Valdez 2013

We had our family trip to Valdez last week and it was a blast. I always enjoy visiting Valdez. I truly believe that it is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. There are a lot of fun things to do from hiking and biking to eating! Robert spends two days working and the kids and I enjoy the town.

I took this picture of me while we were stopped waiting for a pilot car. Winnie jumped out and picked me this flower.

My favorite place to Kayak and a truly awakening spot. You can kayak from here to the Valdez glacier. I was surprised to see that it was still frozen. Valdez had a late spring.

The Valdez office.

Double Yokers

I used to do this all the time with Hannah and Winnie!

Temple

Today Bobby, age three, was eating breakfast. He looked up and noticed for the first time the picture of the Anchorage Alaska Temple that has been hanging in our dining area since before he was born. With real excitement he exclaimed, "Mommy, that's the temple! That's where you got married! We get married in the temple!" 

I just love it when things click.

Happy Father's Day 2013

Gateway Arch

This is a model of The Gateway Arch. I made this for a school project. It was fun project.

The Princess and the Haircut

Last week Robert and Hannah spent the week at girls camp. They had a fantastic time and I will blog about that later. Winnie, the boys and I had a great time too. We actually made a list of all the things we wanted to do while they were gone.

Go to the park (check)

Have a picnic (check--at Green Lake)

Get a haircut (Nope)

Go shopping (Check)

Have friends over (Check)

Have cousins over (Check--they come over for a bar-b-que)

Visit Grandma and Grandpa (Check--Green Lake)

Out to eat (Check--Shines Sushi!)

Go swimming (Check--Does our little pool count? Sprinklers?)

See a movie (check--from Redbox)

We did a bunch of other stuff too including a lot of cleaning and organizing. We are moving into our new addition and had a lot of organizing to do.

One really fun thing we did was make these cute puppets and performed a puppet show. We made them during naptime (o glorious naptime). I think they turned out really cute. There is a king, queen princess and a magic giraffe. The show was called "The Princess ad the Haircut". I have it on video.

As a mother of four. I really find it challenging to find the time to spend time individually with my children. I really made and effort to spend quality time with Winnie this week. The result was good. Our relationship is tighter and she feels loved. I even let her sleep in my bed.

She kicks.

Memorial Day Weekend

We had an absolutely fabulous Memorial Day weekend. I have so many beautiful pictures that it is hard to narrow down. We decided to head down to Ninilchik this year and stay with some friends who had invited us down to camp on their property. Robert talked me into it because it was a great clam tide and he know I love clamming! We couldn't have asked for better weather. Sun, sun sun!

We Didn't end up with any clams but we did the most amazing tidepooling. We saw so many beautiful things. Crabs, sea amenomes, sea stars, fish. Awesome.

Our friends were there too. This is Ashley.

THis tide way way out. I love this panoramic shot.

Hitler holding a sea star.

Jack enjoyed riding in the six wheeler.

Bobby was so cute in his new waders. He was in boy heaven digging around in all that mud.

Sunday we went to the Homer ward and then we drove down to the Homer spit and walked along the beach. Sometime I think I am in Heaven when Alaska shows off like this.

Katchamak Bay with Bobby in the center.

Bethany and Winnie

The kids were so wiped out on the drive home. I love this awesome picture.

May 18, 2013

We had a very late snowfall this year. I finally felt safe enough to put out the patio furniture the week before and then this happened---- six inches of new snow on May 18th! It melted quickly though and has been beautiful ever since.

Self Portrait

Found this on my phone today.

Nature Center

It has become a family tradition to camp at the nature center on the last day of school. This year I was able to get the public use cabin. It is only a mile in, which turned out to be a blessing because I fell and twisted my ankle on the way in.

It was so beautiful there. I love the nature center hikes because they few of the valley takes my breath away. I took a panoramic shot with my phone. It was such a beautiful night and the start of a beautiful memorial Day weekend.

Here is the cabin. It is quite comfortable and sleeps 8. The kids loved it. I ended up sleeping with Bobby and Jack with Robert. If Jack sleeps with me he wants to pull my hair and nurse all night. Bobby was in Heaven. He loves freedom and camping. I love this boy!

We made a fire and ate pizza pockets foil dinners.

 We just had our phones for camera, so I didn't know how to set the timer.

I am so grateful for my family and the beauty of the land that I live in. 

Trains, Trains, Trains!

A few weeks ago Bobby and I found a large box of Thomas the Train tracks and cars at a garage sale for $10. Let me say that these things have entertained him for hours. He begs every day to pull out the trains. One day grandpa came over and played trains with him.