tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389616086862552472024-02-20T05:39:45.665-09:00Alaska Adventures with the Johnsons!A small glimpse into Alaska life for the Johnson family, their unsuspecting friends and their 2 cats. Enter at your own risk.AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-45975517927716257242011-08-15T09:01:00.000-08:002011-08-15T09:02:01.840-08:00AZ Johnsons Take AK<div style="text-align: left;">I'm so behind... but here I am, nonetheless. So we had 2 big visits from siblings and their fams this summer... the post above chronicles my brother's visit. Our second sibling visit was from Clayton's brother and family. I'd like to start this blog post by thanking God for the lovely weather he sent to Alaska for the AZ Johnson's visit. Last summer, we had rain pretty much every day. THIS summer, we had sun pretty much the ENTIRE time except for one day in Homer and one day in Anchorage. 14 days of sun out of 16. You CANNOT beat that in July, folks. (in all, this has been a GREAT summer weather-wise, for sure)</div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Editor's Note: I ought to be ashamed about the lack of good pictures from all our summer visitors this year.. I'm telling myself that since this was the AZ Johnson's second visit, I was less diligent with the camera... Don't spoil that for me, it's working. I seemed to get good pics of the kids but there is a severe lack of group shots this time around. Will work on that next summer for ALL of our visitors.</span></div><div>
<br /></div><div>So how did we spend our second annual AZ Johnson visit? First answer: OUTSIDE, baby, outside! The weather was so much more cooperative this time around so we did, we went outdoors (and sometimes in shorts and sometimes without rain jackets!). One of the days that Clayton worked, we took the kids to a campsite at Eagle River Campground.. that is about 5 minutes from home but it feels like several hours removed. We built a fire (eventually) and the kids rode their bikes, hiked and ate their way through the afternoon. It was a really fun day. Some of the highlights were the kids finding a moose across the river (no pictures, take it on faith)... grilling the perfect hot dog and the boys putting out the fire in a way that only little boys can (I do have pictures but you'll have to message me for them, I'm not that stupid to post them on this blog!). Suffice it to say, nothing in the world smells quite like a campfire put out by urine. NOTHING. Super disgusting!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62UXv47bDAXZaUZOJAKbb-7q6zmY08cSZHlWomUeOMTHJDve1CJgDj_8tPtNJuRIKQoGAs_AJje6iw64tLAsTa0YIpcn2w6PcnK2hX4ys5sbQK9IZsEvjlaFijjncAn9uVGWSFNAiTVs/s1600/IMG_2162.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62UXv47bDAXZaUZOJAKbb-7q6zmY08cSZHlWomUeOMTHJDve1CJgDj_8tPtNJuRIKQoGAs_AJje6iw64tLAsTa0YIpcn2w6PcnK2hX4ys5sbQK9IZsEvjlaFijjncAn9uVGWSFNAiTVs/s320/IMG_2162.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641113516028448898" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Playing with or in the fire.. it never gets old for boys, does it?? </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUO_DU6v9XxwYLz-CQqqL4A5dut9eTuAtB8Tq2P_-zb1D-IW5AvIvirI-7_Rnj0KQlYbQ2CtKSgCFK6JR1dLeehRoTzXBbpJjiytv5winB32GU5TagOLDFkBDPgGv6ehaO-K8n0Mk7QM/s1600/IMG_2173.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUO_DU6v9XxwYLz-CQqqL4A5dut9eTuAtB8Tq2P_-zb1D-IW5AvIvirI-7_Rnj0KQlYbQ2CtKSgCFK6JR1dLeehRoTzXBbpJjiytv5winB32GU5TagOLDFkBDPgGv6ehaO-K8n0Mk7QM/s320/IMG_2173.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641113506720201602" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The ONE thing we didn't bring enough of on this day trip was water... and all the water faucet things in the campground were out of order. I can't remember how exactly we solved the problem (without driving home or to the store).. I sort of think I found some water bottles in the car leftover from a previous hiking trip.. all's well that ends well as none of the kids ended up with diarrhea :)</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlTDBnvLQ6Ghr2CJakYbSAsjTkB8trO6AZouOF6AlOPuA_2HGjMqn275DVsQce8RSTglWNUngCCqYZJ6D9uZPm2bjSiBuv7tcEDr6bjcd5LNct2atgmQkiqIMa10Z4mIbsrywcqcMF9A/s320/IMG_2170.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641116808194919106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">This is Evie wearing the shark bike helmet, always a hit with kids.. this is also one of the last days that Evie got to be called by her Christian name. Our neighbor Ryan thought everyone was calling Evie "Debbie".. it stuck. Evie's Alaska name is heretofore Debbie or Deb. However you are moved. And the sad thing is, she answers to it!! Hilarity at the expense of an innocent child. It was also around this time that Troy was rechristened as Roy. Same circumstances. Too funny!! What goes around comes around, however.. Loges decided to rename Ryan's mom Christy "Crispy".</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ntmu98vJAtzW3vbAHtKw8eUadjUrhOm0mdEvgnTraS3u60Vj5Pl15EquGavvN5KL9d7ExWgQ4xfYGzTHhV_j8RQP3OA7nYipiTJOVNA9tyJOIDrmwtt5gB5Aal2PtQ_ALz1v8ZGEhiU/s1600/IMG_2179.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ntmu98vJAtzW3vbAHtKw8eUadjUrhOm0mdEvgnTraS3u60Vj5Pl15EquGavvN5KL9d7ExWgQ4xfYGzTHhV_j8RQP3OA7nYipiTJOVNA9tyJOIDrmwtt5gB5Aal2PtQ_ALz1v8ZGEhiU/s320/IMG_2179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641113503707744258" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Our biggest adventure on this trip was a 3 dayer down to Homer. We rented a fabulous house overlooking the bay. It had plenty of actual beds, an enormous yard and an awesomely stocked kitchen. The boys (adult ones) went on an overnight halibut charter with the benefit being 4 halibut coming home versus 2. This is a pic of the kids on the beach at Homer.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCdYb44xtUur0zT44SvUkJZr-sba3aRRBFANUrVLGhdOnEBctQo0jECYNYK5lqeVRmz2Uzb73e0aeVion1vKHdr8m9k-2fupm3LCih0Z1hoLgS-FpRRwpOzTNATYossnOUVPMbLbXqF0/s1600/IMG_2197.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCdYb44xtUur0zT44SvUkJZr-sba3aRRBFANUrVLGhdOnEBctQo0jECYNYK5lqeVRmz2Uzb73e0aeVion1vKHdr8m9k-2fupm3LCih0Z1hoLgS-FpRRwpOzTNATYossnOUVPMbLbXqF0/s320/IMG_2197.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641113497843031810" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">On the docks, sending the men off on their fishing adventure.. You want to make a bunch of adults sweat?? Let 6+ kids run wild on a dock.. Seriously. I kept saying "They'll roll to a float if they go in. I promise!!" It helped not at all. And for the record, no one fell in. But if they had, they'd have been a-ok.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUVIp6jiiuWh5V0AVVn16iqwQwzCiOWqYVJUfw78KpomI4KX8eJrRHWwzbigkey_QRY8uetpz-nlnOTPwDdl-mImmpBSjzWkHBxNpFu43GCd8Mw__5MAR4hoVE13Jxi6pZ4p9ItZ0A7k/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUVIp6jiiuWh5V0AVVn16iqwQwzCiOWqYVJUfw78KpomI4KX8eJrRHWwzbigkey_QRY8uetpz-nlnOTPwDdl-mImmpBSjzWkHBxNpFu43GCd8Mw__5MAR4hoVE13Jxi6pZ4p9ItZ0A7k/s320/IMG_2204.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641112591476487410" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">All the guys boarding the boat. A few coasties, a few reserve pilots and some granddads. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLhxEcxbR-mEIDvNrbc92HMCfg2TtMg2oIYTA3afDKput4xPqGZUBLbwTa0iZu31AhFJWBndpxruLhf2qaNFi6sbgIXogzM8HUtCGzRFu0i5uZ-iQpeLi165a-yZClOYxgeIrytQ_Mzw/s1600/IMG_2213.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLhxEcxbR-mEIDvNrbc92HMCfg2TtMg2oIYTA3afDKput4xPqGZUBLbwTa0iZu31AhFJWBndpxruLhf2qaNFi6sbgIXogzM8HUtCGzRFu0i5uZ-iQpeLi165a-yZClOYxgeIrytQ_Mzw/s320/IMG_2213.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641112587703506514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The white boat is the dads' fishing boat heading out to open waters (I guess).. it was cool for the kids to see them head out.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTX0rX7_WPYDwttxj6jVssUQ2EG04CoNdm3YExhcptOycmkQXF6cdj5YYapbL7Vn1udWs4MyFpewQDArdyNYUywQGtFI891PDyhIFgLE3qfhF5VTHq09CMRFDdnhxysPj9ERweSaFttI/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTX0rX7_WPYDwttxj6jVssUQ2EG04CoNdm3YExhcptOycmkQXF6cdj5YYapbL7Vn1udWs4MyFpewQDArdyNYUywQGtFI891PDyhIFgLE3qfhF5VTHq09CMRFDdnhxysPj9ERweSaFttI/s320/IMG_2219.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641112583657173570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">So what does one do with a huge rental house in Homer?? You invite all your friends over for a fish fry! We made the most tasty fish tacos ever. I suppose it doesn't hurt to fry halibut that had been swimming peacefully in the ocean with its friends 12 hours earlier.. I think we had 25+ people in the house for dinner that night. It was so much fun!! This picture was probably taken about 10:00 pm, don't be deceived by the sunlight.. summer in AK and all! We managed to convince the Feuchts to stay and play Nerts. Too much fun. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDdXjyWXGbwab6baCig_3faI0BhIm8gmZUUOL5ruondLbtYZw1WJGVADSKsVY1Rzf_yCK0NSqfcW-IULCVzC1AkqnSx1TpuBQ9GieHIoybpaeb81GOBpKC3rUJ3iEykv5ZrXu70SXxd4/s1600/IMG_2226.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDdXjyWXGbwab6baCig_3faI0BhIm8gmZUUOL5ruondLbtYZw1WJGVADSKsVY1Rzf_yCK0NSqfcW-IULCVzC1AkqnSx1TpuBQ9GieHIoybpaeb81GOBpKC3rUJ3iEykv5ZrXu70SXxd4/s320/IMG_2226.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641112572156696386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">So how do you top an awesome trip to Homer?? Besides stopping at the DQ in Soldotna for the world's best blizzards?? (side note, the DQ burned to the ground that night.. how horrible for EVERYONE!!!! Hope they rebuild and carry on with their awesome blizzard making) You top off an awesome trip by totaling the Alitma. For reals. The thing is, there is so much more to this story (including, but not limited to the fact that they boys and TJ stopped to fish for salmon unbeknownst to Melissa and I.. which made for a 4-5 hour lag in hearing from them once the moms arrived home in Eagle River.. and no cell service.. suffice it to say, the imaginations tend to get a little wild!). Fortunately, it wasn't Clayton's fault. Some TOURIST in a rented truck/camper BACKED UP on the Seward highway, right into the Altima. The only mammal harmed was the Altima which was promptly totaled out by USAA. As you can tell from the picture (taken at nearly midnight), the hood flew up whilst driving home. MacGuyver and brother did what they could with fishing line to tie it down. Looked a lot like Tommy Boy minus the deer in the backseat. UGH!!! Oh, and if you're wondering, no salmon were harmed on this outing..</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUENxTZaP1ICQtVPIZQ68ZFxWlAPAiHZkRol4DzQdx9QzNv1Wi4P2uTsjQjKPJNs2XqQIQmwBs7rf51yDpbLBZDvYpoqdrrO38CTmZzmxVAIgIpA_hqEJeu-7CVXoRrKUHC4pMLCw7Ok/s1600/IMG_2234.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUENxTZaP1ICQtVPIZQ68ZFxWlAPAiHZkRol4DzQdx9QzNv1Wi4P2uTsjQjKPJNs2XqQIQmwBs7rf51yDpbLBZDvYpoqdrrO38CTmZzmxVAIgIpA_hqEJeu-7CVXoRrKUHC4pMLCw7Ok/s320/IMG_2234.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641112570878299634" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A mega hike up the North Face at Alyeska... my absolute #1 choice of hikes in our area by a long shot. This is BEFORE :)</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFS_4WPUQBj_nwmlwbQDZY6GGEukL9XFnu0ImBsGvu_H8FSQnmwnllpWIioz0bi1veCVCilqRUtn92Wl9loB-a2LJw3jhoMG55I2hbvt-6VcLHhiso9sToSQW-M9mOENRlmFmRRBYJNk/s1600/IMG_2240.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFS_4WPUQBj_nwmlwbQDZY6GGEukL9XFnu0ImBsGvu_H8FSQnmwnllpWIioz0bi1veCVCilqRUtn92Wl9loB-a2LJw3jhoMG55I2hbvt-6VcLHhiso9sToSQW-M9mOENRlmFmRRBYJNk/s320/IMG_2240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641111802572335394" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Almost to the top... all the kids. It was an incredibly beautiful day!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3tME-1OhWn9SLAWsxFfY9mXpfDyot3xGWbV7FTjTxhK3qceVbV7pt_O0Aj3saHzn-33-2MSy21O_fKI3uuDkLD0L7DhL7odvCY81DHaQ34aF8tYPUhZdMwoPQfq6-wMI5YsUsPbaQs0/s1600/IMG_2258.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3tME-1OhWn9SLAWsxFfY9mXpfDyot3xGWbV7FTjTxhK3qceVbV7pt_O0Aj3saHzn-33-2MSy21O_fKI3uuDkLD0L7DhL7odvCY81DHaQ34aF8tYPUhZdMwoPQfq6-wMI5YsUsPbaQs0/s320/IMG_2258.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641111796052328914" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The one and only picture of Melissa and I. We were WORKING HARD!! </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7nB11B9r3zbhqnYgsPaX2QdFk43-86D9LpBBHYA3Utwwbid4vpY4VTC2SiSF1Ga0dbdNmEUcDGju0iUB7VY-akuZ3_YoMT14F-u-G3i8BxrK4lMlc6ruYc4Yp_2MCRVmb5yuG90oybo/s1600/IMG_2264.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7nB11B9r3zbhqnYgsPaX2QdFk43-86D9LpBBHYA3Utwwbid4vpY4VTC2SiSF1Ga0dbdNmEUcDGju0iUB7VY-akuZ3_YoMT14F-u-G3i8BxrK4lMlc6ruYc4Yp_2MCRVmb5yuG90oybo/s320/IMG_2264.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641111797297544338" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The kids and I at the top of the tram.. you hike up and ride the tram down (for free). This is what our ski runs look like in the summer. So strange!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-YL8d4ATpnj_vrrEP1A1bGoGmay1FbqCwFb9eACr19g_0DZbebyojtnG68qX3H47YAZ-wcKZhMCySPT4_du-zMC8kAcphI962vLT-hhv6chyONoTwbqRInAMOazxQcreCQQrZGm09R8/s1600/IMG_2281.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-YL8d4ATpnj_vrrEP1A1bGoGmay1FbqCwFb9eACr19g_0DZbebyojtnG68qX3H47YAZ-wcKZhMCySPT4_du-zMC8kAcphI962vLT-hhv6chyONoTwbqRInAMOazxQcreCQQrZGm09R8/s320/IMG_2281.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641111792839623874" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The brothers.. the ONLY picture on my camera of them together..</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pooFvKWrCXoEWjoF1MBvEbolxyNu3kbe61DfY2O9TdSe5OPDb4zFHpjt8ipCpi-vwjhKs8uYt_YIJcQaZ5ZvqTc0xgVFez12vta8QxSpsJIDulqLR4tjm7J9j23XLs3zlDKWcS2dNpQ/s1600/IMG_2300.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pooFvKWrCXoEWjoF1MBvEbolxyNu3kbe61DfY2O9TdSe5OPDb4zFHpjt8ipCpi-vwjhKs8uYt_YIJcQaZ5ZvqTc0xgVFez12vta8QxSpsJIDulqLR4tjm7J9j23XLs3zlDKWcS2dNpQ/s320/IMG_2300.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641111789170452722" /></a>So that's it for pictures.. but not the memories!! Some things you don't see on film... Melissa and I conquering Super Mario Brothers (well, it was all her.. I was in a friggin' bubble); ten people buckling into a 9-buckle Tahoe; empty bottles of champagne; countless candy/cookie/brownie treats consumed; hysterical laughing at 1:00 in the morning; an impromptu 4th of July celebration at our house; wild cheering Kara on to her first goal in soccer.. then Melissa and Clayton getting trash-talked by the other team's coach for being too close to the goalie (Kara) during game-play; thousands (literally) of legos spread over the top floor of our house and the hours of entertainment they provided... It was another great trip. Again, we thank Roy and Melissa for dragging their family up here. We love you!!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>To Eli, I say this: Thank you for sleeping in Kara's room. I LOVE the sweet relationship you guys have. I hope it stays like that for a long time. I love listening to you school the younger boys on life and legos. Thanks, too, for endlessly entertaining me on our hike as we came up with synonyms galore. I will never forget that :)<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWaLt6UIRHcVj53eSUx_TZ7RQdm5eLej5_QnkkvyPbWmNB3ZKIRietjoe_pYXOtZhfignJOzugeGtBTqWxltBrWuAZ0ua565pp8mEGQ-0TchOe70M_P5h3ja3sCI9Ik0JiE0B8oyZsgQ/s320/IMG_2195.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641113512532767602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">TJ: Your quiet sweetness with Clay warms my heart.. You guys look alike to me with your big brown eyes. I also love watching you and Kara forge a new relationship the last few visits as well. Hug Jojo for me!!! The real Jojo would like to come live at your house.. can we work on that??</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6g-OEwg7Z3cpfze4hrD3prDx20kwgGGMw8Q6JaqcL1v7czN0KIkjfpDLsQqg6Xd08jXxrbAbXbV3smtbJLXcnUVT5GMrEJRkMSoosxe4w45gAOrj2QmxGEw2n9L0aDXWLxdrcdy2Byw/s320/IMG_2244.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641125294593847618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh Logey.. you make me laugh (you and Grayson together ruin my bladder control all together). I love your smelly shee blankets! Thanks for going shopping with me even though it didn't work out quite as well for you as you'd hoped :) I'm sorry in advance for never letting go of Bushee stories.. not even when you're married. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixTG0wpFjJ4RMN56UJFDUSde5SkPGlMF9v1mbhWcEp2nudwpRcFbXjKQ2Pw05JCchMFzXuMTsYylyL0otCQlJWRqhkWcPa2hRm5Mnr_JVH_07FjspU-1hU6jpTIF7g3khzPXu1nGq-kk/s320/IMG_2239.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641126772279190002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">To my only niece Debbie.. As for your name change, well, blame Ryan.. it's just so FUNNY! I love how girlie you are.. but at the same time, you will be able to take any of these boys in another 6 months to a year (if not sooner). I'm sorry you spent so much of your time in Alaska in our guest closet but you really did look tired!!!!! Maybe next year you will be able to hike on your own two feet? Then again, maybe not...</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDc_kgSpGZ4Kf2x7DLILPAd7_nBgu5dB_jXZxnqE7y9VYilGtmLXMlyjNNjURqZv9imRzSfwrTJWwAjixjNjIv-HXhRyckeSnU0E0k2ecuMqf7b3UAPJ0WTUoOigkv5IHaPxAR6uvGjPQ/s320/IMG_2237.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641126776687384610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">
<br /></span></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-23137417152778833242011-07-27T09:06:00.002-08:002011-07-27T09:47:18.510-08:00Summer FUN! Fillemans Vist!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzGdIO_L3RH5bXxfLrEBdZFfCuZoRAKj5LM804WTnCtA5N0ec_LvK3E4M8z4D5nXHIm1j50glp9JEIOwEphRlq9VFsCzk2Qvy7H9jboSSsPhfgH0mYiZXZAedDCOfcAs4i9uxbb1EM8M/s320/IMG_2102.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633031877202411090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Well, we're winding down our summer... it's going WAY TOO FAST! We've had visitors and then, between visits, the kids and I have stayed very busy going and doing. It's been (thus far) a great summer. I'm not ready for the kids to head back to school in less than a month.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our first visitors this summer, all the way back at the end of May were the Fillemans of Chandler, Arizona. My brother and his family made their maiden voyage to visit us in what was a fairly sunny, warmish Alaska! They were here for about 10 days so you KNOW we packed in the fun stuff. We celebrated my brother's birthday, Kara's start of soccer, Clay's birthday, went to Seward, biked like mad and the kids/dad camped a night in the wilderness. I felt like I did a good job photographing while they were here, but as it turns out, I did a horrible job. </div><div><br /></div><div>And yet another thing I'm doing a horrible job at: BLOG POSTING! So, in an effort to get this post online, I'm going to just post pictures in no particular order... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzGdIO_L3RH5bXxfLrEBdZFfCuZoRAKj5LM804WTnCtA5N0ec_LvK3E4M8z4D5nXHIm1j50glp9JEIOwEphRlq9VFsCzk2Qvy7H9jboSSsPhfgH0mYiZXZAedDCOfcAs4i9uxbb1EM8M/s1600/IMG_2102.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}">I</a> think one thing people expect when they come to AK is animal viewing. Normally, we see animals all the time unless you are visiting us. I don't know why that is!! But sometimes we get lucky. As in our drive home from Seward (or maybe it was to Seward). Anyhow, we were cruising down the highway and there was this little guy. I pulled a uey in the middle of the road and we went back around. Moose are everywhere!!! </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs00TKKw0AF5QFUtHOPVkTXKZoKu98Cu5FOzobLqmVwbMGibfnvIq91GlUEHGggxoGFDMSDzBoszvqysOI1CPpyrI1wp2PQnUT-MaAyGn2eOGYZ__QF7arIBLBUR3fzVnadXuFuAmK7cE/s1600/IMG_2096.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs00TKKw0AF5QFUtHOPVkTXKZoKu98Cu5FOzobLqmVwbMGibfnvIq91GlUEHGggxoGFDMSDzBoszvqysOI1CPpyrI1wp2PQnUT-MaAyGn2eOGYZ__QF7arIBLBUR3fzVnadXuFuAmK7cE/s320/IMG_2096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633031870501005858" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We also got to see a bunch of salmon in one of their sanctuary areas... no salmon were killed or injured on this trip (sadly). Although Michelle did get to enjoy fresh Copper River kings on several restaurant outings and she's a convert to AK salmon. I'm sorry kids, but even if the menu says it's fresh, wild caught Alaska salmon, assume they're lying (unless you've confirmed an overnight flight in of fish, and it's in the SUMMER). I hated salmon until we moved here and I'm officially a convert. Reds are my favorite. I digress...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH0l3Sl8TWGrr9JIDFSWaZbwAWyKlXpoqnt6A4oVK4hZSEvsiCmFW7He_OEIQtVW0_Ib8GEKa8MymAS-n3ni6Hz2ZRrraGXdwvm9m6ik7RdabhyphenhyphensvIbljQMYm2VlXhn2cYcaIXKxuVDI/s1600/IMG_2093.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH0l3Sl8TWGrr9JIDFSWaZbwAWyKlXpoqnt6A4oVK4hZSEvsiCmFW7He_OEIQtVW0_Ib8GEKa8MymAS-n3ni6Hz2ZRrraGXdwvm9m6ik7RdabhyphenhyphensvIbljQMYm2VlXhn2cYcaIXKxuVDI/s320/IMG_2093.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633031868382391042" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Believe it or not, there were TONS of salmon jumping into this waterfall. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2IyxkxLW6oTx20jGbtUh7j_RBQON510QY5jNH2NQXjU7TlGL0IwYw1cE55eUd0uc741RfMDgGXphjia24oxnkkGQHzGSRWpsRo9vJ5_ZCEZ55ypGn9q6iXR6xSKAbq9YVPDAOsyAlkQ/s1600/IMG_2089.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2IyxkxLW6oTx20jGbtUh7j_RBQON510QY5jNH2NQXjU7TlGL0IwYw1cE55eUd0uc741RfMDgGXphjia24oxnkkGQHzGSRWpsRo9vJ5_ZCEZ55ypGn9q6iXR6xSKAbq9YVPDAOsyAlkQ/s320/IMG_2089.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633031862433470850" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My weird kids waiting in the lobby for their cousins in Seward.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhU6gCNgaflB8h9OjV9WM_fh4m0JhGZLTxfhMN7iknXnWOxL8U7oMTIP6G0MshjPKoc5QR4UVMxsjTi-rGQPJfuBTJbw2TR1UyMrIDK9HyhDWoLONrOyXEuwgxEGGXHtmQG6sdOMnSFWw/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhU6gCNgaflB8h9OjV9WM_fh4m0JhGZLTxfhMN7iknXnWOxL8U7oMTIP6G0MshjPKoc5QR4UVMxsjTi-rGQPJfuBTJbw2TR1UyMrIDK9HyhDWoLONrOyXEuwgxEGGXHtmQG6sdOMnSFWw/s320/IMG_2075.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633031860918509618" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The 4 of us in Seward. My first trip down there. It was a cute little town. I wanted to see some Orcas in the bay but all I saw were some harbor seals and sea otters (not complaining).</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HuSBoEAnUHrz4GB8sE4RrMQfdFKtzG4QReyAPkoP1ddNrNn9VVw_9aeK7qtU48wrwk7ok8jWq9hlgnjQ6b4TQxZsjaYnHLT_3Awz7gRt6XwdG8yAGwlZqPJy4UCWI_0xQtjmOSG_gdE/s1600/IMG_2049.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HuSBoEAnUHrz4GB8sE4RrMQfdFKtzG4QReyAPkoP1ddNrNn9VVw_9aeK7qtU48wrwk7ok8jWq9hlgnjQ6b4TQxZsjaYnHLT_3Awz7gRt6XwdG8yAGwlZqPJy4UCWI_0xQtjmOSG_gdE/s320/IMG_2049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633028875160902514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Kara and Parker. This girl LOVES herself some Parker Boyd. She treats him like her little assistant and I am glad he was tolerant, he will probably not enjoy her "attentions" for too much longer :) This was before they headed out on their back country back packing trip.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3UXdWPe68030iISSZ9Vo7G3NoGbArAH9QgBRt1TunjA_v9xVxaQlx8gYS9yrVBSY8gEpNfWoLpgnT5qluh-Qqya8JFXAS7m5rLLjO188ja3N67ocHhcmQYjjvWq8LtFVt1NpNMUMa6E/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3UXdWPe68030iISSZ9Vo7G3NoGbArAH9QgBRt1TunjA_v9xVxaQlx8gYS9yrVBSY8gEpNfWoLpgnT5qluh-Qqya8JFXAS7m5rLLjO188ja3N67ocHhcmQYjjvWq8LtFVt1NpNMUMa6E/s320/IMG_1973.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633028869695968178" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ice cream in Seward (see how you're getting your own "Around Alaska in 40 seconds or Less" for free!?). GB is really a hoot. I think when he got here, he wasn't feeling me at all.. However, given enough QT on car rides, in grocery carts, in bike trailers, he came around. In fact, at one point, he opted to stay home with me while Michelle went to Walmart. A true milestone! He's pretty funny.. while we were driving to Seward, when he was supposed to be "resting", he announced in a very loud voice "I DON'T LIKE SOUP". That one stuck. I'll keep it alive until he's married :)</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjwQsShJ1c8YpE-lW48ZKMIfBr7f-BaTbcPB4mJqI-I4-FsrnGjCOVWHP2fjvYehgb4hjeaP7pbmIpuGmcAphLkx53QEKgc5Aoytlnb5KUPFzMJ2_ihANZ2ChxGcq_ZY_kwlF8p2JkOE/s1600/IMG_2051.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjwQsShJ1c8YpE-lW48ZKMIfBr7f-BaTbcPB4mJqI-I4-FsrnGjCOVWHP2fjvYehgb4hjeaP7pbmIpuGmcAphLkx53QEKgc5Aoytlnb5KUPFzMJ2_ihANZ2ChxGcq_ZY_kwlF8p2JkOE/s320/IMG_2051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633028866512668562" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The big kids in Seward. I don't remember what Kara's problem was.. not very much actually grosses her out...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QMYYpPIoeSotnxUEbukV_rNv74NozjyzO8_XYr2hvhWvmhh5ZLgeTOYW3YBv41oE2acfvxDI_3mQVQkEip3ImwN7_W8AnbdsqjcAYoXbQCj2-gPO_8CRLj_jphHTMToZD1kCKYSVvkc/s1600/IMG_2046.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QMYYpPIoeSotnxUEbukV_rNv74NozjyzO8_XYr2hvhWvmhh5ZLgeTOYW3YBv41oE2acfvxDI_3mQVQkEip3ImwN7_W8AnbdsqjcAYoXbQCj2-gPO_8CRLj_jphHTMToZD1kCKYSVvkc/s320/IMG_2046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633028860995302114" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Fishing at the Sea Life Center...