Kale Kourier

Random Shots of Alaska Summer Vacation

2010-07-21T22:48:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-21T22:41:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-21T22:36:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-07-21T22:17:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-07-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

2010-07-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-07-14T21:58:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-07-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

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:)

2010-07-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

2010-06-30T22:14:00.000-07:00

Now We're Cookin!

2010-06-02T13:36:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

He is Risen...He is Risen Indeed!! Happy Easter

We have had a fun family filled weekend from coloring the eggs, to a delicious brunch
after church with family, to another dinner/dessert afternoon complete with an outdoor egg hunt at Hartley's house. It's almost never snow-free so everyone dresses accordingly. The kids all had a great time and Debbie does a good job hiding the eggs for each age group so no one gets left out. Gretchen and Phil forgot Elli's boots so Phil carried her around to all the eggs.

Learning to Ride a Two Wheeler

2010-03-15T21:25:00.000-07:00

We baked sugar cookies, made homemade pizza and played outside when it was nice. Emme started to ride her bicycle without training wheels while we were there. We cheered and went round and round with her. Bernie helped her by using a broomstick to help her balance. It was so good for us to be a part of this learning experience for Emme. There's no stopping her now!

Claire is quite the Character, She'll be 1 year old on Saturday

2010-03-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifShe's been walking since ten months and on Saturday, March 21at, she'll be one year old. Happy Birthday Claire. She is such an easy-going baby, doesn't cry much, except when being man-handled by her sister, and crinkles her nose when she smiles. She is sheer delight and I'm so happy we got to know her more this past week.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish,Blue Fish

2010-03-15T16:35:00.000-07:00

Emme and Levi began swimming lessons twice a week with a wonderful certified instructor who has a large enclosed pool separate from her home on her property. They loved every moment of it and I could see improvement already at the end of the second class. The beautiful thing was that the instructor called after the first lesson and asked Bridgette to switch the kids to the earlier class to ease up on the later class and they were the only ones who opted for it. Now Emme and Levi have personal instruction because no on eelse signed up!!! God is so good! They look forward to their lessons and will continue to progress, I'm certain.

2010-03-15T16:33:00.001-07:00

Snowbirds in the First Step...

2010-03-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

This is the property we put earnest money down on in Idaho City, 45 minutes away from Boise. Bernie had looked at it one year ago and really liked it, came home and told me about it but somehow I didn't understand just how beautiful it really was. It is 4.11 acres and has a creek, two ponds, AND borders Idaho Public Use lands, which means no one can build behind you. You can ride 4-wheelers, dirt bikes, and hunt. We are the first people to buy in this new subdivision and have hopes of building there within the next two years. It has the exact recipe we were looking for, a creek, a little more than just a buliding lot, beautiful trees, view of the mountains, and FOUR seasons. You can see there is snow there so maybe we won't really be snowbirds but 4-season birds.

2009-12-30T18:47:00.000-08:00

Here we are enjoying the afternoon at Eklutna Lake, Mom, Barbara, and I. The weather was warm and the ice was melting somewhat around the lake. The sun never really came out that day, it was mostly overcast. We hiked a little and saw cross-country skiers, people walking their dogs, and just enjoying God's great outdoors.

Good Tidings of Great Joy Christmas 2009

2009-12-25T21:39:00.001-08:00

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all the people. Luke 2:10

2009-12-10T06:17:00.000-08:00

She's 82 now and she will possibly wear red and purple together. Mom is a grand lady who is sharp as anything and can still out-story tell anyone I know!!

We had a great celebration with 16 of us at her home for gyros complete with the cucumber sauce. I'm not sure how to spell it. Tom bought mariniated mozzarella balls and sliced roasted red peppers for two trays. Barbara made a fantastic three-layer cake which was enjoyed by all. Chrissy, Dot, and I put together the gyros and had lots of fun doing it. It's always a treat to be together. Thank you Lord for giving us such an awesome mother! We love you Mom!

2009-12-09T16:45:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Mom 82 Years Young!!

2009-12-09T16:34:00.001-08:00

I Think We Need a Sled Built for Two

2009-11-21T18:22:00.000-08:00

Elli LOVES to go outside and so does Finn for that matter. But she will keep her gloves and hat on and he will not keep his gloves on. Last week, we shoveled our sidewalk and his little hands were pink. He could handle the shovel better.

Finn actually got to ride on the Argo complete with snowplow from the nice neighbor Gary Stadig. He loved it sitting right next to him plowing the snow. Then he took him on a ride down the road. It beats riding in a sled for a little boy! Wish I would ahve had a picture of that.

When Your Away From Home

2009-11-15T19:47:00.000-08:00

Here are a few snapshots of the sun setting on Sunday 11-15-09 I thought you might enjoy seeing . This is what the weather looks like with our snow and today it was 10 degrees.

2009-11-15T19:34:00.000-08:00

Renstrom Residence on Rocky River Road

2009-11-02T18:12:00.000-08:00

Here is Adam and Natalie's GORGEOUS home on a beautiful 3.5 acres surrounded by pecan trees and and a lovely lawn, shrubs, garden area etc. Presently, their home is in the rough stage but soon to be polished to perfection. The fireplace is a cool highlight which can be seen from the livingroom and also kitchen. They have a practical floorplan which will work well for their family. Everything is going smoothly and soon to be painted and trimmed by Phil. I was able to help a little by tearing down sheetrock from walls and ceiling in the hallway area. Usually, I am afraid of heights, but this time I was up on the tiptop of the ladder (they have 10 ft. ceilings) tearing sheetrock off piece by piece. I really enjoyed it!! I wish I could see the rest of it come together but now it's only through Natalie's blog Rocky River Farmhouse.

