Visitors, Visitors, Visitors!!!

This summer has been a FULL summer.  Everyone told us summers in Alaska were CRAZY BUSY!!!  Yep, they were right.  It has been full and totally crazy busy.  I think due to the daylight we "felt" as if we could keep on going forever and ever...but really, we couldn't.  It was exhausting and fun at the same time. 

We have seen my brother Christopher.  I totally wish I had a picture of his face and hair post accident with the blueberry smoothie ALL OVER HIM and UP HIS NOSE.  But I don't.  Bummer.  It was so nice to see him.

Then my Parents were able to come for a quick weekend.  It was so much fun.  We wish they could have stayed longer.  It was fun with rockets and pizza, tunnels and new experiences. 

A quick few outings as a family and some fishing excursions for Halibut and then on to our next adventure!!!!!  Boy was this one AMAZING!!! 

ENTER JULY...The most memorable July EVER.

TaNgLeD Together TRIP

AND SO THE TANGLED TRIP BEGINS.....

Only in an Alaskan Summer could you start heading out to your camping destination at 6:00 PM!  That's right.  We left for our 5 hour drive at 6:00PM.  But no worries here.  We were able to see the sunset and then rise again just as we were pulling into our camping spot.  It sure is nice pulling up to camp near midnight and still being able to set up tents in the light.  NO FLASHLIGHTS NEEDED HERE FOR CAMPING.

(SUNSET) (SET UP CAMP)

So we slept for a few hours and then woke up for food and then we were off to the lake to catch some grayling.  GRAYLING: one of Alaska’s most delicate and beautiful sport fish. Their identification is easy due to their vibrant colors and incredibly large dorsal fin. At one time, their abundance stretched as far south as Michigan. Their almost complete disappearance from the Lower 48 was caused by over fishing, competition from non-native species, and loss of habitat. Thankfully, this colorful fish still graces nearly all of Alaska’s wild freshwaters. And they are very fun to catch and release.  We also discovered that they are yummy to eat.  They do not freeze as they have antifreeze in their bodies.  So if you kill it you must eat it.  No saving for a later date.
                             

I had the opportunity to try FLY FISHING for the first time.  We discovered once we arrived that the Alaska Fly Fisherman Association makes a trip to Tangled Lake around Summer Solstice.  This was the reason for our 5 hour drive.  Admittedly, We had a great time catching fish and getting help from the many fisherman eager to help us.



Just as we had cast our first lines in the water, Manda gave her line to Dallin.  Next thing we know...Dallin says he has a fish!  We didn't believe him.  Impossible!  To which he responded, "Hello, it's pulling on me!"  So yes, first fish goes to Dallin.

            

And since he caught it, he wanted to eat it.  If he wanted to eat it, he had to gut it.  Manda is a pro at it.  She taught him how to do it as he watched with eager eyes.  He was extremely proud of his accomplishment.

 

I cannot tell you how many fish we caught.  TONS!  It was great fun.  All the kids caught fish.  We went out on the canoe.  Waded into the water.  Threw spinners off the boat dock.  It was wonderful. 
Then I went out of the canoe with Manda, Dallin and Aubrey.  I brought my camera to capture thier catches.  This is the last photo taken before we realized...my camera had slid out of my pocket, over the side of the canoe, and safely found a new home in the bottom of Tangled Lake. I was SICK!!

Left pocket...notice my leg is up.  I think it must have happened just before this picture or shortly thereafter.  Thinking about it still makes me a bit sick.  HOWEVER, there are blessings from losing your camera.  Look for a future post.  =====AND=====

Luckily, Manda still had her camera.  So while we are limited on ALL of the photos taken that day, and learning a lesson about transferring SD cards more frequently so I do not lose a son's birthday pictures, we had a great time. I'm so glad Manda took pictures of the kids for me. 
             

