little as we got toward the top, but she did it.  And Peter was basically running up the mountain-- broken arm notwithstanding.  It was a far cry from a couple years ago.

One of my all-time favorite pictures of Abe.  It felt so, so good to be out in the fresh air and sunshine.  

This picture is pretty great too:)  I guess Greta didn't hike the entire way by herself, but most of the time anyway.

Part of the lizard catching team. 

My favorite picture of Greta and I.  I love this picture because I feel it's a good representation of parenting.  I'm bigger, and a little ahead of her, holding her hand and encouraging her.  But we're on the trail together, both trying to make our way to the top.  We have the same goal-- climbing higher together.  

My happy place with my happy person.

Success for the lizard catching team!

Heartbreak when Greta learned the lizard was not to be her ow personal lizard.

I want to be there again.

I've been looking forward to putting up this blog post so that I can relive it.  It really was glorious.

Someone caught her a lizard afterall.

What a cute moment.

My favorite view.

George and Greta.

 

The RMs Return to Texas

ABE HERE:  Elinor and I joined Clark & Alexa on a wonderful Return to Texas - to their Missions.  Alexa served in the Texas Fort Worth Mission and Clark served in the Texas Dallas Mission.  We flew in together on a Saturday morning and spent the next 4 days touring the Dallas-Forth Worth area with them.  They would spend another 4 days together going further east into areas Clark served in Oklahoma, Arkansas & Louisiana.  I'll only be posting pics of the time the 4 of us spent together in the DFW area.

After landing we were quite hungry and immediately wanted Raising Cane's......and it did not disappoint!  Texas Deliciousness!

Then it was out to the Fort Worth Stockyards!  A wonderful homage to all things Cowboy.

Visiting a wonderful lady named Grace, one of the former Sis. Minson's converts in Decatur, TX.

Went to an AWESOME Scratch Kitchen Restaurant in Denton, TX called Cheddar's!! 

Bucee's - a True Texas PHENOMENON !!!  If you know.......you know!!!! Largest, as in HUGE, and cleanest Gas station Bathrooms you've EVER seen.

Church in Irving Texas was excellent.

AWESOME Tacos at Torchies!

Visiting a wonderful family in Denton, TX, the Walkers!

Alexa lived in an apartment above a large barn......with horses outside.

And then an excellent missionary filled dinner back down in Irving, TX.

One of the absolute highlights was an evening with President & Sister Chapman of the Fort Worth Mission - Alexa's Mission President & Mission Mom wrapping up their 3 year call!! It was a meeting filled with love & testimony!

Monday morning we began with a visit to the Dallas Texas Temple!

Sushi Love in Frisco, TX for Lunch! A favorite Missionary hangout during Clark's time in the area.

We drove through but did not stop in some of the sketchier areas of East Dallas that Clark served.

The JFK Assassination site in Dallas.

We stopped at the Oak Cliff Church building in South Dallas which was and IS still a main spot for missionaries to congregate on Monday-P-Days.  Upon meeting the former Elder Fox......this Elder said, "FOX......You're A Legend"!!!

Clark then introduced us to the secret Underground Lair below this former "Cup Factory"-Turned Church building!

We went to Cavender's Boots......to take in the Amazing Selection!

Then it was up, up, up into The Reunion Tower (think Space Needle) in Downtown Dallas.

Alexa looking West as the Sun sets.....toward the the Fort Worth Mission.

Then one of the Sweetest experiences of the entire trip.....a dinner with the Gonzalez family.  Delicioso Street Tacos and many stories.  I was so proud of Elinor who was not very interested in this dinner appointment, but she persevered and in the end loved talking Pharmacy School with their daughter and quite enjoyed the very authentic Tacos.....as much as we all did!

Tuesday was Elinor and I's last day with these 2 incredible Returned Missionaries!  Visiting friends in Greenville, TX was wonderful.

We all bought Matching Bucee's Shirts!!  And you can't just go once to this Magical Place!!

Our final dinner together was at a fantastic down-home, award-winning BBQ joint in Plano, TX.  ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TASTINESS !!!!

Els and I flew home Tuesday evening quite exhausted.  On a side note, after boarding the first plane we waited & waited and then the Pilot let us know there was a mechanical problem.  Fortunately there was another plane we could switch to.  In the end we made it home safe & sound.  Our trip was EVERYTHING I had hoped it would be.  Els & I had a blast experiencing a touch of what had been the former LIVES of Elder Fox & Sister Minson......now Husband & Wife!!  Thank you Alexa & Clark for your Service, for your Example, for your incredible Love of these wonderful souls you meant so much to........Well Done Thou Good and Faithful Servants!

Stepping Back in Time

 

Abe took the kiddos on an outing Friday evening while Elinor and I stayed home to work on some projects she has coming up.  It was a win-win for everyone.

They went to the Museum of Natural Curiosity at Thanksgiving Point.

We have had a really nice couple of weeks off from our our various activities.  I think everyone is feeling refreshed and ready to take on regular life again.  Over the next month we have A LOT happening with the Miss Riverton Competition-- Bethany giving away the crown ad Elinor competing, Bethany going to the temple and a mission farewell, and Elinor and I taking a quick senior trip to California.  It's going to be life in fast-motion for the rest of the school year.  It will all work out, and I am glad we've had a little breather.

Greta had her very first violin lesson this week!!  She was so excited and I'm excited for her.  I am well aware of what such an undertaking involves on my part at this age.  It is a big commitment, and I also know the pay off of the investment.  So here we go again!

It is a little surreal to be doing this with Greta, who looks and acts so much like Bethany.  It's like stepping back in time about 15 years.