Sunday, July 04, 2021

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.