4th of July

 We are simply tired this July 4th.  We made a joint decision to stay home from church, to enjoy our last couple of days with guests to the full, and to try to rest. Dad slept much of the day away. 

Jamin let us all know he was going to RUN up Mat Peak. He began at 5 or 6....and sent a video from the top so we knew he made it alive. 

Jamin above the clouds - 📷 by Jamin 

📷 by Jamin

I have a goal to make it to the top. I do NOT have a goal to RUN to the top. Jared, Nate, Heather, Stacia and Maria decided to leave at 7:30 and hike until they were ready to turn back.  The rest of us were just too tired to attempt an early morning hike. ::snort:: 

Jared, Nate, Maria, Stacia

Nate, Jared and Stacia - 📷 by Maria

Maria moved out here the day of the wedding. We love having her around. It's good to connect again with her, to marvel at all that God is doing, and has done, in her life. 

📷 by Maria

📷 by Maria

📷 by Heather

                                       

At home we slowly woke up, began to plan for a dinner together, and talked....civilized. LOL  Jamin made it to the top and started back down. He met up with the rest and they continued down the mountain. 

Jamin joins the gang - 📷 by Heather

One with Heather - gorgeous mountain meadow
📷 by Heather

I think Jamin had a house to show....and then he came back to our house. We visited, played, ate....we missed Nolan - who spends most his time at work or in his room cramming college courses. CoRielle came by after they and Alaina had made a run to Eklutna lake. CyRi are at the lake. BreZaak are trying to see cars being launched. It's an Alaskan thing. 

Some of the crew

Nate, my "baby" brother

We moved down to the fire ring. I regret we didn't know until way far into the evening Alaina is allergic to smoke. Ugh. We have enjoyed having Jared around as he was in town helping with the new mayor of Anchorage's transition team. 

Benny is sure to be near Daddy or Papa. 

📷by Larissa

📷by Larissa

We DID make s'mores - but we ALSO roasted APPLES. I like this trend. 

Danny is happy to be passed around. 

Uncle Jared and Danny

Uncle Jared and Benny

📷 by Larissa

Uncle Jamin and Danny

It was a good day to catch our breath after the chaos of the past week. 

Box Day - School Year 2021/22

In the midst of wedding chaos....we celebrated BOX DAY. This upcoming school year will be Stacia's 11th grade year and Allie's 12th grade year. They have each been working this year on a couple of "strings" from last year and a few "threads" for the upcoming school year. We took a break this week from school so we could fully enjoy flexing with wedding activities.   But THIS was delivered to our door. 

Stacia, Allie and Brit Lit - they actually ARE excited about this one. 

The girls will both be taking Sonlight's British Lit AP* and Government. I asked them  to take 1/2 a credit of government when it became apparent they are a bit fuzzy on the finer points of American government.  They humored me. LOL 

With titles like Idiot's Guide and Government for Dummies....
I just wonder....

Allie will also be taking Psychology AP*, Algebra 1, Biology, American Sign Language 2, and a semester of both  PE and Post Secondary Prep. 

Stacia will add  Forensic Science, Japanese 3 and a semester of  Alaska History, Personal Finance, Health, PE and Post Secondary Prep to her transcript this year.  Yes, she's finished her core math and science and she's getting all the required half credit classes out of the way this year. LOL 

The bulk of their core subjects arrived with Box Day. We've also registered for online classes (Japanese 3,  Alaska History,  Algebra, Biology, and American Sign Language).  We'll take a week or two to breathe and jump in. 

While the girls rest, I'm lurching ahead in reading in Brit Lit, Psychology and Government....or at least reading the Lit and spot reading the others? We'll see how it goes. 

*AP credit is awarded after they test at the end of the course AND enroll in college...high school credit is awarded by our charter school as we turn in work samples. IF we find the AP work to be too challenging we will simply modify to make strong high school courses.  AP is a new endeavor for all of us.  I didn't realize for years our kids could have taken AP tests for the high school work they were doing. It hit home when Jared reported acing a Poli Sci mid term based solely on his high school government background. Not questioning why he didn't study for the exam...::snort::  ANYWAY - we decided to actively pursue AP this year and decide if Stacia wants to pursue more her Senior year. 

Krista and Luke's Wedding Day

Before we say anything else...we began the week with predictions of 60% rain for Saturday. It was beautiful and sunny all week and the predictions slowly went away. I'm not sure I've ever prayed so fervently for weather. ::snort:: The day was overcast - which was great as it wasn't hot in the sun AND the lighting was easier as their were little shadows - but NO RAIN AT ALL.  Thank you to all who joined us in praying. 

 At 4:30  Michael told me he had pink eye and didn't think he could do the wedding. I made an online appointment for him at urgent care - told them he suspected pink eye and his daughter was getting married today - he was officiating - needed medical advice.  Next on the day's agenda was driving Alex to work. 

