Fishing Derby

Last weekend Warren took the Cameron and Clayton on a surprise fishing & camping trip to Valdez. Valdez has a kids fishing derby every year. We had been planning this trip as a surprise for the boys for quite a while. On Friday, I got our new (to us) tent trailer packed and ready to go. I even got the boys bags packed without them knowing what I was doing. :-) When Warren got home he gave each of the boys a new blue metal camp plate and bowl (they love these dishes) and asked them if they wanted to go camping. Of course, they wanted to but you should have seen their faces when Warren told them that they were going that day! Cameron and Clayton each caught a fish and Warren caught 4. The first 125 kids to catch a fish got a T-shirt. There were also door prizes. Cameron won a kids fishing pole. They had a lot of fun!

A Beautiful Day

This is for you, Julie! :-) For those of you that don't know, this summer (at least in our neck of the woods) has been very cloudy and the month of July has been rainy. Well, Julie predicted that the day after her and Byron left we would get some nice weather. The clouds started to break up last night on our way home from the airport and this morning this is what we woke up to! I'll admit we still have a few clouds but we do have blue skies and the sun is finally shining!

Good Friends

We were so happy to have our good friends, Byron and Julie, visit for a couple of days! Of course, the time they had here wasn't long enough but we are thankful for the time we did have. We had a lot of fun while they were here! Even if it did rain! The guys spent some time fishing and we did some sightseeing. Here are a few pictures of our time together: fishing at Bird Creek, sightseeing at the AK Wildlife Conservation Center, at the airport and in front of our church.

Isn't It Amazing?

Isn't is amazing how children, specifically toddlers, can do something and then get mad at you because they did it!?! Kids--gotta love 'em! But sometimes I'm left shaking my head at their "logic". Such as another thing that just happened. Nick and Amy are sitting on the floor facing each other playing with match box cars. Apparently Nick thinks he needs more cars because he suddenly says, "Amy's stinky, Mom! Amy's stinky, Mom!" Amy while not "stinky" does need to go to the Little Girls Room so as soon as I go get her Nick scoops all her cars over to his pile! Again, I am left just shaking my head!

Little Boys & Flowers

Cameron and Clayton picked these daisies for me the other day. How sweet! We have such special kids!

Birthday Pictures

Here are the pictures of Elaine for her birthday. I have such a great sister! Elaine and I spent a lot of time traveling between Salem and Tarentum. She also sewed my wedding dress and the bridesmaids dresses as well. She is a super aunt too. We really enjoyed our time together when she was here last summer.

Happy Birthday, Elaine!

My sister, Elaine, is having a birthday today. I tried to upload pictures of her but for some reason it would not show the pictures. I will have to try later. Anyway, just wanted to wish her a very happy birthday! Are you still glad I came along when I did since you can say you still have a sister in her 30's? Happy __th birthday! We love you!

The Fourth of July!

I AM AN AMERICAN--AND PROUD OF IT!!!  Some people complain about the way America 

is--yes, I admit she has her faults--but America is still the greatest place on earth!  This morning I thought of the chorus "It's So Good To Be Free".   I am so glad that we live in a FREE country!  That is not something to be taken lightly.  I think we are all guilty of taking that for granted, I know I do.  Have you ever stopped to think of what it would be like if America wasn't free?  Or if we lived somewhere else?  I know, some of you may say that we are slowly losing our freedoms, but you know what we ARE still free!  Even more important is the freedom we have in Jesus (which is what that chorus is actually talking about).  I love to fly our flag!  I love to celebrate the 4th of July!  I love to sing and listen to the patriotic songs!  I want our kids to love and respect our country, our flag and our military and we are teaching them to do just that.   

Thank you to all of our troops and their families that are serving our country today.  I know that it is a sacrifice.  This is one family that truly appreciates what you are doing. Thank you! Thank you!  Thank you!  Our thanks goes to all of you veterans also.  To those of you who have lost a loved one our hearts go out to you as well.

So from our family to yours HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! 

May God bless America! 

    Old Glory--Long may she ever wave!

The kids in their matching outfits.  

   I bought these T-shirts and then made Amy's into a dress.