Lowe's Speedway Charlotte, North Carolina

2009-10-28T11:09:00.000-07:00

Natalie got to experience rolling down the speedway minus all the race cars. She is such a nut. There was an awesome contemporary Christian concert. We got to hear Mercy Me, Fee, Toby Mac live in concert at the Nascar. Actually, it was all alot of fun, although it did get pretty chilly and windy even for us. There is alot of pre-race activities from vendors, displays, tailgate parties going on until the race begins at 7:00 pm. Jimmie Johnson was the winner with car number 48 who is sponsored by Lowe's. There are probably about 50 contestants in the race. They fly the professional racers in by helicopter about an hour before the action. #48 won the race at about 11:30 pm which was 500 laps I think. Bernie had made reservations for all of us before we left AK and it was a first for all of us including Adam.

Will is One Year Old!!

2009-10-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, but Will is one year old today!! He is sporting his new cowboy boots in one of these pictures and will soon be stomping around as soon as he can walk...he's close! He is a beautiful boy who is full of energy and curiosity. He is always happy and usually content, unless Greta is pestering him. He went to his one year Dr. appt. today and weighs in at 19.10 pounds and is in the 85th percentile for his height. I wonder where he got that? He loves to explore and will soon be walking. Natalie made these great pumpkin cupcakes and also these cute owl Rice Krispy treats with little Oreos for eyes and a candy corn for the beak. He loved the cupcake and Greta helped with blowing out the candle. He is a treasure!

Friday "Spur of the Moment" Hike

2009-09-19T21:50:00.000-07:00

This is the best autumn with the mildest temperatures I can ever remember. The leaves haven't even dropped yet which makes every moment so valuable for spending time outside. We know our time is limited but we are entirely grateful. Thank you Lord.

2009-09-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

Here we are on our ride with the CMA group which was down from Fairbanks for the weekend. There were ten bikes in all and we met many new friends. The Lord blessed us with wonderful weather and the sights were breathtaking. Bernie and I were saying that we are so blessed to live in a state in which you can always go sightseeing, no matter how long you've lived here.

Portage Glacier Ride with CMA

2009-09-07T16:01:00.000-07:00

I Can Count...Two Dogs, Three Adults, Five kids 3 and under.

2009-09-06T08:58:00.001-07:00

Here's Gretchen, Finn, and Elli at the top (not really) of Mt. Baldy. It was the top for us, but there was still a little piece to go.

Elli was a very good travelling baby. At the top, she got out and crawled around on the tundra and ate snacks.

Here I am with one of my inspirations, Brooke, who was my buddy on the ascent. Both of the twins are great little hikers. This was their 3rd time this summer I think.

Bailey, Heidi, McKenzie, and Brooke at the top. Heidi gets the Mountain Woman award for carrying McKenzie and at one point, she had one twin under each arm during a tough spot.

We were so thankful for good weather. This was Gretchen and I's first time on Baldy this summer.

We got quite a sense of accomplishment and were grateful that Heidi had invited us.

Elli (Mini-Me of Gretchen) turns One Year Old

2009-09-04T20:57:00.000-07:00

These are a little out of order unfortunately. Here she has just devoured her cupcake.

Elli, unashamedly scarfed her cupcake down and loved every moment of it.

Here she is waiting patiently. Gretchen made these pretty cupcakes.

Blueberry Picking on Winner Creek Trail

2009-09-04T20:18:00.000-07:00

Friends Kathleen, Fumiko, Bernie, and I went blueberry picking last weekend. We had fun traipsing through the woods picking from the high berry bushes.

We didn't get much, but you can see, we are very competitive. We all got between 2-3 cups a piece and had more fun than 2-3 cups.

The forest was so beautiful. It was wet, mossy, full of mushrooms and fauna.

2009-08-10T16:11:00.000-07:00

2009-08-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

2009-07-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

Here we are on top of this hill next to a beautiful lake in Hatcher's Pass.

Bernie took this gorgeous shot with the stream, mountain reflection, fireweed, and unsurpassed AK scenery. We had great weather.

Hatcher's Pass to Willow Motorcyle Ride

2009-07-20T22:14:00.000-07:00

Annual Summer German Picnic July 2009

2009-07-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

I think Frau Traudl had 38 people this year. We all had a great time. Tom did most of the set up and take down and Chrissy, Barbara, and I helped to serve. Mom is the chief director and looked so happy the entire day but was exhausted at the day's end. The weather was gorgeous as well as her back yard with flowers in complete bloom.

Here are 4 of the Batten children with their wonderful mother. Three of us are in costume and also Carsten had his lederhosen on for awhile but got too hot.

Chrissy and I with Mom. She was the cutest one there...Mom that is. Chrissy made a delicious German chocolate cake and I made apfel strudel (first time for me) and it was a hit!

2009-07-08T21:25:00.000-07:00

This is the iron works stamp dated from 1890 to 1903.
This is the tiny town of McCarthy which sits 1 mile down the road from
Kennicott which was a closed controlled mining work operation. It
remained a dry town and only had 6 female employees of which were
the nurses and also one teacher for the children of Kennicott.
This is the Millhouse in which all the copper minerals were taken out of the stone through a crushing process. It has 14 stories and remains the largest (or highest) wooden structure in the US today. It is owned by the Park Service as of 1993 and is in the process of repair. An estimated 40,000 visitors visit this National Park in the Wrangell St. Elias Mtns.
This building has survived the massive '64 earthquake and many
more.

Kennicott Mine and Glacier Trip

2009-07-08T21:08:00.000-07:00

Here is the wooden trestle bridge built around 1905. It had the same
building engineer as the White Pass Railroad built in Skagway, AK.
This is a pretty high bridge for this chicken chick (me) to cross in a car
or on a motorcycle. Somehow Bernie forgot to tell me we had to cross
this bridge when he explained to me the route.
Gorgeous scenery when looking back on this photo.
This bridge is still intact today although not used. It's pretty amazing
considering the terrain. There were approximately 6,000 men who
worked on it for 4 yrs.It began in the port of Cordova and ran 196 miles to Kennicott where the copper was shipped out to Seattle to the smelting plant. Part of it went as far north
as Chitna and some sections of it were washed out yearly we were told.