We brainstormed ideas for carrying on without Michael. The girls began arriving shortly before 0700. Krista had asked if they could get ready here because the natural lighting was better than the church and at an outside wedding it would be best to put on make up in natural lighting.....and she knew how much it meant to me to be able to be so involved in all the little details of her wedding. We have been as involved as we could be in all the other weddings, but given we were in Japan or CA  and the wedding planning was taking place thousands of miles away....this was the first wedding we were able to be hands on in the planning stages, and we loved it. 

Arielle (little Sister) fixes Krista's hair

Britany helps Stacia with makeup 

Larissa helps Allie

Krista helped Allie with her hair while Larissa
gives her a manicure

When I shared our plans for carrying on without Michael, Krista quite simply said, "He can stay in the car until he gets out to walk me down the aisle, do the wedding and get back into the car if need be." LOL The doc confirmed pink eye and told Michael to go ahead and do the wedding - avoid lots of hugs.  Which he did. 

The girls went up to Hatcher's Pass - a beautiful spot and a favorite family happy place....as well as a dating location for Krista and Luke.  A word about our photographer before I go further. Alaina is Arielle's bestie. They met in college and their friendship has been fast and strong. Alaina has visited up here previously 2 or 3 times. She's got a way with cameras! Krista purchased her a ticket and she was happy to fly up and take photos....and take photos she has. I can't wait to see the photos. She began snapping the minute she got here I believe...and being a close friend she has been WITH us since she arrived. I hope she can have a couple of days to have fun and relax with CoRielle before she flies back to the lower 48.  

📷 by Maria

📷 by Maria

Bridesmaids - Maria, Brittany, Allie, Stacia, Arielle - Matron of Honor
📷 by Maria

📷 by Maria

                                            

We did NOT go with them to Hatcher's pass.  Heather, Larissa and I cleaned up, got ready and got all the "little things" packed and headed towards the church. Jared left at 0900 to pick up the bouncy house on base. 

Things went together really well. Shade, a couple of tables, and chairs were set up for those who wanted it. An aisle was marked out in the field. Water balloons were filled. The bouncy house was set up. Heather, Larissa and I put together the pieces I'd collected to make the vision for a picnic/photo spot a reality. 

Mona was in charge of decorating tables. Jennifer helped her make the tablecloths.

Mona - Luke's mom 📷 by Mark

Favors - love spilt milk soaps!

📷 by Mark

Stacia tops the cake. She was worried I'd forget to bring the cake.

Krista and Luke love the shooting range

                                                                        📷by Mark

We stole some quiet moments with Krista (I'm behind there - really). LOL 

📷 by Arielle

And suddenly it was time for Luke to escort Mona and I to our seats....and for the wedding to begin. Benny was NOT going to get married and agreed to do this if he could walk Mama down the aisle. Auntie Co-Co knows Benny and put the rings on the t-rex's little arms. 

📷 by Linsey

📷 by Lindsey

I didn't snap most the ceremony photos. I've been waiting for a Brittany and Nate photo to pop up - not yet. I'm sure Alaina got one. LOL  Bella was the flower girl and tossed dandelions as she went up the aisle. 

Michael and Krista

Michael gives Luke a charge..."Giving your daughter to another man is like giving a Stradivarius violen to a gorilla..." 

Luke accepted the charge, Michael and Shannon switched places and the wedding continued.  Krista had told the girls to each pick a different pastel color. She didn't want them to try to match styles. I think they look great together.  

After a couple of days of wildflower picking Benny simply couldn't leave the dandelions unpicked. 

📷 by Mark 

                          

Stacia, Allie, Brittany

Maria, Benny, Bella, Arielle

Luke and Krista took communion while BreAnne sang Amazing Grace. 

Mr. & Mrs. Luke Norman

The reception was a  picnic. There was an ice cream sundae bar manned by Kristi and Mona (Luke's sister and mom). 

Gideon sampling BOTH lemonades

📷by Kristi

Jared, Jamin and Izaak lob water balloons at Josiah

They held up well

Stacia

Michael and I 

Ameilee & Krista

CoRielle 📷 by Ameilee

CoRielle 📷 by Ameilee

That's my grandson in the middle - Danny. 

📷 by Ameilee

Josiah and Carrie (CyRi)

I have loved each Gherkin wedding. This reminded me of Krista's unique vision for her graduation. This celebration was also uniquely Krista and Luke. It WAS a church wedding...but it was outside and it was beautiful.  She didn't want fuss - and it was low fuss. She planned it to be a fun gathering for her guests...games, time to connect, bouncy house for the kids. It had all the elements that were important to them...and it came off beautifully.  I am in awe once again of how Krista can see a vision and make it happen very frugally....I mean free wedding flowers...who has ever heard of such a thing? And she wasn't stressing or nervous about FINDING the flowers...it was fun, memory making, fun with her family and bridesmaids. It was a great day. 

*Note - Alex and Nolan were there. Dad was there. They evaded camera...but I'm SURE they didn't get away from Alaina. LOL