May 2011: At the cabin

Hunter loved looking for fish bones on the beach.

Just thought this was a neat picture.

View from the back of the cabin.  Beautiful!!

Simon next to the boat house.

Abby bring her boots down to the lake.

She is ready to go in the lake.

Loved this picture!!

Hunter carrying wood for the fire pit.

These signs are next to all lakes and rivers.

What a great "backyard"!

The water was rather shallow and crystal clear.

We have had a great time using this cabin.  The position was filled the end of July.  So we used it all spring and most of the summer.

Kids Activities May 2011

Hunter in the Safari Animals musical at school. Just a little stage shy!

Abby on her last day of gymnastics.  She just loved the trampoline, foam pit, tumbling, and rope swing.  Of course, who wouldn't!!  The other kids wanted to take gymnastics after seeing Abby.  SO we compromised, Hunter had his 8th birthday party here.  Needless to say, fun was had by all!!! 

Hunter ready to play baseball.  Hunter was on Coach pitch this year.  I think this is his 4th or 5th season playing ball.  He has gotten really good.  He likes 3rd base catcher and has really improved hitting.  He got a few players out and hit a couple home runs.

Simon was alway ready to play.  He really got into the game.  I believe this is his 3rd season playing T-ball.  He was one of the few players that had played before, so He usually hit balls that got him to home base.  He should be playing coach pitch next year.  They (the officials) based teams on age until the kids reach a certain point (not sure what it is based on), then they have to try-out.  Which is what Hunter did.

HUNTER

HUNTER

SIMON

HUNTER

By the time we took the training wheels off, she just took off.  Those training wheels were holding her back.  She was riding like a pro.  Okay, then within days, she was riding her bike and tried to ride over a board.  Pictures below show how well that worked.  Took 5 stitches.  Brave girl!!  The picture on the right is after 3 popsicles!

We have a hospital within 4 blocks of our house.  They are the largest hospital on the peninsula, though they are not that big.  I have been very impressed in the 3 visits we have had in 1 year.  Yes, our children are adventurous.  Though one of those visits was for me and a migraine I had back in October.  Great Care.

Kodiak visit April 2011

I was trying to recall when Paul went to Kodiak for work.  Of course as a mom, I thought back to what were the kids doing the week he was gone.  Then my memory quickly restored.   He left the day after Easter.  Simon was injured in a bike accident and was admitted on Easter evening.  Then EVERYONE was sick.  Not just ..." i don't feel good.." sick.  But throwing up, there are no more empty buckets in the house, kind of sick.  At least it was shared quickly and begone quickly. I declared it family movie week.

The green hair-like stuff, is called Old Man's Beard.

Paul enjoyed Kodiak.  He said it was beautiful there.  I will find out what exactly is in the picture and update this post.

"Break-Up" Spring 2011

This is a backyard view from the cabin.  This white flat surface is a lake.  We have really enjoyed family time here.

This Bald Eagle looking for food.  During this this time of year, you can almost walk across this river.  During summer months it is full of tourist and residents rafting and fishing.

These moose grazing on a golf course.

Mt.  Redoubt

Very large Moose crossing

Out for a beautiful Spring day.    

Our niece, Peyton, sent us a Flat Stanley.  SO we took her Stanley to our favorite places for those pictures.  This behind us is the Kenai River during break-up.  Which is when the ice in lakes, rivers, and streams, "breaks-up".  ADVICE:  You will wear waterproof shoes/rain boots for weeks on end.  Some of these chunks of ice are 2-3 feet thick.

This is our friend standing on ice.  The air is warming, yet there are chucks of ice.  At this point, you are anxious for summer.  We have learned that Alaska has 2 seasons, Winter and summer.  Fall lasts about 2-3 weeks.  I am questioning if we are in the Fall season now.  By summer comes, you wonder when did spring happen.

Spring 2011

I am trying to go back in my mind and remember funny, scary, and exciting things that our family has experienced over the past couple months.  I deeply am sorry if you have been checking our blog and have not seen any updates.  Hoping to change that.  Please keep following us. Feel free to leave messages.  We love hearing from you too.

These bears were at the Anchorage zoo.  We stood there for half-an-hour, just watching them play and interact.  Bears truly are interesting creatures.  We enjoy educating ourselves about bears.  Which living up here is not a bad thing to do.  You never know when and where you might run into a bear.  Thankfully a lot of outhouses and trails leave a notice if one has been spotted in the area.  They also post what to do and what NOT to do if you come in contact with on.  They are very smart creatures.  Paul said that in Sitka (where He trained), when the bears would go through peoples trash or were in residential areas, they usually have to shoot the momma (sow) and cubs (if there are any).  This is because they have a great memory and will come back to the same spot over and over again.  They would have to be taken at least 150 miles from where they are causing problems.  Which in Sitka means, islands and islands away.  They can smell up to a mile away.  I thought this was a great picture from a SAFE distance.

Seward in March 2011

  These are some pictures of Seward in March.  We enjoy going to the Sea Life Center there.  Most cruises port here in Seward.  There are some smaller scale daily cruises you can go on.  It is a great area, Resurrection Bay, to see Sea Lions, Whales, and Walruses.  Not to mention Glaciers.

This is the side of Bear Mountain.  This is the mountain that gave Paul 15 seconds of fame on Alaska State Troopers.  He climbed the far left side, where the trees are.  Of course it was in July.