Meme Tag from Bridgette

2009-06-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

Eight Things I'm Looking Forward To;
1. Hot summer days
2. Flowers to bloom in my new garden area.
3. Grass to grow on the topsoil (Which will be seeded tomorrow).
4. Riding my motorcycle with more confidence and agility.
5. Going to McCarthy and Kendicott Lodge in 2 weeks.
6. Trip to visit Natalie, Adam, Greta and Will in fall and see their new home
7. German picnic in July
8. Vacation with entire family in AK at Christmas and summer of 2010!

Eight Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Read Bible
2. Work (Cooked bkfst and Lunch for 280) at Camp Gorsuch.
3. Worked on garden.
4. Played with Finn and Elli
5. Folded laundry.
6. Made bean, cheese, and veggie quesidillas for dinner.
7. Watched the movie "Falling Down" with Michael Douglas
8. Took my vitamins.

Eight Places I've Lived

Trenton, New Jersey
Ft. Richardson, AK
Eagle River, AK
Chugiak, AK
Vienna, Austria (4 mos)
Oklahoma City, OK
Alexandria, Virginia 3 mos

Eight Places To Visit

Israel
Turkey
England/Scotland/Wales
Africa
Greece
Italy
Austrailia
New Zealand
Thailand

Eight Fruits I Love

Apples, Granny Smith
Nectarines
Berries, all kinds
Kiwi
Pears
Mango
Apricots
Plums

Eight Things I Wish I could Do

Play piano magnificently
Bend my knee all the way
Tell a joke decently without laughing or messing it up
Keep my mouth shut
Memorize scripture better
Think kind thoughts all the time
Sing with my daughters again
Read stories and play with all our grandkids every weekend and any other time

Climb Every Mountain...

2009-06-15T15:58:00.001-07:00

These pictures are from our hike up Bear Mountain last Wednesday after VBS. My friends Joy and Adella tagged along with the youth group from our church. The hike was phenonmenal. What a view! It took us from 1:30 and I didn't get back to my car until 7 pm. I will say that I was challenged on this hike, I had to cool off and rest when I got home for at least 20 minutes. I loved every minute of it. This was a completely different route up and back from what I had taken before. Up on top of the mountain Pastor Brad gave a short message and then we booked it down the steep slope. I love to see all the beautiful wildflowers growing out of rocks. They were gorgeous and so colorful. The picture of the beautiful dark haired beauty is our friend Christy from Idaho on our hike up to Thunderbird Falls. She was excited to be in AK and will be coming to visit us more often since we are now in her work region. We had fun talking and hiking too but mostly talking...imagine that.

Oh How I Love Summer

2009-06-09T21:52:00.000-07:00

Flowers in June Bloom

2009-06-09T21:09:00.000-07:00

We went for a motorcycle ride Monday evening up to the Visitor Center in Eagle River. After that, we just mosyed around up to Prudhoe Bay Road and went exploring. The lupins, bluebells, and Alaska wild roses were all in full bloom and we didn't have our camera. This afternoon, I went back armed complete with camera. I had a lovely time enjoying the quietness and also the sound of that rushing creek which was full speed. I don't even know the name of it, but will investigate.

Throughout the afternoon I had the words of a song on my mind about the splendor of the king clothed in majesty, let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice. How Great is Our God!!

2009-05-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

Finn and Phil went swimming in Chena Lake which the locals say the ice just barely went out last week. Bernie got at least 15 mosquito bites on his back one morning catching some rays with his shirt off. I don't think he sprayed down before removing his shirt.

Memories are Made on Memorial Day Weekend

2009-05-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

Elli with her ever-present smile after the hot tub and a warm bottle. She was such a good camper.

The hot tub at Chena Hot Springs which we all enjoyed. The springs outside were too hot for the kids.

Elli even had her own crawling area which she crawled off in .2 seconds. It was our piece of outdoor carpet on a bed of sawdust for cushiness.

Bernie and Angie in front of motorhome after playing badminton.

Elli would find a rock every time we put her on the blanket. She liked them better than the toys.

We had a great trip to Fairbanks this weekend. We made it in about 6.5 hrs. and spent the first two nights at Chena Lake. Our campsite was nice and level, complete with firepit and picnic table. This campground had bike trails, swimming area (Phil and Finn did go in....bbrrrr), fishing (not stocked yet), huge open field for playing Frisbee, and a playground.

Mother's Day Picnic at the Park

2009-05-11T22:16:00.000-07:00

Here we all are, that's Angie who will one day be a mother,
Gretchen who has Finn and Elli, Me with 4 children,
Chrissy mother of Carsten, and Mom who is the queen of
the Batten home with 7 children. All are devoted and
blessed women.

Here are 4 generations present.

Elli studying her toy. She can scoot everywhere and will

crawling anyday now.

This is Debbie, mother of 3 and also a grandma of

Brooklyn. Rhea, my mother-in-law, mother of 4, grandmother of 11, and great grandma of over 20. and Oma who has 7 children, grandma of 11, and great grandma of 8. These are Bernie's and my mothers whom we dearly love. We are grateful for all the love, devotion, and patience they had in raising us and now are grandparenting with the same. Thanks Mom!! We praise God for you.

Finn and Carsten discussing who has a bigger cookie.

Spouting Off Mt. Redoubt in Action

2009-05-11T21:57:00.000-07:00

This is the incredible sunset we watched from the hot tub

deck.

Our room was super comfy.