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_-vdnCcd7Di6wKvDLFwPHe2G9KgJ1Kspk3_Eg920FiFBlt_tSwuhHjdKTZGg2xbq657cxikQ_kM19VxPkY4Dr3dmBWSWm3wieAizIJ8L-Q7ZnsL3b5F7xILRV5XEuOX9kIEK5quvZAI/s1600/IMG_2032.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_-vdnCcd7Di6wKvDLFwPHe2G9KgJ1Kspk3_Eg920FiFBlt_tSwuhHjdKTZGg2xbq657cxikQ_kM19VxPkY4Dr3dmBWSWm3wieAizIJ8L-Q7ZnsL3b5F7xILRV5XEuOX9kIEK5quvZAI/s320/IMG_2032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633028858521705922" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The touch tank at the Sea Life Center. The kids LOVED touching sea cucumbers, star fish and the like. This place is cool.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yMfBPWRSyzxbPk8IHFSjB9EAX_hiRx7BkDjNpcMMboZfXNWQVfOZFN0VCXawwt5LHPlfQJrdn_IvyuxGFaWbH8V1zNtq4uIQiWErcKgY1egrjbWaHdLAKik-Q7Ffw5FllYPJL_LjP8A/s1600/IMG_2010.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yMfBPWRSyzxbPk8IHFSjB9EAX_hiRx7BkDjNpcMMboZfXNWQVfOZFN0VCXawwt5LHPlfQJrdn_IvyuxGFaWbH8V1zNtq4uIQiWErcKgY1egrjbWaHdLAKik-Q7Ffw5FllYPJL_LjP8A/s320/IMG_2010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633027616892366210" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My brother. His second trip to AK in less than one calendar year! WOOT! I don't know if he was really feeling my taking his picture. If you know Mark, you know that he LOVES himself a camera. Almost all of his adult pictures exude a true joie de vivre! Like he is having the MOST FUN EVER and how much he LOVES having his image captured (I'm practically a professional photographer)!! Actually, I think he loathes having his picture taken. We celebrated his birthday in true AK style: sent him off into the wilderness with some freeze dried food, a whole gaggle of kids and 10 miles of hiking. Happy Birthday, come back next year when we'll do a 3 night at Eklutna!!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzf6jI1P1Fk-fBaoKaXMwXsrSM0oWOYfwLjlA9Cn_E_L0yB9cyqsx3ktr9ETlqj9_iSrCLCl0m9OaJJPzgu0GSpMIChBOffbKqvzG5hGO1zARYNsZvaR-dcgec22SNDkpP900E0KbsfrI/s1600/IMG_1976.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzf6jI1P1Fk-fBaoKaXMwXsrSM0oWOYfwLjlA9Cn_E_L0yB9cyqsx3ktr9ETlqj9_iSrCLCl0m9OaJJPzgu0GSpMIChBOffbKqvzG5hGO1zARYNsZvaR-dcgec22SNDkpP900E0KbsfrI/s320/IMG_1976.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633027609508457474" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Speaking of birthdays... the night before, we celebrated with the traditional banana spice cake a la my Gram Boyd. I love the cake, not so much the icing.. Michelle really goes out of her way to make foods that Mark likes. I could take a lesson on that... Just ask Clayton!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcn583XzWRZUmC8xZZl5C2SgRrxHxHauXVMh5OobdOIULEZfKSloaz_tNqQ-982Xng-r81Huy29r7tbFQt-OIfW1gYAUAxijDumqCshBDN2l7HZV-2zvu6fcJc1OX_rOdNUGrWZ08ghhE/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcn583XzWRZUmC8xZZl5C2SgRrxHxHauXVMh5OobdOIULEZfKSloaz_tNqQ-982Xng-r81Huy29r7tbFQt-OIfW1gYAUAxijDumqCshBDN2l7HZV-2zvu6fcJc1OX_rOdNUGrWZ08ghhE/s320/IMG_1965.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633027608621297682" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Oh GB. I was a hard-sell for you, I know.. but we will be forever bonded over our Eklutna trail ride. I will forever remind you that you don't like soup and I will also take full credit for anytime you tell someone "I. Will. Cut. You". You're crazy!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSasNf9Omfv7AQEhZpUzDca09AVOZCoiTMbMyWnPqf6p9EJYVWhZqLN-CD7luwjNO-N1NVTbzc9LxdO10qM_TjJWZMniwc5-XgLeFXMZzyKK9FHn3_xIqtF2066yUxYqPZS5yYLnA6i1Q/s320/IMG_1978.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634085732615945858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">To sweet Parker I say that I am sorry for letting Kara treat you like her assistant. She does it out of love. You are so funny and I loved how excited you got about visiting the exiled cats in the basement. If I could buy you a hairless cat as a pet, I would. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCp0ZUfKDK-tD7QS8z2dU3YEcCxTxUsjyFN4BfWrKJbDJX3yLyRoWFaFxYC_88tuPNYu5wq_C1Q4uMWaZfLgHZ1zsptZfTBdh3JEizB54RgAK93cD_CTKxzeHtT0RSaqpmd_04kBj5Hks/s320/IMG_1990.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634085726861427218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Davis is the most hilarious kid ever. He has a very refined dry sense of humor. He really says the funniest things (things that I should have written down because I don't remember them like I wish I did). He was at Kara's first soccer game where he offered to go on the field and school the girls how to play soccer "for real" (for the record, they only lost like 2 games!!). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULKSyVhOGvgdwvrIS6N7X7CoFQ3C3E1FWTwYXBq17BV-EjKk6rV3yI5f_r4j6NsM75NQCY12X-HV3-IfQyQ1wIiOAWnIznYj4xerP9SqLQ_bA2rq1tGUrJn4rvwsqIEF2hZQDaaAbM14/s320/IMG_2057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634085719590664962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">We had so much fun with the Fillemans. I can't tell you, dear readers, how much it means to us when our families visit up here. We go to AZ but our visits are lightning fast and we have a lot of ground to cover so it makes for inconsistent times with everyone. When you come to Alaska, we have (for better or worse) concentrated time to hang out and develop our relationships in really cool ways. I got to spend a ton of time with Michelle just hanging out, riding bikes (in the sun, cold and rain) and that NEVER happens in AZ!! My kids LOVE having their cousins at their house.. getting to sleep in (or not), play the Wii (or just argue), watch shows, ride bikes, hike, camp and fish with them in their normal environment. Many thanks to Mark and Michelle for coming up. I know it was a thrash and that it is expensive. We have lifetime memories from your trip. I loved having Michelle meet my friends and see how I while away my time up here. Clayton LOVED camping with Mark (and I KNOW Mark would do it again... in another life). THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for coming up. You're welcome back anytime. xoxooxox </span></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubt6AKGfzjjQJJNRVnmgVVII8gpWpOFRxT81KJiylwZmGczxIV0WF-Rgau_GgmVogl0L8Ia54gJAxibvCVv27PEFiiw-jTu1PUMBP4addaGa7FZeZ6dVC1eqbkDNIKF_3tyUwOpmrzoc/s1600/IMG_1962.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-76048848397532664302011-06-20T17:16:00.003-08:002011-06-20T17:31:37.875-08:00Happy Birthday, Clay-Clay!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z2Q1PybxxkxT8I1Sc8n5EHYl2mYv_4HSj8bd7MbYK0ZvSx3-1FMpJINj5pltbZBBs8IWWaEWtITDf-fgPUPKP2bfgcJhUdn0PhoPnKU7DWW0Y1NuY3yYZIOmI78BXKZgz4y4Up_xYLg/s1600/IMG_2154.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QmdMd2Iob9z5UiIYCCHVGPBD5waBudTIEmBnuq__jRSi84-vtLSPkTOAdXDMXgjEVdjvOyzyNFhcFfWrYwIDh1jY5cqxA3mBcxV6H9567zSgs4DBRSzUTRUjr3F-Srjd_oK81YVqyFU/s320/IMG_2133.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620478235980032866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span>Clay is 6. He was 3 when we moved to Alaska.. that means the boy has lived half of his life up here. That blows my mind. This year for Clay's birthday, his Filleman cousins were in town. He was very wishy-washy about what he wanted to do to party so, at the last minute, we decided to do a movie theatre party. We saw Kung Fu Panda 2 and partied at the theatre. It was a brilliant move on my part as there was no mess, no cleaning for me! I highly recommend movie theatre parties in case you're wondering... </div><div style="text-align: center;">The whole crew.. (where's Grayson?!)</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVtF_O7-dBYs_nzlSF0Lq_gBcKtbDNL-jTzJr7QWIk3j0dT3sxk2bfhRtufY3Mm3NsT3HdjMwP5vTDpi4pFlypCdV9PM2z3Gooh2Aez-cfoU-n8YsvAsABlmj_7W1GBlaG5xOApIOh5s/s320/IMG_2149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620478251958966546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Clay's birthday cake as specifically requested from Miss Kamdon... she's the best. The cake was AWESOME!!! And tasty.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5nZVkSMO9CzJeeRhSVNDGxjS1EEgkAn0Jr8tTzdQxUWSmxs6YAu3Ft68A1qB0BJ41atMe4PLosde1aE0pLduGB1J6sgZTO45MpKSqDhI43nWwvy9TFIh_cJvRYq7I93EPJVf_K8p2AQ/s320/IMG_2109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620478231747327618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Opening his present from his aunts and uncles... they obviously didn't ask Clayton for his permission.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qk0YHylo8P5mYoO2djkb-Ek_OoBOYZrZ297SVerh9seS-s-qqpS4E2lQeG2uCp4rJttC00xiuVdUXRegbx5_npYW2f03f859P_IQyJHXaiaPopZ7pRvP4WejdVkl2TlskIV5uzZg4yI/s320/IMG_2143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620478244561588386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">On Clay's actual birthday, we celebrated with a costco apple pie that I pretty much ruined by attempting a crumble topping. It was a quiet night at home to celebrate our quirky, extremely bright, adventurous, momma-loving son. We love you, Udes.. how is it that you're 6? We are so proud of you.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z2Q1PybxxkxT8I1Sc8n5EHYl2mYv_4HSj8bd7MbYK0ZvSx3-1FMpJINj5pltbZBBs8IWWaEWtITDf-fgPUPKP2bfgcJhUdn0PhoPnKU7DWW0Y1NuY3yYZIOmI78BXKZgz4y4Up_xYLg/s320/IMG_2154.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620478260514254178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-24157696762023028252011-06-15T08:09:00.004-08:002011-06-15T08:48:45.733-08:008 is Great!!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This year's cake creation courtesy of Kamdon.. Kara wasn't as specific on the "theme" this year.. she wanted something beachy or Hawaiian. It was a tremendous hit, as usual :)</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRv9DqV-LKnEI-bK93EJeT1y6uqfOfQhvvGyjJtoZI1SOSAhKO9hVH9Gg5yVL8uyNU8v8qcz5YnSu-gPBkJ3NPyauYUR91KjeDkC4iY-r4AbUMOo0lGJePWPvuU6gIrYfrr3fwWkmjy8/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuS2mWFQXAEaEqzZ_MGE8GEsQi0KyO1DN-ecVNurBJdDkNJC6D5ppOAqiW7-gDK80_D-OkH0p-XtjZjofDG40HXimNHRV7Pmiclvrube7GwBKebUmz90km7r78h5q9XgiKPzdzEZxBGY/s1600/IMG_1824.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuS2mWFQXAEaEqzZ_MGE8GEsQi0KyO1DN-ecVNurBJdDkNJC6D5ppOAqiW7-gDK80_D-OkH0p-XtjZjofDG40HXimNHRV7Pmiclvrube7GwBKebUmz90km7r78h5q9XgiKPzdzEZxBGY/s320/IMG_1824.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618482483122601074" /></a><br />So Miss Kara turned 8 about a month ago... blogging slacker, I already know that about myself. She had a birthday of surprises this year.. Her first surprise was a redo on her bedroom. Not that there was anything wrong with Kara's bedroom, but she was asking for more "green" in her bedroom. I convinced my trusty friend Kamdon to "help me out" (come up with a design) and we pulled a "Trading Spaces" on Kara while she was at school the last day. She loves it!! (for the record, I did my fair share of the sewing on this one.. LOOK! This mommy can sew!!!!)<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCukC6iEzgkyMXBCwuZs7erkERIqsteeglz2dKg_dVYCmpgafe7G-_wLRBU7WawtwEH674c6ZnOtT8PCCCGSe_WFltQaAVVUfKpFQ0Mpddap7wbszdaK92oUZD65vhJFJz0paihQfgbGc/s320/IMG_1957.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618482477857924770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div> Her second surprise was a visit from her Miss Karen. Kara was really missing Karen and Karen graciously scheduled a visit up here... Kara slept over with Ainsley the night before her bday and Karen surprised her at Jitter's the next morning. TOO FUN! </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLEr7dz32VAU7hSVpcAWGMFhrxTaoygr8si6CKfCFKWIvLqbbjNo_v0ZStdX54ixYIX9v1CprBWzW6u3FjiuENl2T2BkSXJK3p4Vxd_e9X5dKuKqolSggLuF8lDszStd_GavIIvke944/s320/IMG_1929.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618486480431968914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span><div>Kara's last surprise was our Alaska cousin Ashley's surprise visit to her birthday party. I think Kara felt honored that day (despite a mini-drama at the party related to VERY loud singing by a couple of guests whilst Kara was playing Liv dolls with the other 2 guests... small drama, worked out.. Kara cried.. shocker). We did nails at home and then we hit up Simon & Seafort's for an early dinner.. between spa snacks at the house and fancy food at Simon's, the girls forwent the cake!!!! WHAT?! Too funny, 8-9 year old girls. I loved Kara's party this year for sure...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Miss Karen was our most in-demand manicurist for sure :)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34H3KYgMdkZJ0Ko0pvVmO5O8rUy66wbiS9nLwuykDakoLBnhgnfd8ERiYC-ZuYDDI8sMeDM0NVQYNzc00FnLZcYFspLuUGkNSUZzeD969axGPhbWIpmiTkPVFpYycJLHt7FX69qyfPLk/s320/IMG_1828.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618482494822201250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3Tk2CgP3tcBfuHG5qYgyG30_pZYSNg2rqOXepslTOp8ZNfvjwmD85nKxN6LU16c-0qfcmqskATXfWlTf3xfWudufxAzbv0VJGN3SmwEyeOBuJqbXiS7vnVPUXKV6fh0F2t0W61-lyao/s320/IMG_1871.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618486366289924450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">I, myself, sported bright blue toes on one foot, orange on the other for 2 weeks!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9caOjJDNCCEK9OYlAhiqNxQ8zIbJvqBQ5rch-7B2beByPyTq2vPJWDUievnpueAYwP-bw9MnmRMllxX30kLiCPJ2hG-WKNTEckNuQuagpw63cPpuxwdIR8mMN9jwZq2oGDmOo-HOSZU/s320/IMG_1896.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618486414772400706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIuwhG0gUPSW9VlgUZfIBLbZozrv1MmQWC5vNzH_c3wioxCO498O89ThDzx4bOEDPNwKNTmj77bd8hnfDagrOSAf-SNp8sJysCPv8LS6O-HF5qiMIkle_zBK-fQJJpU56ThZ0W-O9x_s/s320/IMG_1854.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618482499356215810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Kara's friend Olivia.. Olivia moved away about a week ago. SAD DAYS! You will be missed at the counter after school, Olivia.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvPMPp02rtTbeuS41JxnBX5MBen6xC4Kf-PQrob235XpCV8aGUhkMqt3K4YmzLz7K19gpxVPx5vEs6hzGB1s0YWc3hIJpALYgRF3DH3P0wI-RVyf_GghloJbMLdo0rrUQlgEqUv2Jecw/s320/IMG_1850.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618486375513706898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVseZSbh8jijv0APRwgxJsegqcKLwfUbaAMFdW_U2tdPNIFLMgmd5Z3KNs2H40gdNbF-r7WpOjLh8Lmqu8S6-hboNEByWfBP7AuWhjBQpVA8uYaooPnlHSmnRptJ-I3pKuPhSmTgeQBg/s320/IMG_1927.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618482509123740802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">After Simon's, it was so sunny and warm! The girls BEGGED to go play on the playground by the inlet. This was about 7:30-8:00 in the evening. Got to love AK summer sunshine!! </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRv9DqV-LKnEI-bK93EJeT1y6uqfOfQhvvGyjJtoZI1SOSAhKO9hVH9Gg5yVL8uyNU8v8qcz5YnSu-gPBkJ3NPyauYUR91KjeDkC4iY-r4AbUMOo0lGJePWPvuU6gIrYfrr3fwWkmjy8/s320/IMG_1941.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618486489807496498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div>And so we wished Kara a very happy 8th year. She is so creative, fun-loving, sweet hearted, kind spirited (where does she get all those traits!?). We love you, Lukey!!!!!!! May the next year be even better than the last.</div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-91076835349281943972011-05-26T21:04:00.008-08:002011-05-26T21:40:21.767-08:00If I Don't Post Now....<div style="text-align: left;">If I don't post now (when I should be cleaning the downstairs bathroom... my brother's family is en route), it will be another 2 weeks and I'll have 10,000 more pictures to sift through.... SO, I'm going to try and cram in the next-to-last week of school, the last week of school and Kara's birthday. The last 2 weeks have been a doozie. There are so many end-of-the-year activities, I could scream!!! Mostly they were fun and we've had the most beautiful weather, so all in all, it was a good time.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>Let's start with the next-to-last-week-of-school...</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Clay had his animal report.. it was on the cheetah. A kindergartner doing an animal report translates out to mom doing the animal report.. except for the horrible handwriting. That was all Clay. He wanted a picture of a cheetah hunting. There are some good ones online. This was pretty much the only one that was appropriate for kindergartners...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4W8l3biaKdDk4g8r9MR85NjWayfgPMqstlGZz7UwT-B7xP3zcl3TbSeeNk-hor0izcSF-nEe-vzU7ckE4ol90JNxJj-MP34Y7hUQgavC6AGRF9M_7yJeJHSAvttRQcoPdP5m_LrARCks/s1600/759px-WLANL_-_Urville_Djasim_-_Jachtscene_gazelle_met_cheeta_-_Hunting_scene_gazelle_with_cheetah_%25282%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4W8l3biaKdDk4g8r9MR85NjWayfgPMqstlGZz7UwT-B7xP3zcl3TbSeeNk-hor0izcSF-nEe-vzU7ckE4ol90JNxJj-MP34Y7hUQgavC6AGRF9M_7yJeJHSAvttRQcoPdP5m_LrARCks/s320/759px-WLANL_-_Urville_Djasim_-_Jachtscene_gazelle_met_cheeta_-_Hunting_scene_gazelle_with_cheetah_%25282%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611258390259503298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Kara's end-of-the-year choir concert. She LOVES choir even though I'm skeptical about her natural singing abilities. Anyway, it was a fun year for her and made her more confident musically and for that, I'm grateful.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3culFks82dQOCgvE2nlweuhKoyyDIIxc7-l6lJS4YSQ1Q4obd8R88MP9NvJ7vXj12lnE2xaJB6YMYBRH0O89rS6ZDqlNhUJcvSDV84TlgB5Xs54dbi392ltReeOZQcASnjvbUKr5mhg/s1600/IMG_1630.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3culFks82dQOCgvE2nlweuhKoyyDIIxc7-l6lJS4YSQ1Q4obd8R88MP9NvJ7vXj12lnE2xaJB6YMYBRH0O89rS6ZDqlNhUJcvSDV84TlgB5Xs54dbi392ltReeOZQcASnjvbUKr5mhg/s320/IMG_1630.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611258390885673138" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Mother's Day fell in there somewhere.. we had dinner at Sullivan's (a favorite of mine) with our friends the Hollingers. They're moving (BOO!!!) in about 10 days and we're trying to squeeze in as much time with them as possible.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEx0Lp8twKtjsGK3XrorquxGwiOO7CYfSdlvG_wdmYeJmcKiyOoawm5aicANDiA8dXY1Mvxgj8F3UOZga_uN7gKEXJuocyj584fWJ1B2aFyudN5g8SLdWyrhm-GdfHPGhQbEdqGtEnccg/s1600/IMG_1624.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEx0Lp8twKtjsGK3XrorquxGwiOO7CYfSdlvG_wdmYeJmcKiyOoawm5aicANDiA8dXY1Mvxgj8F3UOZga_uN7gKEXJuocyj584fWJ1B2aFyudN5g8SLdWyrhm-GdfHPGhQbEdqGtEnccg/s320/IMG_1624.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611258383574262290" /></a><br /><div>Last week of school... CrAaaaaZZZZZZyyyy!!! Seriously. Field Day... outside in AK.. it was pretty chilly that day but the kids had a ball. I was glad that both kids had field day at the same time so that I could multi-task and kill two birds with one field day, as it was.<br /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KmQqrb7fwXcEmZcYZdYPpP2USZjx7O0A9_zknD_qGqEidUJbHCshHs4QkutTX3ee6ES4W4CidMoyyLVqaj5hhE3JBnNc-5yiTN2NrnRP4em6un_D9me6trrrr44rvoS4vR_-c7g5VbA/s320/IMG_1684.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611260087994977250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfwAEOl89bMq5h0GtBRH6Mc0q-pgFmmH9aqkvrZ3XTZA80MZUcO2hWIrGGbY3fECKJxFvHOo0oo_Bs4sbLYyxj6Hmo48HH_I50TvOiv7ewzNpj0Io4h86n_5FZKaJKJmllMtwqguqzjA/s320/IMG_1748.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611260098388294034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEich-4mkaE8_9X_deaYo8U2dVPekWxF3f-tVTpwAHJyhIgfoSq3ItYlHHpuIMXV5wR20PMpzSMKuvPumjOPx0NGiWeqcWfDByd3w-PSHjPZWoPjmFzvMg3Q0wOd04hpi42TXvNZsYcKKf8/s320/IMG_1738.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611260090100779842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wV09b1JV6Nyl7t2HuTpXq26ibxorvC918bAvCN1AoKfeOVB1dfbB9jwaK__ohKF2XHjW5e_Ry2CZpBi3vKekOcOnTtQFCrDmrIVlJCMuvCuAUSx_b-Z_No4lpzVzNKJdwiXY2XogURk/s320/IMG_1753.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611260764404846210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Field day was followed by an author's tea in Kara's class that night. Kara spent a great deal of time writing books this year. She discovered a love for reading and she read A TON! I love seeing her challenge herself with new books. She loves certain mysteries and she loves Clementine series. The author's tea was my favorite of the week because of how excited Kara was. Clayton was able to make the tea on his way to the airport and to Seattle for a few days.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvSildhnz1PR3Hv0icOfj31WF5sPoY5TSJCbaaGXa-WA7VTuWdLIlwtuwMU09LhFZWdYv7N4drTDD-XlMRq3LS5wgxCqLOUiF_ceAAVYydJjJU50gKbCp2KVNj8EOmH0EYR3vdnhF0As/s320/IMG_1774.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611262529928033586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjfjKxM0ecCAQX1mY8pbdnFG6_2l_YaJ6KsQmt18WApw2jkLwwFCt2xBZTs2KuFpwYvQNW8jGes9qtZavAIvGqJB5AHcV7i6mXEZg9xXdFNX80z0TCOuJ8SxDPDXgB5HEIdMYhwy-5iY/s320/IMG_1767.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611260767971250706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Baby chicks that had just hatched in her classroom. Poor little friends.. pecking their way out of the eggs to be received by a room full of second graders!! AAAArrrrggghhH!!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvXrffEioX7GkeFb0YYT1v-E_jPQd7SlVP_DUIBDl4sxYzGM7k9J-yPCUBthXPxWciUtzsNzbPJLFY_0D2YxyKGAVL6O5YsH2Xgqwp2vZq7Nza4DddBWbGyEzYHMSXgx2F_mV9KuRsXs/s320/IMG_1785.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611260774405628162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">The next day was a kindergarten field trip to the Eagle River Nature Center... Not my favorite place this time of year as it is normally pretty muddy (all the melting snow) which leads to many small birds some people call mosquitoes. They're kamikazee freaky bugs and I hate them! And they're gigantic. However, this year it was warm, dry and bug-free (if you don't count 50 kindergartners).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Clay's very awesome kindergarten teacher.. she was such a blessing and an answered prayer for sure. Clay had a GREAT year and he ended up loving school thanks in no small part to Mrs. Hardy.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7g4_7x3vhaClcV0CIqyWI1VAmLkINAbf8N8C6YTFvYblXA7PTZDIsMdLCa12JB_ogNodlo3MwQaaWnZ-UjYsOxVs3EDtFa3ckXrDpTaJDljOI2VPqzZ0UUfeWVw2YmtYsGdMVjOFImBY/s320/IMG_1814.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611262544134322338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">The whole group... what a back drop!?!? </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5kLlwguuykxd0aGVnisqQcYlq3Csy9MPvKM5i0wtjBKmcPD6ghbaC0na1ZQAwhi_kgX-TZh9j2KCVNyHoJwGvd_0PZ78o8UjwPdAoeP31yYC9u6brCpCNP2a1yXIvtNGH9qzAPFUpIQ/s320/IMG_1810.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611262536833354354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTi5rbyySbN7zXaYLh6CD7MExCR39H8wYdVv7s148RC18UFdRTG5vXdSvirsj9UQVVAbYP0CSaXU9ZoRbTq9_KUPgqNEG9uMpLcSQYLBSm4EgYznKwK-Y6n_ce9h8KWdXU6UmO3mCGn8/s320/IMG_1787.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611262530064865378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkmq2kyqWXvVkfAegQd1pOGN64-xjt3aUffSugROTcobjI1MuDFGHPepZ_dtAzaiKbDRWOQNIi6od4q4VE2Kis2IGeWrO6N5Q83RkpCId4e5FnJBvPDNe-vmE_ievHcJMwgWsO8DPQJg/s320/IMG_1797.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611262532728032018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Ooops.. Somewhere in there was the kindergarten performance.. sort of a little end-of-the-year celebration.. but not a graduation, thankfully! Those kind of drive me nuts :) Clay's in the top row, middle.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJJgs9iweY8t6J-vkTPoYDyDou0_OWQpU1QOrXtpCJmhmFbmM9sflhFCOYaGBaoOOiEPdbwbFjo-XZNyrU4TvaxONJWoDDok3FeA5VamtyuqsMzxPNbM_DnIIyLbueYHh3FSoY9Y-Bv0/s320/IMG_1649.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611264267277742066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">The last day of Kindergarten and 2nd grade at Alpenglow Elementary. Where did the year go?!? My grandmother is one of the wisest people I know. A long time ago, I must have just graduated college, I was commenting on how fast the 4 years had gone. She kind of laughed at me and said "You ain't seen nothing yet". She's right. The years FLY by. So very proud of Kara and Clay and all they accomplished this last year.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVtIPDHY2ME6sTj0IkyOfKNCmV_Cze1JekOCNrS6OP73ADzzkhwYdchW9HqO97yDu-diAbXNocA0IDaHxIcscQ48RHIRxGJRC33hC_mcjM7HYdqTTopKLU5ySSIQ2iZB1t9AuDFNBVXc/s320/IMG_1815.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611264271609101858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Upon reflection... I will give Kara's birthday its own post.. but I will post a teaser.. Kara wanted one thing for her birthday this year. That was for Karen to come from Denver. We told her it wasn't going to work out for Karen to come but that she would have 3 surprises for her birthday.. the first one was a redecorated room. She came home from the last day of school (oh yeah, that's what I worked on in my free time the last week of school... while Clayton was in Seattle) to her new room. She was STOKED! These aren't good pictures, I'll post more later but I like her surprised face :)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIzQM9WYoJc-VfZJEZ-VQe4DU_DBcHrzmhRbGycuKgw0awa_87nMvGdkvriRsrIl4iciGuuSHPBvrizrrRE0ebQClP2NjBO5m905zR1ZdaG4kMrOIIYdUFzUKAziHxL2mmCiIthmU0Gg/s320/IMG_1820.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611264279003098770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqVpAbvLNfq74hL35TiU0iAEtoeVxhDAA8Uc2KP6qtFMhyphenhyphenGrCMYc352wo9rBBJsfu3fu2zucWVj6xkrAQeJLXHk_m8h88sWxJ1w3Bj_SDcM0rB3kG8EnQZ26VuALfWpj_4u894HyQe8A/s320/IMG_1822.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611264284151940626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-15540501160495528882011-05-10T12:47:00.012-08:002011-05-10T15:10:48.793-08:00Aloha!!<div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; ">Hello, my name is April and I'm a defunct blogger.....