First Day of Pre-School

I really cannot believe that I sent my second child off to pre-school yesterday. Where does the time go? Well, here is our "baby" going off to school like a big girl. She had a wonderful first day!!

OUCH!!

Kacie got her first "shiner". In case your wondering what happened...she was having fun with her friend and she bumped it on the table. She was tough and didn't cry much but she was very embarrassed about the "big ball" by her eye. She is ok with it now.

Rose Hill Jr. Football

I have had a couple of requests to see Jake in his football gear. This is him in his practice gear...don't you just love that he already thinks he needs to look tough.

Jake is playing on a 1st/2nd grade team. They will play 5 games in September against other surrounding towns. I will be sure to post some game shots later.

First Day of First Grade

Jake is very excited about school starting. His teacher this year is Mrs. Levine. She actually is a retired teacher from another school district and decided she wasn't ready to be done teaching.

We look forward to see how God will work in his class this year, how much Jake will learn and how much he will grow over the year...

A Bad Day for Matsu!!

It was 1:30am and Ben woke up to a familiar noise. It was Matsu licking, which usually means that she is getting sick. So, of course Ben got up quickly to get her off the carpet and when he turned on the light he found Matsu with her face swollen at least one and a half times the normal size.

And you thought you had a rough day...I bet you didn't wake up with your face looking like something out of a horror film!!

In case you were wondering what happened...she got bit by something and it caused some sort of reaction. The vet said that benadryl would take care of it. She is now doing much better, but still not herself. Today was the first time in years that she did not meet Ben at the door when he got home from work.

Say it with me, "poor, poor doggie !!"

Fun in the Sun

We have had an unusual wet and mild summer. We knew it would only be a matter of time before we started reaching near triple digits. When the hot weather comes it means lots of time in the water.

Well, the hot weather has arrived...so we thought we would cool off by meeting up with a close friend of mine and her kids at Riverside Park to play in the fountains. Here are a couple of pictures of Kacie playing with her friend Faith.

Beth, as always I appreciate your honesty and wisdom...and you know your my favorite "clown"!!

The Last Frontier

" O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions"—

Psalm 104:24

I expected Alaska to be breathtaking in its beauty, but it way exceeded my expectations!! I will post a few pictures but they are not fair in showing the true magnificence of God's creation...

Off the Pier in Seward...before our boat tour

Sea Lions...boat tour

In Resurrection Bay

Exit Glacier...the entire gang

Eagle River...close to where my brother lives

Cousins:Gabriel, Jake and Kacie

Independence Mine at Hatcher's Pass

Jodie with her brother Coy at Thunderbird Falls

Our first Moose Encounter

My brother Coy who is an Air Force Officer is being assigned a new tour in October. It was either now or never...so we went to Alaska for about 10 days. We are so grateful that God worked out all of the details that enabled us to go.

Highlights of our trip:

Going on many hikes...seeing 8 wild moose including a mama and her baby...experiencing daylight even at midnight...driving down the coastline and seeing Mt. McKinley...going to Portage Glacier...visiting the wildlife center where they took in injured wildlife...feeding a caribou...seeing a real mining community...the polar bears at the zoo...the waterfalls...shopping at the downtown market...eating incredible pizza at Moose's Tooth...playing soccer at the park...the boat tour in Seward...on the tour seeing sea lions, bald eagles, humpback whales, sea otters, puffins...Kacie and Jake all smiles on the boat...eating fresh salmon and Halibut at The Salmon Bake...visiting the sea life center and seeing Willie the 2400lb. sea lion...getting up close to Exit Glacier...going to the museum...seeing my brother loving his family so well...spending time with Coy, Evelyn and Gabriel...

We are now advocates for Alaska...everyone needs to experience it at least once in their life!!