Boring You Yet?

I've seriously been unable to read blogs and I am finding if you don't make comments to others they really aren't interested in you anymore. That's okay. I'm going to plug along documenting our summer and when I catch up and can read again maybe I'll get my followers back.

July 3....

Still some brown spots, but the lawn is filling in.

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At the last minute we decided to go to Tok (where I grew up) for the 4th of July. I haven't been back there for about 15 years. We left home at 9:00 pm. It's a 3.5 hour drive. This is what Delta looked like as we went through. Pretty quiet.

Small town America where you can stand in the middle of the road and not see a soul. 

We took a walk at 1:30 am after the long drive. (No idea what they are doing).

In the morning we went right out front of our motel and watched the parade. After spending way too long uploading photos I found another file of better photos. Nope. No time for a redo so this is what you get.

Mr. Whitoke was the Grand Marshall. He was my 1st grade teacher and has to be near 80 and as spunky as ever.

This is my 6th and 8th grade teacher (he taught me both years) with a memorial to the fallen fire fighters in Arizona. Fire fighting is a main income of many of the people in this area.

Putting money on the greased pole. Niece Jadyn got a few dollars off it.

Looking for change.

A view of town.

Egg toss!

We stopped by the home I grew up in that my brother now owns. He is trucking in the states so no one was home. I'll have to dig out some photos to show you what it looked like when my mom was alive. Flowers everywhere.

We stopped at Muklukland to let the kids play and got to visit with some locals.

Mr. Jacobs is getting Lucas cotton candy. He was my 2nd grade teacher.

Bill was my dad and Larry is my brother.

I remember playing in this when I was a kid.

Homer played mini-golf with the kids.

That afternoon Homer and I went to a picnic with former teachers while the kids played. Who do I remember?? Let's see... ???, Mrs. Hoar (high school English), Mr. Whitoke (1st grade), Mr. Stiefel (7th grade), his wife Gracia, Mrs. Pine, Mr. Pine, Mrs. Keech, ???, Mr. Hosken (principal), Mr. Kelley (6th and 8th grade), Mr. Reitano (shop teacher), Mrs. Hosken and Mrs. Kelley. All worked in the school, but I didn't have them all as teachers so I'm not really sure what everyone did. (Some of them taught my brothers 15 years before me!!).

Former students.... Tim Milanoski, David Hoar, ???, Robin Kelley, me and Zena Reitano.

Before we left town we ate at the famous Fast Eddies Restaurant. Very good food.

We passed by the Moon Lake forest fire.

Fun fast trip, but good to be home.

We Have Fire!

These are the goofballs that spent the night last night to celebrate Elijah's birthday that was Dec. 28th. He's now 14 and just as ornery as ever! These guys actually went to the movies looking like this. To meet girls. Idiots! Scooter did put on a pair of yellow pants and Forrest's pants were red. They looked like the Teletubbies. They had fun which is all that really matters. A few of the group were missing...Tyler is down South visiting his dad, Jordan H. and Nick K. were sick and Jordan S. didn't make it back from Anchorage. We sure missed those boys, but not sure my house could have handled much more aggressive boy behavior!

While they were at the movies my husband built our first fire and that is where we sat until the wee hours of the morning. (Emily, Olivia and Lucas went to spend the night at grandma Debbi's to stay out of Elijah's hair giving us some much needed relaxation time together).

The puppies piled up on us and we almost fell asleep snuggled in the chair. I can see this is where we will be spending a lot of time. I mean, really, who wouldn't want to snuggle with that guy and his cute little doggies?

I have a hat-making obsession. Not even sure what I am going to do with them. I guess I'll save them for future gifts. Also, made a blue and white one, but didn't get a photo before it was given as a gift. The red, white and green one represents the Mexican flag and is for Elijah's friend Jordan H. who is part Mexican. This morning I made a pillowcase and puppy bed for by the fire. I'm in a making things kind of mood!

I also helped Emily sew a little pillow and blanket for her sister's doll. I love spending time with her this way.

We never did have cake last night so we sang a little happy birthday song this afternoon before the boys went to the gym to play ball. As Alaskans -30F is not a reason to stay home!

My blogging is slowing down the Internet and messing with Nick's Call of Duty game on the xBox so I'll be back later with my resolution post and the promises of a glorious new year.

How Did I Survive Thursday's Panic Attack?

(Camera Critters are in this post...scroll down because they are worth seeing! :)

Obviously, I am here to write this post so I survived Thursday's Panic Attack. How did I do it? Let me tell you....

Thursday:

Cheer Elijah on to a 45-23 victory over Ryan: Check

Friday:

Take babies to sitters: Check

Wash 10 loads of laundry, dry, fold and put away: Check

Do half the mound of dishes: Check

Clean a disaster of a house: Check

Pick up Nick and Elijah and shop for shoes: Check

Drive around for an hour on icy roads to five different schools looking for an 8:00pm soccer practice that happened on Tuesday: Check

Get babies from sitters: Check

Help with homework and put kids to bed: Check

Edit 1405 (not kidding) Redskin football photos from this summer: Check

Burn 30 photo CD's: Check

Edit 30 more photos into CD labels, print and adhere to CD's: Check

Go to bed at 3:20am: Check


Saturday:

Up at 8:00am: Check

Out the door with Nick and Wee People by 9:20am: Check

See moose on the way to soccer, stop and take photos risking being late for the game: Check

Hello Mama Moose!

Hey, Mom, wait for me!
Hang on, I'm coming, too!
Whew! Made it safely!

Cheered for Nick while entertaining the Wee People: Check

Dropped off Nick and picked up Elijah to watch him receive his football award with four other football teams equaling over 100 people in a crowded way-to-hot room where I had to sit on the floor because we were late and kids walked on me: Check

Found Elijah and Tyler a ride to bowling party: Check

Shopped for last minute birthday stuff: Check

Drove home and picked up Cody to go to a Wrestling Booster Club meeting: Check

Got a phone call that bowling was cancelled due to power outage so I need to pick up Elijah and Tyler: Check

(Mr. White came home early and finished dishes, cleaned the bathroom, built a fire and set up a table while I was gone).

Got home to do the birthday party while Mr. White went to watch Cody's wrestling meet: Check

(Cody pinned his man!)

Roast hot dogs and marshmallows: Check

Do one of my favorite things....sit by the campfire: Check

Color wooden dolls: Check

Decorate birthday cakes: Check

Sing to sweet Emily: Check



Open presents: Check

Survive Elijah's four friends over for a movie: Check

Watch the girls sing and dance: Check

Have our friend Mike show up with really cool fireworks: Check

Put Wee People to bed: Check

Drive Elijah's friends home (except for Tyler): Check

Check the mail at the Post Office: Check

Finally get Tyler, Elijah, Emily, Brooklyn, Kiara, Nick, Cody and Mr. White to join the sleeping Wee People by 11:30pm: Check

Sit down at the computer with crossed and tired eyes: Check

Give up and go to bed at midnight: Check