</span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px" class="Apple-style-span">I don't know where my blogging mojo has gone!! I have, however, had five people in the last week request a post and so here I am, posting ;) You're welcome.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; ">When we last left you, Clayton was in Japan. He was there for about 5 weeks and yes, he was there for the big earthquake and pursuant tsunami. But, no (thankfully), he did not feel the earthquake nor did he have any fallout from the tsunami. He was in Okinawa which is VERY far from where the action occurred. I was glad to have him come home not very long after the event. The kids and I had a pretty uneventful TDY for which I am ever grateful.</span><br /><div><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px" class="Apple-style-span">Since then, we've said good-bye (I sincerely hope!!) to the snow and ice. Hello and goodbye to break-up (Alaska's WORST time of year)... And hopefully, as I type, hello to a beautiful spring and summer.</span></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; ">To reward ourselves for persevering through another long winter and a deployment to boot, we booked a trip to Hawaii (Alaskans favorite vacation spot, for sure.. costs less to fly to Oahu than it does to get to AZ, by several hundred dollars per person at times). This was to be our first family vacation in a very long time. When Clayton was in Japan, my parents were going to come to AK but we soon figured out that they could meet us in Hawaii for less than half of their trip to AK.. PLUS, Hawaii is much more scenic than AK at this time of year.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; ">SO, since my last post, we've done all manner of things not the least of which was a week to Hawaii...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is how the AK Johnsons rolled in Hawaii... our rental house had bikes and we made good use of them.. Kara commanded an adult sized, 500# beach cruiser. Turns out, our mountain bikes are like Porsches compared to beach cruises. Also, another friendly tip, don't ride beach bikes if you haven't made good use of the beach showers before riding a couple miles back home. Just sayin'.</div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605224459901078770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeydXueom_2gm1FRDasgmqA9p3gSiRt9ktdiRMEY8x5qHp-QjiBgEdf6uTrj1URszntX0yDIxQ9F6AQl2CqNOBXoIXCjrqqgeaR491vjb1eZ470c9hPDQg185tShcTZWviml1YdwNTJw/s320/DSC_0098.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 320px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Our very awesome rental house in Haleiwa... we decided to skip the hotel scene this trip in favor for more space, more control over our food and quiet :) We were about 1/2 block from Shark's Cove and we basically backed up to Sunset Beach. It was really fabulous.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K8xTJgsUNrS9ALhtR_XhDROkG0rOdCwZodbYFIAo8xM4yhrDCEFDRnlyA6MFFrV6BKzf1kSG0f1QWq-b-v9F1Ar2-3AeAp2vj9FcXJmsf5lORfj-EyPfaUHtlfHTsumFHzPQS_dsEns/s1600/IMG_1272.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605196369589461506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K8xTJgsUNrS9ALhtR_XhDROkG0rOdCwZodbYFIAo8xM4yhrDCEFDRnlyA6MFFrV6BKzf1kSG0f1QWq-b-v9F1Ar2-3AeAp2vj9FcXJmsf5lORfj-EyPfaUHtlfHTsumFHzPQS_dsEns/s320/IMG_1272.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Clay practicing with his binoculars. He wore them around his neck pretty much anytime we left the house in the car... </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hr0EQicskZ_D0LHUp5F_GbSBD9B2ZOPf5BHRB7xPP9M5eoV5unetJE8c-7_9mUjqDiMfmxW7pKEKWcP9u_NRp8ODFDJL81MyItm9pzZMFGHAhs5v7KqDhUjKm7txeS8eApcPYAO8hJ4/s1600/IMG_1289.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605196360969818562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hr0EQicskZ_D0LHUp5F_GbSBD9B2ZOPf5BHRB7xPP9M5eoV5unetJE8c-7_9mUjqDiMfmxW7pKEKWcP9u_NRp8ODFDJL81MyItm9pzZMFGHAhs5v7KqDhUjKm7txeS8eApcPYAO8hJ4/s320/IMG_1289.JPG" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u>Chances are he was checking out on of these guys.....</u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hr0EQicskZ_D0LHUp5F_GbSBD9B2ZOPf5BHRB7xPP9M5eoV5unetJE8c-7_9mUjqDiMfmxW7pKEKWcP9u_NRp8ODFDJL81MyItm9pzZMFGHAhs5v7KqDhUjKm7txeS8eApcPYAO8hJ4/s1600/IMG_1289.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605222273226756178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9R1pqkQB7Hx7Rq1Iqar-oibwf_W47g9sl9lAo0xHYevLnCIFWsb9jns7gVJwC3MVS8n4fpkjZrTC_Omj0TioQnRkqkQ6zKEQQoK-kJlK_2KJB9H2tGHKWX6CSsKx2MjskELMLtwqOR4/s320/DSC_0050.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 214px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer; " /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">One of the benefits of being in Haleiwa?? World-famous shave ice. We didn't love it from Matsumoto's this time so we had to keep trying out new places....</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QuwTaRFfWbCXrcFsfMmoisfdnm9WEc_rwQlj8eTAXqxdKbyJwGXlUQvMDxqVEHkZPwWQ2t4molnYYFEJ7pd2s5LzQ7Dg_8oP-4j68S5VpXcY7ZHY17oI0CXookz0YJU3ZQyqKorw8T4/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605196355270281746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QuwTaRFfWbCXrcFsfMmoisfdnm9WEc_rwQlj8eTAXqxdKbyJwGXlUQvMDxqVEHkZPwWQ2t4molnYYFEJ7pd2s5LzQ7Dg_8oP-4j68S5VpXcY7ZHY17oI0CXookz0YJU3ZQyqKorw8T4/s320/IMG_1281.JPG" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u>So we did another touristy thing and went to a luau at Kara's desperate request. We were far too lazy to go back to Honolulu so we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center's luau. No mai tais but it was still an excellent show even if the premise of the "show" was beyond lame.</u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QuwTaRFfWbCXrcFsfMmoisfdnm9WEc_rwQlj8eTAXqxdKbyJwGXlUQvMDxqVEHkZPwWQ2t4molnYYFEJ7pd2s5LzQ7Dg_8oP-4j68S5VpXcY7ZHY17oI0CXookz0YJU3ZQyqKorw8T4/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605224461743874066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjat9R-Z0Sbf9PzIG-11q_WPngGm9m1wbn_o2rsWsduL5D0p4P0ePtHyJdYNxbUVuo8bm5duzIVkeazFoze50Sp1bxpf0JAL4W_KLE_NMnPC5Jaya0Gsui3Tr0J0olc-lwe20z8E143drI/s320/DSC_0156.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 320px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605223012423602002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidD6hxPpSBdvBjCGGdw470QZDHbLdCafb-He5Opu_VWa9wjlHOhuM8WJsLGMy4igdx9wAI4MclmpbdtxaBoFY60FD1nXlF-fS47Wzycf81y36JKjGPJzduCgxahsznfmWzlYjgizuD1HY/s320/DSC_0176.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 320px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">I think this is Clay and I riding around on an ocean tricycle. Clayton was surfing way far down on the beach and Clay BEGGED me to rent one. They're a lot more work than you'd think..</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605223003122754658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvios9br-uex1evUisD9Zqrngt3x0mU6nODz-JRIvh7fazOBSsqLQgp278DWOx9znZSa4AIYkhGzsLwvbOSn0_bRaj9_vGGV24h2biBGkPk4loYxVxLqz8GO3S-Qzjl9JXCMiBkl7UcfE/s320/DSC_0051_1.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 320px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Buzz and Billie at Pearl Harbor. They left us at the beach and enjoyed a touristy day with the rest of the old fogeys :)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605219259988997426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SeJQXPcpn2EaRp4bNdbVAvzhyCcw7ibMn4tyOS8hy8bzHIozMM-xHvz6LEJ8jmyX4wQkl70-C-l9Qqk2Bja_YNRLopbUWS78P6gFgaBFVZG2doFYUyj2LIDdyIJqST9maOpWcHhYJ7I/s320/DSC_0002.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 320px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer; " /></span></div><div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">We spent Easter in Hawaii... We ended up going to a really cool church in a school about 1/2 mile from our house (random) and then the kids hunted money-stuffed eggs in the back yard. They're really feeling the money eggs versus the candy eggs. DUH!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOctn-FNHJUEP9nEO9UJ9YAkw-MHwF88ro2mamhomZpsULZZXx6ROPBDydOGm78sdc5GoVIDJtVbtzNdLYZiyZn3oAmZCuYkiE8yzTMBbDp7cmaUk5VZW4cZ25DiihyphenhyphenIbu5QGRnY6Fvw0/s1600/IMG_1321.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605195192339128978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOctn-FNHJUEP9nEO9UJ9YAkw-MHwF88ro2mamhomZpsULZZXx6ROPBDydOGm78sdc5GoVIDJtVbtzNdLYZiyZn3oAmZCuYkiE8yzTMBbDp7cmaUk5VZW4cZ25DiihyphenhyphenIbu5QGRnY6Fvw0/s320/IMG_1321.JPG" /></a><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">This is how we spent most of our days. Camped out at a beach. We tried out a few.. the waves were still pretty gnarly which made for lots of fun for Clayton, not so much for the kids being in the water. They played for HOURS in the sand, however, and we quite content.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnHntD9kKLuuIkvW-iJraM9OryqsxMjohCAuaPd2AJBR2fiEYmnOJJ5EDC6bee8XIwoAWsxFv4PbcpJf0RHxjf2QQv5Y7363suXe7VBaTq1RY6ZJ1s-9IaBEs2b6UTTHbcbOznEMKspc/s1600/IMG_1295.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605195185025415314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnHntD9kKLuuIkvW-iJraM9OryqsxMjohCAuaPd2AJBR2fiEYmnOJJ5EDC6bee8XIwoAWsxFv4PbcpJf0RHxjf2QQv5Y7363suXe7VBaTq1RY6ZJ1s-9IaBEs2b6UTTHbcbOznEMKspc/s320/IMG_1295.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605221613222491266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR-FPekl-8WucahM2ycilytgLat7oaeVMyi06dpK9WH_LpJ-Jef7SpSZJChZkF0jQsQNGiIQPdPZMpJZ3RmocZhpBmaHS1eQopNTbwcnaJt94nYlC5QQ2UmIYxas5kDhHDp4Utl-fO4M/s320/DSC_0031_1.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 320px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer; " /></span></div><div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Random back yard grill picture.. also in the back yard, many gecko lizards (who warred, ask Clay about that.. a highlight for him), patio set, 5 bikes, boogie boards and a hammock.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4EHyhNHPlKQOgkw8kIs195In1Ex_BW_WoLDBweXt1Rns-qAjdaHFPq5PSbMPMZwx-2N5FMwcDX4RqTNzc6-eMLTTRCpZoskwZx4Wi5JKwyloheLov5fx6t8F4b9R5AGzkVShTHgBOjA/s1600/IMG_1311.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605195181915256402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4EHyhNHPlKQOgkw8kIs195In1Ex_BW_WoLDBweXt1Rns-qAjdaHFPq5PSbMPMZwx-2N5FMwcDX4RqTNzc6-eMLTTRCpZoskwZx4Wi5JKwyloheLov5fx6t8F4b9R5AGzkVShTHgBOjA/s320/IMG_1311.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">We drove to Ko Olina on Easter night for dinner at the original Roy's restaurant. Clayton, my dad and my dad's GPS were the navigators. I think I should have just used an old fashioned map to get there.. we would have been faster. However, Roy's is reliable for mai tais and such so I got over it quickly :)</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJthmFyfKgMrUiVlTQdagyAq6puE7WHQO4cGeC7qBe8w2PtjqXul6iEpRQXFpYRKi8ZkpLddnQvdxqOHP3eKIteZM1pFpRsjnsp36fv-4hbSAuHJNhyYyTHiBo8JW_cjvrwhTLirrFDg/s1600/IMG_1345.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605195174022637538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJthmFyfKgMrUiVlTQdagyAq6puE7WHQO4cGeC7qBe8w2PtjqXul6iEpRQXFpYRKi8ZkpLddnQvdxqOHP3eKIteZM1pFpRsjnsp36fv-4hbSAuHJNhyYyTHiBo8JW_cjvrwhTLirrFDg/s320/IMG_1345.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Kara being sun aware. One of about 6 people total on the beach (our entire crew) who cared about sun protection.....</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93n69vxHYEMwSPDByf-1A2Q2yQRc0CQZzZxKAaomvO4b1O5-2LS80O6Jy5ya_UOYxQ8JSuC6s2avDTFpAFznOPKSlR9xk2tgp_Xe0siTUdoQXQvfvlI-Tu8Q2qCRkhoDPoVGEyPu9JRI/s1600/IMG_1366.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605195170969158610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93n69vxHYEMwSPDByf-1A2Q2yQRc0CQZzZxKAaomvO4b1O5-2LS80O6Jy5ya_UOYxQ8JSuC6s2avDTFpAFznOPKSlR9xk2tgp_Xe0siTUdoQXQvfvlI-Tu8Q2qCRkhoDPoVGEyPu9JRI/s320/IMG_1366.JPG" /></a><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Sunset surfing. Someone random. Clayton stuck to the boogie board... he also found out how territorial locals are with the waves. He saw two guys almost come to blows over a wave in the water.. and they were both locals. So he surfed one day at Waikiki and then boogie boarded on the North Shore for the sake of his personal safety..! </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE0hTalAphvLHZgsDyNNR_dspz9dkjjsWnd1CWQLzf7HOfLJUhunXWg52g974QSRQ7w3k6DEnV-ibKTwFzz7jNZujxMH6gPkQPCP47TxIl4K6eE3AhxfzoGoiZUl3e8FXJTdm27WgdlM/s1600/IMG_1562.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605193630194368594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE0hTalAphvLHZgsDyNNR_dspz9dkjjsWnd1CWQLzf7HOfLJUhunXWg52g974QSRQ7w3k6DEnV-ibKTwFzz7jNZujxMH6gPkQPCP47TxIl4K6eE3AhxfzoGoiZUl3e8FXJTdm27WgdlM/s320/IMG_1562.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">I know this won't shock anyone who knows Clayton but he's not really into excursions whilst on vacation. He doesn't really like to spend a lot of money on services (or sights). However, this trip, he took both the kids gliding. They both loved it but Clay loved it more. Which was a surprise to this mom-of-a-daredevil-daughter.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyh8pL9BEewpKTPkUzwL2DUXyiXXjVjLohFpXwss4mmuD1u5fwPRKwbwQgggGlO24GmRSkdLTN__rdmUJP4Ts6l-ZhkgVdv9X-J37iNe79ubf0ZCCwi4TPqg5n2SPJ6yxn32K6wxKUNo/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605193623389306418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyh8pL9BEewpKTPkUzwL2DUXyiXXjVjLohFpXwss4mmuD1u5fwPRKwbwQgggGlO24GmRSkdLTN__rdmUJP4Ts6l-ZhkgVdv9X-J37iNe79ubf0ZCCwi4TPqg5n2SPJ6yxn32K6wxKUNo/s320/IMG_1521.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Eating grapes on the front porch with the grandparents... this is what my kids did pretty much every night. Someday they'll grow grape vines in Haleiwa because of my kids!! Most mornings my kids walked to Starbucks with the grandparents. This was good for me because I woke up to my venti iced green tea with 5 (yes, 5) splenda. Good Morning!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605224466651860770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIc4OXhj3bjEw_B3l_m7_PnS5zFg6zHN96Ft1AJvXih_RMHlhkRm2L9jGmV8l508DnzOxPaqQn5LMDHVI2_rugZZA6zEtTrM4OC5TC6d6L1midYh-HRzatwEjMirpE0N_hDHj8_d9nLK8/s320/DSC_0227.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 320px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605222264092032850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsm9XEVeXbdlm47WngFeopbA_UNqmBlg7miyqy6UhCf5nsiE5dLeUXa9E3fHJ1TP_Aq24R283VO-9ugWZ0AfnS_k-ws7X9HlxA6z4AKzglts6_MoqxRv18fxw_kn5g9aY_u01S6yKjW7E/s320/DSC_0042.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 320px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GW_tclkyxMjoguuU1t-DpGI7PMHwq7IHJTsXt4SYBumaCxCdzzphAsbYe473mjUI5RIHr1WIoxPmSkgLFSuI_DOXwWMNdfh7v5GKfk3fAkdy0N9e5GEuKTFQyCeUR2sY-lcraCfufbU/s1600/IMG_1597.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605193618651498642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GW_tclkyxMjoguuU1t-DpGI7PMHwq7IHJTsXt4SYBumaCxCdzzphAsbYe473mjUI5RIHr1WIoxPmSkgLFSuI_DOXwWMNdfh7v5GKfk3fAkdy0N9e5GEuKTFQyCeUR2sY-lcraCfufbU/s320/IMG_1597.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-Pzx4x7n45xwa7FgS0wfVZ6JPUK6v5xzK_3ajkc4lyzMHQMw5dab8dbPnVrdmCTXj9olLr20uCsFV-gNHnXcXJfF6U6ziVg4hgnfgfSGBdKLKXOUn5WJ_7CXSFJAdg3CIq0QGq1tgIo/s1600/IMG_1613.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605193614270611362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-Pzx4x7n45xwa7FgS0wfVZ6JPUK6v5xzK_3ajkc4lyzMHQMw5dab8dbPnVrdmCTXj9olLr20uCsFV-gNHnXcXJfF6U6ziVg4hgnfgfSGBdKLKXOUn5WJ_7CXSFJAdg3CIq0QGq1tgIo/s320/IMG_1613.JPG" /></a><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">One last trip to the ocean before we caught our respective night flights back to the mainland (I assume Alaska counts as the mainland.. it is connected to the MAIN LAND.. would some retailers please take this fact into consideration when shipping to me????)</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5SGHKIXPaBOOjAzqq7KvzQHSoylCOoRY6Wvem3fkPrhQxTRU3gaPv-ak1fnoTlMC86OK-Z9Y09XyW3jfnPAk6tD5th1xk8ZTEuc2sZ7a-lP4sSLCsfx82uLQ-g2Hlqi8hvLwpaNsiWw/s1600/IMG_1616.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605193606583203074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5SGHKIXPaBOOjAzqq7KvzQHSoylCOoRY6Wvem3fkPrhQxTRU3gaPv-ak1fnoTlMC86OK-Z9Y09XyW3jfnPAk6tD5th1xk8ZTEuc2sZ7a-lP4sSLCsfx82uLQ-g2Hlqi8hvLwpaNsiWw/s320/IMG_1616.JPG" /></a><div><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px;">** Author's note.. I remember why I haven't been posting. I hate blogger. And I hate uploading 10,000,000 pictures one at a time.</span></span></span></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-88674767117755790992011-03-13T20:56:00.006-08:002011-03-13T21:38:50.097-08:00Spring Break 2011: Joint-Ops<div>Well, spring break 2011 has come and gone. It was a great week, albeit a long one at times.. with Clayton still being gone, it was a lot of uninterrupted togetherness for the kids and I which was fun at times; trying at others. Our big adventure was a trip to Girdwood. Why is that a big adventure, you ask? You're probably thinking that we do that all the time.. well, sort of. But not like SPRING BREAK 2011!! No siree, Bob, not like this. We trekked down with our friends the Feuchts (and the Sutterfields for the first night) to a rented house near the slopes (the ad said it was within walking distance to ski lifts... not so much. It was like 3 blocks, uphill, on ice roads.. with ski boots, carrying skis and kids??? Forget that, we drove our butts and parked RIGHT IN FRONT OF CHAIR 3! Yes we did). Jenny found this house and managed to get the lady to give it to us for $100 less than her advertised price per night. With such a great deal, who can resist 3 nights in Girdwood? That's right, me neither! We sold it to the husbands (who are both out of the country) by telling them how much $$ we'd save by eating in. Well (sounding very defensive), we did TOO eat all 3 dinners at the house. Say again? Oh, sure, we ate at the Sitzmark for lunch.. but it was LUNCH! We can't ski hard core all day and skip lunch now, can we?<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, the skiing was amazing. It hasn't snowed in a LONG time and with all the sunshine, the snow is kind of melting.. so I thought the skiing would be horrible but it was AWESOME! It wasn't very icy and there were no crowds. In fact, I skied my first black diamond with Jen while the kids were in ski school (where they learned to do parallel turns, a monumental achievement, let me tell you what). Over apres-ski drinks, Jen and I decided that we'd rather ski with each other as opposed to our snowboarding husbands because we challenge each other to ski better while not being made to feel like gutless wonders on the slopes (you can't trust a fighter pilot to be honest about the speed nor the steepness of a ski run). What a refreshing change from the norm! (I love you, Clayton.. I just don't enjoy being critiqued by you while skiing)</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of apres-ski, after our 2nd FULL day of skiing, Jen and I decided to call it quits at 5:00 and grab a table at the Sitzmark, a pub-restaurant that overlooks the green lifts/run. We turned the girls loose on Chair 3 and we had a little refreshment whilst watching the sunset turn the mountains from white to pink to purple to gray. The girls skied in the little terrain park until they turned the lifts off at 5:30 (so HARD CORE!!!) and they joined us for hot chocolates and enormous pretzels (super tasty) - hey, kids need apres-ski, too!! Anyway, Kara takes this huge bite of her pretzel and knocks this semi-loose tooth all the way to hanging-by-a-thread status. She kind of surprised herself because, normally, the loose-tooth thing is a long, drawn out event.. each stage of looseness is LONG and dramatic, culminated by Kara just yanking the thing out of her mouth (why she doesn't do that days before remains a mystery). Anyway, this thing is hanging by a thread. And Ariel says "I have one that looks like that, too". And, what do you know? She sure as heck does! The same darn tooth, hanging out of her little old mouth by a thread. Jen looks at me and says "That tooth has been like that for weeks. She won't pull it out". Meanwhile, the two boys (Clay is 5 and Hunter is 10) start in on the girls "Pull your teeth out!" "Pull it out!!" "You won't pull it out, you're too scared" and so on.. So, Kara has her epiphany and tells Hunter "Get me a napkin and I'll pull it out". Well, Hunter is totally into this and he runs and gets 2 napkins: 1 for Kara and 1 for Ariel. Kara gets right to work. She puts the paper towel on the tooth and plucks it right out of her head. Well, poor Ariel realizes she's on the spot. Kara's bleeding, holding her tooth and the boys are oooo-ing and ahhh-ing over the blood. So there's Ariel, holding the the stupid napkin in her mouth looking pretty miserable. About 30 seconds later, in a very exhausted voice, she says "I got it!".. and she, too, is the proud owner of a tooth and a bloody napkin. Meanwhile, the little commotion at our table has garnered the attention of other tables nearby.. we had the older dad (60s) and his grown son who had clearly been apres-skiing for a long time (!!) hooting and hollering, laughing it up, VERY red-faced (and nosed); the table of barely-21 year old girls offered their congratulations; and then, our sweet waitress brings each girl $1 for their victorious pulls. It was really a riotous end to a very fun couple of days skiing. Add to it a fun winter hike, a few decent after-hours Super Mario Bros sessions and some tasty bacon for breakfast and it was a really fun time. Again, we're reminded of what a blessing our Alaska friends are.</div><div><br /></div><div>We wrapped up the week seeing the new Narnia Movie: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 3D. Kara had a sleepover; Clay went to the water park and the zoo.. I cleaned my house and considered chipping the ice off the driveway (I decided against it, I wanted to leave something for Clayton to do when he comes home, I'm really thoughtful like that). We even went to Palmer and hung out with Mandie for a day and painted. It was a great week off school for the kids, but I'm not going to lie, I'm ready for them to go back :)</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The kids and I at the tram, getting ready to rock-n-roll.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGS0tU2hLTqAKDTI7sNbojKe8S3-yjeIigft-RC6PYfUDVD6YdmfhMZejNF0eRmitG6xnJ0_qVXutwoAVs6FgP7fwsEZmQPSdcgxNoEktRxgqbBzUgBrI5NQYBE4kiu3M1kMpcAby_K3g/s320/tn.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583801939451138914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 112px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Our whole group on day 2.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVf5OUtvJwqJW-mKgrY1zv8WvTxquS1yqKrBn-uTKbeRpqvYxcx77qwQBDuZ-oZRn7-rb-uOgVho3P-VrCtUB4RtkKih1Y3O2a3RVPEeZ-2PP1fLmm7I5hLEgbWgzcSqkXdomKOMLqlmc/s320/IMG_0171.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583803309997450242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Kara and Ariel upon hearing they were going to ski school (Kara was OK with it, she thought they might learn to do tricks (big disappointment), Ariel was not very excited)... they did awesome though!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcJY-i0LxioWM6H-xfXm_XXFJZZCM0X-pW52hNP8kPeUZLnp7_1K2HGxNtlviNnlZV2iHg9_rpKzlkJvJUavp4pyTUapUHafSWn0iC2jnifScRwpylbtzi5-DVJEh-haR8oXPP9PUbcA/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG"></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpIzJ0QKyFd_XLW7B6QPjsix8Ea1RnoaQay_7e6SSQnyozk1ODFLPL-Hjr2no9jmLmbqbvEm54D18vpJRBBA_eyMvlQQ67qDpsChX0rGo81DlA2QpyslhM0fFbE-YCyM60OOahrQde98/s320/securedownload.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583801947236937394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">This is Alaska Clay... my nephew Logan was Alaska Logey (the good) this summer.. Clay was Alaska Clay (the evil) for most of this trip. I don't know what his deal was.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcJY-i0LxioWM6H-xfXm_XXFJZZCM0X-pW52hNP8kPeUZLnp7_1K2HGxNtlviNnlZV2iHg9_rpKzlkJvJUavp4pyTUapUHafSWn0iC2jnifScRwpylbtzi5-DVJEh-haR8oXPP9PUbcA/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcJY-i0LxioWM6H-xfXm_XXFJZZCM0X-pW52hNP8kPeUZLnp7_1K2HGxNtlviNnlZV2iHg9_rpKzlkJvJUavp4pyTUapUHafSWn0iC2jnifScRwpylbtzi5-DVJEh-haR8oXPP9PUbcA/s320/IMG_0169.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583803298159722754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Stunning view from the almost-top.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7as-IvIMTYvYmgk00bqZ3Jh2QI4ADMieXVTX1K2RCtLkitsYVl6p89Hs9y38VEP7XkbJRMljMnI5MoXc10y85IMhaUCHdrnIWwU2-5H6pn_KeXMr437Cc0ev5qE_HOkek65GvDJjtuc/s1600/IMG_0166.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7as-IvIMTYvYmgk00bqZ3Jh2QI4ADMieXVTX1K2RCtLkitsYVl6p89Hs9y38VEP7XkbJRMljMnI5MoXc10y85IMhaUCHdrnIWwU2-5H6pn_KeXMr437Cc0ev5qE_HOkek65GvDJjtuc/s320/IMG_0166.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583803289857169954" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Apres-ski, the aftermath.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivunN8FGIb9yXmQhxLUaq6leeCnUmo6ss_PtXH5cAPV7aJxUg845X1iDYdzt1G-LW1OwYjaT_AAPAF4fqUFlDBIgSmvg4XTziDfxKtWqkuF-mIY0THNuuZZ7KQz4xWqWwpBksTbsGZiXc/s1600/IMG_0175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivunN8FGIb9yXmQhxLUaq6leeCnUmo6ss_PtXH5cAPV7aJxUg845X1iDYdzt1G-LW1OwYjaT_AAPAF4fqUFlDBIgSmvg4XTziDfxKtWqkuF-mIY0THNuuZZ7KQz4xWqWwpBksTbsGZiXc/s320/IMG_0175.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583801972574486194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Jenny and April.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI1P6W6iYAV5ECK-vdOAjWCmyWdMDw09jr31WNi7y3-Z36VmZgy6i_DOdVh1-28lEJZPLfIVYMLUZ92EIQhn2_8LcWM82yo8nmzzoK2MjJiILWriQLWMcdcBmDNv8NdLeInP5JlM3UVk/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI1P6W6iYAV5ECK-vdOAjWCmyWdMDw09jr31WNi7y3-Z36VmZgy6i_DOdVh1-28lEJZPLfIVYMLUZ92EIQhn2_8LcWM82yo8nmzzoK2MjJiILWriQLWMcdcBmDNv8NdLeInP5JlM3UVk/s320/IMG_0177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583801964563193778" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The girls, minus 2 teeth, plus two $1 from our awesome waitress!!