Let's Go Fly a Kite

Galena doesn't get much wind that is strong enough to fly kites so when there the other day when there was actually strong wind we went out and flew Kaden's Kite. He had a good time.

Kaden and Daddy putting the Kite together

Kaden tossing it in to the air

Up Up and Away!!!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

One of the major events in Galena is the Midnight Soft Ball tournament. This tournament usually goes on during the solstice weekend. Meaning we have the most light this week but technically is just doesn't get dark so therefore we can play all night. Many different towns come to play in Galena. It is a fun time to watch and this year I got to play in the tournament.

I even got to score!

Era Alaska Team

Kaden and Lily practicing

My little Rookie

My little Fan Club!

Bear Hunting

Keith got a chance to go Bear hunting and Halibut fishing last week. He and some friends headed out of Valdez in a nice boat and went for 7 days of hunting and fishing. He said it was fun and he did get his first Alaskan Black bear and his first 4 Halibut. I must say the Halibut we ate the night he got back was DELICIOUS!!! Here are a few pictures of his trip.

Alan came to visit

We had a great time with Alan Dial when he came to visit us for a few days. Him and his family have been such a blessing to our family since we met them in November. Alan came out to visit and see how village life goes in Alaska and to get ideas of how to reach Native Alaskans. We had a great time with him here.

Pancake Cookout!

The weather was perfect for a outdoor cook out and what better to eat on a cook out then Pancakes! Ok so we actually used a Electic skillet with a very long extension cord but we did cook Biscuits on a Stick and sausage in the griddle. It was a fun evening with our fun neighbors.

Puddles!

While Keith and Mr. Tim were working in the green houses, Kaden and Ida had a good time playing in the puddles. They had a good time getting wet.

Balancing on the log

Kaden likes to balance

Panning for Gold
Be Free!
I found our plastic horse shoe game and had a good time teaching Kaden and Ida how to play.

Keith's Birthday

Another birthday means another year older for Keith. Good thing he is married to me I keep him YOUNG! (or give him grey hair) But either way we had to celebrate so we had a small get together with friends and neighbors after he got off work. On the way home from work though he stopped at the post office and got to pick up his present from his son.... a little Bicycle. Of course Kaden is the one who gets to ride it but it was a nice puzzle for Keith to put together on his birthday!
We had a small gathering at out house on one of the hottest days I have sen in Galena. It was 82 degrees outside and I thought we were all going to melt! I would never have thought moving from Florida I would ever say 82 degrees is hot but it was and we don't have AC to cool us off. Anyways it was a fun time grilling out.

Mr. Tim, our neighbor, the excellent chef. Burgers, Hotdogs and Moose Brats!

Oreo Cake, with Oreo Cream cheese frosting(Thanks for the recipe Catherine). Was not exactly like the recipe said to do but since I didn't have all the ingredients out here in the bush so I winged it and it was delicious!
Didn't have enough candles to put 45 ..Wait I mean 33 on there plus we are kind of on a fire watch so I didn't want to chance it catching the grass on fire. Here is Keith with his cake.

Kaden helped Keith blow out the candles

Happy Birthday Love! Hope you enjoy your new BOAT!!!!

Kaden testing Daddy's new present

Breaking up is Hard to do!

Every year here in Galena and across Alaska, find ourselves anticipating the River Breaking up. This is a very happy and Joyous time because the rivers being clear means we are able to get out on the river with a boat. Praise the Lord that we have a boat this year so we are SUPER EXCITED! The Ice breaking up is one of the most amazing forces of Nature that I have ever seen. When you stop to watch the Ice move you just see a HUGE, GIANT piece of Ice sliding down the river. The sound is so incredible and loud. Then the Ice starts to crack into smaller pieces and smaller pieces till it is just like a huge slushy flowing down river. Pictures can't discribe the force that the Ice can do. When you stand on the bank you can see big chunks that are 4-6 feet thick be forced up on to the bank and on top of other huge chunks. Pictures can't do it Justice but I will try.

This is one big sheet of Ice all the way across the river

Breaking into smaller pieces

One of the one times you have a traffic jam on the roads in Galena is when the Ice breaks because everyone goes out to watch it.

Big Slushy mess

The boys and I in front of the Ice that was pushed up on the bank.

After most of the Ice has passed.

Our Trip to Homer

Keith had training to do in Anchorage and in Homer and since none of us had been to Homer before, we made it into a small vacation. Most of the days, Keith had to work at the Shorebird Festival, but the boys and I enjoyed exploring Homer. It was a wonderful trip and the beauty of Homer was breathtaking! The week before we headed to Homer it was raining and cold in Anchorage so we were beginning to worry that it would be the same in Homer, but we left Anchorage in a rainstorm with the hope that it would clear up. Here are some pictures of our trip down to Homer.We stopped for Lunch at a yummy little Cafe on the way. My three boys enjoyed the Burgers!

Just as we thought the weather was going to be yucky, this is how the day turned out!

Our Family in front of the beautiful mountains and ocean!
Oh and about 15 Bald Eagles flying above us.

Keith Dreaming!!

Our wonderful Cottage that we stayed at! We stayed in the lower level

The View from our Cottage.... I could get used to this!!
The Morning fog over Homer, but we were just above the cloud level.SO COOL!!
Now I know where the song artist wrote "For Purple Mountains Majesty!"
Homer Spit
Keith doing a bird walk at work.
This is one of the reasons Keith loves his Job!
My wonderful Husband doing what he LOVES!!
Wildlife and Bird Photography
Kaden, Isaiah and I went on a few hikes.
Kaden enjoying SO MANY ROCKS!!!
He thought all of them were beautiful and he filled pockets with them by the end of the Hike.
(I have now found a few in my washing machine)
This rock was TOOO BIG to fit in my pocket
so I told him I would take a picture of him in front of it.
We just could not get enough of the views of the Mountains.
We stopped at every pull off on the road to take pictures.
Rainbow after a storm
We took a few boat tours during the Birding Festival.
We got to go around Gull Island to see a bunch of different birds and sea life.
Tuffed Puffins, Gulls, Sea Outters, Seals. and many more. It was Awesome!!
The Danny J~ the boat we took

Hmmmm I wonder why they call this Gull Island?

Kaden woke me up asking me "mommy is it Mother's Day?" I said "Yes" He then said
"Happy Mothers Day Mommy!! Did I surprise you? "
Yes he did and then he brought me a beautiful bouquet of Roses, Which I don't get very often in Galena. It was a sweet morning with my boys!

On the road trip back it was not raining so we stopped at a few stopped to enjoy the views and let the boys get out of their carseats. It was fun to see the mountains and rivers!

This is us in front of the PERFECT Christmas tree....
How much would the fine be for cutting a tree in the state parks flower bed?
I promise to replant one in its place!

Sunset in Anchorage

Keith and one of his co-workers, Jeremy had to stay in Anchorage for meetings and they had some fun after we left. They went to look for Dall Sheep and got to get in some golfing too.

Jeremy looking in the Mountains for Sheep

This moose is getting a Ed"Moose"cation.
Even down town at the University of Anchorage the Moose appear.
The Police has Moose duty

One way we see if new employees are cut out for Alaska is to tell them to see how close they can get to a moose without getting attacked by the moose or arrested by the police.
Jeremy survived both so I guess he is good to go!

The guys really "ROUGHED" it during their training. After work they went and played golf. The greens were really rough but they had a good time! With nice warm weather and Sunny Days...and nights how can you not enjoy yourself. Land of the Midnight Sun. Keith's first golfing in almost 2 years

Jeremy waiting to putt