Summertime

I want to blog, but I want to enjoy it. So far, I have been a bit frustrated with how my blog looks, the size of the pictures, and the time it takes for pictures to upload. I'm sure that there has got to be a way to make this process enjoyable, so I will keep trying different things.

We have had a very eventful summer. The season started with the children getting out of school on the Friday before Memorial Day. We had friends from out of town come and visit that weekend, which included an overnight trip on the boat for the dads and 4 of the kids. When they left, they took Rachel with them back to Seward. She goes to stay with Grandma and Grandpa, and to train for the Mt. Marathon race.

Shortly after they left, the remaining four kids and I left for WA. We stayed for a few days with my sister and her family in the Tacoma area. My brother in law is in the Army and stationed at Ft Lewis. After that, it was on to the other side of the state to stay with my parents. My youngest brother was graduating from high school. My sister and her family came for the graduation, and my other brother surprised us and showed up as well (we thought that he would not be able to make it)! It was great getting to spend time with all of my siblings.

We stayed at my parents' for over a week, including Father's Day. I don't remember the last time I spent Father's Day with my dad. It was a sweet time. We were also able to spend time with some of Ryan's extended family. It was fun for the kids to get to spend time with some second cousins.

To finish off our WA trip, we headed back to my sister's and spent the few last days there. We went to the zoo, a lake, and a day trip into Seattle. I hadn't been to the Space Needle since I was a kid, so that was fun.

The trip home had a few glitches. Our assigned seats on the plane (which I had email confirmation of) no longer existed, because the airline changed planes. We were finally able to board, but were not able to all sit together. Bekah was very distraught over this prospect, but she was able to see me from her seat, so she was OK with it. Bethany ended up way in the back of the plane, far away from us, but she is a big girl and did just fine.

Once we arrived in Anchorage, the shuttle van was broken down that was supposed to take us to our car. So, we got a cab. My first cab ride, and I was not impressed. The driver was very rude. Finally made it to our car, and the battery was dead. The man in-charge of the parking lot was very kind. He not only reimbursed me for the cab ride, but he jump-started my car, and then offered to come jump it again in the morning at the hotel if it did not start again.

We arrived at the hotel very late that night, and then were gone again early the next morning (the car started, yay!) Bethany had an orthodontist appointment, we got some groceries and headed home!

Home, sweet home for about a week, then off to Seward for the 4th of July. The weather was rainy and cold, but we had fun visiting with family. The kids were able to play with their cousins and get spoiled by grandma.

Back home from that trip, after another orthodontist visit for Beth (she keeps getting the hardware in her mouth adjusted, trying to expose a tooth, after which braces will go on), for a week and then my in laws came to visit us here. They brought along a cousin and a family friend. The weather was awesome! Hot and sunny. Three of the days various of the group headed out in the boat, and one day most of the group rode four-wheelers and the ranger into moose camp. I had fun making lots of good food! I made a plan of the things I wanted to make while they were here, shopped from my list, and then I just had to decide what to do each day. I love cooking, especially for enthusiastic eaters!

My in laws and cousin Lexi left last Saturday, but Mark (our family friend) didn't leave until yesterday morning. I have a couple weeks before our next company arrives. Phew! In the meantime, I am helping with VBS, and dealing with an insurance claim on my car (I was backed into in the church parking lot). School starts again on Aug 19th. Seems so early!

Here are a few more pictures. Hopefully I can get them to load quickly and at the size I want them to.

 

 

Sarah, cousin Lexi, Bekah, and Jake up on the flying bridge on the boat.

 

 

Sea lions on a buoy.  Three of them!

 

 

My handsome hubby rowing us to shore in the life raft.  We went beach combing!

 

 

On the beach.

 

 

Ryan climbed up a sort-of rock cliff and got this picture of our boat from the shore.  I love the trees in the foreground.

 

 

Sarah and Bekah "body surfing" at the beach.

 

 

A different day and a different beach.  Still amazing weather for this part of Alaska!

 

 

A view of our boat in a quiet cove from a beautiful, island meadow.

 

 

Yours truly



 

Well, the first picture was a bit bigger.  If you have stayed with me for this long, congratulations!

 

Blessings from a very "not-tech-savvy" girl. :)