Summer Recap

We've had a great summer, spending part of our time in Alaska and part of our time in Missouri. We've played with friends and family, worked on the house, and vacationed.

Vacation to South Carolina

Working in the backyard - things were a little out of hand

Celebrating Damon's birthday on our new dining room furniture!

Kayaking at the family reunion in Branson

Cheering on the Springfield Cardinals

Studying at the kitchen table - Damon spent lots of time here

Feasting on crab and shrimp in Wasilla

Now we'll start shopping, packing, and shipping, and soon head north to Unalakleet.

More Winter Fun

Yes, it's still winter in Unalakleet, Alaska.  Snow isn't melting, but we're enjoying the sunny days.  

We spent a weekend camping with some friends at  a cabin that's along the Iditarod trail, about 35 miles outside of town.

Damon and Ryan gathered firewood

We all spent time cutting it.

The cozy cabin

A beautiful sunset ski

Back country skiing

The 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes spent a day of celebration at Ayuu's Hill.  A spot about 8 miles up river.  

Sledding

Picnicking

Ice fishing

Towing

Darroll and Savanah came over Easter, we had a great visit.

They brought the Easter ham along with other exciting groceries.

Damon and I participated in the community ski picnic.  We skied a few miles outside of town, grilled hot dogs, drank hot chocolate, and then skied home.

Unalakleet Blizzard

The weather in Unalakleet is a little crazy right now.

Christmas 2008

Our Christmas break was busy as usual. We spent the first week in Wasilla, enjoying time with family.


Christmas Eve at Darin and Julie's:







Christmas morning:









We flew to Missouri the day after Christmas for more family fun time:

The ultimate Christmas: a princess dress, and a new tricycle

Big Smith Concert in Springfield on New Year's Eve

We got the things in our storage unit moved into our house, and we were able to spend one night camped out in the floor.

Recent Celebrations

We had a progressive dinner for Thanksgiving this year. Appetizers at our house, dinner at the Nasset's, dessert at the Woodhead's, and games at the Howard's...a fun day.




Damon and I celebrated our 5th anniversary on November 22nd. We fixed a nice dinner and dessert for ourselves.

Notice my present - the crystal candlesticks!!

Adrianna's 'black and white' birthday party




Pizza party

And our Halloween celebration...

Our superintendent being himself with Damon being him

Winter is Here

Temperatures have already been as low as 30 below zero, the ocean is frozen, we have around 6 hours of sunlight, and we won't see the ground again until May.


Winter-Time
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.

Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise;
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.

Close by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit;
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
The colder countries round the door.

When to go out, my nurse doth wrap
Me in my comforter and cap;
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
Its frosty pepper up my nose.

Black are my steps on silver sod;
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
And tree and house, and hill and lake,
Are frosted like a wedding-cake.

Darin's Visit

Damon's brother, Darin, came for a visit last weekend to refinish the Covenant Church gym floor.  He worked hard for 4 days, and what a difference he made.  Thanks Darin!

  

Mom and Memackie's Visit to Alaska

Damon and I were fortunate to have my mom and grandma come visit at the beginning of September. We treated them to some true Alaskan adventure.

Boating up the Unalakleet River

These were the fish Memackie caught with her first 2 casts.

These were the fish that my mom and Damon caught with their first casts.

We hiked up to the top of Army Hill for a nice view of the village and some berry picking.

Getting around town on the four-wheeler

Picnicing up river on a sand bar. We enjoyed looking at bear and moose tracks.

Mom, Memackie, and I flew into Anchorage and took a tour down to Seward. We went on a day cruise where we were able to see this glacier calving.




More pretty Seward scenery

It was a wonderful visit, and I don't think it could have been more perfect. Damon and I were so thankful that they came.