Noah's Game and Allie's Adventure

 We discovered a funny little fact recently. 1 a.m. on Thursday morning is really like right after midnight on Wednesday night. We had all been thinking Ash and Allie were leaving late Thursday night. Nolan noticed the error in all of our thinking yesterday. SO....today was filled with packing and weighing bags, doing last minute budgeting and such and then it was time for Ash and Allie to go to game night at Nolan's. 

This was our final opportunity to catch a soccer game with Noah. Yes - we DID have three young boys in soccer this season. We were happy all the last games were on different nights so we could catch them all.  Melia chose to skip game night and head into Eagle River with us for the game. Noah was impressed with his cheering section. 

Bre & Kids, Cory, Arielle & kids, Larissa, Melia, Mike & Me

A word about this team! They are CUTE!!! CRAZY CUTE. Jared is their coach and quickly realized it would be more about safe fun than games. That first week he simply ran up and down the field chased by about 15 3 year olds....great fun. By tonight, they had the general idea of kicking the ball down the field to a goal....and Jared still runs up and down the field with them. 

Organizing the players...

huddle up

Look at that footwork! 

As anyone who has ever worked in a church nursery or preschool knows it's challenging to do so with your little one in the group. Noah learned how to share Dad with the team, and it was priceless to watch. I may be a bit biased, but I found it sweet to watch our son coach his son...a bit bittersweet as I know Josiah would have been on the sidelines cheering every game - possibly even helping coach. LOL  The plan had been for them to raise their children together in the community and sometimes the ache is big...exactly when life is the sweetest. 

Vitaly loves soccer! 

Bachan, Noah and Papa

One of the bright points of the night for Noah was getting a CERTIFICATE!!!!!

His cousins had made him some race cars. I think this one was from Danny? Anyway, Noah was excited to show it off. He told me, "I like racecars Bachan!" 

Some of the grands climbing on the back of the dinosaur skeleton

We headed home after the game to pick up Ash and Allie and head back to Anchorage for their flight. Usually, Allie leaving would mean the end of summer. We aren't quite ready to file away summer, but this is a significant chunk of summer ending. Allie is going back early to get settled into her apartment and handle some details before her senior year begins. She is working on cast and such for "Elevator Pitch," her thesis film.  BTW, she is about 50% of the way to raising the money she needs to pay cast, crew, safety officers and such. If you'd like to follow her progress or hear how to donate to her efforts click the link above or here even! ::snort::   We are so very proud of Allie! We were happy to meet Ash in person. He's a great guy. Anyway - we drove into Anchorage and dropped them off for the next leg of their adventure. 

Thanks to whoever grabbed this photo

It was a somber ride home. I guess summer is coming to an end. August is nearly upon us, Melia will soon begin her junior year and her college class at ABC, Stacia and Allie are both about to start their senior years in college. Wow. Join us in praying that there is time between their graduations for Michael and I to be able to attend Allie's in VA and Stacia's in AK. We think one will be the 14th and one the 15th - and finding those plane connections are proving tricky. Still praying one is moved to the 13th or we find the right connections. 

Note: Ash and Allie were delayed 3 - 5 hours in Seattle but were able to make all connections back to VA. 

OK I have to include this video! Jamin took it last Wednesday (22nd) when he was in town. Noah is driving for the goal...until he sees a butterfly. It's CRAZY CUTE and so typical of coaching 3 yos. 

Most photos without the watermark were provided by Larissa! Thank you. 

Monday in July

 Allie and Ash made a day trip to Seward today. They have been trying to see as much as they can while Ashton is here. We feel like we are in summer 2.0 with nice weather the past few days.  Stacia worked. The rest of us puttered around, did some house cleaning, shopping - stuff like that. 

I sent an invite to Jamin and Nolan to join us for a later Chicken Pot Pie dinner. Allie, Ash and Stacia all made it home and we enjoyed being together. 

We topped the evening off with a campfire. Jamin leaves for Florida tomorrow. He promises to be back in 6 -7 months. 