Here's the volcano in action. We haven't had any major

eruptions lately, although, there is still much action as you can see

from the ash rising from the top. Flights are still going out and coming in.

Carsten Eichholz is Five Years Old!!!

2009-05-11T21:35:00.000-07:00

Here's the kids playing "Simon Says" while waiting for the
zoo attendant to show up with the main attraction which
was the camel from Mongolia.

Here's Finn showing us his cupcake hands. He probably
had at least two and maybe three cupcakes.

Here's Jeff and Chrissy who are the generous parents of

Carsten who threw the zoo party. It was so much fun!

Here's one of the photographers who shot some excellent

pictures along with Kelly Kohler.

2009-04-17T22:26:00.000-07:00

This is the finished quilt after it got monogrammed.

I don't know why these pictures go sideways...

Here is our newest little dumpling, Claire.

The forsythia was so pretty in bloom.

Levi loves to be in the driver's seat all the time.

2009-03-31T07:17:00.000-07:00

Levi deciding what color of candy he gets for success potty training.
It's been two steps forward and three steps back.

Emme showing us her Mickey Mouse pancake. She said she wanted

Superwoman but I said Mickey was all I could handle.

This was cute. When I came home from the mall she was napping upstairs

in the spare room with a bag of marshmallows beside her. Snack perhaps?

While Chad and Bridge were taking infant pictures, we went

outdoors for some fresh air. The kids and I were both antsy.

He didn't want to look forward because it was sort of high for him.

Emme giving advice on the best way to go down.

Photography by Kam

2009-03-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

Bridgette's good friend, Kam, has taken pictures of all three of their
children.

Kam is a gifted artist who is highly talented.

She knows just how to capture the moment

Newborn photography shots are done no later than 2 wks.

Not only does she capture the moment but she knows how to work

well with toddlers and big sisters. Patience and steady nerves is what

I saw displayed. She is a professional and does excellent work.

Kam's Photography at 6 Days Old

2009-03-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

Claire's Sip and See Shower

2009-03-30T20:07:00.001-07:00

Jennifer, Candee, Sarah, and Andrea

Christy and Candee

Heather Marie, Heather, and April

Delicious chocolate mousse with a fresh mint leaf made by the hostess

Missie Johnson

A beautiful spring table setting with shortbread, pink cupcakes

and mousse. Thank you Missie for hosting this lovely shower.

Peggy's Come and Gone...That was Quick

2009-03-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

Here we are saying goodbye after Peggy spending the weekend with us.

Bridgette and Peggy making shortbread for the shower.

Peggy giving Claire her first sponge bath.

A little sumpin sumpin I whipped up in the kitchen. Chocolate

peanut butter torte with Reese's Peanut Butter Cup topping.

Not low-cal for sure.

Peggy was a big help and Emme and Levi loved her. She bought them

each a surprise at the thrift store in Meridian. A portable Barbie house and

Levi a portable garage for his cars.

What a Wonderful Life....but very busy...

2009-03-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is the quilt I made for Bridgette's birthday on display.
I just finished the binding as my first project.

Emme and Grace Johnson playing princesses.

Levi put his own underwear on backwards. So cute.

Precision work by chefs in training.

Emme loved rolling the dough around in her hands.

Levi prefers taste testing the pepperoni.

The Many Faces of Baby Claire

2009-03-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

Here she is smiling, yawning, sleeping and content. Everything is going well, Levi is getting potty trained, Emme is learning all about the example she needs to set as the oldest being a great helper. We've had visitors daily including, Kelly, Jessica and Travis Custer and Baby Kaelan, Kam, Missy and children, and Natalie and children (Bridgette's neighbor). Sunday is the "Sip and See Shower" for Bridgette.

Today we went down to the dairy to look at the cows and then to the library. Later on we made homemade pizza. It's been a little windy and overcast, so we've been indoors. Yesterday we went to the pet store and to JoAnn's for our outing. Tomorrow, more friends are coming over for a visit. Claire is somewhat mixed up on days and nights, but Bridgette and Chad are handling the change favorably.

Peggy is coming for the weekend and we are anxious for her arrival. She arrives Thursday evening late and then will leave early Sunday morning. It's an eight hour drive from Portland.

Claire Elisabeth and the Phillips Family

2009-03-22T20:39:00.001-07:00

Here she is at 48 hrs. old. Mother and baby are getting along nicely as well as Father, sister and brother. She is absolutely precious and pink with beautiful dark hair. Seems content to sleep, eat and look around at the light when awake. Will more pictures later...

"Lord thank you for the precious children

you've entrusted to our care. Grant us the

grace to be faithful to pray for them and

never get too busy to come to You

with their needs and our needs.

I pray for the wisdom to know what's important

in this season and for your love to cover all I say and do.

In Jesus" name. Amen."

Shugs #7

2009-03-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

Bridgette and Chad gave birth to our beautiful granddaughter, Claire Elisabeth, last night at 10:52 pm. She weighed 8 lbs, 11 ounces and is a healthy beautiful little girl! This is our 4th granddaughter and 7th grandchild! We are so blessed.

I'm here in Boise now, just 10 hours shy of the birth, but just in time to help with everything else! Be on the lookout for more pictures to come!

Fur Rendevous 2009

2009-03-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

Everybody that's somebody wears a fur hat during the Rendevous. Seriously, we saw alot of fur coats, hats, boots, and mittens at the Fur Rondy. Check out the beautiful hats these folks are wearing. What I have always thought was interesting is that the amusement rides are very popular even with cold temperatures. Kids don't feel cold I guess. It's big business.

Rondy...Rendevous, COME ON!!!!!