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImHpYv83dfhqJ7SBdk9BT9Rm-gTPh105a-fxw3drf6kA_-rGQ5xELvijQ4Wqdp7x2JlmC95yESENwK0Uvzp7GCrhMmtIxlrF9skVt-Xc38zgv06ar7mOh86Z-SC36W-C_OioXKlTBghU/s1600/IMG_0179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImHpYv83dfhqJ7SBdk9BT9Rm-gTPh105a-fxw3drf6kA_-rGQ5xELvijQ4Wqdp7x2JlmC95yESENwK0Uvzp7GCrhMmtIxlrF9skVt-Xc38zgv06ar7mOh86Z-SC36W-C_OioXKlTBghU/s320/IMG_0179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583801956984450322" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">What kind of mothers would we be if we didn't get a picture of the bloody napkins? I LOVE their faces in this picture.. it is so accurate of the individual extraction experiences :)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrEQGU7zHmJIxw2qkVzY88oyhcHcXfClmobTOCBTTW0cWphw3-5pU4Yg-bTvCugOgl4bgB1-fvvoeOwhy-n2Gw2HOVM10J8LixBV4KNixSbRXBucuXOhOen0nfcs7ddQ16VzhyQcKQ3U/s320/IMG_0680-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583803302217721282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Lest anyone think I've lost my touch, I wanted to be clear that I still resort to the ultimate humiliation: playtime and mcnuggets at McD's. It was a long, desperate afternoon that day.. I had no choice!!!!!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0a8T756m5Y__kgBBihJbliA7MMX9lEM3LXuYe5tLwpcSTwmVXunbujNegyWSsCglmK7bm5K_CAL3-0awRuvjFUiGJftxOTV3epGmedIWYIg8X2JUfLhYAaZGT7nx2v9gN8AhhP4-680/s320/IMG_0191.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583803312461766402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px; " /></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-72991419797840269972011-02-26T15:10:00.002-09:002011-02-26T15:20:10.189-09:00Goings On........<div>Hello from a warmish Alaska (30s)... we're getting all kinds of sun these days, in fact, our days are pretty regular.. however, we're gaining so much sunlight, it won't be long until we're down to 3 hour darkness at nights (my least favorite). BUT, when the nights get short, that means our visitors are coming soon and that is our FAVORITE part about Alaska summers :)<div><br /></div><div>We're trudging along on our Daddy-less days. As the kids get older, the TDYs get a little harder (for them, they're all the same for me). Fortunately, the skype works pretty well where Clayton is at so, despite an 18 hour time difference, we get to "see" Clayton almost every day. That definitely makes it easier. I think he's doing pretty well where he's at. And so are we. We're staying busy despite 4 day school weeks and spring break coming up in a week. We have some plans in the works to make the time go faster and I think it will be a fun week in the end.</div><div><br /></div><div>The kids have been snowshoeing at school these last few weeks. Yesterday, I went snowshoeing with both classes. I don't know which class did better.. the kindergartners complained a lot more but had fewer problems keeping the snowshoes on. The 2nd graders went farther but it seemed like they couldn't keep their shoes attached to their feet.. Anyway, it was fun and both the kids were glad to have me along. I for sure like watching Clay with his classmates.. especially this one little girl who drives him nuts. She is the CUTEST thing and it makes him crazy when I ask about her..</div><div><br /></div><div>I have been skiing with my friends, dog-sitting Trooper for the last week and keeping the kids and cats alive. At the end of the day, we all go to bed fed and I feel like that is a successful day! I'll attach some pics of what we've been doing (I know, you've been waiting with bated breath.. well, wait no more). Book a trip to AK!!!!!!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful downtown Anchorage at sunset.... I was on a sunset ski with Miss Kim Jones one night last week. It was lovely.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeLGzD4woJJt6wce2oGGSqs3_DcfzA_3zGhwvP2MkniN1u0GK2AylU9JXRBvY9tTZ2KW8JJ313r8s7GT6X_bhOfdWYHZ9BLcQ1hH4QJIvigsBY1UN6YrHpOR6vk8RqszdVa8IlO4p4yc/s320/IMG_0142.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578114011054475842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UVmGo_QIFT52UQ1g3isEai3r9qLleBBY6c4ZzhEhpnJkDbyvJCRujGY9iXKCGbg8z6Z3hrd6eTQ4459mWaBHI7dpQX7R8vfUvhmfqftxAMTOhxcuB_D8b4ssRRL0i4-RqeBytLpcuj4/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UVmGo_QIFT52UQ1g3isEai3r9qLleBBY6c4ZzhEhpnJkDbyvJCRujGY9iXKCGbg8z6Z3hrd6eTQ4459mWaBHI7dpQX7R8vfUvhmfqftxAMTOhxcuB_D8b4ssRRL0i4-RqeBytLpcuj4/s320/IMG_0143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578114026438055586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We call these excursions "ski and sip". It was really fun.. we were commiserating with both husbands out of town. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VOUKbw1OlbTG1kQ1wviV2TyvqF1mflwW4E5OAIxpE1bqqZ-8-41tVgQv-tWd9Vr8IUlKPKuiJ34cw8MK4cPsu_8vpgU2kv5TkKQabqhEhNPaL6tWWtsKmz8W4uNNdHWj8rkEplB2HCU/s320/IMG_0145.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578114018210821378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kara and I went to a mother-daughter tea for her American Heritage Girl's scouting group. Kamdon and I sponsored a table and I dug out all my violet dishes for the occasion. It was a shabby chic kind of theme.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iy-YODLUVYrcmyz-PxzvFSdDjRwbp4LghJMdYxE48I9LB-DP8eJQF-D-12ZCW274B3MCsRWavQB5efq9pLo1YIgq4VYCd6K2-Y7KF853CD5X2-x1aKjCAIQDFBalXjJFPE8rIlV2DMo/s1600/IMG_0137.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iy-YODLUVYrcmyz-PxzvFSdDjRwbp4LghJMdYxE48I9LB-DP8eJQF-D-12ZCW274B3MCsRWavQB5efq9pLo1YIgq4VYCd6K2-Y7KF853CD5X2-x1aKjCAIQDFBalXjJFPE8rIlV2DMo/s320/IMG_0137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578114023520346322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">What could be worse than TDY Daddy? For Clay, it's when his buddy Ryan is also gone for a week to Hawaii. Ryan brought Clay snorkeling gear. It was a huge hit on land... we'll see how it does in the water when we go to hawaii ourselves in April.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ram9owTk5zj7E9gcKJ2v0TU8wMmMw9La9w4utp3nkgO368aZfnixPICEkv_-Zk0ncqFQLYAab5FZhcu8crp7iTs4PZn0lftPBuuOVZOwLLyA5KrtT5IZGJiXjqJDkW_JrSoMaAe4jpU/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ram9owTk5zj7E9gcKJ2v0TU8wMmMw9La9w4utp3nkgO368aZfnixPICEkv_-Zk0ncqFQLYAab5FZhcu8crp7iTs4PZn0lftPBuuOVZOwLLyA5KrtT5IZGJiXjqJDkW_JrSoMaAe4jpU/s320/IMG_0148.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578090303505814290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Kara's class on their snowshoeing expedition around the elementary school.. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYG9Rl9vZxXzvpDTf1IWRmZhBRvD6i2kkfZmNyXzMS3O70JrXinHG3uQuzPqkj4qXXwuSBu1wYHnRl7afi9X1kpWN1DEZw-NxDUzZ4Q0IwAFZCnRjSZfmfXhfKu7LdpH4Kv7SUjMTJOeU/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYG9Rl9vZxXzvpDTf1IWRmZhBRvD6i2kkfZmNyXzMS3O70JrXinHG3uQuzPqkj4qXXwuSBu1wYHnRl7afi9X1kpWN1DEZw-NxDUzZ4Q0IwAFZCnRjSZfmfXhfKu7LdpH4Kv7SUjMTJOeU/s320/IMG_0154.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578090296384400258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYVM9r4QBb6CRyx28lES95yc9UZcIbPvB63z-iTpc1VnBA7zhO20GUnGjJJo-S2t3-89laF6MmvOpYBHe7WSxgtL-Jn1OTozswxfayQAYArjVjmQr5gEQNQ4Qd8dsEfz8jAL-lB9Xg7I/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYVM9r4QBb6CRyx28lES95yc9UZcIbPvB63z-iTpc1VnBA7zhO20GUnGjJJo-S2t3-89laF6MmvOpYBHe7WSxgtL-Jn1OTozswxfayQAYArjVjmQr5gEQNQ4Qd8dsEfz8jAL-lB9Xg7I/s320/IMG_0155.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578090287514630338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Later the same day, snowshoeing with the kindergartners around the school... that's Clay looking at the camera.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWsBqvFjoMdtVyXHLDaXsHr_FDxqL09M9CsIxAz7CDd9S9k7TeMPtFjkGFyVUXjVAsqjg_DxRCwMsqwAEyyRCckXSZe2To43Vs4If6UmM3v9a6bObRGnpdUxmvcxnm3HUf4AaSbmaAWs/s1600/IMG_0157.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWsBqvFjoMdtVyXHLDaXsHr_FDxqL09M9CsIxAz7CDd9S9k7TeMPtFjkGFyVUXjVAsqjg_DxRCwMsqwAEyyRCckXSZe2To43Vs4If6UmM3v9a6bObRGnpdUxmvcxnm3HUf4AaSbmaAWs/s320/IMG_0157.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578090283406311938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiTOEzdG9EarPCxegARA9HpaxsWp4zub01tV1C9ZHMH6QvuMum2oCKNXMQGXGlZkNcXyb7HgopFeDidj888C-7U214pTY4yPUddFYLyRGuoUgbwC2G_aOds0v_NADX1lh3cjgPbyXqZE/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiTOEzdG9EarPCxegARA9HpaxsWp4zub01tV1C9ZHMH6QvuMum2oCKNXMQGXGlZkNcXyb7HgopFeDidj888C-7U214pTY4yPUddFYLyRGuoUgbwC2G_aOds0v_NADX1lh3cjgPbyXqZE/s320/IMG_0158.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578090277685290002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-316087860333036372011-02-09T16:50:00.004-09:002011-02-09T17:27:37.257-09:00Pre-TDY Ski Weekend<div>We ventured south to Girdwood last weekend for one last hurrah before Clayton heads overseas for about a month. They had had a ton of new snow so we had a blast skiing at the top of the mountain over and over and over. We headed down Friday after school and the kids immediately hit the pool.. we wore them out in hopes of a good night's sleep. I don't know why we think that particular tactic will ever work because it never does. I would know... I've been trying it for 7 years!!<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, we had a great time skiing with each other and with the McNeils. Here are the iphone photos to prove it.</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Swimming on a Friday afternoon is a real treat.. Not being sarcastic. The pool was relatively empty minus a few Girdwood locals. That made for mommy entertainment while the kids swam.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbeY8dbFVIa-FRv2z-UThSmq9geVE2npBhZfoXmtgKskoCTXN9hmdyOf1iSS1-MRRRTb8QcXNdMMrTXjtJ-nFaecwMpLOWmjWXMSIFVDyW_UjwPCnRTQEfwU_SrH2yFnB4CSfI3kXjGU/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbeY8dbFVIa-FRv2z-UThSmq9geVE2npBhZfoXmtgKskoCTXN9hmdyOf1iSS1-MRRRTb8QcXNdMMrTXjtJ-nFaecwMpLOWmjWXMSIFVDyW_UjwPCnRTQEfwU_SrH2yFnB4CSfI3kXjGU/s320/IMG_0084.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571876984233240834" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Kara the shark.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfsBmi6i3lp3idaXCtNCM_FMtrbYbebew2JSL_8a_lLfJmcDdrl7oAZEuUAqUjeNDoTrulMDJG-2A5wfKBzjbY8yLYRZgrRcDCh10QUVNjUs1LdXIBBmZrwhzqzU6ygCd9rgq0HBYF9c/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfsBmi6i3lp3idaXCtNCM_FMtrbYbebew2JSL_8a_lLfJmcDdrl7oAZEuUAqUjeNDoTrulMDJG-2A5wfKBzjbY8yLYRZgrRcDCh10QUVNjUs1LdXIBBmZrwhzqzU6ygCd9rgq0HBYF9c/s320/IMG_0082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571876979255279250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">First run of the day.. this is about half-way up the mountain, at the tram. On a clear day like this one, you can see the inlet and the mountains across the water. It really is spectacular. Unfortunately, this big view doesn't come out all that often.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFaHQc6MVwKwugw-eSCUMUmszDhXJsO2FGSTUVWi2DIZHXCd67gEQIwpCJVfoISd8DcRELhPR0qo9OTunW2mXlMAcY8vzSQ3mTh6ewERP_Exo4HTbO6HO0-wLavsHwI78LWY69zxOhiE/s1600/IMG_0098.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFaHQc6MVwKwugw-eSCUMUmszDhXJsO2FGSTUVWi2DIZHXCd67gEQIwpCJVfoISd8DcRELhPR0qo9OTunW2mXlMAcY8vzSQ3mTh6ewERP_Exo4HTbO6HO0-wLavsHwI78LWY69zxOhiE/s320/IMG_0098.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571876974645423234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJZdQYdt3ehnlkeHvyhli2flvDNKreZHkYmUhPrEV7jfgl4OF6oWQyOy9ZhKOk7jomX685Ch5hyphenhyphen7X9T4Z8M2C8evSzf3NA73JSPlNqespvU6XDlNgJ2EDVKiCNla5oNuywTEjTMf9Om8/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJZdQYdt3ehnlkeHvyhli2flvDNKreZHkYmUhPrEV7jfgl4OF6oWQyOy9ZhKOk7jomX685Ch5hyphenhyphen7X9T4Z8M2C8evSzf3NA73JSPlNqespvU6XDlNgJ2EDVKiCNla5oNuywTEjTMf9Om8/s320/IMG_0100.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571876971252532226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Clay and I waiting for our hot chocolate and nachos. Clayton doesn't really believe in taking a lunch break when we ski. He likes to feed us big breakfasts and then avoid taking any substantial breaks during the course of the day. He doesn't like to A) spend the money or B) take the hour out of the ski day. I now if you know Clayton, this is not shocking news to you.. the only way we get a nice lunch break is if it's -20 or there are a bunch of our friends present!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZXwr6OamR38Gtem5KqWqyRYnsfVCGyrTBp6hXHHG1K0iBH4MiIrLiRIyphyx767d94f1NoaOFPPlOwyWbxYayr2u3SpAlzyWj8EVMFpXcWsagBQ1nVvvVfO9CFLQ-IlUMIT1ApxIcGc/s1600/IMG_0104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZXwr6OamR38Gtem5KqWqyRYnsfVCGyrTBp6hXHHG1K0iBH4MiIrLiRIyphyx767d94f1NoaOFPPlOwyWbxYayr2u3SpAlzyWj8EVMFpXcWsagBQ1nVvvVfO9CFLQ-IlUMIT1ApxIcGc/s320/IMG_0104.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571876966556140162" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Me and Kara. Snow gear is not flattering. At. All.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZwhtVQOXoqEcHvwuk5Y06uj1DvBbiTw8p5hWL0E4gGgIp-F2gM8r1w6s2VWnXlo_IpMZubT0L_9Ai2ZmgiMWilHTX_hb2PuhytNPKOf5KMp-P23xYpVXsXIzbCveIgspY4xlmDeRGbs/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZwhtVQOXoqEcHvwuk5Y06uj1DvBbiTw8p5hWL0E4gGgIp-F2gM8r1w6s2VWnXlo_IpMZubT0L_9Ai2ZmgiMWilHTX_hb2PuhytNPKOf5KMp-P23xYpVXsXIzbCveIgspY4xlmDeRGbs/s320/IMG_0107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571876252212790466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Partial family.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEK_x7P2tPaRmpn77Ah6bzP4Y5LwvEa5Q2IJa1i5qzdNbG63qmievd-U84lZPDC0JcSummCyeZD0JQJ75I22nupTeTgVjpjuDI9UfQoKJjnNbJGPoDhDmbhG31mUHoQOiePkom-glJ3xU/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEK_x7P2tPaRmpn77Ah6bzP4Y5LwvEa5Q2IJa1i5qzdNbG63qmievd-U84lZPDC0JcSummCyeZD0JQJ75I22nupTeTgVjpjuDI9UfQoKJjnNbJGPoDhDmbhG31mUHoQOiePkom-glJ3xU/s320/IMG_0109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571876250251162882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0q8_1jvc4TJwh-bT_TkFZM6nzAP3Pje0KLXTxmAteodH_UWOS3quk4_iAUkeDgyQRKRUdF4RuA3VvOEGD3_31LQ8d73Mx3oMtkRNt2L1zpJkZ4CfLzdM9m80uKGDYDTOyjsrNhqC4mIk/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0q8_1jvc4TJwh-bT_TkFZM6nzAP3Pje0KLXTxmAteodH_UWOS3quk4_iAUkeDgyQRKRUdF4RuA3VvOEGD3_31LQ8d73Mx3oMtkRNt2L1zpJkZ4CfLzdM9m80uKGDYDTOyjsrNhqC4mIk/s320/IMG_0110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571876244386989634" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Clay and Bauer, the Feucht's golden doodle. This is the most gentle dog ever. It was funny how he let Clay lay on him while we were watching the Super Bowl.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNmRU1WzZ0tGZxlQ2xaklvgeSaGBtLJwcwwrom-_85hXyQZR1day5DFDd42EM1on07eoNGtUgwbN2kFCb2Vn7CzudZ7OzHei31N79eyv7Pz0z6w4GzjKnGZDWpi3OIQKXyWXZnan_Bfk/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNmRU1WzZ0tGZxlQ2xaklvgeSaGBtLJwcwwrom-_85hXyQZR1day5DFDd42EM1on07eoNGtUgwbN2kFCb2Vn7CzudZ7OzHei31N79eyv7Pz0z6w4GzjKnGZDWpi3OIQKXyWXZnan_Bfk/s320/IMG_0118.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571876234056504082" /></a>So this is how we spent our last weekend before the now standard winter TDY. I always dread these stupid things to the point where I just want it to get here so I can get it under way. If you want to pray for us while Clayton's gone, that's great. Pray for him, too, that he can get a lot of good flying while he's away and for everyone to stay safe. <div><br /></div><div>If you feel so moved as to come visit us in Alaska while he's gone, I'll show you a very good time!!!!!<br /><br /></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-89267304996474967222011-02-02T21:45:00.006-09:002011-02-02T22:19:51.166-09:00Our Life as Viewed Through the iPhone Camera<div>February 2nd (practically 3rd!). *sigh* I am neither a good, nor faithful blogger.<div><br /></div><div>I was syncing my iphone tonight and I found a BUNCH of pictures that my kids have been taking. Not surprisingly, it is a good overview of what we've been doing up here lately. Things are good. I think we're a little short on snow this winter but we have faith that things will pick up one day soon :)</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I take you on a tour of the last few weeks as viewed by (mostly) Kara through the lens of my phone.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ah, Snacko.. our super good kitty. He's getting old but he's still sweet. He LOVES it when Clayton's gone because he sleeps under the covers of our bed, on Clayton's side. Keep your judgments to yourself ;)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-u3UqqOOJcZYmyieZ8u4l3_pHIVmqVatz3VRr6LwqPgN21b1VcD-bPD5BtMdwvI7SAyw106iryrXHpdfqFfnyuOIaAuGfr5fylodWLvKVHoOEnzlYWDHjzx9smd2ZLH-uk911ATEHAY/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-u3UqqOOJcZYmyieZ8u4l3_pHIVmqVatz3VRr6LwqPgN21b1VcD-bPD5BtMdwvI7SAyw106iryrXHpdfqFfnyuOIaAuGfr5fylodWLvKVHoOEnzlYWDHjzx9smd2ZLH-uk911ATEHAY/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569354486033202322" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Clay and Ryan.. at 1:00 on a Saturday afternoon.. in full PJ regalia. These two are also known as "tweedle dee and tweedle dum" by both sets of their parents. They sure enjoy playing together (and arguing from time to time).</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOAh6xCVU2fnyo4tby2iXvRP7eltSkbGs1mTbNVcqTsphnV-5NW3riu1enLTAiqii5Pm-iYqk_QthW4CsHv8nWC95YvzaSmxmqHz_dIJc8EijQHFKQBBDtXNZHgvrcWdxIw7My2870os/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOAh6xCVU2fnyo4tby2iXvRP7eltSkbGs1mTbNVcqTsphnV-5NW3riu1enLTAiqii5Pm-iYqk_QthW4CsHv8nWC95YvzaSmxmqHz_dIJc8EijQHFKQBBDtXNZHgvrcWdxIw7My2870os/s320/IMG_0016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569354477420180354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Later that same day hiking out on the other side of Eagle River, Southfork is what they call it. It was BEAUTIFUL!! And cold.. It's about a 5 mile roundtrip and the kids all did great (as usual). **And by cold, I don't mean the 20s.. I mean below zero.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtFbopBlK-aCgs-Z-X4Qz6zwOhcBMaOA0FmTTsAQIKFO3RwEoPVaSLR7aqARsznYKOx_c8rox0THeerhquHCM5zhoC3hMYyry1VGjTSOEhm0NB5W6e84c_izrkvIR5OfrGpUDS_RTing/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtFbopBlK-aCgs-Z-X4Qz6zwOhcBMaOA0FmTTsAQIKFO3RwEoPVaSLR7aqARsznYKOx_c8rox0THeerhquHCM5zhoC3hMYyry1VGjTSOEhm0NB5W6e84c_izrkvIR5OfrGpUDS_RTing/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569354470536548898" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ah sushi.. with Mike and Christy (our neighbors).. on a Wednesday night when no one wanted to cook dinner at home. Shine Sushi in Eagle River, Alaska. Try the yaki udon noodles with beef. YUM!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmGU1vV5gnfn4ZcybwltNyeTTs1ulKMXAzAkoVHiRVjfDE2i805OpGuPmdfe9XbgK3ixHY5tj1wUZq66cTJU9-ek_9xBtgKANX1D716WUcQvQ12C61_YpnpJsz-LCwjByTgGS3DJDvII/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmGU1vV5gnfn4ZcybwltNyeTTs1ulKMXAzAkoVHiRVjfDE2i805OpGuPmdfe9XbgK3ixHY5tj1wUZq66cTJU9-ek_9xBtgKANX1D716WUcQvQ12C61_YpnpJsz-LCwjByTgGS3DJDvII/s320/IMG_0029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569354467116548130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Kara playing with my phone at sushi... there is a series of about 15 pictures that look just like this one. I think with the lips, she might be channeling her inner model.. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmH6JuQ9HMCK5Eo_9JiJXxc0BB9OAzpOT6ANXDQ3JTjINoMt2BRRVMjOmq4UImKWOK0GRHAzeuksBX47wuIwZcJoLl1YcD5qli_FZ6pwT2d5XUAQlpS7IwDFXL4TK-9Uehmr1q1c3UTgU/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmH6JuQ9HMCK5Eo_9JiJXxc0BB9OAzpOT6ANXDQ3JTjINoMt2BRRVMjOmq4UImKWOK0GRHAzeuksBX47wuIwZcJoLl1YcD5qli_FZ6pwT2d5XUAQlpS7IwDFXL4TK-9Uehmr1q1c3UTgU/s320/IMG_0033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569353233598600962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, friends.. that says -22.. 22 degrees BELOW zero. We were driving to Alyeska where it was -7 when we skied. That is cold folks. Cold. No amount of hot chocolate will warm you up when it's that cold outside.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_6RU-Tr2QeB06ALNBXwZnY2mFDKW-VYXofz024AEY0a8VA9eL2WQ13Y_iNRYA0X3yaMklYQr_zITvtWdPL_nE0apACuFtP1wzYR2la48c-OFuG3_4rGbayd1F4XsQp8WfoNcRE1SluA/s1600/IMG_0042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_6RU-Tr2QeB06ALNBXwZnY2mFDKW-VYXofz024AEY0a8VA9eL2WQ13Y_iNRYA0X3yaMklYQr_zITvtWdPL_nE0apACuFtP1wzYR2la48c-OFuG3_4rGbayd1F4XsQp8WfoNcRE1SluA/s320/IMG_0042.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569353225622700866" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I think Clay took this picture.. Kara collapsed outside of our room, still in her full ski gear. Poor kid, that was a miserable day skiing on ice and in the arctic air.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qt3v4YTCwEm471Nm56MdGjLnMI8352gY7wrVldX6zWaFVgu3x61o-Fpj5ytbpUoOar8MAnPyIPpjg7dAGBbYDZTe4aOe70gwGlBHKJ-AboMjpQ5zvZpOrCAYBPIl-bwxjtxUTzN3S2E/s1600/IMG_0045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qt3v4YTCwEm471Nm56MdGjLnMI8352gY7wrVldX6zWaFVgu3x61o-Fpj5ytbpUoOar8MAnPyIPpjg7dAGBbYDZTe4aOe70gwGlBHKJ-AboMjpQ5zvZpOrCAYBPIl-bwxjtxUTzN3S2E/s320/IMG_0045.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569353224199692050" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Guess who!? If you said tweedle dee and tweedle dum, you are right!!!! </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWddd-sPLvO3FCjVbw-ezBnci_FRXP0jsSgzpJkwXDf6eYKTZFn32fYzi1DEgjT3eJYLD54zZ8I0MpxAleCCkaifU9qRWeMbeTTve_m2q7QbcDFS1OBbnJ_GNvJ5EI9GCLebEuFBY5r8/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWddd-sPLvO3FCjVbw-ezBnci_FRXP0jsSgzpJkwXDf6eYKTZFn32fYzi1DEgjT3eJYLD54zZ8I0MpxAleCCkaifU9qRWeMbeTTve_m2q7QbcDFS1OBbnJ_GNvJ5EI9GCLebEuFBY5r8/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569353215971593282" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Kara channeling her Uncle Mark with all the self-portraits... again, there are about 10 in this series. She is going to kill me someday when she reads this blog. I think it's sweet.. she wont' always do this.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1Su_tXg8qo9xm2LhquH4oIM4OYI_aq8R6-c7XS82f4-rcZOfXx2rEpkVpnx92cPsXAgbq6mIHwAnrBUTM7CwwpN4nYnPzWNjAdmJ0PJi4p66b9uJu5RxXk8dh9_2O2r4e_3PjdpB9vs/s1600/IMG_0049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1Su_tXg8qo9xm2LhquH4oIM4OYI_aq8R6-c7XS82f4-rcZOfXx2rEpkVpnx92cPsXAgbq6mIHwAnrBUTM7CwwpN4nYnPzWNjAdmJ0PJi4p66b9uJu5RxXk8dh9_2O2r4e_3PjdpB9vs/s320/IMG_0049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569353214658126818" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Kara and our jackalope cat, Satan.. I mean Jojo. He's like 20#, no lie. He's a beast and he's incredibly anti-social. He has completely forgotten that we saved his butt when we "adopted" him into the fold last fall.. dumb cat. He really only likes Kara.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhr7kZjRJGuMapDJHMUAqa5h1BfBETK744VtNX1D3SyuLBrNdIoni16zIgqTn0Hw-V0E7PtENlKmyczMMohBuQ86MoZGJvB6OXZg7JakGa7rmiZfcqbtVWvqLIzaf22bPO2jwFteu5dqs/s1600/IMG_0061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhr7kZjRJGuMapDJHMUAqa5h1BfBETK744VtNX1D3SyuLBrNdIoni16zIgqTn0Hw-V0E7PtENlKmyczMMohBuQ86MoZGJvB6OXZg7JakGa7rmiZfcqbtVWvqLIzaf22bPO2jwFteu5dqs/s320/IMG_0061.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569352353533248866" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Uncle Troy at Moose's Tooth after 3 days of pretending to be 18 with Mark and Clayton. The uncle's visit was ENTIRELY too short but the kids LOVED skiing with them. Kara caught her first serious "air" jumping on her skis with her Uncle Troy. Very fun times. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZgcBVLM72vjymDQ307dJUkBfF7uNCSyxXPF0M1EQY_HW-sxmMkP0k6cP3-NGh_NTopik_FyAUtjUAk5geS0lx1U6CmoJ4Swkv0bXHp_vzn9wJMGND2g-WT8ytq2vDYqhGWv-505HFQA/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZgcBVLM72vjymDQ307dJUkBfF7uNCSyxXPF0M1EQY_HW-sxmMkP0k6cP3-NGh_NTopik_FyAUtjUAk5geS0lx1U6CmoJ4Swkv0bXHp_vzn9wJMGND2g-WT8ytq2vDYqhGWv-505HFQA/s320/IMG_0064.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569352350510996498" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ah, Saturday was a very rough day for me.. for more than one reason. My friend (and neighbor) Christy chilled a bottle of champers for after the PTA taco feed on Saturday night. (enter in the old song, "That's What Friends Are For".. So fun and very sweet. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PXjLVmFsh4eOp8MDlGUeAgRI71Z6U1yaXZbj2t0jya14ckSU6-sc5DJwsEbtqKD1AbfT7b6sC1q7uBrdqFipytpqyL8Ej03VXJUNEicnuLNPcW7Dg_qABxI5Cy3vsQ_Y9xN171khhU0/s1600/IMG_0072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PXjLVmFsh4eOp8MDlGUeAgRI71Z6U1yaXZbj2t0jya14ckSU6-sc5DJwsEbtqKD1AbfT7b6sC1q7uBrdqFipytpqyL8Ej03VXJUNEicnuLNPcW7Dg_qABxI5Cy3vsQ_Y9xN171khhU0/s320/IMG_0072.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569352346820413474" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">On our way home from church on Sunday, the kids and I were finally able to see the lady in Eagle River who feeds eagles. Apparently you can't feed eagles without a permit (you also cannot posses eagle feathers.. they belong to the AK Natives.. weird) and this lady has one. So she pulls her car up and starts pitching out chunks of salmon. The eagles are HUGE and they swoop down and grab the fish, fly it back to the trees and chow down. It is AMAZING to see. Eagles are huge and powerful and very magnificent when they fly. I LOVED seeing this. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDSn0deWngQ0ohVjQraKPLILAjbg7G-DDF77XdaLZnkbudBDyxszg1HQKntPrUCuzVs7HyedqohoyI-FhVyOjRR9yoQ4FPQvm_eWJdU3dIHsbdmAKmZa634elIRhmBLn4jPHKb2iOVKU/s1600/IMG_0074.