Jet Boat Ride

Poppa Ronnie took us for our first ride in his new jet boat and we had a chance to drop a hook in the water.
Poppa showing Eleanor how to let your line down.

Are we having fun yet? Eight years and counting!

Eleanor thought it was SO funny that Mommy snagged bottom and caught this clamshell with a piece of coral growing on it!

Hey...a rockcod! She didn't want to get TOO close to the spines on it, don't blame her one bit! We were fishing on the bottom for halibut, no luck this morning although Eleanor was thrilled just to be out fishing.

Captain Ron

Kristian finally getting a chance to kick back...

Eleanor loves turning over rocks to look for crabs! I think Daddy does too! :)

Kristian's first chance at the wheel

Look Ma, another rockcod...

Or shall I say eagle's dinner? We had fun watching him come in for "drive-thru."

Play & Cook

It's a boy's life...playing outside in the yard and on the swing

Ooh, yum! Helping Grandma Judi saute shrimp in garlic & butter!

4-Wheelin'

I love going fast on the 4-wheeler! Oscar was too scared so I got to ride lots!

Fish Cleaning

Let's clean this fish!

Poppa Ronnie built this new (covered for rainy days!) fish cleaning station by the house.
All eyes on watching Poppa Ronnie filet the salmon

Oscar loved playing with the hose!

Selling salmon!

Oscar & Daddy heading down the harbor ramp to help Poppa Ronnie sell his catch of king salmon.
Grandma Judi & Eleanor

Driving lessons at the helm from Poppa

Can I drive too?

Watch out for logs, kayaks, cruise ships & float planes!

Kings loaded into a tote to be brought up from the boat hold to the cold storage plant.

Oscar touching his first salmon

Eleanor wanted a turn too, she's a brave one!

Poppa with the grandkids at the helm.

Family photo...

take 2! The kids helping to pull in the line at the dock

Oscar found the controls at the cockpit, he had fun exploring the deck of the boat!

Giddyap!

Oscar riding the wooden horse made by his Great Great Uncle Fred, complete with a matching red cowboy hat (from Pleasure Island) I got as a child!

Ferry ride across Tongass Narrows

Look! A floatplane!
A barge with a heavy load prepares to pass the Prince Of Wales Inter-Island Ferry. Of course Oscar was excited to see some heavy machinery so soon after landing in Alaska! "Vrrooom! Vroooom!"

Oh Boy! Still teething...

Big smiles: Grandma Judi & Eleanor on the airport ferry to Ketchikan.

Goin' to Grandma's

The kids were so excited for their big plane rides & enjoyed all the airport excitement. Eleanor did wonderful, Oscar did, well, ok. He's SO busy...not looking forward to the long plane ride back by myself! But that is a long ways off, lots of fun to be had between now and then!

North to Alaska!

We leave tomorrow to drive to DC and fly out the next day to Alaska! I hope to be able to post while there...now that my folks are finally out of the dial-up era! Cross your fingers that Eleanor will actually do her Flowergirl tasks at the upcoming June 21st wedding. She has been saying she doesn't want to b/c she's shy and doesn't know the groom. Only time will tell, on both accounts!

Beach Night

On our 8th Wedding Anniversary we took the family to the beach after work. We've been having some hot 90 degree weather with humidity bringing the heat index up to the mid 100's. We had fun playing together & cooling off in the ocean. Kristian & I had gotten a babysitter and went out for a date Sunday night at a restaurant overlooking this beach and decided to come back with the family. Excellent choice!
Eleanor took a few turns throwing Jasmine's stick. Jasmine did great swimming in the ocean and was nonstop for the hour we were there. Such great non-weight bearing exercise for her!

Oscar tried to take a turn...but really enjoyed being in the water the most.

Oscar looked on as Jasmine went after her stick.

Bonzai!!! No fear of the water here!

Big Boy

Oscar had to give blood for the first time today...he had his 15 month appt (early for our potential "overseas" transfer to Alaska) and they wanted to be sure he wasn't anemic due to his heavy bottled milk consumption. He sat on Kristian's lap and watched the whole thing in silence, amazing everyone in the lab room & Daddy. They drew it from his antecubital (elbow) just like a big boy...and got the gauze bandage to prove it! We are still waiting for the results, although we are sure our 25 pound boy is healthy!

Cooking with Chef Oscar

Funny what can keep a kid entertained...here he was drumming with the spatchula & showing off his diaper buns! Could that be considered cooking naked?

Making Swedish Pancakes

Oscar attempting to master the mixer at 6:30 am. He loves bouncing to the beat when the mixer is going...too cute!

5K

Feeling On Top of the World! I ran my first 5K since learning I was expecting Eleanor!

I was only 1 minute shy of my 30 minute goal, not too shabby considering my "training" (if you will) went from every other day to not every other day! It was good to have a race and goal in mind...now to find another so I keep motivated. The race started at 8am but it was still 75 degrees out and 75% humidity so I was really flushed when I was done. BUT oh-so-glad I did it. I had a wonderful massage today as my reward. Thank you Bekah for inspiring me...guess I won't kill you afterall!
My friend Koren & I ran it together, her kiddos are the same ages as mine.

Kristian & the kids waiting patiently to cheer me on. Food is always a good distraction!

Can we have some water please?

Checking out yet a distracting magnolia leaf

You want me to do what?

Oscar running in his debut 1/2 mile kids fun run.

I carried him a lot but he did actually run when he was down on the ground! We were the little red caboose bringing up the rear, no surprise there as he was the youngest participant. He received lots of cheering on!

Eleanor was signed up to do it but became shy b/c she didn't want to "run with people that she didn't know." Maybe next time?

Go Oscar Go!

(Notice the magnolia distraction in his hand)

Phew! Time to head home and take a nap!