We Almost Went to Denali!

 We hit the road after church. We have been wanting to go camping - and it's a bit of a challenge with church schedules and Grandpa...but we decided to just do it. 

Krista and a friend were going to go up and spend extra time. Allie was invited and her parents agreed to let her come. The girls would stay with us the first night or two and then Krista, Brittany, Allie and Stacia would go on to Talkeetna.  We were excited. 

This is as far as we made it before Michael pulled over....

One of the dual tires blew! It didn't take long to realize we wouldn't be on the road any time soon. 

Grandpa waits in comfort 

Krista and Michael pick up pieces of our tire

The girls loaded into our van - with the food and clothes from the RV and headed down the road. We had the tent in the RV so they took that and went off for an adventure.  I took Grandpa home. Michael slept in the RV and the next day we began the repair process. 

Allie, Brittany, Stacia, Krista

Krista, Allie, Stacia, Brittany

Allie & Stacia warding of skeeters

Allie, Stacia & Brittany

Allie & Stacia

Krista, Allie, Stacia, Brittany

cabin in Talkeetna

And that is how we almost made it to Denali and the girls DID go to Denali.  Looking back at these photos from 2022, I can't help but note how one never knows when life is about to change. These are the first pictures I have of Allie and Stacia together...when they didn't know each other well... I never would have guessed how that relationship was to deepen and how dear Allie was to become to our family. 

A Month?

A month since the last blog! Oops.

The last blog was about bears - oh my.

We are fine.

I will back post some blogs in the upcoming weeks....basically....it's finally really summer (sort of like spring in the lower 48).   This means projects and gardening. Our growing season is VERY short....and so we live and work hard until we get it all in. I have photos, I have thoughts....I'll post later.

When I look back at the notes and photos from May a few themes emerge.....re-entering life after sequestration, gardening, projects, lots of appointments for Dad,  family - lots of time with grandkids...playing at Baachan's treehouse, watching sick kids, babysitting....and WALKING.

We are heading out this afternoon for Mt. Denali...there will be things to report....and I may get over my aversion to posting "out of order" to post Denali and then work on catching May up.

All that to say - how kind you are to notice we've been missing. Thanks for all who reached out to see if we were o.k. We are doing well.

Halibut Trip

I don't think I have the date right....thanks to Josiah for these photos.  

Izaak arranged a Halibut fishing trip with his friend Matt. They invited Michael and Josiah to come along. They took the RV and stayed in it at Seward (I think). 

Rock Cod?

Halibut

I haven't a clue!

Unfortunately, the boat broke down and they spent most the day in one spot until they were towed away (see the boat through the window?)  It was a good day even if they didn't get all the fish they would have liked. Krista's record 120# halibut is still the family best. 

June Family Celebration

This month's celebrations are Bre (9th) and Krista's (3rd) birthday and Father's Day. Josiah helped Michael man the grill. 

Kimber and Benny

We took advantage of the beautiful day to eat outside.  The Mosquito Magnet is working well. 

Izaak, Bella, Gideo, Krista, Stacia, Alex, Nolan, Arielle
GG, Michael, Josiah 

Gideon's figured the right place to perch. 

Kitchen Helpers

 We love Arielle and Benny coming to visit us. They arrived in time to help us make ice cream cakes for our upcoming Family Birthday Celebration.  Of COURSE, he sampled a bit of ice cream to make sure it was the very best quality. 

If someone had told me we'd retire, live in Alaska, have grandkids and kids dropping in...big family celebrations...a household with 3 or 4 generations living in it...I wouldn't have believed it. It's a good life. 

A Day With Benny

Toddler Benny - 2 1/2 years old

 I got to play watch Benny today! We packed a bit of a lunch and went out to find adventure. We visited a park, he picked lovely bunches of flowers for me and his mom, we played basketball, and then we headed to the library. 

LOVE that tongue! Such concentration.

I see you Bachan! 

Our library has been great during the shutdown.  They set up a bit of a story book outside which kids could walk through, they organized games online, they decorated the bus stop with dinos...and now they are doing curbside check out. We can't go inside yet, but we can order books from our library, and they'll deliver them to our car. 

Arielle brought Benny over to help Alex in the garden. They got the rows ready to plant potatoes today. 

Krista is 33!

 Krista is 33 today and we are so happy to be spending the day WITH her and NOT in the middle of a move.  The girls birthdays often landed right as we moved during or miliary years. 

Benny came over to play with Aunti CoCo on her birthday. 

Love his expression. 

He even played a beautiful birthday song for Aunt Coco! 

An array of ice-cream choices...

Michael and I bought Krista a set of waders and boots as we know she's going to want to be out in the water this summer. 

Displaying a couple of gifts. LOL 

Stacia at 14 3/4.