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDSn0deWngQ0ohVjQraKPLILAjbg7G-DDF77XdaLZnkbudBDyxszg1HQKntPrUCuzVs7HyedqohoyI-FhVyOjRR9yoQ4FPQvm_eWJdU3dIHsbdmAKmZa634elIRhmBLn4jPHKb2iOVKU/s320/IMG_0074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569352340306186930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Tuesday is choir day at school.. Kara finally got her choir t-shirt so she wanted me to take a picture of her dressed up in the shirt. I like her little jeans and belt.. also it cracked me up that she made a knot with the t-shirt using a rubber band for her hair. Where does she learn this stuff?! </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCI_KqIXdvKlr6KkkMfGpzo7noFpMA1zzPlY2zd2fI-gwaAhiOoNLHwQjtOdBPjcom61eiiteHy2G_1gKTzftCRVvLHXf1SVlbWiEArYdmH-DvFUDJ37Nx_pyiK8gQfjElY3kGTEEuNg4/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCI_KqIXdvKlr6KkkMfGpzo7noFpMA1zzPlY2zd2fI-gwaAhiOoNLHwQjtOdBPjcom61eiiteHy2G_1gKTzftCRVvLHXf1SVlbWiEArYdmH-DvFUDJ37Nx_pyiK8gQfjElY3kGTEEuNg4/s320/IMG_0079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569352338437895682" /></a>That about sums it up.. we're good up here. Thinking about possible trips out of Alaska, either before or after Clayton's TDY. I am not looking forward to the 5-6 week deployment.. the winter ones are a lot worse than the ones in other seasons. However, the kids ski well enough that I'm comfortable taking them skiing by myself this year. Small victories!!<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-11230694694326509322011-01-13T18:30:00.004-09:002011-01-13T18:54:44.516-09:00Happy 2011!!!!<div>2011??? For someone born in the early '70s, that feels like "old"... but who has time to be old with such a fabulous life?? Not me!! We rang in 2011 with friends out to eat and at our neighbors'. It was a fun night, in bed before midnight (but not asleep because there are a lot of hillbillies around here who shot off fireworks well into January 1). Goals for 2011?? Nah, I don't really do the resolution thing because I don't enjoy failure :)<div><br /></div><div>What have the Johnsons been up to so far in this new year?? Clayton has been working.. a lot.. sitting alert.. some snow boarding (but not enough).. some snowshoeing.. working.. alert... Kara is loving the heck out of 2nd grade. Sometime during the Christmas break the girl decided she loved reading. YAY!!!!!! I was a voracious reader when I was little so I couldn't figure out why this kid didn't like to read. Well, God was gracious or she just grew into it, but she loves it now. She must have read 5-6 chapter books over the break.. most of them AFTER she was put to bed. I didn't care until after school started back up. Now we have to regulate but not too much :) Clay is Clay. If you know him, you know what I mean. He's a great little skier when we go, he is also a gamer in the making. Not something I prayed for in my son.. he turns into a zombie when he's playing his DS or our Wii.. you can imagine how that goes over with his dad. Right. SO, we work on his sight words and trust that he, too, will one day choose to color a picture, sew a bag or read a book instead of the video games. OR NOT! Anyway, he's his same old nutty self and we wouldn't have it another way for now. I am LOVING my life. I was at a birthday lunch for my friend Jen(ny) last week and I was running to the car to feed the meter. And it was cold (shocker). Anyhow, when I was wogging (jogging/running) back to the restaurant (and the yummiest hamburger EVER.. Sack's in Anchroage), I thought of that crazy '80s song that goes something like "This is not my beautiful house.. This is not my beautiful wife".. and I thought "This is not my awesome life". Awesome friends, beautiful family, cool(ish) husband, STUNNING city to live in, snow to ski on. God has been so gracious. Who knows what 2011 will bring but we trust that God's hand will be on our family and we are excited to see how it goes!!!!</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Clay and Clayton making queso.. our blog may be a little short on pictures these days due to one of our Christmas gifts.. you might see the iphone box on the counter.. Clayton got us BOTH iphones!! And we have been taking pictures with them instead of our camera. I would like to figure out how to upload the pics from the phone to the blog.. but haven't just yet.... </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79NMDROBnap_CEPhVRU_jPRGb-Srv-77O_OZT3S94ZOauE-1Ihi_bOLV9fvQRp8RPwsOjy6IsaTONIS6W4NNLETmhMgsf3l94hIIkpaQs4tEqcIyfhV1g8RwlWx6nF5R2ttPRe6ej-3U/s320/IMG_1153.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561882211903768994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to throw in a picture of Trooper. If you follow this blog at all, you might recognize him. He's my friend Jen(ny)'s dog. When they go on trips out of AK, he sometimes stays with us. We VERY much enjoy having him... He was with us for 2 weeks during Christmas. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SJLMum3ooyv_GqKQt7AXNse23QrNJu0m0LpPmYFblMs2MltzDoZW3ZFkDWE5JR-lWkySDzT4Z-cvLikDdvkCoWeuFsQ2MQx9O5iID7lJcEAn1PqQ3s182hSnbvf0Ohm2TIehZ3nswDo/s320/IMG_1178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561882216074775570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">IDK what is going on in this picture but it is funny. We're having pancakes, bacon and a movie tonight while Daddy protects us from the Russians. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tLhdO3Zu55IA2-_aANmO_4sq4dVKc9Q1FV8fptFYYWaE3vT8i6XVTwrAYFXkIInXky85TyX7v0UIRPvHIAw7J6peA_NNfHHcCpIFwzXy9V4yL9ZZHw7Z3G1mMOWw2WbhN-C1Ti-muAs/s1600/IMG_1186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tLhdO3Zu55IA2-_aANmO_4sq4dVKc9Q1FV8fptFYYWaE3vT8i6XVTwrAYFXkIInXky85TyX7v0UIRPvHIAw7J6peA_NNfHHcCpIFwzXy9V4yL9ZZHw7Z3G1mMOWw2WbhN-C1Ti-muAs/s320/IMG_1186.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561882230767073266" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Kara proving that she can in fact carry Clay. Even if it is only for 2 feet.. :)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsZ7IjWpwoefym047qB9q78eIxMJSYyAPGSARmughyphenhyphen-2jSWJc8Ti7aMpVtkeF2y0raoKiGjU7YAgxafr7LCSfDZOBfDW8RIpphfJJmE5tfG1cgdOfnaRGoBMPAu9s36HpThu_25a61IE/s1600/IMG_1180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsZ7IjWpwoefym047qB9q78eIxMJSYyAPGSARmughyphenhyphen-2jSWJc8Ti7aMpVtkeF2y0raoKiGjU7YAgxafr7LCSfDZOBfDW8RIpphfJJmE5tfG1cgdOfnaRGoBMPAu9s36HpThu_25a61IE/s320/IMG_1180.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561882220290359922" /></a>Well, we're currently booking trips for the summer...if you've booked one, let me know so I can put it on our calendar!! Our first visitors of 2011 will be here in one week. MY BROTHER (Mark) AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW (Troy)!! WHAT!?!?!? They're coming as a birthday trip for Troy to ski. Clayton and Melissa schemed and this is the result. My kids are very excited to see their uncles. It's going to be a quick trip and we'll only see them for a day or so before they head to Alyeska with Fokker. We'll miss the cousins this go-round but I know the guys will have a good time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, speaking of iphones.. Clayton and I both have new phone numbers. And if you have a 907 number on your caller ID that says Hellion Tactical, that'd be one of us ;) And if you don't know what Hellion Tactical is already, you probably don't want to know. </div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-4254276896824848522010-12-24T13:59:00.005-09:002010-12-28T10:55:19.443-09:00Christmastime<div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVb9y_nXUk15cDpPQqecpbCPLkjqiGdK-y9ortA-tFzTSbfKru65oG2E-or15Jl-2UN8N5QAzyFXbOGCDtbpvLeSQTOqaI42S6Nq7QnXK6Bp2y6P-cWE1hyphenhyphenryTilIigNFNsCK73388yUQ/s1600/IMG_1036.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVb9y_nXUk15cDpPQqecpbCPLkjqiGdK-y9ortA-tFzTSbfKru65oG2E-or15Jl-2UN8N5QAzyFXbOGCDtbpvLeSQTOqaI42S6Nq7QnXK6Bp2y6P-cWE1hyphenhyphenryTilIigNFNsCK73388yUQ/s320/IMG_1036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555813122752849666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div>Well, here I am.. end of December, wrapping up our third Christmas in Alaska. We had a white Christmas, no big surprise :) It was a COLD, white Christmas (like -15). We did lots of fun things in the days leading up to Christmas and after.. I'll just give you a pictorial with commentary.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVb9y_nXUk15cDpPQqecpbCPLkjqiGdK-y9ortA-tFzTSbfKru65oG2E-or15Jl-2UN8N5QAzyFXbOGCDtbpvLeSQTOqaI42S6Nq7QnXK6Bp2y6P-cWE1hyphenhyphenryTilIigNFNsCK73388yUQ/s1600/IMG_1036.JPG"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kara making her stage debut as "Elf #4" in the 2nd grade Christmas play. For some unknown reason, she took her script to the microphone for all her lines.. even though she had them memorized. Another one of life's mysteries..</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6jO0RYL3nthTBSVWCfitf-E_ctja93qdyQFntTltWXsLP80eJsrlZu5cVq3l4SHYB98DBs2CbylWs1prWbbXFGM42RSnGPds7x7ocQtCur7Y1E0FFusoJ4-cJF1CUL5n2ITOjmygP1c/s1600/IMG_0969.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6jO0RYL3nthTBSVWCfitf-E_ctja93qdyQFntTltWXsLP80eJsrlZu5cVq3l4SHYB98DBs2CbylWs1prWbbXFGM42RSnGPds7x7ocQtCur7Y1E0FFusoJ4-cJF1CUL5n2ITOjmygP1c/s320/IMG_0969.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555813124601245042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1Ty4XV3lWWdOr6lLjKPdFTTHC2YEwsL0lkIYwbgp7EOoRfAos_SAb-YqkddoZYbi7nQlxdJ3aj7ObMkPLeB8IL7EWmiL9EIIlGx6JbwxKzv92KI1w4zzruHf866Am88WIBkEFsytx0A/s1600/IMG_0983.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1Ty4XV3lWWdOr6lLjKPdFTTHC2YEwsL0lkIYwbgp7EOoRfAos_SAb-YqkddoZYbi7nQlxdJ3aj7ObMkPLeB8IL7EWmiL9EIIlGx6JbwxKzv92KI1w4zzruHf866Am88WIBkEFsytx0A/s320/IMG_0983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555813113309741074" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A few days before Christmas, we headed to Girdwood, Alaska, for two fun-filled days of skiing. We stayed the night at the resort which is always a hit with the kids because they can ski and swim in the same day. They are really amazing to me, how they pick right back up on the skis every season. Kara is our daredevil (Clayton's child) while Clay is our creature of habit (my child). It definitely took Clay longer to get his mojo back trying new runs but they did great. I so wish I had learned to ski before age 36.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiI4r1EvgyV-04sF0PIJrGeQbiz3f3homMfF1E59Bt-JkOnCofGrcgWbOcyAsiWLYb-OHQ6OM-Umgl48o-40oYGKx5Ig7Od1tuw4WhemwAkxPEx-dRNZGJ3f9gu7r95Kmnwcx2LhQsiJI/s1600/IMG_1016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiI4r1EvgyV-04sF0PIJrGeQbiz3f3homMfF1E59Bt-JkOnCofGrcgWbOcyAsiWLYb-OHQ6OM-Umgl48o-40oYGKx5Ig7Od1tuw4WhemwAkxPEx-dRNZGJ3f9gu7r95Kmnwcx2LhQsiJI/s320/IMG_1016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555813109654667922" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The view from our room at Alyeska.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqA6dTDZH6CMVwdbzOZBDrZ66BNawGXJvWzPyiDfPVrnjyBk31P3vX0p1Y80pMsoonghwRYwWGkSRKOQ_yLBvqzq49-LL5ESCw31uo_OjPBfRZSGzFDUz5nkLmKHeCoVJJaJCSntPs2E/s1600/IMG_1019.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqA6dTDZH6CMVwdbzOZBDrZ66BNawGXJvWzPyiDfPVrnjyBk31P3vX0p1Y80pMsoonghwRYwWGkSRKOQ_yLBvqzq49-LL5ESCw31uo_OjPBfRZSGzFDUz5nkLmKHeCoVJJaJCSntPs2E/s320/IMG_1019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555813106652835122" /><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Heading out for day 2 of skiing.. it was only about 2-3 F that day.. warm if you can stay moving, freezing cold if you don't.</div></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwRIiOOSiev0A9sP3b8slubDNQAPcFQO2OxmY_esFHg7klfuY9HITbvFeht274A0iG1_LVRYZ0Rxee9XzfnCL9eLShPd8_bfADSNR7MS9t-Jau1BRLMGCcz5YeoAtIAzGjL9APxBD7go/s1600/IMG_1022.JPG"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwRIiOOSiev0A9sP3b8slubDNQAPcFQO2OxmY_esFHg7klfuY9HITbvFeht274A0iG1_LVRYZ0Rxee9XzfnCL9eLShPd8_bfADSNR7MS9t-Jau1BRLMGCcz5YeoAtIAzGjL9APxBD7go/s1600/IMG_1022.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwRIiOOSiev0A9sP3b8slubDNQAPcFQO2OxmY_esFHg7klfuY9HITbvFeht274A0iG1_LVRYZ0Rxee9XzfnCL9eLShPd8_bfADSNR7MS9t-Jau1BRLMGCcz5YeoAtIAzGjL9APxBD7go/s320/IMG_1022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555812161763836674" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">The boy loves his momma.. What can I say?</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvTRRLbb4MbcF5gkKvyUIMZZMbNPzIzib2nih7J6L6OtBoRkLe6Gak9dXm2I9dQcwMys0RZnF_6qW5vY7etUbd6DvEd1Goe4teTojvJCmKVB2u4afoK_VkVWvVeEZbepQwin0m-1G2dw/s1600/IMG_1029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvTRRLbb4MbcF5gkKvyUIMZZMbNPzIzib2nih7J6L6OtBoRkLe6Gak9dXm2I9dQcwMys0RZnF_6qW5vY7etUbd6DvEd1Goe4teTojvJCmKVB2u4afoK_VkVWvVeEZbepQwin0m-1G2dw/s320/IMG_1029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555812155408824386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas morning.. seeing the lego ship unwrapped under the tree... we are in Lego purgatory around here. Ever stepped on one barefooted? It hurts.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN808sBNjaiyxKemCo1nQOtJcsYP-krwExG912-DIunaCua_cM6jk4KLSwRziAcomYLjZk3TMDAys6G0Ykp7QVAS4be-UJKpaZ3Rdagb4LgPzdvrwOchIEpcGOQ4WIAW67ASJojVhhXo4/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN808sBNjaiyxKemCo1nQOtJcsYP-krwExG912-DIunaCua_cM6jk4KLSwRziAcomYLjZk3TMDAys6G0Ykp7QVAS4be-UJKpaZ3Rdagb4LgPzdvrwOchIEpcGOQ4WIAW67ASJojVhhXo4/s320/IMG_1042.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555812154429632962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Kara unwrapping her sewing machine from her Grandma and Grammie. It's NOT a kid's sewing machine, for the record.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKvMI8fiqeF9OnwftbCBKjk4LAaLVjRFtA2GavSffb9Yqh7MYq0KWYVMKkko2sn0EaL3bXg8q_m1MeHoYCroUgClEC_z_NfslU6r_pRp_ovYpYv3vshoBhaP1rKL6V7CDXv0pU_rr8ig/s1600/IMG_1084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKvMI8fiqeF9OnwftbCBKjk4LAaLVjRFtA2GavSffb9Yqh7MYq0KWYVMKkko2sn0EaL3bXg8q_m1MeHoYCroUgClEC_z_NfslU6r_pRp_ovYpYv3vshoBhaP1rKL6V7CDXv0pU_rr8ig/s320/IMG_1084.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555812146534820850" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Our winter visitor, Trooper, with his chew stocking.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pHeSdvV7pLhBX9Bbj_uQ-1Bzee3DxQQ_Ve5CmFRo9sWGhdpgPg9EBznPnnDsTIbCb2Qx_i-gKWdZvyb98lVtkVCELe6NmEW6QhO8etSqZJrj50pvuJt3vGt4Zbabwj0zpl0PiTuHYwI/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pHeSdvV7pLhBX9Bbj_uQ-1Bzee3DxQQ_Ve5CmFRo9sWGhdpgPg9EBznPnnDsTIbCb2Qx_i-gKWdZvyb98lVtkVCELe6NmEW6QhO8etSqZJrj50pvuJt3vGt4Zbabwj0zpl0PiTuHYwI/s320/IMG_1095.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555810297217676770" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Traditional Christmas morning breakfast on the Christmas dishes.. egg casserole and monkey bread. Yummy, if I may say so.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCzuwsdtIhzsNzxR6inUuqLnqYq4NnleT_S74UsYe6qTr4y1NJPbLVDymIQFmgOTovVuQNkJGibWvVfAmf_bM0joFH6es3262iei1s71g2sPiKHkOS-ZDYAoa5-HIwU4jT94vdxWjryA/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCzuwsdtIhzsNzxR6inUuqLnqYq4NnleT_S74UsYe6qTr4y1NJPbLVDymIQFmgOTovVuQNkJGibWvVfAmf_bM0joFH6es3262iei1s71g2sPiKHkOS-ZDYAoa5-HIwU4jT94vdxWjryA/s320/IMG_1106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555810292677777538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Post-Christmas hike up Mt Baldy. This is a pretty mild hike in the summer but it is downright treacherous in the snow. Clayton and I have snow-shoes but the kids don't, yet.. I think we'll be getting them. It took us over an hour to get just below the summit.. it was too steep to take the kids up all the way. But it was a BEAUTIFUL day and view from the top that we made that day.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvNMUR53wiU9Kzf5faRDQ6y2H_xKk-d4slF-XhA6widAhTuNxPQoPBgD3ektJwoo53z665bNGZCgloZjr-1SDm5IYmLwNpdkzT84lbxQeJkqO51ZV8fkqkPNBjOEx0o5lW-aqanjdMmo/s1600/IMG_1114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvNMUR53wiU9Kzf5faRDQ6y2H_xKk-d4slF-XhA6widAhTuNxPQoPBgD3ektJwoo53z665bNGZCgloZjr-1SDm5IYmLwNpdkzT84lbxQeJkqO51ZV8fkqkPNBjOEx0o5lW-aqanjdMmo/s320/IMG_1114.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555810282200758290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSlIUwmtcBwxuf6Kahr3LkfdS4LvSwlendstXVc9alESZ_CJ-I7luZhKqWkLtBKnMzqGgoPvqh_gMrSA1yyAuzrewN33LwKdixPy6EGtsnjxdjiAIxI3Pk0SVznqFKeAHy5kuDhphIhk/s1600/IMG_1118.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSlIUwmtcBwxuf6Kahr3LkfdS4LvSwlendstXVc9alESZ_CJ-I7luZhKqWkLtBKnMzqGgoPvqh_gMrSA1yyAuzrewN33LwKdixPy6EGtsnjxdjiAIxI3Pk0SVznqFKeAHy5kuDhphIhk/s320/IMG_1118.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555810281259362130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We call this move the "butt sled". This is how they got down. Sledding on the butt. I am so proud that Clay knows the difference in spelling butt and but. He's more than happy to share that with anyone who cares to know. Clayton also taught them how to do a farmer's nose blow or something equally nasty. Awesome.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulb2uaeLJfeeQ4AppEliFMpYkl6WD0rPWaCFGclC-ws8GUpFRj2AV63PdltJdUlXGIw14hEihR5ae6sS__XwEKpTKU4GuMs6EszYlhq-UWt3SI2mdRF8wungqfWzqTK0f9n2W1OfzWpY/s1600/IMG_1133.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulb2uaeLJfeeQ4AppEliFMpYkl6WD0rPWaCFGclC-ws8GUpFRj2AV63PdltJdUlXGIw14hEihR5ae6sS__XwEKpTKU4GuMs6EszYlhq-UWt3SI2mdRF8wungqfWzqTK0f9n2W1OfzWpY/s320/IMG_1133.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555810273763669586" /></a>Well, I hope this post finds you at the end of a great 2010. It has been a great year for us. We had so many visitors this summer and fall/winter. We love showing Alaska off to you.. We also got to Arizona a couple times and those vacations are always too short. We are so blessed.. It was a hard year at Elmendorf with a couple of airplane crashes, one in Clayton's attached squadron. It makes us all the more grateful for safe flights of fast gray airplanes, something we do not take for granted for us nor for our friends flying out of other bases. We are grateful for our families and for our friends. We are grateful for God's continued blessing of safety and health for the Alaska Johnsons. Book a trip out on 2011!!! We'd love to have you :)<br /><br /></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-90388058635991488942010-12-16T09:35:00.004-09:002010-12-16T10:16:03.412-09:00Christmas Madness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKZvgsoR2_yXpWCGEM5zJelEVK8yIjc5UP5q0efmC4ozySAoVTh_3i68oBxf1ymjznMVOXPUBpXhnPJKcZ6eu64roRggYkqj2evLMMCX7XpTVPzp-VA-h8o5c7Pwuifg6C4o2PERJRK0/s1600/IMG_0837.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKZvgsoR2_yXpWCGEM5zJelEVK8yIjc5UP5q0efmC4ozySAoVTh_3i68oBxf1ymjznMVOXPUBpXhnPJKcZ6eu64roRggYkqj2evLMMCX7XpTVPzp-VA-h8o5c7Pwuifg6C4o2PERJRK0/s320/IMG_0837.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551358265332215506" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Mid-December... must be time for a blog update. We have been running up here in Alaska. I didn't know there would be so many Christmas (or "holiday", if you're trying to be PC.. which I'm not. Ever.) activities for Kara and Clay at school!! And, ever observant mother that I am, I have been surprised several times at the last minute with concerts and plays. It will all be over today as the kids are at their last day of school before Christmas break. Whew!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>We started out the month with Clayton's birthday. It was a mid-level celebration for us. Neither Clayton nor myself are super big "birthday" people so sometimes we don't really celebrate like we could or should. This year, I made dinner and some of our neighbors came for dinner and cake. The kids and I gave Clayton a "sick" new snowboard (at least that's what the kid at REI assured me). He kept it instead of returning or exchanging it so that is a victory in my book. The thing is, the last new snowboard he had was one I gave him the year before we were married.. that would be 1996. So 14 years ago. He was due. I think he was really surprised and he rode it last weekend at Alyeska and Hillberg. Good times. </div><div><br /></div><div>In addition to regular downhill skiing, I've been cross-country skiing. Clayton gave me skis last year for Christmas and I was sort of irritated because I felt like he was implying that I wasn't exercising enough. Well, I found a bunch of friends who skied or at least were willing to try and I was hooked. I've been probably 10-12 times already this season and I'm loving it!! If you come visit us in the winter, I will take you out. SO. MUCH. FUN. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I'm going to post some pictures of the concerts... But I must tell you about Clay's not-so-good day last week. He has been telling us lately that he hates his name because kids have been making fun of him at school. Apparently, it all started with the dreidel song "Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of "CLAY"". Yes, that is his thorn in the flesh right now. We have tried to talk him off the ledge and were met with some moderate success.. UNTIL the kindergarten "Holiday" concert... the kindergartners were singing their dreidel song and when it came to the "clay" part, they all turned around and looked at Clay. If you know him, you know that Clay doesn't deal real well with public humiliation. He did not melt down or start whacking at anyone but he did give me the death glare through the rest of the song. His teacher was mortified. It was actually pretty funny but we can't laugh about it with him yet... And that was also the day that he carried on a fine family tradition of drug trouble. Yes, he was caught with a cough drop at school. Fortunately, he wasn't intentionally smuggling it or trying to sell it, but he did have to go to the nurse's office (because what if someone stole the cough drop and died from the deadly poison it contains!?!??!) where the nurse called me and flogged me over the phone. I have now promised to take all medicines into the nurse myself and not put them in my kids' pockets for prn dosing. Oops.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll now leave you with pictures from the above said adventures/activities..</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Clayton and his white cake with white frosting birthday cake. I will not be accused of being a cake-lady, in case you're wondering...</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cc0UIWqn6oA47clz8jqNBHDzHduW2ay9OnglC6mguDb44oHDxNI20-ImpbRJBNe9u-8SRk2Eu_Yr1s8TsaYFecB08Nl31X5fbKJnAjuBrm6L-ShnlB-xpykSeQ0QY_E60Ms-FWM88Vc/s1600/IMG_0831.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cc0UIWqn6oA47clz8jqNBHDzHduW2ay9OnglC6mguDb44oHDxNI20-ImpbRJBNe9u-8SRk2Eu_Yr1s8TsaYFecB08Nl31X5fbKJnAjuBrm6L-ShnlB-xpykSeQ0QY_E60Ms-FWM88Vc/s320/IMG_0831.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551358262704362642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Random pic of my xc skis.. do you love the light at 9:30 in the morning??</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalFE9ED9h6c8oA_QoaYoUazLm9j3nOp483KlCaZYEnHQ6ycniLRFOZqWFDZkYNxELqrDQxapNJO4BsycIwwjJKYZkYy29FV2Vw-YUqFchnBdi_jUOSImdZh9VLFD2bkySDwPBDF63vAQ/s1600/IMG_0827.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalFE9ED9h6c8oA_QoaYoUazLm9j3nOp483KlCaZYEnHQ6ycniLRFOZqWFDZkYNxELqrDQxapNJO4BsycIwwjJKYZkYy29FV2Vw-YUqFchnBdi_jUOSImdZh9VLFD2bkySDwPBDF63vAQ/s320/IMG_0827.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551354134253850994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kara and her choir on their "tour" of Eagle River.. First stop: Walmart. Awesome.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLj4owYrJDwaS-ktgfNEFe2EXrQECpSs2_DZ2CDdb5ip_97eAfs_EP5O5VGgph9-9h_OppCrvn7niqvCoT1vD5tEA8zLXfVIzB_C9gLHYKqNVvcmiia-U3gsGpE8ewAIGrfHoY45eOls/s1600/IMG_0875.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLj4owYrJDwaS-ktgfNEFe2EXrQECpSs2_DZ2CDdb5ip_97eAfs_EP5O5VGgph9-9h_OppCrvn7niqvCoT1vD5tEA8zLXfVIzB_C9gLHYKqNVvcmiia-U3gsGpE8ewAIGrfHoY45eOls/s320/IMG_0875.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551352429446003314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My stupid camera kept focusing on other kids but there's Kara in the pinky-purple hat.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uIZSsJN8j0xHDcamrnaiGbWxO4e9ItmiCSCJc0rE-KSiKFXfwNbFgeO-EkB4U1vbBSdE9zBGsUvFYsALIU-twrizVTXX1OA-OTQBsJFOuZO9xsYTqA6axzfgdhI-ocCQttvG0lPgKtw/s1600/IMG_0865.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uIZSsJN8j0xHDcamrnaiGbWxO4e9ItmiCSCJc0rE-KSiKFXfwNbFgeO-EkB4U1vbBSdE9zBGsUvFYsALIU-twrizVTXX1OA-OTQBsJFOuZO9xsYTqA6axzfgdhI-ocCQttvG0lPgKtw/s320/IMG_0865.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551352425169299506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Clay at his Christmas concert.. before he got all postal about the making-fun...</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5xRRtuJUeyH7cY6Za-fgzZgxN_zwTtjiqpMEmqKb1qIbjMDW4HtbVxMGtK0_fX4X5kz-kSyqSRnb_geCRHrmiJBpv_54b0WTIO_zg9UKvrTfTKXxH_z3GFlkGYB2DKDZCWdw07_H2G8/s1600/IMG_0898.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5xRRtuJUeyH7cY6Za-fgzZgxN_zwTtjiqpMEmqKb1qIbjMDW4HtbVxMGtK0_fX4X5kz-kSyqSRnb_geCRHrmiJBpv_54b0WTIO_zg9UKvrTfTKXxH_z3GFlkGYB2DKDZCWdw07_H2G8/s320/IMG_0898.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551352449265640722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Clay and his snowman outside his classroom. You can tell the sparkle has left his eyes :(</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0HWLACHtWGBqtauxgtQBaQXIdB3c100JyXY7PEVvrx2wxi65zl7MF5gWKnX_6e7Ba0jj2EfGMUss26L2maVCcydMK20SgCjrg0GvoJ7a7tHqDtmo4GP2lWhx-fi6reY75aSp_dIh8ps/s1600/IMG_0927.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0HWLACHtWGBqtauxgtQBaQXIdB3c100JyXY7PEVvrx2wxi65zl7MF5gWKnX_6e7Ba0jj2EfGMUss26L2maVCcydMK20SgCjrg0GvoJ7a7tHqDtmo4GP2lWhx-fi6reY75aSp_dIh8ps/s320/IMG_0927.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551352452771616386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kara at her nighttime choir concert.... We learned that if you don't show up to these gigs at least 30 minutes early, you WILL stand in the back. </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2KNmb4-3PXdgmfe58IHTxMJMH7Y5d-QrN3e-ERFLHZY6prxyl6QcXaZ043vsOxgAyd19rPrz0nCzrRDLyIATh2O2WH0WdJRqCcZ0lfXfksuY9oCFOhw_UkS-AORDfh0uCLdW5bFtjss/s1600/IMG_0946.