Shana

In the month of August, just before Hiro turned 7 months old, we traveled as a family to Wallowa Lake near Joseph, Oregon. We went with two people we consider family, David and Alexus Davis. We went to say "good-bye" to Shana Davis, our dear friend that passed away just before Hiro was born. Shana was instrumental to us establishing our family in Tualatin. Erin and Shana as a team together everyday when Erin was a teacher, and Shana and David were also their small group leaders at church. She was, without a doubt, our closest friend in Tualatin. We miss her everyday.

The journey was quite an adventure. The drive is about 6-7 hours. Hiro did great in the car, thanks to the "singing mirror" a gift from cousin Joy, Pramode, and baby Asher (thank you VERY much). We stayed at the lodge, then woke up the next morning to take the long horse ride up to Aneroid lake, were Shana requested some of her ashes be laid. From the time she was adopted as a young girl, Shana spent every summer and winter with her sisters and parents at Wallowa Lake. It is a BEAUTIFUL area, someplace I can see going back to camp on a regularly basis. Maybe we have a family tradition started?

Hiro was too little to ride a horse, and double riding is not allowed. So instead, Hiro hiked on Daddy's back. Shana's sister is VERY allergic to horses, so the rest of the family decided to take the tram up to the top of another mountain, then try to hike across a few mountains and down into aneroid lake to meet us. That was the plan anyway, and some inexperienced people told them they thought it could be hiked in a few hours. Turns out it's an 8 hour hike for experienced hikers...and did I mention Shana's sisters and her kids, plus her parents were doing the hike??? The age range of hikers was 4 years old (besides Hiro) to 68 years old. Needless to say, they did not make it. It was just me, David and Lexi on horse back that made it to Aneroid Lake.

The Lodge. We stayed in a cute cabin behind the lodge. I want to return for family vacations in the future.

Lexi before we start our adventure. The horses are ready to go.

Oh, the small town charm!

On the long path up to the mountain lake.

About 1/4 of the way up...a view of Wallowa lake from above.

Alexus and David

A mini lake on the way up.
Mountain Meadow
The way Nat and the rest of the crew was trying to get to Aneroid Lake. Stunning, but not easy to pass.
Dave and Lexi on their rides.
Aneroid Lake. We finally made it, 3 hours to get there.

All around Aneroid lake there were there delicate purple butterflies. There were SO many of them. I have never seen a purple butterfly before. Purple was Shana's favorite color.

The little dock.

Picking up rocks to remeber this place by.



Then it was back down the mountain. My hind end has NEVER been so sore! 6 hours is WAY too long to be on a horse. Of coarse, it was all worth it. I might even do it again someday. Back down at the lodge, we washed the baby and went out to eat with the whole Shana clan. It was a good time of fellowship with people that are very dear to me because of Shana. The next day, we all relaxed on Aunt Michelle and Uncle Larry's boat. It was a nice break from ordinary life. The lake really is a wonderful place.


Back in a sink, what fun!


While we were there, Hiro discovered STRAWS! He kept himself entertained for a long time with just one plain straw. In this picture, Hiro is giggling uncontrollably over a straw being in Mommy's mouth.