2009-03-11T13:47:00.000-07:00

The Fur Rendevous was a great way to get out and see all the sights. The sun was out shining gloriously and Bernie actually found a sweet parking place on Second Ave. This made walking a breeze to the fur auction. Wolf pelts started at $400, fox $250, beaver and ermine were $200 I think. We saw the snow sculptures which were not half-melted like in some years. The one where I'm posing is a palm tree and the other is the squirrel off the movie "Ice Age". The last snow sculpture pictured is when the brought Jesus to Pilate and they crowd yelled "Crucify Him". There was a cross too, but I don't have the full shot. It was very moving. Actually Bernie remembers making as many as 130 snow cubes when the Guard handled that years ago. This year there were maybe 25, if that. But they were all artisticly sculpted by various groups, and far better than we could have done! We ended the day by having dinner at the Glacier Brewhouse which was so fine. For excellent pictures on the start of the Iditarod Rce see Chris and Dori's blog. Dori has captured some fantastic photos.

8 States in 11 Days " AK-NC" " ID-AK"

2009-03-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

Here's a picture of the property we are interested in buying in Idaho for the future. Bernie, Chad & Bridgette, and the kids went toward Garden Valley and found some pretty 5-acre tract parcels. We have been admiring this area for some time mainly because of the 4-seasons, mild winters, close to grandchildren, and easier accessibility to the lower 48. We will always have a home in AK but maybe when we become snow birds at some point.

Here are the kids playing at the arcade where Emme is showing us how tall she is and Levi is riding around with Spidey. The cutest picture to me is Levi looking bewildered because both parking spots are taken in the garage and there's no room for his green jeep. Both Emme and Levi are anxiously awaiting their new sister who is due to arrive March 25 or sooner...

" 8 States in 11 Days" continued...

2009-03-07T12:28:00.000-08:00

Here Bernie is in Charlotte with Adam, Natalie, Greta, and Will. Greta is intent on shopping here with her stroller, baby, and her purchases from Victoria's Secret in the pink bag hanging on the stroller. Bernie said that her baby has to be in there just perfect along with sometimes three bags hanging from the stroller.

Will is getting bigger all the time and is a sweet baby. He acts content and loves his sister. Natalie was totally engrossed in making pens for her newest hobby on the lathe. She made Gretchen and I beautiful wood pens and then taught her dad how to use the lathe which belongs to Scott (father-in-law) who is generous with not only his handtools but also his home while Natalie and Adam have theirs on the market.

Bernie also made contact with his cousin Tim Kinzel on the net and arranged a visit with them. They met in the middle and caught up on old times. Time and his wife Allison live in Georgia. It was good to see one another after so long...42 years I think.

Barbara's Getting Better and Elli is good Medicine

2009-02-28T21:09:00.000-08:00

Barbara fell last month and had to have surgery on her shoulder to her rotater cuff which had torn. Here she is on day 11. It's slow going and painful but she is making good progress. We've been trying to give her daily visits because she is limited to what she can do. I picked her up to get her out of the house because one gets stir crazy and, she thought a little fresh air would do her good...plus a little smile from Elli. Finn was taking a nap so he missed our visit. Barbara did not want her picture taken. Can you tell?

Like Father, Like Son...Snowplowing with the 4-Wheeler

2009-02-28T20:46:00.000-08:00

Here we are on the last day of February when we received, I think , 8-10 inches of snow. It really is pretty and the days are longer also.

I went to see if the trail was set for cross-country skiing this evening but not yet. Probably tomorrow we will go.

Can you guess that our little Smart Car is buried under the silver car cover. Not much clearance right now.

Bernie is a good tenant keeping us plowed out while his dad is gone.

2009-02-22T20:21:00.000-08:00

Here we are up at Hatcher's Pass for our first of the year skiing adventure. We actually haven't been skiing in years and thought we would try out our new/bargain equipment. Bernie bought his skiis at a garage sale (bindingless) and I got mine also at a garage sale for free. My boots were regular price and his were $35.00. His bindings were not too badly priced so all in all, we got a deal. The weather was somewhat overcast and the trail wasn't set but we still had fun. It was all uphill but going back was fun. Mostly there were snowboarders, snowmachines, families sledding, and some people on snowshoes. We met a nice couple who were out skiing with their 9 month old baby and walking their husky. Bernie snapped their picture and now I need to e-mail it to them.

Grandma Kiki Time

2009-02-20T18:51:00.000-08:00

Gretchen sometimes doesn't know what to think when she drops the kids off. Here, Elli is enjoying her first Biter Biscuit which she absolutely loved!! Just look at her little face.

Finn, on the other hand, has his own little recliner and will sit still (sometimes) to watch "Dance Party" with The Wiggles. It is a feature film which is from New Zealand or Austraila. They have a British accent and are quite entertaining with their primary color turtleneck attire. Amusing.

Dessert Extravaganza Valentine's Day 2009

2009-02-15T21:06:00.001-08:00

Even though we 've been married awhile doesn't mean we know what the other's going to say!! We sure had fun playing the game and came in 2nd in the OldyWed Game out of 3 couples. The winners were only married 5 years. Some of the questions which were asked were, "what is my favorite scent?, where was our first date?, where were we when we first kissed, how many kids did I want when we were first married?, If Bernie were a car what would he be? This first picture say it all when we got a right answer.

The desserts were created in the kitchen of the church under the direction of a friend Roberta. She put together a team of 4 ladies and her talented husband to make 8 delicious creations from Key Lime pie to cherry and blueberry cheesecake, to home-made carrot cake and of course, chocolate covered strawberries!! We had so much fun in the kitchen and she taught me many useful tricks.

The Dessert Extravaganza was put on by the High School Youth Group to raise money for the Mexico Mission trip in June. They put on a great evening complete with a video, skit, game, and a clip from the Fireproof movie. There were many door prizes
donated from Eagle River businesses.

The picture of the Anthurium is a gift from Bernie. The cool thing about it is it is growing from a volcanic rock. This flower is pretty exotic grown in tropical areas. I sure hope it thrives and I don't kill it!!