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2KNmb4-3PXdgmfe58IHTxMJMH7Y5d-QrN3e-ERFLHZY6prxyl6QcXaZ043vsOxgAyd19rPrz0nCzrRDLyIATh2O2WH0WdJRqCcZ0lfXfksuY9oCFOhw_UkS-AORDfh0uCLdW5bFtjss/s320/IMG_0946.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551354145179680866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jt69Mn6hDC66gdwh3Dcs33JEJX7LCUMWFcYctvaQrT7PKNA8VzzajmSTpGpzZureJJ2yihRIe-66WtaNw0PI5OoEuIiKySt47YhJQYNIG5G4Rj5BODXicwkZuKwWoxYsTFDXSRnjFvw/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jt69Mn6hDC66gdwh3Dcs33JEJX7LCUMWFcYctvaQrT7PKNA8VzzajmSTpGpzZureJJ2yihRIe-66WtaNw0PI5OoEuIiKySt47YhJQYNIG5G4Rj5BODXicwkZuKwWoxYsTFDXSRnjFvw/s320/IMG_0722.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551354137930499122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I will post in the next few days something of a Christmas letter.. I think. </div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-55886870439378795222010-11-27T09:40:00.008-09:002010-11-27T12:56:03.210-09:00Thanksgiving 2010<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that Thanksgiving 2010 has come and gone. This year (I know, this is a central theme for me lately) has been flying by. The last couple weeks have been very difficult but it made it easier to count the blessings this year, for sure. I was so thankful to have Clayton's mom, Anne, in town to help keep me organized and on-task this Thanksgiving. We went to the Sutterfield's for the meal and, I have to say, our eats were fantastic. We had way too much food and it was fun to be pretty low-key. It was also our first snowy day after a week of rain and way too much ice. In fact, there was so much ice that the kids' school was cancelled Tues. and Wed. of last week. It was fun having them around and we managed to not let the ice keep us down.</div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">The turkey... before the carve. Clayton accused me of drying it out in the manner of Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation. It pleases me to say he was wrong.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544303399184765842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLYjm9PMjEz90TPc9Z3SH5dXVt78mZRnfNkPIjIJs6SKtTAqqD4gZI0b3Hwij8QHkzrrlBGmBMKACUA41d7FreX7CtKlNKjzWANf0U9-mMeUpvUMoadqhnYR_EBIRd1220RilFpfqscQ/s320/IMG_0745.JPG" /> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHnFbtTd-US8V3zs2hWlX8QP8ccxjFtE1qeimUkMImQ-vw6oC9HzQejETjI8GRNHFHpqIjeZQ81zURJ1XEcw1ZdW11YyLo21OfUve6UPOukfHDVNVlN_Bh6uQlDd4zIm3ypQ5kuszcVA/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnx_smXy6Qdkih7T_YDrpTs5YtYtbvqWgQAQvo-1j_V6UPdojMobFaXDFT4zloSyoGvO510TamW-MqY6iZvfDKQHtt_YwI8GwVbUW9IF0vnyZE7hqE6clZz2mw3sg5BDZOFu6nYcCICtU/s1600/IMG_0758.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544303415248203314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnx_smXy6Qdkih7T_YDrpTs5YtYtbvqWgQAQvo-1j_V6UPdojMobFaXDFT4zloSyoGvO510TamW-MqY6iZvfDKQHtt_YwI8GwVbUW9IF0vnyZE7hqE6clZz2mw3sg5BDZOFu6nYcCICtU/s320/IMG_0758.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHnFbtTd-US8V3zs2hWlX8QP8ccxjFtE1qeimUkMImQ-vw6oC9HzQejETjI8GRNHFHpqIjeZQ81zURJ1XEcw1ZdW11YyLo21OfUve6UPOukfHDVNVlN_Bh6uQlDd4zIm3ypQ5kuszcVA/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG"><br /></a><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Desserts.. yum.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NFWmNxPAjEuSHUJ6xJZGft90bA30sc5lfOMCuItUJci-QVbSqdyj-_LrbSDodT8FeGn3fOcscnCdyj9nB9p8igGrSrxd1mlEA4PIA4kFwj46NwWkB3WQiIsIuaoj7Y2S2DZ9IohwlbM/s1600/IMG_0757.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544303407933191890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NFWmNxPAjEuSHUJ6xJZGft90bA30sc5lfOMCuItUJci-QVbSqdyj-_LrbSDodT8FeGn3fOcscnCdyj9nB9p8igGrSrxd1mlEA4PIA4kFwj46NwWkB3WQiIsIuaoj7Y2S2DZ9IohwlbM/s320/IMG_0757.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHnFbtTd-US8V3zs2hWlX8QP8ccxjFtE1qeimUkMImQ-vw6oC9HzQejETjI8GRNHFHpqIjeZQ81zURJ1XEcw1ZdW11YyLo21OfUve6UPOukfHDVNVlN_Bh6uQlDd4zIm3ypQ5kuszcVA/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG"><br /></a><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">A snowy attempt at pictures in the snow... will have to try again later.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544305563789292850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5qIcmGJLQAglpq5kMI1mNjfloIGni0B-HMugCII5Rn8fXcloePpQx33D7teTQHkvg3hyiVecw9EfIv-jATQI5fvWYGvI-kieEO38JdJibL5sPARwSElYmYH-Tb2I6d8IVAynhWHlKf4/s320/IMG_0727.JPG" /> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Random picture of my blooming Christmas Cactus. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHnFbtTd-US8V3zs2hWlX8QP8ccxjFtE1qeimUkMImQ-vw6oC9HzQejETjI8GRNHFHpqIjeZQ81zURJ1XEcw1ZdW11YyLo21OfUve6UPOukfHDVNVlN_Bh6uQlDd4zIm3ypQ5kuszcVA/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHnFbtTd-US8V3zs2hWlX8QP8ccxjFtE1qeimUkMImQ-vw6oC9HzQejETjI8GRNHFHpqIjeZQ81zURJ1XEcw1ZdW11YyLo21OfUve6UPOukfHDVNVlN_Bh6uQlDd4zIm3ypQ5kuszcVA/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544305883459274162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHnFbtTd-US8V3zs2hWlX8QP8ccxjFtE1qeimUkMImQ-vw6oC9HzQejETjI8GRNHFHpqIjeZQ81zURJ1XEcw1ZdW11YyLo21OfUve6UPOukfHDVNVlN_Bh6uQlDd4zIm3ypQ5kuszcVA/s320/IMG_0761.JPG" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">When we aren't actually celebrating Thanksgiving, here are some of the things that we're thankful for during the week at our house....</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">A little Lego Star Wars action on the Wii...</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcb1iRh1i0gO_yJyzKePaXy8aLv3Q2OyUpUTJLVviq96GFxwj3XbmMWsvLI360fCWtZ9YiBFA9FdV9QCFJonvCKOGWAmnmvXrY8ke83tDY6cEcMYw3-pULhp2hee8GaWvO8wVM0GQJQk/s1600/IMG_0703.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544305563180128722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcb1iRh1i0gO_yJyzKePaXy8aLv3Q2OyUpUTJLVviq96GFxwj3XbmMWsvLI360fCWtZ9YiBFA9FdV9QCFJonvCKOGWAmnmvXrY8ke83tDY6cEcMYw3-pULhp2hee8GaWvO8wVM0GQJQk/s320/IMG_0703.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Destroying Clay's (yes, he was MAD) turkey project and wearing the "feathers" on their faces..I just know in about 6 years, they won't find face spots funny any more :(</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L2_lKsDN1opTiomTqdlgrjUWODPuIX-WWRdwowmNvayHJyf-F5VAeSIBGtboOqimNRr-lY93NHJLuLy_UT5pzsLNnedBM_R7j8ItSR8P3DTy89cA30q4cE0YwAvxy_Xwa8_oYEuJCYQ/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544305552278975890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L2_lKsDN1opTiomTqdlgrjUWODPuIX-WWRdwowmNvayHJyf-F5VAeSIBGtboOqimNRr-lY93NHJLuLy_UT5pzsLNnedBM_R7j8ItSR8P3DTy89cA30q4cE0YwAvxy_Xwa8_oYEuJCYQ/s320/IMG_0701.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Dancing with the Wii late on a Saturday night.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrgTwKyhq5BdO0SwCSdnnpB2DfpGlDMqK6maYY1WDc5nUC8VryRSV7S-ut-UMI1Ly1JDNosXKrYHb1JYVuhjjwPoYxVy_IEjSOWgZzvxuxaehogDUezkZ7ERrtAv2rTxrvfO6YCqAGJY/s1600/IMG_0681.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544304548460866338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrgTwKyhq5BdO0SwCSdnnpB2DfpGlDMqK6maYY1WDc5nUC8VryRSV7S-ut-UMI1Ly1JDNosXKrYHb1JYVuhjjwPoYxVy_IEjSOWgZzvxuxaehogDUezkZ7ERrtAv2rTxrvfO6YCqAGJY/s320/IMG_0681.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">3 weeks of swimming lessons culminating in a solo slide down the "big slide" at Fort Rich.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIpCq_VwXiscCrtuhnhnIoMKXDgdIekz6VDBAXBHWnSxq47M05sf4wC94WWiMSEv677hEVW9posbsa_pYrm0JzjZCK6QeXYtsMJAeBFgaYjm0PtSfIgbr6QlGZSxoogmCziNSOytaHL4/s1600/IMG_0692.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544304531004816850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIpCq_VwXiscCrtuhnhnIoMKXDgdIekz6VDBAXBHWnSxq47M05sf4wC94WWiMSEv677hEVW9posbsa_pYrm0JzjZCK6QeXYtsMJAeBFgaYjm0PtSfIgbr6QlGZSxoogmCziNSOytaHL4/s320/IMG_0692.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Victory!</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1svtTRYrK3mOgUKUc-w5Sk1LtFNs_RDKO3ffuM7qZwovNQVsYHfAu8JNqyh1eBoMQtPtiAy2uk0tZNqTLrrMtyWLkz8SlmU7UQSquFz3TdlDxZyxMGyAbSioG7Dh1eJJtrxlc-bxF-4/s1600/IMG_0689.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544304538313753714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1svtTRYrK3mOgUKUc-w5Sk1LtFNs_RDKO3ffuM7qZwovNQVsYHfAu8JNqyh1eBoMQtPtiAy2uk0tZNqTLrrMtyWLkz8SlmU7UQSquFz3TdlDxZyxMGyAbSioG7Dh1eJJtrxlc-bxF-4/s320/IMG_0689.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Last night we went to the Christmas Tree Lighting in downtown Anchorage.. before hand, we did a little shopping at REI.. Clay was modeling the absolute latest in warm-face wear. Or bank-robbing wear. Either one will work.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qLZxs3quTd_Qni81u8_UMryGtRECty6oqi0uahmYET_ALb8mWsdxnsejIBCkMQdXqyDDHnkq4VFLovUn0S4ID6wXa3-_k1792rCcmlGAr8PbgHf8Wlfx4atxge7UWaCro_cpzVv-7Io/s1600/IMG_0762.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544303426311873778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qLZxs3quTd_Qni81u8_UMryGtRECty6oqi0uahmYET_ALb8mWsdxnsejIBCkMQdXqyDDHnkq4VFLovUn0S4ID6wXa3-_k1792rCcmlGAr8PbgHf8Wlfx4atxge7UWaCro_cpzVv-7Io/s320/IMG_0762.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Kara tried on about 15 hats. She loves herself some hats.. winter or summer. Since Clayton was along on the shopping trip, she left empty handed, naturally.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowieCwcbat7hy5Nn5NSa7tbEKIw-Nski13UJUpBpJfT9_eh0l6yaw8DdVcFeVyDzXCpjQaFBkiEahX9ULt5sqF7UB8zIGJnLK0eGyWHrqlpJ03kE9iaFKjNeaPbTMpEJbt-S9sVAOu_U/s1600/IMG_0763.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544303420154988418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowieCwcbat7hy5Nn5NSa7tbEKIw-Nski13UJUpBpJfT9_eh0l6yaw8DdVcFeVyDzXCpjQaFBkiEahX9ULt5sqF7UB8zIGJnLK0eGyWHrqlpJ03kE9iaFKjNeaPbTMpEJbt-S9sVAOu_U/s320/IMG_0763.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">This picture was taken at 4:00 on Friday, on our way to shop and tree light. We're getting to the worst of the darkness here.. in a couple weeks, it will be dark as night by 4:00. But, nevertheless, we start with the longer days on December 22.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544304557283033810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-KIoLNBkSLZ_bFIoHrU9mceHg_SqreovJ1FBAishX2EiQZtfO-eonVcjYpQCG_pXbqUy91c80ll5b0ZOKanV3TJnytYSmrNJCYgufDOZxUxTDZRwuAhXj1zWcZIHvrfVxdNbUYXBCwY/s320/IMG_0766.JPG" /> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">On our way to Town Square, we passed the reindeer being off loaded from their trailer.. it was sort of anti-climactic for the kids... they still don't know what to do with the whole Santa thing. I think they are unbelievers but sort of afraid not to go along with it which is hilarious to me. Anyway, these poor reindeer definitely did not sign up for last night's job...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBrgrL3HFE0Fy5ng8CzXHEZoh7tbB-tu1_1U6g2wDWdtOXQbzACyN2vzPlt1z-EzVFVLOFsnq0FgFOcz_yJox3bQvGHi_MXDRUZ7B5274l2D3-Wr2v8h0e09KyPVmtKqT_XyfUdY_qHQ/s1600/IMG_0812.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfrEugqFz69wzGx-RljdlPFb8S1Yj8ilNE2FRivU_s3tPrMfZrSIUNTaSDlkg_J02YVtK81yHt6U41Zy6g7Uwy7eNXV2iGRYtiAH5w1CwMGjb5TsU3gsnL15sp8G_sFk358QKYUne5as/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544304561206738082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfrEugqFz69wzGx-RljdlPFb8S1Yj8ilNE2FRivU_s3tPrMfZrSIUNTaSDlkg_J02YVtK81yHt6U41Zy6g7Uwy7eNXV2iGRYtiAH5w1CwMGjb5TsU3gsnL15sp8G_sFk358QKYUne5as/s320/IMG_0771.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">The unlit tree. </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544305569489650834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgif-mvYJtXG_eMEjJ0UJO0df9om9K4v2UvOvbMJHn-fpJCIk4BKPvrJUUQQzvmzecy5YtY-8TrTcufQtqQ0M5t4L8z-ebXGrM-Pa5v_nNqdtBym-B8qqFihXTjdh6awVY0fD2hMM1RY/s320/IMG_0798.JPG" /> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Santa pulled up in his sleigh right in front of us. Kara was in the front row and when they asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she said "a computer". Santa said she should ask for a puppy instead (like every other kid they polled).. I don't know what it is with a computer. She's not getting one, BTW.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBrgrL3HFE0Fy5ng8CzXHEZoh7tbB-tu1_1U6g2wDWdtOXQbzACyN2vzPlt1z-EzVFVLOFsnq0FgFOcz_yJox3bQvGHi_MXDRUZ7B5274l2D3-Wr2v8h0e09KyPVmtKqT_XyfUdY_qHQ/s1600/IMG_0812.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBrgrL3HFE0Fy5ng8CzXHEZoh7tbB-tu1_1U6g2wDWdtOXQbzACyN2vzPlt1z-EzVFVLOFsnq0FgFOcz_yJox3bQvGHi_MXDRUZ7B5274l2D3-Wr2v8h0e09KyPVmtKqT_XyfUdY_qHQ/s1600/IMG_0812.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544305580428888690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBrgrL3HFE0Fy5ng8CzXHEZoh7tbB-tu1_1U6g2wDWdtOXQbzACyN2vzPlt1z-EzVFVLOFsnq0FgFOcz_yJox3bQvGHi_MXDRUZ7B5274l2D3-Wr2v8h0e09KyPVmtKqT_XyfUdY_qHQ/s320/IMG_0812.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">This picture was taken at 5:30. It was 20 degrees (which actually is considered warmish) but I did not insist on warm foot-wear for Kara or myself so we suffered.. but we had fashionable boots on so we at least looked good on the feet while we were in pain ;)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfujNEv3IbbMwEqSMEX6iTYthycZz5qI-ephRtgyFI9qVjju5z7DYKVBTohpFUs0cadR-4pvqf4CYjlUdUItn0lm7OVm7TmGMwOQYgYXFpemhbw4tBMoJ-VNrROTi-hsK2jgfD4_eJY1I/s1600/IMG_0772.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544307241384812402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfujNEv3IbbMwEqSMEX6iTYthycZz5qI-ephRtgyFI9qVjju5z7DYKVBTohpFUs0cadR-4pvqf4CYjlUdUItn0lm7OVm7TmGMwOQYgYXFpemhbw4tBMoJ-VNrROTi-hsK2jgfD4_eJY1I/s320/IMG_0772.JPG" /></a><br />We are so thankful this year. Thank you to everyone who checked in with us after the crash last week. I think that the pilots and their families in the 525 are limping along. Our hearts are so very heavy for the Haneys. No one expects their husband not to come home from work. Continued prayers for the Haneys will not go unanswered, that I believe. There is a Jeff Haney memorial page on facebook that has some information on donating to the girls' education funds if you want to participate in helping in a tangible way. And for those of you who pray for safe flights, pray on. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-17999132979077576722010-11-21T07:40:00.004-09:002010-11-21T07:45:31.193-09:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#00509F;">US Air Force Hymn</span></h2><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 80, 159); font-weight: bold; ">Lord, guard and guide all those who fly</span></div><span style="color:#00509F;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Through the great spaces of the sky;</span></div><b><div style="text-align: center;">Be with them traversing the air </div><div style="text-align: center;">In darkening storms or sunshine fair</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thou who dost keep with tender might</div><div style="text-align: center;">The balanced birds in all their flight</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thou of the tempered winds be near</div><div style="text-align: center;">That, having you, they know no fear</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Control their minds with instinct fit</div><div style="text-align: center;">What time, adventuring, they quit</div><div style="text-align: center;">The firm security of land;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Grant steadfast eye and skilful hand</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aloft in solitudes of space,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Uphold them with Thy saving grace.</div><div style="text-align: center;">O God, protect all those who fly</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thru lonely ways beneath the sky.</div></b></span><p></p></span>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-67944808142794973772010-11-11T16:43:00.002-09:002010-11-11T17:25:28.860-09:00Happy Veteran's Day<p><object style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/Jv8Ozt8BplI/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jv8Ozt8BplI?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jv8Ozt8BplI?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></p><p>Thankful for a husband that serves. Thankful for dad/father-in-law's service. Thankful for the sacrifices of my WWII serving grandfathers. Godspeed to our friends and family who are currently overseas.. may you stay safe and come home quickly.</p>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-90727575958059882752010-11-01T17:34:00.005-08:002010-11-01T17:57:04.472-08:00In Other News....<div>November??!! I can remember when I was in high school complaining about how time seemed to go so slowly. My Grandmother told me that once I got older, time would seem to speed by me. I didn't believe her but she turned out to be correct, AGAIN! It's amazing to me that we're coming up to Thanksgiving. We have some snow on the ground but not enough to work with.. it'll come, I'm sure :) We're very excited about dragging out the skis... so, we say, "Let It Snow"!!!<div><br /></div><div>Here are some recent highlights and goings on around our house...</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kara at her American Heritage Girl joining ceremony. She was so proud to walk behind the flag, for some reason :) Patriotism runs deep around here, that's for sure and we are happy our kids value our country. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XvP2JgOwgc1bb-gtIEgPd_ovjqHzvXWa2bdy1J3n0zOgGexdH6JmrYhgL6HXgJehrL1atJmUdVOfmkdn0YUJPinlxwgvN0d9HHyWtS_7QHxn_irbEBVbcdlAhZ-n3nGhiNpVqIdQPb8/s1600/IMG_0602.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XvP2JgOwgc1bb-gtIEgPd_ovjqHzvXWa2bdy1J3n0zOgGexdH6JmrYhgL6HXgJehrL1atJmUdVOfmkdn0YUJPinlxwgvN0d9HHyWtS_7QHxn_irbEBVbcdlAhZ-n3nGhiNpVqIdQPb8/s320/IMG_0602.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534762342968108594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lighting the candles and getting their patches.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu9gxSfrKw_CMPIm7P91SuLit15t-TWQDr9CXyjGgBQaHAZt_b8r3B0DtZmcdaSdVko0M1aLSi6GN7wwZtTQDK9Zd3jKTdN2_4ePNtCOUMP_O5pwYAv9-7fR9PoATDqvt3XGn-efkTNI/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu9gxSfrKw_CMPIm7P91SuLit15t-TWQDr9CXyjGgBQaHAZt_b8r3B0DtZmcdaSdVko0M1aLSi6GN7wwZtTQDK9Zd3jKTdN2_4ePNtCOUMP_O5pwYAv9-7fR9PoATDqvt3XGn-efkTNI/s320/IMG_0616.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534762335989897186" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">While the Claytons were in AZ, Kara had spirit week at school.. one day was crazy hair day. Kara knew exactly how she wanted her hair to be.. little pony-tails all over and a big flower on top. I believe it qualified as crazy.. unless you're shopping in a Walmart in Texas on any given day.. then it's status quo.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7qoRcM1Y11iOFEY9HsvG9PoEvHBcXZAjaRiSIdVEsbPjt9mY-6VnS9xdWxEM6V16wIDNinIhzzhx9pN-oqKAzuN-hp3J4RfRSlfJCE3yeqE7zU5Ru6QBYZZ6Q4Mwl68CrX2u5eSzr7o/s1600/IMG_0618.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7qoRcM1Y11iOFEY9HsvG9PoEvHBcXZAjaRiSIdVEsbPjt9mY-6VnS9xdWxEM6V16wIDNinIhzzhx9pN-oqKAzuN-hp3J4RfRSlfJCE3yeqE7zU5Ru6QBYZZ6Q4Mwl68CrX2u5eSzr7o/s320/IMG_0618.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534762334433421906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">As the weather turns, kids go out less often.. and they turn to fort building. This picture doesn't do the fort any justice.. in fact, it just makes my living room look messier than usual. Suffice it to say, this was their masterpiece fort to date..</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpiI4fenaZuONzUHwKEwseLFXesRgj3KSVaD5KjVaStpfr_QimlIfsKl_Z0eEwldI7f7sSIw7Y3C5_gPLgLOODHP-hYMqrYY3-M21ErEWkZiT_BIEdC9GjIMHOjyPtRRSjkm4ZYzWatw/s1600/IMG_0622.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpiI4fenaZuONzUHwKEwseLFXesRgj3KSVaD5KjVaStpfr_QimlIfsKl_Z0eEwldI7f7sSIw7Y3C5_gPLgLOODHP-hYMqrYY3-M21ErEWkZiT_BIEdC9GjIMHOjyPtRRSjkm4ZYzWatw/s320/IMG_0622.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534762323460151618" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Halloween is not really celebrated at our house, per se, but far be it from Clayton to deny his chance at free candy from the kids!! Kara was dead set on being a barrista this year. I have no clue where she came up with the idea but we made it work. I ordered a kids' apron from some guy in Taiwan on eBay for $17. Worth every penny. She got a latte painted on her face at Peace Lutheran's Harvest Fest on Friday night.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkpjGG5ktvfY0Cq5LDOTUeCL5sxEq1foYWGEHJbLgHIThWNCJr_pMljzmMqn-pc6s8fTjjHERCmKdR2B0VOsDGIZOc5nO_F6_D2jSGBXNkwqzjV4Z50YdYnB0XRBx80x0QqB3b4Wip5E/s1600/IMG_0638.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkpjGG5ktvfY0Cq5LDOTUeCL5sxEq1foYWGEHJbLgHIThWNCJr_pMljzmMqn-pc6s8fTjjHERCmKdR2B0VOsDGIZOc5nO_F6_D2jSGBXNkwqzjV4Z50YdYnB0XRBx80x0QqB3b4Wip5E/s320/IMG_0638.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534761375489826738" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ooops... an out-of-order photo... Kara lost both her front teeth in a week. She very much enjoys talking funny and she is VERY much enjoying double-duty tooth fairy money.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ESVA9RtmPVlVVbLm36COrJkRZvQ1aQDK1wHFf4hd8tNrbaRXR0yF3ERrQ0aALxNmAHePllesBMEOpPXjeQRwjsi7EImBn6fyR10ryNf_vEHJY69Dm2GogZ_ekCd6ADllKubYWXHAZy8/s1600/IMG_0624.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ESVA9RtmPVlVVbLm36COrJkRZvQ1aQDK1wHFf4hd8tNrbaRXR0yF3ERrQ0aALxNmAHePllesBMEOpPXjeQRwjsi7EImBn6fyR10ryNf_vEHJY69Dm2GogZ_ekCd6ADllKubYWXHAZy8/s320/IMG_0624.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534761372025238402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Back to Halloween.. we went to our neighbors' house for dinner.. my friend Kim was telling me about a spooky tree cake she made so I gave it a whirl with some help from Clayton (he made the tree!!!). It looked awesome, if I may say, which I may since it's my blog.. but it tasted HORRIBLE! I don't know what happened. Good thing there was lots of candy.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCv-SRwcd8BsjkJSMRjGXlW3BPUAXzcH_-P-tE5AOIcYM9hJZwLU8tIzXOrnE3475kJUIrXFSHx32DsXl3kKdN1-ANLGu9xx9llQDztVtqDbFwb2iU-Ej2nNJTuaRl8tOB3t1IVwqv5w8/s1600/IMG_0649.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCv-SRwcd8BsjkJSMRjGXlW3BPUAXzcH_-P-tE5AOIcYM9hJZwLU8tIzXOrnE3475kJUIrXFSHx32DsXl3kKdN1-ANLGu9xx9llQDztVtqDbFwb2iU-Ej2nNJTuaRl8tOB3t1IVwqv5w8/s320/IMG_0649.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534761368590641298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Boba Fett and Boba Fett. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjEYonXME7lk2PPNNWQhrcT50pAszxfkxdKlJuAQbAadiiyYGRu9d2sPO632WxGoz-TQOid6TH0jmx7h8rx54EnEG3MLV4tbGky9wlWozdWzrmLdUpiOpCBhIBW448kVs6Itipo0WHcQ/s1600/IMG_0666.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjEYonXME7lk2PPNNWQhrcT50pAszxfkxdKlJuAQbAadiiyYGRu9d2sPO632WxGoz-TQOid6TH0jmx7h8rx54EnEG3MLV4tbGky9wlWozdWzrmLdUpiOpCBhIBW448kVs6Itipo0WHcQ/s320/IMG_0666.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534761362710426034" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">All the kiddies before heading out to beg for candy... </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivryP4ZrjuW-JXDP3PRZ02xwFq6sZwFfUL3v-Jra8O1hgJKLBwM5UK4P6S5P8t-22g0zCtXaMWf_p6V2Lo5ErnYItIomjhaF-pw-eN1l_U9GKqvi1z0JeJk919hGLVO77Gw-5TB8ENpFk/s1600/IMG_0670.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivryP4ZrjuW-JXDP3PRZ02xwFq6sZwFfUL3v-Jra8O1hgJKLBwM5UK4P6S5P8t-22g0zCtXaMWf_p6V2Lo5ErnYItIomjhaF-pw-eN1l_U9GKqvi1z0JeJk919hGLVO77Gw-5TB8ENpFk/s320/IMG_0670.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534761358326047458" /></a><br />So, all in all, we're doing great and waiting patiently for full-on winter. Come visit and bring a coat, hat and gloves.. you'll need it when we drag you out for some winter-time fun!AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-82025480139073122292010-10-27T10:20:00.006-08:002010-10-27T10:49:44.652-08:00A True Story<div style="text-align: left;">So, a few weeks ago, Kamdon and I were asked by a friend to help decorate for a VP cocktail party on base. Turns out, the VP was Jay Leno. The AF Reserves were opening a new recruiting center and Jay Leno was coming up to "open" it. After the opening, he was giving a free show on base for any military ID card holder. SO, there was going to be this cocktail party after the opening before the comedy show that our friend was tasked with throwing. There was going to be some serious AF and Army brass as well as high profile community leaders. The more we found out about it (after we agreed), the bigger deal it seemed to be. Karla and her husband pointed us in the general direction they wanted to go and we ran with it. I'm not going to lie: it was a lot of work. I cut out a lot of aircraft out of balsa wood.. a lot. Kamdon painted a picture of a P-something airplane one day.. we special ordered napkins and coasters.. we were harassed by a very insecure lady from air force protocol (this is the manners department.. they make sure the right behinds are kissed properly, etc... not to take away from their very important job, but really, we're 2 SAHM moms decorating a room for a party as a favor for a friend.. we don't want your job!!).. we created a lot of silly drama for our poor friend and her husband.. but I think the room looked fantastic at the end. IN FACT, my bible study leader was at the party (from the community side) and she told me that of all the parties she's been to in that room, ours looked the best by a long shot. OH, and we did meet Jay Leno. Poor guy looked like he had infant triplets at home that he'd been up with for the last 7 nights straight. He was, however, very funny and Clayton and I laughed HARD at his show. We had VIP passes and seats right in the front (obviously a bonus for helping out with the party... we would NEVER have made the invite list otherwise!). It was a fun end to a long week...