Check out Nolan's eye - the results of he and Jared's collision at Family Gathering. 

More Sunday Fun

Sunday at ACF in Eagle River, lunch with Jamin, Jared and Noah, Cat Cafe with the girls and then we dropped the girls off at home and Melia and I went to the Raceway to meet up with Larissa and Noah. We meant to catch the final race, but they didn't have enough contestants and had decided not to run the final race. We visited and played a bit. 

Noah - I think Papa could make something like this

 

Pretty setting for a race

Arielle and Bre had talked about putting a family field day on the calendar. Every Sunday night at 6 p.m. This brought back memories of playing kick ball in the fields when we were at Beale AFB. We invited Larissa and Noah to join us for a bit as the race was off.  Danny met us in the parking lot. He was excited to show us a swimming grasshopper...

This little girl! She is excited Auntie Bre came thorugh with a pretty BLUE dress! Here she accessorizes with tennis shoes - perfect for kick ball!  

These guys were most interested in catching insects! 

Ellie, Larissa, Me and Danny

Kick ball! 

Benny & Melia

Ellie & Benny

Ellie, Arielle & Cory

Running bases with Daddy! 

She ate a grasshopper! YUCK. 

Arielle & Melia

What a kick! 

We ended the day all at home playing "The Bible is Funny." 

Stacia, Melia, Allie & Ashton 

This was a very full Sunday. 

Visiting the Alaska Cat Cafe

 The girls have been looking for an opportunity to visit the Alaska Cat Cafe while Allie was home. Today, after church, we all met up back at the house. Michael and Ash went for ice cream and us gals headed for the Cat Cafe. Melia and Stacia had been before. It was my and Allie's first visit. 

They do have soups and sandwich meals you can purchase. We settled for drinks. You can take drinks back with the cats, but not your food. We paid for a full hour with the cats. 

The cats are so fun. It was relaxing and fun. It was a delightful experience. Michael dislikes cats, I will visit here again for my cat fix. 

July's Family Gathering

 We do not usually have a family gathering out here at the house in July. We are typically dip netting during this time.  Michael's back surgery robbed us of dip netting this year. Some of us just don't have the heart to do the whole trip without Josiah. Others of us are ready to do it next year. We will see what it looks like. 

However, THIS JULY, we had a big gathering. AND...before we gather, someone has to tame a bit of the yard. Melia has been volunteering to do the yard. I don't think she knew how much work it was. LOL Michael was cleared to ride around on the mower. He did that in the general areas, I did the weed eating and edging, Melia did the orchard...and we'll finish the rest "later." I just weed eat until I've used all 4 batteries up and then I call it quits. LOL 

Papa and Noah

A sad word about our young orchard - we lost 4 trees last winter. There wasn't enough snow to insulate them from the cold temps. I don't have the heart to plant more...but we need to do something. 

We don't have any birthdays to celebrate in July and KrUke are in Okinawa so it's hard to celebrate their anniversary here...BUT this is Allie's last family gathering before she goes back to VA AND Jamin and Ash are here as well.  Reason to celebrate. We kept the focus on people rather than food and just had a "bring your own pizza" bash. LOL

It was a GORGEOUS day! We did all the things...kiddy cars, visiting, gaga ball, water fights and water play, trampoline, slides and swings...

Of course Ellie can do it too!  

It wouldn't be a family game without a few bumps and bruises! 

Nolan is going to have a shiner, and Jared's jaw is popping...

Over in this corner - water play and balloon fight! 

Trudy and Noah 

Oh my heart! This little man is a delight. We are going to miss him when he reunites with his family. He moved in with BreZak around the time Melia moved in with us. 

A little break for Pastor Cory. 

Keeper of all things sports like

At some point in the evening, I left to take GG home. When I came back the house was quiet. Ash and Allie have been visiting as much of Alaska as they can. They went to climb the Butte. What a great way to end a busy day! 

This one looks like Hatcher's Pass - I'm not sure! It showed up with the Gathering photos. LOL