2009 Cabin Fever Reliever

2009-01-26T14:50:00.000-08:00

We certainly did look forward to our evening out this weekend. We shopped thrift stores and Value Village to come up with our costumes and had so much fun!! He went as an early 80's man and me I was in the 70's. We enjoyed ourselves, laughed, and danced the entire evening. One of the best parts about it is to haved shared this evening with our kids!

2009-01-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2008

2008-12-31T09:12:00.000-08:00

Just a few pictures from our very Merry Christmas. It was quiet compared to last year and next year, we will have a houseful. It was good to have Finn and Elli and of course, Phil and Gretchen. We had fun opening gifts and watching Finn try to fix everything that was "Boke" or "stuck". Elli slept through the presents. Bernie got a Wii and will be challening little Bern when he and Angie come home. The motorcycle was the hot ticket item and Finn is already anticipating a ride.

Baby, It's Cold Outside....December 2008

2008-12-29T22:12:00.000-08:00

We've had pretty frigid temperatures lately. Yesterday our thermometer read -15 and the day before we were up at Eklutna Lake, and it was -19. It's actually quite beautiful. It makes me want to have have a fire in the woodstove and make some homemade hot chocolate and bundle up.

Happy Birthday Bernie---25 Years Old

2008-12-18T18:11:00.000-08:00

Bernie celebrated his 25th birthday this past Sunday. Here are some pictures of the happy couple in beautiful wintery Alaska. This picture is taken in Eagle River. We had a fun dinner with chicken haystacks and a delicious chocolate peanut-butter Coldstone cake.

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-29T08:30:00.000-08:00

Abundance, gratitude, and thankfulness is what my heart expresses during this time of year of reflection. God has been so good to us and I am reminded of His faithfulness to me. "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and sing praises unto His Name."

2008-11-29T07:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Gretchen...last year in your twenties...

2008-11-28T20:10:00.000-08:00

Looks like Finn was making a wish before Gretchen blew out her candles at her birthday party. We all had a good time and enjoyed the food and company. Bernie bought this beautiful cake at the Fall auction for Birchwood Christian School. It was chocolate raspberry truffle and it was outstanding.

Maxwell Smart

2008-11-10T20:25:00.000-08:00

Here are some fall pictures with Bernie picking up leaves with Finn riding the mower with him. Finn loved it. See how fast we went from autumn to WINTER!!

The first picture of Bernie with the Smart car is in Oregon. The following picture is of him in AK driving up the Alcan. It gets great gas mileage...about 44 mpg and you sure do get alot of people doing a double take while driving. It has a five star rating for safety (which surprised me) due to the steel construction framework. It is barely bigger than a 4x8 sheet of plywood! They are all over in Europe and just started selling here in the US. He says he stayed warm the whole trip home from Portland. He took the ferry from Bellingham, WA and then took a day and a half to drive home from Haines, AK.

Been Thinking About...

2008-10-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

Well Natalie and Adam's porch is finished and it's only Wednesday; they started it on Monday. Greta and I got up early this morning and played. After breakfast we all went to Target, Old Navy, and to a place called Five Guys for lunch where we met Adam. It was a hamburger joint using fresh beef, homemade rolls, fixings, and Idaho potatoes fried in peanut oil. Excellent food. This feast was followed by a short nap and a long 1 hr. walk through areas which I am not so familiar with. I am equipped with my I-Pod and cell phone for the noise and also if I get lost I can call home. The weather is still pretty and sunny although a bit windy...maybe a high of 50 compared to 15 degrees at home. I believe the cold and snow come earlier every year to Alaska and every year I cringe and bundle up. Bernie made it home yesterday with the Smart car and never did have to chain up. I think he returned the chains to Walmart which he bought in Ketchican. He said the coldest it got was minus 17. The roads were clear and he is blessed to be home.

The room which I have been sleeping in has tons of great books of Adam's he's collected. I love it. In this book, Purpose in Prayer by E.M. Bounds, William Wilberforce says "I suspect I have been allotting habitually too little time to religious exercise as private devotion, religious meditation, Scripture reading,etc. Hence I am lean and cold and hard. God would perhaps prosper me more in spiritual things if I were to be more diligent in using the means of grace. I had better allot more time say two hours or an hour and a half to religious exercises daily and try whether by so doing I cannot preserve a frame of spirit more habitually devotional, a more lively sense of unseen things, a warmer love to God, and a greater degree of hunger and thirst after righteousness, a heart less prone to be soiled with worldly cares, designs, passions, and apprehension and a real undissembled longing for heaven, it's pleasures and it's purity." William WIlberforce was an evanngelical Christian who was a courageous leader in anti-slave trade in England in the 1700's who helped end the slave trade.

2008-10-23T05:23:00.000-07:00

Awesome Autumn in North Carolina

2008-10-22T18:41:00.000-07:00

Today Will is one week old. He is a very good baby and, Greta is beginning to acknowledge him with kisses and attention. He stays pretty much to the schedule of every three hrs except for today, he has not been able to hold out.

We left for Charlotte (2.5 hrs south) on Tuesday morning. Greta does fairly well in the car for a little tyke. When she gets tired we all get tired. She wants OUT!! We had a wonderful time with Scott and Susan who put us up or put up with us. We went to the Pumpkin Patch to take pictures, took a tour at Ward Tank, visited and ate. And ate again. Wow, no wonder they talk about southern hospitality...!! Bernie leaves in the AM for Portland to pickup the Smart car. Pray for him as he travels home on the ferry and on the roads. We hear there has been quite a snowfall since we left. He calls the Smart car his new baby named "Maxwell".

Adventure Anyone?????