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The room all finished... we brought in art from the 477FG... old Tuskeegee airmen images, lots of fighter pilot nic-knacks. It was really cool looking, if I say so myself :)</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZGiUBFMFKfppvfZmTsPiiKx4EjTUg3hLYCZKqr-NLb_0KZ5Pvv6lsDlH5K5vBeZXzzYL0AaM8fjkuAnX_dJWKiibbq4yEpYIaYQJ4uBoieZZHyKwN0d8RDbdXZt27a1PTgAiMt_LKpk/s1600/IMG_0531.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZGiUBFMFKfppvfZmTsPiiKx4EjTUg3hLYCZKqr-NLb_0KZ5Pvv6lsDlH5K5vBeZXzzYL0AaM8fjkuAnX_dJWKiibbq4yEpYIaYQJ4uBoieZZHyKwN0d8RDbdXZt27a1PTgAiMt_LKpk/s320/IMG_0531.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532796091043027874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Centerpieces with balsa airplanes.. there were P-somethings, F16 and F22s, all airplanes flown by the 302FS.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUYgqR5pQtB45tw1qIb3ORSxn8lvP7TahioPJALOJqhzw4W-dTIhrT6yUsKOUerPTR0uH5kH5hKCOpns33fMi3hwUzoJrYx1RzQGpJyqFDtAOwCsDB9XyVZfeIdXfLDhK7LtgrnFAGf4/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUYgqR5pQtB45tw1qIb3ORSxn8lvP7TahioPJALOJqhzw4W-dTIhrT6yUsKOUerPTR0uH5kH5hKCOpns33fMi3hwUzoJrYx1RzQGpJyqFDtAOwCsDB9XyVZfeIdXfLDhK7LtgrnFAGf4/s320/IMG_0543.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532796104746091810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yWd7q2XgWYivasEQg3qfNdyry-NUTavz_9OrErza8XfiDfAnE5M1N7laKWM4m4hgO1bIczogZ4VWwfuY0gFzFHWftuqGb_uAnJUo963xRDy_YvkgyJ1gMrmDPdRIhgw8_GA0xOKk_B4/s1600/IMG_0546.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yWd7q2XgWYivasEQg3qfNdyry-NUTavz_9OrErza8XfiDfAnE5M1N7laKWM4m4hgO1bIczogZ4VWwfuY0gFzFHWftuqGb_uAnJUo963xRDy_YvkgyJ1gMrmDPdRIhgw8_GA0xOKk_B4/s320/IMG_0546.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532796090586545138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">P-40 (???) Super cool painting.. it's for sale.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8YOWmDLUnx2CtO9s0OrDy1ADbQBpLumd27EmgSTgno05cl7HnipUuT7r1LxsEOrqjHgDgDlsa_bvKrILcusMndKDQHdC_Mmlk3qC3QMd9a_qQcy3ueVKhP8hpFNDBkwCIoiliz4OIQ8/s1600/IMG_0542.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8YOWmDLUnx2CtO9s0OrDy1ADbQBpLumd27EmgSTgno05cl7HnipUuT7r1LxsEOrqjHgDgDlsa_bvKrILcusMndKDQHdC_Mmlk3qC3QMd9a_qQcy3ueVKhP8hpFNDBkwCIoiliz4OIQ8/s320/IMG_0542.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532796096275731762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes.. we are shameless.. actually, there was a line and they herded you through like passengers boarding a Southwest jet. As a side note, please notice my very cool shoes that my darling husband informed me were "hooker" shoes on the way (in the car) to the party. He sure knows how to make a girl feel good about herself :)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxue5SKiCzAhkqdHtBWFVJJF7NDUN7PvksUXQUGIUSMdBBI5Qky7Dx-M_Q8z6Ac3PrGOCGGrlJaBWGDvQ94Yl9G5cIkdBNAhyX3g8ghyphenhyphenWpt6TcWGGhAEMAjJTPApOxOrnR9RmuHhQZLtw/s1600/event_photo.php.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxue5SKiCzAhkqdHtBWFVJJF7NDUN7PvksUXQUGIUSMdBBI5Qky7Dx-M_Q8z6Ac3PrGOCGGrlJaBWGDvQ94Yl9G5cIkdBNAhyX3g8ghyphenhyphenWpt6TcWGGhAEMAjJTPApOxOrnR9RmuHhQZLtw/s320/event_photo.php.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532797129437941250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWtMGB8ogQETE5lVTbBfouqwGoRnjFzZ-XFD3qEseDJ70Fzg5XeFtL485VQQntWXQ3U45J9snJvts9ZeZ2UiutWkxm5_65_0zPy09eCFQ8c3etRTl5O-6JGIG3LPqgVIU4kMTNwOucMk/s1600/tn.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWtMGB8ogQETE5lVTbBfouqwGoRnjFzZ-XFD3qEseDJ70Fzg5XeFtL485VQQntWXQ3U45J9snJvts9ZeZ2UiutWkxm5_65_0zPy09eCFQ8c3etRTl5O-6JGIG3LPqgVIU4kMTNwOucMk/s320/tn.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532797125089550242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWC_0ipub8-9UbdnpXTWqudtIQLmd7Q7eRzSAyrP7ds_MDhzTQsMW593n0YQUIC6ZOTAQtoP_Y6Nbt0q_90G__uFL2tusGVYr7clKHOaR6uFNRRLMo8LxUqA8cl9Ttb5eJTe8R8__Hvo/s1600/IMG_0570.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWC_0ipub8-9UbdnpXTWqudtIQLmd7Q7eRzSAyrP7ds_MDhzTQsMW593n0YQUIC6ZOTAQtoP_Y6Nbt0q_90G__uFL2tusGVYr7clKHOaR6uFNRRLMo8LxUqA8cl9Ttb5eJTe8R8__Hvo/s320/IMG_0570.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532796109193267218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Proof positive that we returned the room to its original condition.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVxMGDQb7guxd0ORKcQWKFUPOHhUFj69mg1_BrMdFGkFSCRrMksrAKeYHvrcxOFtZz2M3Vg7ttfLF6QSprw7VQEfif0eWeuwvtXyDjeZkxjHv66yNesiL2dekKzhC9Oj419nhVTxJs2I/s1600/IMG_0574.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVxMGDQb7guxd0ORKcQWKFUPOHhUFj69mg1_BrMdFGkFSCRrMksrAKeYHvrcxOFtZz2M3Vg7ttfLF6QSprw7VQEfif0eWeuwvtXyDjeZkxjHv66yNesiL2dekKzhC9Oj419nhVTxJs2I/s320/IMG_0574.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532798762390459346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-68413064079231577102010-10-16T11:42:00.003-08:002010-10-16T12:06:51.615-08:00A Full Heart<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_NzAIsla4TcocaxJjI9uxJMJFOLRUFOLGckSBNe372sHKauEhPuCaTfgnNoHhCbiiWNEcae0Xv-hwQhzMF4jSUyKFupfGTMGFPfif-rCyO8ePhehTvIMRelGldZ9HrXird0PElENsec/s1600/IMG_0441.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_NzAIsla4TcocaxJjI9uxJMJFOLRUFOLGckSBNe372sHKauEhPuCaTfgnNoHhCbiiWNEcae0Xv-hwQhzMF4jSUyKFupfGTMGFPfif-rCyO8ePhehTvIMRelGldZ9HrXird0PElENsec/s320/IMG_0441.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528734759162662514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">(a random moose-in-the-neighborhood photo from a week or two ago)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">2010 is sure to go down as the super-slacker blogging year for me. I won't beleaguer you with reasons for such slackerness but I like to think that we're busy people, people :) Lots going on this time of year as school is in full-swing and various kid activities are going (and going..and going). Clayton has been in town more lately so that has been nice as long as there aren't too many alert shifts or 16 hour days (sigh). He has some traveling coming down the pipe this winter so we're enjoying his local presence while we can.</div><div><br /></div><div>Little Clay and Kara are doing great in school. I chaperoned one of Clay's field trips last week to the Botanical Gardens. Um, it is pretty cold here (20s in the AM) and most of the plant life outdoors have been dead for WEEKS... so I'm not sure why they're still doing field trips to the botanical gardens but they are. Well, actually, Clay's group was the last one of the season.. Anyway, I realized that I am a very strict parent. Like in the category of, perhaps, nazi or the KGB. Some of those kids were HORRID (despite the fact that it was well below freezing and we were outside for 3.5 hours). I mean to tell you, I can't get over how rude kids are to adults. I'm pretty sure they'll lose my license to go on these trips after last week. I'll post some pics of all the kiddies in their winter gear.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Getting a story read to them in the sunrise.. at 10:00AM. Good-bye sunlight.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOykTrpNHqtRBiRT1B1hZCXaEk72fGXKWKhFOpiMvODys60EgW7nZpDq-3SyS8rU7VeBD_uogBOwPGoMy-c7Ylu4rpJt1b3T4Ob5yO7UPhqjWnJ9gwZLSfAraBh31yehhgv39eWq-fE_k/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOykTrpNHqtRBiRT1B1hZCXaEk72fGXKWKhFOpiMvODys60EgW7nZpDq-3SyS8rU7VeBD_uogBOwPGoMy-c7Ylu4rpJt1b3T4Ob5yO7UPhqjWnJ9gwZLSfAraBh31yehhgv39eWq-fE_k/s320/IMG_0579.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528733090380816594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Learning about lady bugs (a garden visitor as opposed to garden pest).</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZ21UQoJuXm2xx2X-bwywz4mbb7z0UbfjmAH-wZChNOI-uIJ9f9wVe5OcEkmEC_HFLUfIFbgriO-bJHxX5Gdd7FqIU4jxFZMrvfaDxAT7pKnhbM-0ZzXfezmkrJHzIelAmkllC3Nfka4/s1600/IMG_0597.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZ21UQoJuXm2xx2X-bwywz4mbb7z0UbfjmAH-wZChNOI-uIJ9f9wVe5OcEkmEC_HFLUfIFbgriO-bJHxX5Gdd7FqIU4jxFZMrvfaDxAT7pKnhbM-0ZzXfezmkrJHzIelAmkllC3Nfka4/s320/IMG_0597.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528733101414153138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;">Clay-Clay in his new winter coat. He wouldn't fasten the hood. His exact words "It's killing me to have the hood buckled". </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgpIrVQXTbBzLvN3_41qvZjvk4EeolvyM3EZ06OHwQeUo3dVTejNlA0KNdzKGThiojMuuazMLnRWAuCba-GOhihn0laum7kuG7X8RjPZaTdD57oVAf01YikJhE3J_EtxPrlQ2FXcwnP8/s1600/IMG_0578.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgpIrVQXTbBzLvN3_41qvZjvk4EeolvyM3EZ06OHwQeUo3dVTejNlA0KNdzKGThiojMuuazMLnRWAuCba-GOhihn0laum7kuG7X8RjPZaTdD57oVAf01YikJhE3J_EtxPrlQ2FXcwnP8/s320/IMG_0578.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528733078616148706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Some sad news for us is that our friends NATO and Camille are leaving Alaska for sunnier (literally) pastures. Clayton has worked with NATO for the last 10 years. I have known Camille for about 6 of those years. There is a hole in the collective Johnson heart with their departure. It has, however, caused me to reflect on the great blessing of friendship in my life. God has been so faithful to provide GOOD friends for me in every season of life thus far. I have always been aware of that blessing but never more than here in Alaska. This place is so amazing and beautiful but it's FAR from home. There's no jumping in the car in the middle of the night, driving 24 hours and getting to Arizona.. There's no guarantee of a flight out if there is bad weather or a volcano (please, no more volcanoes). Most of the time, we pay no attention to that nonsense.. but sometimes, the reality sets in. I'm telling you, we have the most special group of friends up here. I thank God for them everyday. So when someone leaves, it is PAINFUL! Our friends are our family in Alaska and I treasure each and every one of them. If you've traveled up here, you've probably seen how integral they are in my/our life. I'll post some pictures of our recent antics with said friends. My heart is full tonight thinking of the blessing of friendships even as it is heavy with the Hegtvedt's departure. We'll miss you guys.. but it's not good-bye. It's see you later.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Hellion and his angel going to the Hegtvedt farewell.. Camille requested "Hellion" attire. Needless to say, we obliged. (If I may comment.. there is a rich military history behind the whole hellion thing.. but it's another story for another day)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyPRTLnpba0bGY3DhY7z5zVe6KYUcvIW_94-FAaN-gZ-HjmBW93yR3brOkPsm329swvMl3m_c4HbsJgf4eHx8lvN7is5-sfViORlwPmX5Y_i81D_k0h_YldVIlsKuoYPE-8l7MhNGsB4/s1600/IMG_0455.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyPRTLnpba0bGY3DhY7z5zVe6KYUcvIW_94-FAaN-gZ-HjmBW93yR3brOkPsm329swvMl3m_c4HbsJgf4eHx8lvN7is5-sfViORlwPmX5Y_i81D_k0h_YldVIlsKuoYPE-8l7MhNGsB4/s320/IMG_0455.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528734784449302930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kamdon, Jen and I. Fast Jet babes, right? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkHvfDmMLGwfQI4VyypbPzIKx1Us1sPCEWA2vEDbzW-IoD3UXbJy1UdmF7uTTXXrk1G9LLFFrx8BWaWYmmKmyTAVhLoxUr0z4DGxnh8Yg5Lalc-BkWGcgreGGT6I_dfpITr6-9FqBu1k/s1600/IMG_0519.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkHvfDmMLGwfQI4VyypbPzIKx1Us1sPCEWA2vEDbzW-IoD3UXbJy1UdmF7uTTXXrk1G9LLFFrx8BWaWYmmKmyTAVhLoxUr0z4DGxnh8Yg5Lalc-BkWGcgreGGT6I_dfpITr6-9FqBu1k/s320/IMG_0519.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528733115968617042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The original Hellions Angels.. almost the whole group. A finer group of ladies, you'll never meet. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuprhqvDTh-NaFgDSeJS1DcuoFyuhmVMnf6sw7T26P5xElzXukCJJT17kO6AYhdcL4YmhAGym4sGPjyfshNwh8Q3I3__q2Osp7kDhZNiZ5OHW0liEsyVXvtSp-Jqoxv-cks-mSyUJTD8/s1600/IMG_0468.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuprhqvDTh-NaFgDSeJS1DcuoFyuhmVMnf6sw7T26P5xElzXukCJJT17kO6AYhdcL4YmhAGym4sGPjyfshNwh8Q3I3__q2Osp7kDhZNiZ5OHW0liEsyVXvtSp-Jqoxv-cks-mSyUJTD8/s320/IMG_0468.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528734748991646050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">One last dinner at Simon & Seafort's just before Camille left.. She and I have logged a fair amount of time in the S & S saloon.... often times splitting the halibut like we did that night. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGi9t3MBQeeKDDtMTNu_QCnJtwL1Ub7ddUrKmBQWwFZpUH1mx9MUMZplthD8i2eIleN9ZQhFg_MRXatHbypkTf9hw2FzeJyEILqcWsL5Lg34ERLtNmyEStV1lqKaF1blN0T4D9I9adIkY/s1600/IMG_0598.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGi9t3MBQeeKDDtMTNu_QCnJtwL1Ub7ddUrKmBQWwFZpUH1mx9MUMZplthD8i2eIleN9ZQhFg_MRXatHbypkTf9hw2FzeJyEILqcWsL5Lg34ERLtNmyEStV1lqKaF1blN0T4D9I9adIkY/s320/IMG_0598.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528733108978451986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">(Bad mom moment... realized I didn't have any photos of Kara.. here she is trying on Daddy's mullet wig after we got home from the going away party.. I hope the biker look always remains a costume for Kara :))</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9rrs3FqSXcU6VXD7oe0D7ifSpPd3NolTUxoNocv4nWTqpC5PT4o52g8_qxnzkQy-3ruzaGRpdKWcxUCrhHBQ31IMSRd1t8EYA-RvhuBzHgaS2nCttqxyimbJb5BQWWRtVFN7xkJOF5U/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9rrs3FqSXcU6VXD7oe0D7ifSpPd3NolTUxoNocv4nWTqpC5PT4o52g8_qxnzkQy-3ruzaGRpdKWcxUCrhHBQ31IMSRd1t8EYA-RvhuBzHgaS2nCttqxyimbJb5BQWWRtVFN7xkJOF5U/s320/IMG_0527.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528734787177959186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-5450506802625767272010-09-27T16:28:00.004-08:002010-09-27T17:25:13.964-08:00Our Life in Pictures<div>Hello from an officially fall/winterish Alaska. Yes, folks, our winter is en route. It snowed yesterday (Sunday, September 26). I was teaching in the 4/5 year old class at church and one of the dads ran in and was shouting (no exaggeration) to his kid that it was snowing. All the kids and I ran to the one window in the room and sure enough, we saw the flurries. It built up to the point that it was a mini-blizzard by noon. Fortunately, the ground is still warm so there was no stickage.</div><div><br /></div><div>In other news, my friend Greta was in town for 5 days last week. We hadn't seen each other since we moved to AK so we had a lot of ground to cover. The thing about those kinds of friendships, though, is that even if it had been 10 years since we'd been together, we pick up right where we left off. We had so much fun. Pictures below :)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are some pics of Kara's class field trip to Campbell Creek. The 2nd graders in all of Anchorage do a year-long project where they harvest salmon eggs, nurture them in the classroom and then set the mini-fishies free at the end of the school year. This trip was to harvest (and fertilize!!) the salmon eggs. It was really cool to watch.. </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGqkgGeh7zLkY035Qr2LQzLSxHMs2-6Fjy3LVZVO-uCTWfHnJf9u9IwPMEgksj8R9PpuQ9sGbh8lviqkbQXNYNsWEZG_3dadgXll_Z88MdSa2ifEtRBgQZd5owgaOII4X6Esktw17cYc/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGqkgGeh7zLkY035Qr2LQzLSxHMs2-6Fjy3LVZVO-uCTWfHnJf9u9IwPMEgksj8R9PpuQ9sGbh8lviqkbQXNYNsWEZG_3dadgXll_Z88MdSa2ifEtRBgQZd5owgaOII4X6Esktw17cYc/s320/IMG_0307.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521756984982002402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kara and her friend Olivia.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UFOA9xfZBm1HuaQ-AfFQ_nn2dnsUcAsF76XBkuEmcQxZwimogUxyun2qEYpqnyyEv3WxkuYN2vtyCZUdQ6omCFwoqrYJ5pDaJXAKrCyAG7d6PdeD8wuiF9czRyqKAji3wn9dpqPhL_A/s1600/IMG_0325.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UFOA9xfZBm1HuaQ-AfFQ_nn2dnsUcAsF76XBkuEmcQxZwimogUxyun2qEYpqnyyEv3WxkuYN2vtyCZUdQ6omCFwoqrYJ5pDaJXAKrCyAG7d6PdeD8wuiF9czRyqKAji3wn9dpqPhL_A/s320/IMG_0325.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521756991334200242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The biologists getting ready to "harvest" the (dead) female salmon's eggs. It was kind of gross, to be honest. But the fertilization part was much grosser. By far.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlStnTFoWNSoI2fp7cEhC1cn9IzNbBlS9sBLfISpOGi-8hQH7bEcpSpmqnZE2SFdl_QoV_cIBRBlX6FTMzql2dwVmHab0qmuyaa3dD5XkQkXywVAn7_5LKmELkwpIuo7E7gcVjrzTFwn8/s320/IMG_0318.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521756986228678146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">When Greta came to town, we took advantage of the warmer (50s) weather and relative sunshine every day. This day was a hiking trip up Mount Baldy with the kids after school. I am a genius and I brought 2 friends for the kids.. that significantly cuts down on my kids' complaining but it significantly adds to the feeling of cat herding. They did great and it was beautiful.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafoZj7-kkd8eL4tObMAeyBn2lHC7w4vVeCGXYoosWmtV-AyqDhye-BcZ1oNXv07NnO603jNlTr6YesvCEixYLGOlYMQAUT2Y4ltTcpkpkBAjFFxzqIDxhFgmLBlUdmjj1cspb47gKUWs/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafoZj7-kkd8eL4tObMAeyBn2lHC7w4vVeCGXYoosWmtV-AyqDhye-BcZ1oNXv07NnO603jNlTr6YesvCEixYLGOlYMQAUT2Y4ltTcpkpkBAjFFxzqIDxhFgmLBlUdmjj1cspb47gKUWs/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: center;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafoZj7-kkd8eL4tObMAeyBn2lHC7w4vVeCGXYoosWmtV-AyqDhye-BcZ1oNXv07NnO603jNlTr6YesvCEixYLGOlYMQAUT2Y4ltTcpkpkBAjFFxzqIDxhFgmLBlUdmjj1cspb47gKUWs/s320/IMG_0349.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521759778692743202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Greta and I at the top of Mount Baldy. It was pretty chilly. We rewarded ourselves with a lovely pizza dinner and brownies. We are very good at rewarding ourselves with food. Been doing it for 20 years now :)</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjSxzl4AvD3Qi-7pob9t55fwp8PYkXFpDrFt8H33hYnABKx60KuvXyM2dw83MBjDhzKZNjj12yrasjRGllmhkoq2guApEXicLSEdZ2lC1qGaYkFMBNgku8IXwrNDTQVXb_xGFgTLRmpc/s1600/IMG_0342.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjSxzl4AvD3Qi-7pob9t55fwp8PYkXFpDrFt8H33hYnABKx60KuvXyM2dw83MBjDhzKZNjj12yrasjRGllmhkoq2guApEXicLSEdZ2lC1qGaYkFMBNgku8IXwrNDTQVXb_xGFgTLRmpc/s320/IMG_0342.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521757000276645714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Clay and Ryan at the top... they were feeling just fine :)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhU49ooCjauCiuY-Rswy76Pq8uZqPMr109K_AMYJ6mHfzsYMoirsssk6QLWws36lf6nPNxp6rxAUIFjNqYBF_VCEKfJUUE7q6IhgofS-cK0wOIZ2iZGBQfz2cR08aFFupx4bbj17SPMeI/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhU49ooCjauCiuY-Rswy76Pq8uZqPMr109K_AMYJ6mHfzsYMoirsssk6QLWws36lf6nPNxp6rxAUIFjNqYBF_VCEKfJUUE7q6IhgofS-cK0wOIZ2iZGBQfz2cR08aFFupx4bbj17SPMeI/s320/IMG_0347.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521757003614948818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Another day, we went to Girdwood/Alyeska to hike on a 5 mile trail that leads to this huge gorge where you can pull yourself across using a hand tram.. what that is is a basket hanging onto a relatively thin cable that you tow yourself across using a rope.. the hike was beautiful and we ended up running into some other friends and their kids. It was another awesome day.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYYv8FUXxylNNQyl-asN811TVB2w3LpwI8afNRwAAXmIUkFcdJOLEjKuMoij6W6mirjINVOBSfncNl213nBqkgf881f7OhAvrUaFNs7Dm6WDKuxCIXvgX1gDp12jKLY37bHby5cR1SPo/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYYv8FUXxylNNQyl-asN811TVB2w3LpwI8afNRwAAXmIUkFcdJOLEjKuMoij6W6mirjINVOBSfncNl213nBqkgf881f7OhAvrUaFNs7Dm6WDKuxCIXvgX1gDp12jKLY37bHby5cR1SPo/s320/IMG_0367.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521758266903124754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Another awesome thing we did when Greta was here was taking our bikes out to some AWESOME bike trails... it's usually a cross-country ski trail in the winter, complete with green and black runs for skiiers. In the non-snow time, you can bike. We had a BLAST. My bike was made for this kind of riding (thanks, Fokker). So much fun. We again rewarded ourselves with an early (11:00am) happy hour at a local mexican food joint. Good times.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSr8FZEKvhIyOr2la6co_lR6tIS2XUJ6x0UPG7wKBji8wo8lAEKN1LNB6_KFfUlbbi27XPOx1kET06NtDTcvqf1GNOfaifF6rWpKdhgVUlBHysZeD8JgcDL2rsY6H73-KijCn5CDMivM/s1600/tn.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSr8FZEKvhIyOr2la6co_lR6tIS2XUJ6x0UPG7wKBji8wo8lAEKN1LNB6_KFfUlbbi27XPOx1kET06NtDTcvqf1GNOfaifF6rWpKdhgVUlBHysZeD8JgcDL2rsY6H73-KijCn5CDMivM/s320/tn.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521758274715674738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvMDogZFpvfEbZN-MxPjgYYWZJ4dun7C-3QMoqJM_ZzQB-L75KVehd_VAFx9PiMyPgm43Q15q2zQC6pyVCYLwBAaFOOEhseOq8LWyYNoi03VywNQaKBKEyb9SxafHZ9TaJBTPDrgMUss/s1600/tn.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvMDogZFpvfEbZN-MxPjgYYWZJ4dun7C-3QMoqJM_ZzQB-L75KVehd_VAFx9PiMyPgm43Q15q2zQC6pyVCYLwBAaFOOEhseOq8LWyYNoi03VywNQaKBKEyb9SxafHZ9TaJBTPDrgMUss/s320/tn.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521758272942238434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">One night, Clayton took the kids and we met up with a bunch of friends at a restaurant downtown (Sullivan's). It was so much fun for me to introduce my new Alaska friends to one of my oldest friends (you know what I mean!!). We had a fabulous time without the kiddos. Thanks to ALL the dads who kept their kiddos so the moms could go out on Friday :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is Christy, me, Christen and Greta.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUJv1Ip2x9VyvzVoyGl8w4icrIhTT3SMD0zEJjjkNmWedmFPj8CVo3OOZ-jrXySvXLQsiXp1A0Q3mgTmzoGD9CuLZ6eTi-_c_GAFYT0gltJgA81Aj1c6_FBC3kOu-2RNC03amJPnUB44/s1600/IMG_0411.JPG"><br /></a></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUpOxNBB5WlBixqbst1YCQkmBpsGXdDJ5DWGZY90oDgVaAxG6TBaikA6F21qZG6LpfNdc9kFpXDcQAMOtFFB7gfBMAhmjtbbaUCYTLjJjUitfn5V4pti5H6Zv0u0LTw_Tix003ScVG98/s320/IMG_0355.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521758258734618002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">Proof of the random September snow shower... a lovely preview of what is sure to come.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUJv1Ip2x9VyvzVoyGl8w4icrIhTT3SMD0zEJjjkNmWedmFPj8CVo3OOZ-jrXySvXLQsiXp1A0Q3mgTmzoGD9CuLZ6eTi-_c_GAFYT0gltJgA81Aj1c6_FBC3kOu-2RNC03amJPnUB44/s1600/IMG_0411.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUJv1Ip2x9VyvzVoyGl8w4icrIhTT3SMD0zEJjjkNmWedmFPj8CVo3OOZ-jrXySvXLQsiXp1A0Q3mgTmzoGD9CuLZ6eTi-_c_GAFYT0gltJgA81Aj1c6_FBC3kOu-2RNC03amJPnUB44/s1600/IMG_0411.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: center;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUJv1Ip2x9VyvzVoyGl8w4icrIhTT3SMD0zEJjjkNmWedmFPj8CVo3OOZ-jrXySvXLQsiXp1A0Q3mgTmzoGD9CuLZ6eTi-_c_GAFYT0gltJgA81Aj1c6_FBC3kOu-2RNC03amJPnUB44/s320/IMG_0411.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521758270381142226" /></a><br />Greta's trip was pretty successful: she saw a bull moose up close and personal, bear tracks at the river (fresh), a bald eagle (but no bear)... experienced the first snow and a 5.4 earthquake. Not bad for 5 days! I'm sending a big shout out to her mom and dad and her husband Jason. I love you guys and thanks for freeing Greta up to come to Alaska. We had a great time. I love you, friend! Thanks for coming :)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-35302548548979606842010-09-16T20:06:00.005-08:002010-09-16T20:36:29.917-08:00Happy Fall, Y'all!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbzhijiyTM9Mn8NSVQ2Jx-5rnvR-GzDABjf23aAFZ-os7I_611o7uyOHCzAqu_F-gMFK3j5b85034rtI-JyUvL8wq9aEABuCl8pm3Z-er3LvDHZ7aoF5403UH5wQt38XtmAhBBLfNLT4/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbzhijiyTM9Mn8NSVQ2Jx-5rnvR-GzDABjf23aAFZ-os7I_611o7uyOHCzAqu_F-gMFK3j5b85034rtI-JyUvL8wq9aEABuCl8pm3Z-er3LvDHZ7aoF5403UH5wQt38XtmAhBBLfNLT4/s320/IMG_0198.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517734788819388818" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Greetings from Alaska the beautiful! After a grisly summer (read: rain, heater running, dreary days) weather-wise, we are having a LOVELY fall complete with sunny days, warmish (60s) temperatures, changing leaves and happy Johnsons.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last weekend was my birthday. It was my 9th anniversary of turning 29. I have never really had issues with my age but this birthday made me feel old. When my mom was my age, I was 16! Thankfully, there are certain treatments that make me look not so old all the time (wink, wink). I had a really great weekend. We went to Girdwood for the day on Saturday and we hiked the North Face with the Sutterfields. In fact, Clayton flew down there with Kevin while Kamdon and I drove the girls in the car. It was a great day. Sunday was far less active but great, nonetheless. Kara and Clayton made me breakfast in bed (egg and bagel sandwich). On Sunday night, we went to the coolest place in Anchorage.. it's an old steak place, Club Paris, that is caught in about 1976 both musically and decoration-wise. It's awesome!! Dark, wood paneling, pleather seats, low lighting, fabulous tunes and super-yummy steaks. Kamdon booked a sitter so the 4 adults could eat out in peace. It was a great day . Thanks to everyone who called, messaged and facebooked. I felt celebrated, for sure. </div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, the 2010-2011 school year marches on. Due to a variety of factors, our kids aren't doing AWANA this year.. mainly that is due to it moving to Sunday nights, one of the few nights Clayton is generally at home. SO, Clay is having a break and Kara is doing Heritage Girls, a Christian-focused take on girl scouts. She is also in choir.. we are considering a keyboard (the horror!!) for piano lessons as well. We're staying busy. Even I am managing to stay busy during the days that BOTH kids are in school. Granted, some of that time is spent riding the bike trails in Anchorage with the bike mafia we have going (a group of moms who bike like mad). I LOVE it!! We have to do something to keep in shape until the snow gets here and we can XC ski. The fall is flying by....