June 2014

 June brought warmth and sunshine, gardening and vacations.  A magical time in Alaska.  Claire flew to Port Alsworth again for Camp Tanilian with Mariah.  Claire is hoping to be a camp counselor next year and attend the high school camp again.

 Rhubarb harvest.  Four dozen jars of rhubarb jam.

 Karl bought a new motorcycle/trail bike, and Flame and Brutus took an (off)road trip.  We rode to the head of the bay and enjoyed a beautiful day, mud, mosquitoes and fun!  4-Wheelin' in Alaska requires rain-gear for the mud.

 We visited our friend's homestead...truly 'out of town'.

 Flame LOVES the mud!

 Sami came and visited and Karl took her out the Northfork trail.  Pete and Lenore were invited along too!  Dryer conditions and less mud!

 Every summer we vacation with our dear friends Karen and David Taylor and their family.  This year we decided to go off road again and portage the Swan Lakes.  The only respite from the mosquitoes was in the middle of the lake, or standing in the smoke from the fire.

 Karen and Lenore enjoying some fire time!

 Our fearless men out on a mission to catch an evening trout.

 Karl (Thor) pretending to be a Viking crossing the ocean!

 Pete and David relaxing during a little lunch in the canoes.

 What fun it was to have all of our kids on our canoe trip this summer.  We are so incredibly grateful.  We are the luckiest parents ever.

 Claire, Karl, and Kirsten enjoying dehydrated food.

 Garden bounties! 

Day 5

Tonight we have to lift the toilet off the floor, and replace the wax ring, and hopefully find the pair of reading glasses that went "Whoosh" down the toilet when I flushed.  UGH!  This has been fun days of photo challenge.  I posted 3 days together since my internet wasn't working but the pictures are all new and authentic.

 Where Winter collides with Spring.

 This handsome fellow let me take his portrait.

 The girls are enjoying warmer weather.

 I am excited to get out and start getting dirt under my fingernails.

 The rhubarb is beginning to come up.

 The lilac is thinking about spring too.

Day 4

I had to post these all on Monday from school since my internet is not working anymore.  We are beginning of signing up with a new company this weekend.

 Sunday morning worship music practice 8:00 a.m. before church.

 My high school Sunday School class...studying apologetics from Answers in Genesis.

 The last thing I see before I shut my eyes at night.

Day 3

Saturday, Day 3.  Today I celebrated Karen Taylor's birthday with a quiet, stay at home, mom's only lunch.  It was delightful to catch up and share the time with a special friend.

 Later in the day, Claire and I both went for 2nd auditions at the Mariner Theatre.  We auditioned for Les Mis.

 Claire on stage singing, "I Dreamed a Dream".

Day 2:  Photo Challenge

Our breakfast staple:  steel-cut oats, blueberries and walnuts.

 Pete reads the Bible aloud every morning while I make lunches.

 Claire's practicing her Handel aria for solo and ensemble next weekend in Anchorage.

Gym today consisted of Eskimo baseball.  The students had a blast.

 My gym office has no lack of color.

 2nd graders at lunch in the cafeteria and at the end of the day after doing cohesion experiments with pennies, water and droppers.

Day 1

Day 1:  May 1st

I took the photo challenge to take a picture(s) each day for five days to show my everyday life.  Here are photos from Day 1.

 Morning light, 5:45 a.m. A moose wanders though the my front yard.  Photo taken from the deck.

 This amazing man makes me breakfast every morning.  (I make lunches).

 The beginnings of a quite large summer garden.

 6:00 a.m. Alaska May Day morning.

 Lopee (my antelope) watches the sun rise.

 These Scandinavian treasures greet me each morning in the kitchen window.  The swan was a gift from Jenni Peteri, and the Laplander from my sister Britt.

 The cranes came for the first time this spring on May Day and landed in my yard.

 Chai is fascinated by the cranes in the early light.

 My classroom from my desk.

A sweet May Day basket from a Kindergartner and 2nd grader to welcome spring.  I have the best job ever!