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 

Downtown Fun & Movie Night at BreZak's

In 20 years the above photo will be a significant part of our town's history. A new library is being built. Bre and her children and CoRielle and their children. 

Today was a BRILLIANTLY sunny day. Melia and I met up with the grands, Bre, CoRielle and Ash and Allie to enjoy it downtown. The chamber of commerce held a celebration of our town with games for kids and free hot dogs and veggies....at the same time that the weekly downtown fling was occurring.  There was much to do and it was a beautiful day to be out and about. I felt bad for Michael, who isn't doing a ton of walking just now, and all the other Gherkins who were busy adulting at work. ::grin:: 

Melia, Trudy and Annie with a friend

Ellie gets an assist from Cory 

Annie & Bella play Connect Four

This was more to the boys' liking! 

Danny, Benny, Gideon, Josiah

Trudy

Ellie & Melia 

At some point we split up and Ash and Allie went to Big Dipper. The rest of us strolled the vendor offerings and food trucks. Melia and I picked up Allie and Ash and brought them back to their car, ran a few errands and headed for home. 

It was a great day to be out and about in Alaska. When Alaska shines it makes up for the record-breaking rainfall in July. 

Bre hosts a weekly movie night starting at 10 p.m. after her littles are settled. I usually don't go as I'm sure to fall asleep. This week they were watching Free Willy. A family classic, I think she chose it in honor of Jamin being in town. Stacia, Melia and I joined Bre and her kids for popcorn and movies. I stayed awake for the whole thing! It was a fun ending to a great day. 

Breakfast Study

I spent a few years going to Sophia's Cafe twice a week for one-on-one study/conversation with Allie and Stacia. I wanted to do something similar with Melia when she moved in in January. I ordered a study from Daily Grace Co. on "The Foundations of the Faith for Teens," because relationship with Jesus is new to Melia.  The concept of Bible study is new. I bought her a pretty purple Bible and we began meeting. We started but never established a workable routine. Melia doesn't like mornings. At one point I told her when she finished the next portion of study and would like us to meet to let me know. 

Out of the blue this week she said she was ready for another Bible study. We settled on McDonalds (which Melia loves to go to) rather than Sophia's....and a late breakfast rather than beating the early morning rush for $3 drinks. LOL We ordered breakfast on the app as we pulled out of our driveway, and we were able to have breakfast as close to lunch as possible. I can find breakfast options easier than lunch options at McDonalds.

It was a fun hour or so in the middle of the busy summer to connect and strengthen the foundations of Melia's new-found faith. 

 

Game Night at BreZak's

Bre invited us to her home for games. We were happy to go. It was my chance to catch up with Jamin. I missed him on Tuesday night. He looks great - tired but great. 

Trudy, Annie, Melia, Me, Jojo, Gideon, Nolan and Bella 

Jamin and Trudy 

Michael & Jared

Tali has an interesting take on Shark Attack. 

And then Annie and Trudy brought out Pretty, Pretty Princess....

Ash surrounded by kids

It was a fun evening. Bre commented she should have done this sooner. Agreed. LOL It's was extra special have Jamin, Ash and Allie home to join the festivities. We won't consider just yet what it says about the summer that Jamin and Ash are here.... shhh. Denial is a good thing. 

Rainy Soccer, Glasses, Volley Ball and Date/Game Night

We made it to Benny's last game! His team was undefeated in the round robin. Let's hear it for the pigeons? 

The rain was heavy - but it didn't dampen our spirits

Michael even came out for the game!

Bre and kids braved the rain for the game. 

We picked up Melia's new glasses. 

On the way to her final day at Volleyball camp. 

The girls joined Jamin at Nolan and Alex's for game night. Michael and I went for dinner.  It was a full day.