Random Shots of Alaska Summer Vacation

This is a view of Sarah Palin's driveway. Big deal, right. We thought we would take Susan on a little sightseeing venture to Wasilla, home of the famous Sarah Palin, the beautiful, conservative vice-presidential candidate from Alaska. That's about all we saw.

This shot was from our flightseeing trip looking out over the Knik Glacier. So many miles of huge ice fields with ice-blue gravel streaked ice. Gorgeous and created by God. I forgot how many glaciers we saw that day but maybe it was 5 or 6. Seeing everything from the air gives one quite a different perspective and I'm so thankful we went. I had a fear of flying in small planes but God took care of that. We had a seasoned pilot friend from our church who was quite the tour guide/pilot and also funny too. What a day! Susan got to fly too. Will post that one also!

Flower gardens down at Town Square, Anchorage.

Kids examining the bark inside a tree up at Thunderbird Falls.

Here is Mimi holding the "Golden Child" who is the sweetest boy in the world and Greta who will one day hike mountains tirelessly.

Motorcycle Mama

Greta was a little unsure at first but later got the hang of it. G-Pop is so popular when he brings out the scooter because all the kids want a ride, even the big kid Natalie!!

Emme petting a Grizzly at the Visitor Center

More German picnic photos and just ones of us all laughing and clowning around. We do laugh, reminisce and just have fun every time we're together!

Wilkommen! Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

Here we all are, the first ever, the Batten Family at the annual German Deutsche Freunde picnic in mom's back yard. Many of her grandchildren were there and all but one of the great grandchildren were also present. What a treat! We all had a good time visiting with the German people as well as eating great food. Natalie is sporting her dirndl here. She is always the star! Carsten had his lederhosen on and will be handing them down to Finn for next year's picnic.

Adam grilled the bratwurst and everyone helped serve, setup, and take down. Thanks to Tom, Edith, Peggy, Barbara, and Dorothy for doing most of the hard work!! It was fun!

Dawn's garden party was a hit. We had a good time eating an assortment of homemade soup, cucumber sandwiches, delicious quiche (made with Dawn's fresh chicken's eggs), Ramona's rosemary cookies, and Jessica's beautiful cupcakes which were the favorite of all the children.

Dawn and Rob's yard is always full of colorful mostly perennial flowers and eclectic garden goodies.

The kids played outside somewhat because of the cool, drizzly, weather as Dawn gave us ladies the garden tour. Her greenhouse is producing many tomatoes and cucumbers.

Here Great Grandma is seated next to Emme and then Great Aunt Debbie is holding Will's hand as Grandma follows behind with Elli. Thank you Dawn for a lovely afternoon and having us all over.

A great picture of Grandma George holding little beauty "Blue Eyes" Claire

Natalie's first time seeing her, so she did remove her wig, thank goodness.

Bernie always has been very animated, and who is that wolf in the middle?

It turned out our neighbors were there picking up relatives from Austrailia on the same flight. They recogonized us immediately. We thought we were so clever.

The wolf and Litttle Red Riding Hood minus the hood. We all had so much fun picking them up we forgot a suitcase at the airport and Bernie had to go back to retrieve it.

Here Natalie is incognito ready to pick up her sis and family. We all wore wigs and costumes. When they saw us, I don't even think they were surprised. It's almost as if they were expecting it.
Gretchen sporting her black Afro wig. She and Nat were driving around in the airport garage laughing so much they forgot what level they were on.
Here we are with the grandmothers and great-grandma's over at Bernie and Angie's house for Pizza Night.
Will doesn't ahve curly hair like his dad at all but here he is looking mighty fine.
Gretchen and Natalie goofing off downtown after the Saturday Market. It was chilly, that's why Natalie has a winter hat on:)

Now We're Cookin!

We couldn't be happier now that we're done. Finally. We've been done for one week now and I have been having fun hanging up all the pictures and rearranging. I must say that I feel like I haven't cleaned thoroughly in quite awhile and now that sheetrock dust was all over everything I had to clean from stem to stern. Plus company is comin...can hardly wait :)

Kitchen Remodel

Look at the pretty fresh flowers Mom bought us in the midst of all the clutter. I thought it looked unusual to see them on a table filled to the max, but we are enjoying them.

It's taken almost two weeks now to unload and clean out all the cabinets. Mom helped me one day (with her scarf on no, less) to get so much accomplished. In doing so, I have found so many items I'm not using anymore since we are "Empty Nesters". This is the first time I have unloaded everything since moving in here 27 years ago. Granted, I changed the shelf paper but we have accumulated so much. I did not use the import/export rule which Bernie instituted which when you buy something you get rid of something.

We sold our cabinets on Craig's List right away as well as certain other items we no longer use. I love Craig's List! Now the basement is loaded with all our kitchen items and we feel like we're camping in our own home. No cabinets, kitchen sink, countertops or dishwasher. Our coffee maker is on top of the stove and the microwave is in the dining room.

I can hardly wait for the new paint and cabinets. They should arrive, Lord willing, once we are home from Bernie's graduation next week. Once they are installed, we will have the countertops put in. This is the first step in our makeover for our Kale Family Reunion which will be happening in June/July when everyone will be home!! We are SO EXCITED!!! Four kids and their spouses, 7 grandkids (plus one on the way!!) plus us makes 17!!! I wonder how we will all fit into the motorhome???


Bernie spent all day removi