2008-10-02T21:20:00.001-07:00

I was thinking of our Blogspot entitled "The Kale Family...Our Adventurous Life in Alaska." Really Bernie is the true adventurer. When we came home from our awesome mototrcycle trip through WA, CA, OR, and Idaho, we met with a group of guys who were travelling on the Alaska Ferry System. Most, if not all of these guys, had adventure bikes. It was their dream to come to go and experience Alaska on a bike. Most had BMW's, a few had Suzuki's, and one even had a Motoguzzi which is not even sold in the US (Italian). Needless to say, Bernie definitely got the fever. When we came home, he purchased a Suzuki and wants to go riding all the time. He got some cool accessories, different riding gear, and he's ready to go. Me, on the other hand, although I love to ride, this bike is not set up for two. It's just uncomfy. I've been spoiled on my throne on the back of the Goldwing. Maybe we'll get one for me to ride in the future so we can go together but for now, he's off on his own.

These pictures are from the second week in September when he decided to go up to Hatcher's Pass over to the Willow side. He only made it so far before the roads became so slick he had to turn around. If he had the proper tires, maybe...but for now a great photoshoot.

Crisp Autumn Day Hike at Thunderbird Falls

2008-10-01T21:31:00.000-07:00

These are my friends Kathleen Donley and Silvia Barlow whom I work with at Eagle River High School. Silvia is from La Paz, Mexico and is married to Eric, an Army Guard Captain. Kathleen is married to Michael, retired Air Force, who is a pilot for Alaska Airlines. We had a great outing and visited with Kathleen who lives in Thunderbird Heights afterward. That beautiful dog is Rusty who belongs to Kathleen.

Aren't our Grandchildren Adorable?

2008-09-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

I'm sure every grandparent thinks the world of their grandchildren. I do believe we have the absolute most adorable, intelligent (genius), and lovable grandkids. Hands down. This is a shout out and thanks to Bridgette for updating the photos on our blog. Our grandkids are all so very different and unique and I'm excited to see what the Lord has planned for them. I pray each of them will accept Christ as their Saviour at an early age and be obedient to Him. It makes life so much easier. I read somewhere that being a father makes a man out of a boy and being a grandfather makes a man into a boy. I know this is true in our lives. Bernie bought a scooter a couple of weeks ago from Craig's List and had Finn out there riding it. We were laughing so much at Phil, Bernie, and G-Pop taking turns giving Finn instructions on how to drive. He's only a year and a half. Stay tuned for pictures...

Symphony of Beauty

2008-09-01T07:18:00.001-07:00

We went for a hike to Symphony Lake Saturday on my birthday. The sun was out and the summer ending and we were also hoping to pick some blueberries. Chrissy and Carsten came out, Barbara, Angie and Bernie, and Dad and I. Started out at Grandma's house with a nice birthday luncheon complete with turkey wraps (made by Dad), sub and roast beef sandwiches followed by a chocolate brownie turtle dessert provided by Tom. The funny thing is that Grandma had left on Thursday and we were at her house. I went there to change after Jazzercise and asked if anyone wanted to hike. I was so excited to be out and with so many who wanted to go on the spur of the moment. The weather was perfect, not too hot or cold. We wore layers and peeled off as needed. Carsten was the leader and did so well the entire hike. He surprised us all. Dad was the photographer and Chrissy the Russian interpreter. We had a blast and hiked for 4.5 hrs. Came back to Grandma's and had Piccolino's pizza and a delicious homemade chocolate brownie tart made by Chrissy. Gretchen, Phil, Finn, and baby Elli surprised us by meeting us there. Jeff, Chris, and even Grandma Kale came and ate pizza with us. It was such a wonderful day and I am so grateful.

You've Stolen My Heart, Yes You Have...

2008-08-28T22:23:00.000-07:00

That's actually the words to a song I was listening to on the Christian radio station on the way home from the hospital tonight. Little Elli Marie is so beautiful and perfectly formed. Thank you Father for another grandchild. We pray Phillip and Gretchen would have strength, grace, and wisdom to raise her for you.

Pretty in Pink - Gretchen's Baby Shower for Elli Marie

2008-08-26T21:19:00.000-07:00

Well Elli should be arriving tomorrow at 4:11 pm. That's what time Gretchen was born. Actually, Gretchen is scheduled to be at Providence at 2 pm and Dr. Bell has scheduled her for delivery at 4 pm.

Thanks and praise to Jeannie Hess and Andi Hill for hostessing a fantastic shower. They had Andi's home all decorated so pretty, pastel pink favors and balloons, plus lots of food. Jeannie gave a great devotion from the Bible on training your children up in the Lord from birth from the book of Deuteronomy. She is the mother of five and Andi has two and one on the way end of September. Everything was so nice and God even displayed a beautiful rainbow on the ride home.

2008-08-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

Vacation Finale -- Idaho - Sequim, WA

2008-08-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

FAMILY, FUN, FAITH, FOOD, FRIENDS, AND NOW FINALE.
We visited with a few retirees from the Guard--one retired for 4 years and the other 12. We were impressed with the Cour d'lene area. Gorgeous scenery, 4 seasons, mountains, and small city which is 20 minutes from Spokane, short distance to Montana. Lots of recreation and mild winters. Also visited the Rathdrum area which is near a lake, boating etc.