</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, and Fokker... well, he's working a lot.. he always works a lot but it's even more frantic these days. Prayer arrows with his name on them are always welcome :) </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kara and Ainsley hiking at Girdwood on 9/11.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARN4niXyifI3BRs-rCnM5SRqrljcS8uWD6KebSrOomzJTX8x_Tz0hOgXe892tpV79hdeErhnss-LWE34NkfEaMyHbXEOg64tChtA78T7vcX5Xdpc5LDYv1gWn_kHET0AcPtiUZ62h6Ho/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARN4niXyifI3BRs-rCnM5SRqrljcS8uWD6KebSrOomzJTX8x_Tz0hOgXe892tpV79hdeErhnss-LWE34NkfEaMyHbXEOg64tChtA78T7vcX5Xdpc5LDYv1gWn_kHET0AcPtiUZ62h6Ho/s320/IMG_0161.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517733149065774338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The kids and mommy on my birthday... </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1iucGIU-8JsFokzswB8Aa-dBwKfwCBRdyeAxCmTYlZkrPJDve_74uq_TUytbWhRKRkzX3YhxGmoVqcAr1cXSM52L1xrg8JSUCOaENQ-TDb80bpRpLq8ROz5x0i-uNOH_UD8tbPiTros/s1600/IMG_0172.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1iucGIU-8JsFokzswB8Aa-dBwKfwCBRdyeAxCmTYlZkrPJDve_74uq_TUytbWhRKRkzX3YhxGmoVqcAr1cXSM52L1xrg8JSUCOaENQ-TDb80bpRpLq8ROz5x0i-uNOH_UD8tbPiTros/s320/IMG_0172.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517733154511371410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hanging out by Eagle River 9/14...it looked more fall-y in real life..</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLEGumL7_dmfND3gfWuamObJ71N9XkpwqgsLd8waDtpQAX-gz6_ZkJNTRR-WJWHoYvB7-kJaI-Gf8Um66x9d5DuXH66MonZ72khbKBz09u2pqCZGnQ2qCrdSLTTlTov3pcjVrFBmvl00/s1600/IMG_0225.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLEGumL7_dmfND3gfWuamObJ71N9XkpwqgsLd8waDtpQAX-gz6_ZkJNTRR-WJWHoYvB7-kJaI-Gf8Um66x9d5DuXH66MonZ72khbKBz09u2pqCZGnQ2qCrdSLTTlTov3pcjVrFBmvl00/s320/IMG_0225.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517733766275335474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Clay at Eagle River.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGOJYg4PVbZ_FyGBA6TNl0uhF1qtje_vmMzdJMxG0fQ2QVnHlUShxCX8ykO4n4VRWjEYh4cziCJfWafPx8Pr-_Ps5K6CIzIEd7UOT8pghVnUCDjWLR1pULFVSJ2kpvik1ABCnOPluLC0/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGOJYg4PVbZ_FyGBA6TNl0uhF1qtje_vmMzdJMxG0fQ2QVnHlUShxCX8ykO4n4VRWjEYh4cziCJfWafPx8Pr-_Ps5K6CIzIEd7UOT8pghVnUCDjWLR1pULFVSJ2kpvik1ABCnOPluLC0/s320/IMG_0249.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517733164452441762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Karen and Kara 2 weeks ago..</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr52JRd3-cbMsz8vXtAo7VQjALNr_EVuCWI5IUP8ZX8K0vqnS3lLUUfWP9FkiPC7AocH1JK-Lwb6gG9BZnT3gZbcL8wY4HzPESb7mLFKFJaefviNMpjwKRrL0f3sll_Msvox4P-44pZ8M/s1600/IMG_0156.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr52JRd3-cbMsz8vXtAo7VQjALNr_EVuCWI5IUP8ZX8K0vqnS3lLUUfWP9FkiPC7AocH1JK-Lwb6gG9BZnT3gZbcL8wY4HzPESb7mLFKFJaefviNMpjwKRrL0f3sll_Msvox4P-44pZ8M/s320/IMG_0156.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517733141951782882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My awesome new painting that Kamdon and I finished today... it's based on a painting at a local restaurant here in Anchorage. I have always LOVED the painting because it reminded me of home (Arizona) with the pool but it's so Alaska with the polar bear. Kamdon helped me figure out a way to get the general idea (my own) onto a canvas on my wall!! I LOVE it !!!!! Kamdon put on little cactuses (it's acceptable to say cactuses OR cacti according to Mrs Theibert, my HS humanities teacher, so there) to really give it the AZ feel. </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZiEvmnIz2SaRC5w5TrdCguIz5vkEv5l5VsailIEubluqjUJMxc0gCMgUXuXJc3-BKv0Wgji_ff_rlzMMeWq__K4Qogy6IYf5XK8KxZNw-NpnI2uHTkv-eQzj-wDEdPoGWzisCMYRJRU/s1600/IMG_0306.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZiEvmnIz2SaRC5w5TrdCguIz5vkEv5l5VsailIEubluqjUJMxc0gCMgUXuXJc3-BKv0Wgji_ff_rlzMMeWq__K4Qogy6IYf5XK8KxZNw-NpnI2uHTkv-eQzj-wDEdPoGWzisCMYRJRU/s320/IMG_0306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517733759859297970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We're all loving Alaska this time of year.. all that's missing is you!!!!!</div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-49247657731953581442010-08-29T14:01:00.003-08:002010-08-29T14:11:13.836-08:00Clay-Clay'isms<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjqITzR_JAyiAuTm8ifqUpod-oRQejzr7t8x5rsFkNQ6aEECkRyLS9OE2pM7imrn-PtTimpbh1lQbXbxdnlmFzyf8-iZ8vF-7qHU6IWlq27THvg9E4yjgIswgDwFa0Q7SihTbP4uU3GQ/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjqITzR_JAyiAuTm8ifqUpod-oRQejzr7t8x5rsFkNQ6aEECkRyLS9OE2pM7imrn-PtTimpbh1lQbXbxdnlmFzyf8-iZ8vF-7qHU6IWlq27THvg9E4yjgIswgDwFa0Q7SihTbP4uU3GQ/s320/IMG_0022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510957470379567010" /></a><br />I just wanted to share a few funny things that Clay has said lately... He can be pretty funny, but mostly when he's not trying. On Friday after school, he was mad at me because I was chatting with a friend and he had to wait for me for about 3 minutes after school (they wait with the teacher outside but in line until a parent comes to get them.. this is only the kindergartners.. everyone else is turned loose at the bell). So we get in the car and Clay is still kind of mad. I let him sit in the front seat on the drive home (about 3/4 mile down the street.. judge later) because Kara had a little friend coming to play and they were in the middle seat. Clay looks at me with this bizarre look on his face and says "Hey Mom. Watch this. (turning to the girls) Hey Ladies. Guess what? I don't have any homework". Without missing a beat, in an annoyed tone and almost perfectly in synch, Kara and her friend go "That's because you're in kindergarten". Major shoot-down. But I don't think Clay really noticed. What made it so funny was that (as some of you may have experienced) the "Hey Ladies" remark is a constant coming out of big Clayton's mouth.. It's like he's some kind of smooth operator or something, which he obviously isn't. It made me laugh and pained me at the same time to see little Clay following in his father's foot steps...<div><br /></div><div>The second funny thing he did recently was on Saturday morning.. he was lounging on the couch and he whines to me "Mommy, do I have to go to school today?" to which I replied "Not today, it's Saturday". Instant transformation for Clay :"Yippeee!!!!". I made a disapproving face and Clay goes "You should be happy. You said you missed me while I was in school". What a funny kid.. I don't know what to make of him half the time but he does keep life interesting ;)</div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-37109271088650911662010-08-24T16:26:00.003-08:002010-08-24T16:40:47.748-08:00We've Got a Kindergartner!!<div style="text-align: left;">So, Clay survived his first day of kindergarten. He hasn't been very excited about going.. mostly I think he didn't want to be gone all day. I don't really think he knows what that means but it sounded like too much to him regardless. He only asked to go back to Peace Pre-school once but it gave me pause, for sure. Thankfully, he got up this morning and he was rarin' to go. We had the now traditional "K" pancake and he was out the door. The kindergarten process for the first day is a little much. All these parents squeezing into the classroom with their cameras and expectations, it's no wonder the kids cry sometimes! Fortunately, there were no Johnson tears shed by either Clay or myself. I did tear up on Kara's first day but I knew that Clay had no significant margin for error. He walked right in, put his stuff away and found his seat. He never really looked back! I was so proud of him and SUPER relieved. The little boy next to him was crying and his parents were definitely NOT making the situation better.. SO, I took my cue and exited stage left. When I picked him up, he was all smiles. His big complaint was being starving.. they only have 30 minutes for lunch. Well, Clay is a leisurely eater, to put it mildly. He is NEVER to be rushed at the table.. for real. I think tomorrow will be a more "filling" experience for him at lunch :) He did great. He is not overly forthcoming with the details but I am listening in as he talks to Grammie and Kara, I'll figure out how it went one way or the other. All in all, I'm thankful for the answered prayer of a good first day of kindergarten. I didn't have great expectations so I'm more than happy with the outcome :)</div><div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaY4jVP_dvdHH0UHp-EzkfUhtlx4B-zKiVwS0w1XqTUCRVwGpCwmwBZw7ErTPzxgd0Y2t69lTCuTIX1BFKOm9CYLcBaur1TIHJeFpMc8MWJSk8wKW7Mr8hCdjPPRubTYuhd3ZBRHUfVA/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaY4jVP_dvdHH0UHp-EzkfUhtlx4B-zKiVwS0w1XqTUCRVwGpCwmwBZw7ErTPzxgd0Y2t69lTCuTIX1BFKOm9CYLcBaur1TIHJeFpMc8MWJSk8wKW7Mr8hCdjPPRubTYuhd3ZBRHUfVA/s320/IMG_0063.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509139935859303170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiFC7jVORjiwr_NTEccBcakfPxojwXX38W2de9jLOgwfS3ylyQp-1RZIwmSf6uGleV0L7I3_qQaxrZKqSmPurniBOUF4OBmky4z7ex_fBuFNHWS4muzUAVAOb80Xc4NceI8WskHfeRkA/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiFC7jVORjiwr_NTEccBcakfPxojwXX38W2de9jLOgwfS3ylyQp-1RZIwmSf6uGleV0L7I3_qQaxrZKqSmPurniBOUF4OBmky4z7ex_fBuFNHWS4muzUAVAOb80Xc4NceI8WskHfeRkA/s320/IMG_0068.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509139948690276626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXazoEGgWTQHE-iTPpOMGecFMc8g_0oQphxkUkQDQB9YYnuDXhkmjpzUmqGs4zRXOypoW4B3mu3n2mAKR8BgzUMMvSePjM70YF6zKZUYE8Qy-ULScgAq09dRLdBxWfpxuz-K4uzKJ5ywM/s1600/IMG_0075.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXazoEGgWTQHE-iTPpOMGecFMc8g_0oQphxkUkQDQB9YYnuDXhkmjpzUmqGs4zRXOypoW4B3mu3n2mAKR8BgzUMMvSePjM70YF6zKZUYE8Qy-ULScgAq09dRLdBxWfpxuz-K4uzKJ5ywM/s320/IMG_0075.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509139957829406610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhjH2AioRMolo79FX0kFvae-stsXeVAFbqkhBcMgNbQ0_lBTfQ1Z0FbWF8Xlo7aEvrmyJLcsMq0itqicFgD3GiS9zHtITI0gxG4CPGwPRtSG6tnbuZ6anZ5xCBu3y95jGSAZUow6BBdw/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhjH2AioRMolo79FX0kFvae-stsXeVAFbqkhBcMgNbQ0_lBTfQ1Z0FbWF8Xlo7aEvrmyJLcsMq0itqicFgD3GiS9zHtITI0gxG4CPGwPRtSG6tnbuZ6anZ5xCBu3y95jGSAZUow6BBdw/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509139924509645090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKReJXeo1yDuyc1cn8dZbeXC-op_JEYqPoh0a0kZ32xolpf5-SylpGhBgHXBzaUmBxR5bDngsJdvxAM6u2XlivnumM_aYDxtdFYIZdnNq7MopwVAkp9c0ELuXqYrfrZZgWajK5Y8c3paU/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKReJXeo1yDuyc1cn8dZbeXC-op_JEYqPoh0a0kZ32xolpf5-SylpGhBgHXBzaUmBxR5bDngsJdvxAM6u2XlivnumM_aYDxtdFYIZdnNq7MopwVAkp9c0ELuXqYrfrZZgWajK5Y8c3paU/s320/IMG_0088.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509139913461753634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-38948762409565114962010-08-19T15:16:00.005-08:002010-08-19T16:18:30.265-08:00Whirlwind Life<div style="text-align: left;">So we went to Arizona for a quick end-of-the-summer/looking-for-sun trip. We had so many visitors this summer that we never really planned for our annual trip to the Valley of the Sun. It's been a pretty wet and not very warm summer in Alaska. We, all 4 of us, were ready for some Arizona sun and Arizona family. I've said it before, but we LOVE going home to Arizona. Nearly all of our immediate family lives within about 15 miles of one another. We get to hang out with our nephews and niece, the aunts and uncles as well as the grandparents. This summer was no different. We had less time but we packed in more fun than usual. We made Grayson's birthday party, a baby shower and a bridal shower. We invaded both grandparents' homes as well as the AZ Johnsons' house and Mark/Michelle's house. Seriously, everyone must sleep for a week after we leave. Then, I KNOW they spend that second week cleaning up after us. We had a great time as usual and we left Arizona with thankful hearts. We are thankful for the relationship we have with our siblings and inlaws as well as the relationships our kids have with their cousins. </div><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The whole crew.. Filleman, Johnson and Saylor cousins.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-IMhvJmS3O43B-yXLVYst8Nb2cY14W-tqMRrWcn5-uAGfKwRotlUV-1ntTuTOgRfHg6wPF5MSzyn4CIjPWlYRpofQxeACxeJ8sfHoQTTrDKcFxwJi8ExVkesZ-rwOUMkzC3J-dlkSeo/s1600/41022_425143207659_661637659_4576637_2838599_n.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-IMhvJmS3O43B-yXLVYst8Nb2cY14W-tqMRrWcn5-uAGfKwRotlUV-1ntTuTOgRfHg6wPF5MSzyn4CIjPWlYRpofQxeACxeJ8sfHoQTTrDKcFxwJi8ExVkesZ-rwOUMkzC3J-dlkSeo/s320/41022_425143207659_661637659_4576637_2838599_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507276821180637474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Filleman grandkids with Great Gram Boyd (my grandmother who we saw for breakfast the morning we got to town.. after flying all night and sleeping hardly-at-all).</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDQbtENJ4lDKbbvN1dsySwzfxSWr0ND8b1tn0yXEc-X8bn05TE-7JO44Y04XNGzPYjgx6JG-PjXaWyfwZbh31ZLEnXqtAVDouMyp1BStXwPi5bjl0f2QbeEpnBIL5-BIxcNmznyThaMU/s320/DSC_0020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507274502249753010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">(I was horrible at picture taking this trip because Clayton returned my first new camera and didn't get me replacement until we got home to AK.... sorry, i know you must be heartbroken.)</div><div> <div></div></div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div>While we were in AZ, Kara got her hair cut. She had pretty long hair and it was driving her nuts. Somewhere along the line, she heard about Locks of Love and she decided she wanted to donate her hair. My favorite girl for hair cutting in AZ did the honors. Kara LOVES her new short hair and she is marginally disappointed that more people aren't noticing up here... I will say it's MUCH easier to take care of shorter and she looks adorable. I still need to send her pigtails to LOL, though.. (note to self, as I stare at the bag on my kitchen windowsill). Kara is pretty sweet and she is thoughtful (I'm not one of those parents who is quick to attribute desirable characteristics to their kids, FYI.. so trust me on this one). I think she might actually enjoy giving as much as she enjoys receiving so it was cool to watch her go through this process. I think we all sort of like thinking about a little girl getting a wig made out of some of Kara's hair :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Before</span></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuj0EFaYm-6Iqol2sED42EovFYy7hriELbNMXj8nSy873DLbFSd9BtIlwz5cBbCNq402fkKRo4CfYlXEkUjalEsrcL71SNisLkzafzphVlaEzUkgEjeC7t4TjqF5PZ91-QqsWC6zLCh8/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuj0EFaYm-6Iqol2sED42EovFYy7hriELbNMXj8nSy873DLbFSd9BtIlwz5cBbCNq402fkKRo4CfYlXEkUjalEsrcL71SNisLkzafzphVlaEzUkgEjeC7t4TjqF5PZ91-QqsWC6zLCh8/s320/DSC_0032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507274495307619858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Just before the cut...</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWS2R0VHyZQ1rbxZRDsSlK9gL1z8V6NqwXRy68YChLRj2UH_U0h1mc3AfqwUHXZRWtGsg1qoQE89pt2Ru-u9N1lm_QXSiY1XZBOFHXznRt6uIqOkRzvI8m1wb5utFX_r_YPxjEYLT599E/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWS2R0VHyZQ1rbxZRDsSlK9gL1z8V6NqwXRy68YChLRj2UH_U0h1mc3AfqwUHXZRWtGsg1qoQE89pt2Ru-u9N1lm_QXSiY1XZBOFHXznRt6uIqOkRzvI8m1wb5utFX_r_YPxjEYLT599E/s320/DSC_0035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507274483144555650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">After... </span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXf6qChTPmIq2AZYSCFhSuzveP8tK5KT_qrhsjAxeAF5sgOOEhnnIFNw0_FMwjNTGu5sOKdChUJhDyM6ZbyAYdSlVoEiWdtEV6WpOm96dlLseI5zQqwzHRuBc10RZczVcxVPh7tj-KoHQ/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXf6qChTPmIq2AZYSCFhSuzveP8tK5KT_qrhsjAxeAF5sgOOEhnnIFNw0_FMwjNTGu5sOKdChUJhDyM6ZbyAYdSlVoEiWdtEV6WpOm96dlLseI5zQqwzHRuBc10RZczVcxVPh7tj-KoHQ/s320/DSC_0039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507274511793442594" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /></div><div>Right after we got home, Kara started 2nd grade. She is in class with 2 of her little friends who she has NEVER been in class with. I don't know a lot about her teacher but we trust that she's in the class she's supposed to be in. So far, two days in, she is excited about both the teacher and the kids in her class. That's good enough for me...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Her requested breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes... </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wl1KHe7OV4mKq97DKR2bZB0A2sywlzGwdwfEzBFiYYkxqL-RvCvP-IIPPukBZr5OTbTtCsIsvxUhqtbLOBxdnwS5JT8_KQZ19hqnlKR460psm6GrKq35O75yuhBsKp9rrXUk9KqVHsA/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wl1KHe7OV4mKq97DKR2bZB0A2sywlzGwdwfEzBFiYYkxqL-RvCvP-IIPPukBZr5OTbTtCsIsvxUhqtbLOBxdnwS5JT8_KQZ19hqnlKR460psm6GrKq35O75yuhBsKp9rrXUk9KqVHsA/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507273364299355938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;">Daddy and Kara before school.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm4lqjIukaWQMER6Pu2OG-L-MWVtwTMHx-n3NDHu70CdFfnhYjh_oTBhlWJTTgzyXKwkE4NSd9FKnBJwFyX8DfSUQOCMCagspniyiRYG7tB4yxSgilglEZGo-5DaKBbSGv3glPdIxqbk/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm4lqjIukaWQMER6Pu2OG-L-MWVtwTMHx-n3NDHu70CdFfnhYjh_oTBhlWJTTgzyXKwkE4NSd9FKnBJwFyX8DfSUQOCMCagspniyiRYG7tB4yxSgilglEZGo-5DaKBbSGv3glPdIxqbk/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507273350438519730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Mommy and Kara before school.. she was tired of pictures at this point. </span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSC5cC9HkvbiVh7NpmLL-lCyZE4l5Iv1dbJIyG1dQ1rISd3Z882eYI7JBDNynLTA4w6izf4Q5wNE-Yb1RMK9rgF1gGbOscgcLYdXaCYTwmw_0nK6vydSKQtdZOgDaSdeBbIicA0-G_rM/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSC5cC9HkvbiVh7NpmLL-lCyZE4l5Iv1dbJIyG1dQ1rISd3Z882eYI7JBDNynLTA4w6izf4Q5wNE-Yb1RMK9rgF1gGbOscgcLYdXaCYTwmw_0nK6vydSKQtdZOgDaSdeBbIicA0-G_rM/s320/IMG_0011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507273358284080690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Obviously the next big day will be Tuesday, the 23rd.. Clay's first day of kindergarten. He met his teacher who happens to go to our church. She seems very kind and he responded well to her. I was pretty apprehensive because he tends to be a little "clingy" (I am understating the problem) but he did well. I have renewed hope. (As a side note, if you don't already know, we intended to keep Clay out of school for one more year since his birthday is early June.. however, on the advice of my MIL and his teacher last year, we're sending him next week. Clayton has NO backward looking on this decision which is strange for him so it's just me.)</div><div>If you're short on things to pray for (in addition to safe landings in fast, gray airplanes), you could add that to your list: Clay going to kindergarten. Pictures to follow.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZb3N5S3_Oy6uJm-BbMIjyIk2EtxEJ3Fnb05H8rhVOjoCGYz_TFPRhlMn_gwf6D5Kq3rmjB8ay75pFdHK2zrL4Q91Z1vw2ZWGfXfO2D6XjeHSRxwesnONZxXoRlkmW9wGQxxgEP3oEd8/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG">T</a>his is Clay and Ryan just before "meet-the-teacher".. they aren't in the same class which is probably for the best considering they were karate kicking each other in the rain. </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWs3tG5twkm0BZDIskzjXrX1FUd83rK7nWc4I-13kks138hxM6hINGwr1DW6faVvjqcjRU6OUxPK4u2_6WDSTPDKFkFSylQuUhmQOA0MHlHMIFaW9t5XZlvZhv2Vh6Mg7r_ZnH7uGdWtk/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWs3tG5twkm0BZDIskzjXrX1FUd83rK7nWc4I-13kks138hxM6hINGwr1DW6faVvjqcjRU6OUxPK4u2_6WDSTPDKFkFSylQuUhmQOA0MHlHMIFaW9t5XZlvZhv2Vh6Mg7r_ZnH7uGdWtk/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507273369379414482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div></div></div><br /></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7338961608686255247.post-12982760482836079602010-08-01T08:45:00.004-08:002010-08-01T09:11:49.363-08:00Checking In<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcz2tEuQdKuUYZt7aCoortRbjov0vz0cNKabcH3MJzX9jzybL_OUxodxLhNN7nI6ENX6MR-UdnkXePm05SZ97DJ2LmPxbTG2rm25pl0RAqYL5GHY5nyPc1q7braf5xnoGB23oQ-ghYwFE/s1600/IMG_0788.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcz2tEuQdKuUYZt7aCoortRbjov0vz0cNKabcH3MJzX9jzybL_OUxodxLhNN7nI6ENX6MR-UdnkXePm05SZ97DJ2LmPxbTG2rm25pl0RAqYL5GHY5nyPc1q7braf5xnoGB23oQ-ghYwFE/s320/IMG_0788.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500489426974443314" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I predicted only posting once a month and it seems like maybe that's the way it's going to go even though I had better intentions. This weekend finds us with our last scheduled summer visitor, our friend <a href="http://brannonfamilynews.blogspot.com/">Michele</a> from Texas. Her husband and son have been in Iraq for nearly a year.. her second son goes overseas sometime in the next several months. Needless to say, the girl needed a getaway. Not sure how relaxing her trip to Alaska will be, but we're having fun so far :)</div></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The kids have had a pretty mellow last few weeks. They went to a VBS at Clay's old school and had a ball. I had a very difficult time trying to figure out how to spend my mornings without them for the week. It was really challenging, but don't worry about me. I'm a survivor. We've also spent some QT at the local museum. They have a cool area for kids and I had forgotten that I bought a family membership a while ago (I'm a sucker for family memberships at places, especially if they offer a military discount.... not unlike my suckerishness at a make-up counter). We went two days in a row last week and met up with various friends both days. Good times!!</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qSWrHKUD5JjJ2ZhAiy27fj1n9OI6QR7L3Y4pYnFJWwAlOss2rca9rnjMdAKHjWmqqbRyhV_0QxJmbLJl2-NCElxW3XEjdGyOy4OMJqcfcNvs-pM3DY9u0UuiN40v8v-cMKWwqazIX7s/s1600/IMG_0801.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qSWrHKUD5JjJ2ZhAiy27fj1n9OI6QR7L3Y4pYnFJWwAlOss2rca9rnjMdAKHjWmqqbRyhV_0QxJmbLJl2-NCElxW3XEjdGyOy4OMJqcfcNvs-pM3DY9u0UuiN40v8v-cMKWwqazIX7s/s320/IMG_0801.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500488559996329826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe1N2shqkpVkn0vNkfUOrLFornnLAqbkp7QsGiPjmLpm4knwdMnc_rdqLCFYfvuhnnEfnqbJVPlnOsBi8TVrbaSYy48AVVzvdD3EiKGdEWhw-Dln_n2t8Hwln0OWkF1q5UFMmUyDkuYs/s1600/IMG_0795.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe1N2shqkpVkn0vNkfUOrLFornnLAqbkp7QsGiPjmLpm4knwdMnc_rdqLCFYfvuhnnEfnqbJVPlnOsBi8TVrbaSYy48AVVzvdD3EiKGdEWhw-Dln_n2t8Hwln0OWkF1q5UFMmUyDkuYs/s320/IMG_0795.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500488529967540130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /><br /></a><div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixe5j1vlPieYx56TqllXaNqe0FqZC4nEAJ94QeiDkhg5p0hZ2O8S21Sgv7fjoHpybDt-NfbycU6lyYMpX6ohgloeYmLbDMTo_XXR2CwQeaxgohWeq8lAOK92FHDWcRSiO_pxyd_jxMSac/s1600/IMG_0799.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixe5j1vlPieYx56TqllXaNqe0FqZC4nEAJ94QeiDkhg5p0hZ2O8S21Sgv7fjoHpybDt-NfbycU6lyYMpX6ohgloeYmLbDMTo_XXR2CwQeaxgohWeq8lAOK92FHDWcRSiO_pxyd_jxMSac/s320/IMG_0799.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500488544884865938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvvcF7zYymXUXUzu1mzm1Svq2ooW-D92v57Aw5DXbTWzveh-cN8g-ftDWuLq38b3pOnOHj-wn5OSHVLfdyQvKNXdGTZdeDHYc3rsee0B2LeLqE8A0srbVLOeDY-33PWlMpSv8SV-eM8U/s1600/IMG_0807.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvvcF7zYymXUXUzu1mzm1Svq2ooW-D92v57Aw5DXbTWzveh-cN8g-ftDWuLq38b3pOnOHj-wn5OSHVLfdyQvKNXdGTZdeDHYc3rsee0B2LeLqE8A0srbVLOeDY-33PWlMpSv8SV-eM8U/s320/IMG_0807.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500488549345327186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">On the schedule this weekend is the Arctic Thunder Air Show at Elmendorf. It was almost the air show that wasn't because a <a href="http://www.adn.com/2010/07/30/1388771/biographies-crewmen-killed-in.html">C-17 crashed last week</a>. All 4 guys on board died. I didn't know any of them personally but I know lots of people who did. It's a total nightmare for everyone in the military. I can't even describe to you the feeling you get when you hear that a plane crashed on the base. Clayton was sitting right next to me when we got the call and my heart still seized up and my blood ran cold. Anchorage isn't that big and the military community is TIGHT. Pray for the families that are left behind. The guys were mostly young and they have young families.</div><br /><div>Anyway, the air show has been a major item on our calendar for the last 6 months or so. Clayton is still sort-of a SnackO (snack officer)... the snacko is the guy who coordinates important things like the pilot slush fund, beer and snacks in the bar and t-shirts to sell at community events. We have been having BOXES of snacko gear delivered for months. And they sat around inside and outside my house for months. I was GLAD to see them out on tables for sale yesterday. Clayton hawked t-shirts, caps, shot glasses and F22 shells while I took pictures of kids dressed up like fighter pilots for a wive's fund. All day. It was fun but exhausting. May the 302 and 477 raise lots of $$$ today (Sunday) while I sit it out (sorry!!).</div><div><br /></div></div>AprilJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900966208908769281noreply@blogger.com1