Pictures of Alaska

 Hiking at Skilak lake

  Catching Dolly Varden at the Russian River

Catching Salmon on the Kenai River

Hiking at Hidden Trail

Catching Halibut and other oddeties in Homer

Waiting on a Parade

One of the better decisions we made this year was to get annual passes to Disneyland.  At first we were worried that we wouldn't get our money's worth out of it.  As the months rolled by, however, we realized that we were going regularly.  The bigger benefit of the passes though was the ability to enjoy ourselves more when we were at the park.  We spent one day just playing in Toontown.  We spent another day with just the girls, doing any/everything princess.  We got to ride the big rides on days when no one else was there and then just enjoy the parades and big events if we were there on a day with a big crowd.  The lack of pressure to fit the entire park into one or two days made every day that we visited much more enjoyable.  Here we are, last June, with some friends, waiting on the Pixar parade in California Adventure.  Just enjoying our time together.

Always the Bridesmaid...

You may recall a similar story from last year.  Can that really happen twice?  Those were both such HUGE marlins but as it turns out, this year, they were short by 53 pounds (last year it was 54 pounds).  They were so close to winning!  Keep trying guys.  Next year is bound to be your turn.  You obviously know how to catch them.

But Can You Do BOTH?

I often tell people that in track and field, there are three just things to do.  First, you can run.  2 year olds can run.  Second, you can jump.  Two year olds can also jump.  And then you can throw, which, let's face it, those athletes' arm muscles are in a league all their own and I'll leave that out of this equation.  So what we are left with (excluding shot put and discus) is perfecting a motion that you are taught to do from all of the time after you turned one.  Sounds easy right?  Well, for the most part, it is.

Except hurdling.  Hurdling takes a special kind of crazy.  You have to be able to not only run, but also jump.  You have to be able to run and jump and then keep running and jumping 8 to 10 times for up to a quarter mile.  That's some crazy zombie eluding skills, folks.  To make matters even more complicated, in the shorter distance hurdles, you have to be able to convince your brain that your muscles are strong enough to carry your body where your eyes do not believe that it can go.  You only get one landing step and then three strides (called three-stepping) if you are going to be at all competitive.  So those feet have to land in the exact same spot for 100 or 110 meters repeatedly.  I have often professed that in their prime, hurdlers are better with their eyes shut.  They can run straight and know where the hurdles are without looking at them.  To see them and allow one's brain to judge distance is a detriment to their race.

That's why I think I enjoy coaching hurdlers so much.  It's not just that they are the special kind of crazy that jumps into snow-runoff waters in the lake in March, but also that they are smart.  Good hurdlers are usually naturally fast or naturally smart.  Great hurdlers are both.  They can convince their brains that their muscles will do what their eyes profess to be impossible.  I have had several good and great hurdlers run for me as their coach.  This year was no exception.  Hurdling attracts some great kids.

San Elijo

We played in the sand.  We caught fish (BIG fish). We entered the chili cookoff.  We drew on the ground in chalk.  We visited with friends.  We enjoyed fellowship with our fellow church members.  This was our first visit to the annual church campout at San Elijo and it did not disappoint.

How Can You Sleep?

With these three thirds of my whole all lying peacefully beside me, after reading at bedtime, how could I possibly fall asleep?  All I wanted to do is watch them and soak in the blessings that they are for me.  I could lay there for hours if I knew they wouldn't eventually wake me up at the crack of dawn.  It refreshes my soul to see them so peaceful.

My Awesome Nephew

My new nephew is just an awesome miracle.  We were delighted to get to meet him and see him get baptized recently.  The pastor did a great job of speaking and when he finished with the water and blessing, the little guy (my nephew, not the pastor) raised his fist in the air as if to shout "Halleluiah!"  It was just precious.  We all retired from the church, back to the house for some catching up with friends and family in the beautiful sunny weather God planned for my nephew's big day.  The older my children get, the more I realize how very fleeting those precious moments are and try to appreciate them whenever I can take a snapshot in my brain.  My nephew's fist in the air after being baptized is definitely one of my snapshots.

Grandparents' Visit (Part II of II)

After Vegas, we all headed west, to Oceanside, where we got to stay for the week as well.  Just like Vegas, this was pretty low-key.  We walked on the beach, visited the farmer's market, spent an afternoon on a sailboat, and fished off the pier.  Besides that, it was a lot of the same...the glorious, glorious same.  I love our family and it's so cool that we enjoy spending time together.

Grandparents' Visit (Part I of II)

For the first part of our Grandparents' Extravaganza weekend, we all met out in Las Vegas, for a week stay at the timeshare.  We had a great nighttime view of the lights on the strip from our room and yet we were removed enough from it that we spent most of the time relaxing by the pool.  We did break away a few times to visit the dinosaur exhibit at one of the local convention centers, see the Bellagio fountains and butterfly exhibit, get our nails did, checking out the location for "Tanked" (the TV show), and show the kids the volcano explosion at the Mirage.  For the most part though, we let the kids play in the pool, played lots of cards, and generally took it easy, enjoying each others' company.  Even Uncle Eddie & Erika showed up to join us for a bit.  Oh, did I mention that hubby spent every day getting the first half of his pilot's license completed?  Well, now you know.  Lucky duck, huh?