We left the morning of the 6th and toured Grand Coulee Dam and Visitor Center. It is one of the largest man-made structures in the world. It was completed in 1942 and has been supplying power to 6 states. Fascinating how it gave all those men jobs during the depression and gave so many hope. From there we travelled on to Omak, WA where we spent our warmest day. It got to 104 degrees, so we stopped and toured a lovely museum in town. The heat was tolerable as long as we were moving. We then went to the Cascades. The area is breathtaking and was a fun ride through the mountains. Stopped into a cute little restaurant and visited with the owner who was 89 years old and still running the place with her son. Bernie had fried chicken and, I had squash soup which both were delish. Sequim was next on our agenda where we visited and toured two lavendar farms in full bloom. We missed the festival which was the latter part of July but, since they had a late spring we were there in the height of all the blooms. They were gorgeous! Back to Bellingham to catch the ferry home which is where we are at the present. We just left Juneau... we got into port at 4:30 am. We got off and looked around a bit just to say we've been there. It was pretty foggy. The city was about 10 miles away...too far to walk in a short amount of time. We're enroute to Haines now and will start our trip back home at noon. Bernie says it will be two long days of riding. He wants to be in Tok tonight and then make it home Tuesday evening. We have enjoyed all of our travels and met some interesting people. God has been so good to us and has protected us all along the way. Since we ride a Honda Goldwing I think this verse is appropriate.

"He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings you shall take refuge. His truth shall be your shield and buckler." Psalms 91:4

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY BRIDGETTE MARIE!!!

2008-08-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Bridgette. We love you and are proud of you. Thanks especially for the adorable grandchildren, keep up the good work. Remember, "In all labor, there is profit". Nothing in life is easy, but, your diligence in raising your children for the Lord is rewarding.

Thanks to Jay and Heather for the generous loan of their fantastic trailer which made this camping trip possible.

People, People, People, People Everywhere...

2008-08-03T21:37:00.001-07:00

Here are a few of the interesting people we saw at the Festival. The last guy had his Joe Junior shirt on to impress or rather embarass his daughter. He's a funny guy.

Camping in Yellowpine, Idaho - Harmonica Festial

2008-08-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful time camping in Yellowpine for the three day Harmonica Festival. We saw some real talent and also met many interesting people. We thought we would never get there, the road seemed so long but when we arrived we were pleasantly surprised to see many campers, tents, and people all over the place. It was estimated that 4,000 people were there. Young and old, people having a good time, many up there to party and then us who were bike riding, playing with the kids, and listening to good music. Yellowpine is a tiny town of 40 people who have a harmonica contest once a year and raises money to keep their little town alive. Please see next post for our Yellowpine People Shoot 2008.

Departing Boise, Bridgette, and Babies....

2008-08-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

We made it into Boise on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning we were on our way to the Boise Zoo. Bernie gave each one of the kids an icecream right after breakfast on the way to the zoo. We only see them occasionally and it's a grandparents unwritten rule to spoil the daylights out of them (as long as they behave). They are great kids and we had fun. Levi even petted a legless lizard and we got to see many of the animals fed. I love this warm weather. Bridgette and Chad were having their golf date, massage appt, and night away at the hotel for her birthday gift from Chad while Mary and Marty Poppins were in town.

Our Motorcycle Trip from Chugiak, AK to Bellingham, WA

2008-07-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

We left our home on Saturday and it was gray and overcast but our spirits our hopeful that the sun will come out. We arrived in Tok, AK where we met up with some friends and had dinner and found lodging for the night which consisted of a charming little cabin complete with outhouse and Coleman heater. We laid out our sleeping bags and had a good rest. From Tok, we traveled on to Haines, Junction where we were ready to call it a day. We passed through a terrible rainstorm where Bernie lost his $100 sunglasses. We went back to find them but couldn't. The wind was howling and it was pretty chilly and I was thinking of the song "I Will Praise You in the Storm." God protected us and gave us safety. The road is under construction most of the way and so it's slow going not to mention like 45-48 degrees. In Haines Junction, we found a cute little cabin complete with heat and a bed!! The bathroom was across the parking lot and we had coin operated showers. On to Haines, AK to catch the ferry so back into the US we go. I think I was so cold wondering how I could warm up. I had all my good cold-weather gear on but my hands were frozen. We warmed up as soon as we got into Haines where we went sightseeing. We saw a black bear first yesterday and then a grizzly on the way into Haines. We caught the ferry and got set up with our tent on the deck of the Columbia. The ferry is awesome with great accomdations. There are informational talks by the Forest Service about three times a day as well as sightseeing unending. There are whales which run alongside us. We have met so many interesting people but mainly hang out with the motorcycle crowd. There are about 15 others whom we have befriended from all over the US. God has certainly blessed us.

SUE'S SURPRISE 50TH BIRTHDAY PARTY...

2008-07-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

Hat's are off to a successful surprise birthday party for Sue. Everything worked out wonderfully and so, mission accomplished. Thanks to all you who made it a big success for our lovely lady friend Sue. I think we all had a great time. Sue is definitely a Proverbs 31 woman who is after God's own heart. She is a dear friend to me and has been my friend since 1984. Here are some pictures of one beautiful lady.

I Went to a Garden Party...

2008-06-25T22:00:00.000-07:00

Here we are at Dawn Cowan's house in Wasilla who is a Master Gardener. Her yard is in full bloom and we had a lovely brunch outdoors. The kids all had such a good time., Who needs to go to the Palmer Fair when you have a inflatable house, swingset, swimming pool, all in your backyard? It's a child's wonderland.

June 2008 Family Photos

2008-06-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

More wonderful grandchildren pictures as well as children pictures of the Alaskan vacation. We had a blast. The large group picture is one of the entire wedding party at Peter's Creek rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding.

Chris and Dorothy Vann Wedding - June 12, 2008

2008-06-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

More Pre-Wedding Photos

2008-06-23T20:14:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures of when the whole gang arrived. The last picture is of Carsten holding Greta, Emme, Levi and then Finn. We had a fire almost every other night in our backyard after cooking out. We so enjoyed every bit of time with our loved ones. Sometimes, it was a bit of a challenge to keep the home running smoothly with meals, transportation, and sippee cups separated. We all have great memories of time spent with family and, course, the reason for coming to Alaska was for Bernie and Angie's wedding. It was awesome! God is to be praised!