On the way home we took a detour to the Klutina River to try to catch some SOCKEYE REDS (Copper River).  One look and Manda and I decided...NO WAY!  There were whole 100+ feet trees rushing down helplessly.  My momma bear instincts said no way.  It may look decieving, but that water is rushing fast.  You have to yell to talk to each other when you are near it.  We were told that the river had rose over 4 feet in the last two days.  It warms up, snow melts, more water, less fish.  This year the salmon are confused.  We had more snow than usual.  This has caused the water to remain colder longer.  They are triggered by temperature of the water to start to run.  They are huddled at the base of the river in the ocean waiting to run wanting to spawn.  We hope they run soon.  We stopped long enough to see HOW to cut and gut the salmon.  And how to throw the guts to the crazy seagulls. 

Then we left to return home.  Manda and I left those silly boys and took the kids home.  I could never live with myself if I let my child fall into that river. SCARY I TELL YOU! 

(DWAYNE on cell)
We stopped at this fun sign for kicks in Palmer.

We ended up with NO Copper River Reds, however, we had a great camping trip together.  I am forever grateful for Manda being willing to be my partner in crime (Really my helpmate with everything).  What a beautiful location and a wonderful adventure.

Manda's Baked Alaska Birthday!

I made my first Baked Alaska for one of our great friends here.  Manda:  an awesome girl that my family adores.  It was her birthday...on Sunday...so we had her over for dinner.  She has a husband too.  But he works up on the north slope for two weeks.  So we have decided to adopt her for the two weeks he is gone.  Then he returns and we give her up for a few weeks.  We lover her hubby too, he just is limited on his time right now.  Next year Luke, Next year.

 This is her blowing out her Baked Alaska.

Happy Birthday Ms. Manda!

Homeade Water Bottle Rockets Birthday

So S had his 11th BIRTHDAY!  I can hardly believe it.  He decided that he wanted to have some friends over for a late night of STAR WARS.  We also put together PVC pipe bottle rockets for the boys to launch.  I had some great pictures however, I lost my camera in the Tangled Lake on our last camping adventure.  And I hadn't transferred the pictures before the trip.  More will come on the Tangled Trip.

So we are very proud of S and his many accomplishments.  We had four of his buddies over to play vidoe games, watch STAR WARS, make rockets and eat pizza.  It was fantastic.  We blew out candles and had a blast! 

Another year older and wiser too.  Happy Birthday to S! 

HALIBUT ANYONE?

 I told my hubs that we could not, absolutely would not, no way will we spent anymore money on fishing charters.  We paid for a charter on our honeymoon trip to Alaska.  We caught nothing.  No salmon, nothing.  The sailor caught a sea bass and fed it to the eagles.  That was it.  Then we paid for a charter in Hawaii.  Again, nothing was caught.  So he tried again in Alaska a few summers ago.  Yep, again....nothing (worth noting) again.  It was frankly...embarressing.  So he schedule to go on yet another charter.  I was totally disappointed.  He went with a group of guys from church.  I told him as he left..."you better bring me some halibut for my freezer or you are dead.  Your fishing dreams will be crushed FOREVER."

Guess which fish was his? 

They called it SUPERMAN.  I suppose the third time is the charm.  I am just thrilled that the curse has been lifted.  At least I think I am.  But that means he will be fishing more?  But at least I will have some fruits of the labor, I mean money spent.  This is a good thing...right?

 The boat that broke the curse.

The men in front of their catches.  And the captain that helped my husband come home proud and essentially "saved his life".  We now have some halibut in our freezer and a few more charters schedule.  We are so excited....I think?

SUPERMAN being cut and gutted.  It was a good one!  Next investment...a food sealer.

BeArS bEaRs BEARS

On the way to work, Dad let us know of a Momma Bear and her cubs near the side of the road.  I loaded up the kids and away we went to spot our first BEARS!  Here is what we saw:

Dad has captured much better photos while fishing on the Kenai especially.  Here are some of his shots.  I still have yet to really see my first bear "in the wild" but it will happen soon I hope.

MORE TO COME ON THE BEAR SCENE HERE...(To be continued)

The Sides of D!

Latley, D man has been changin his outfits often.  Everytime it just makes me smile.  He cracks me up.  One day he was a football player.  Complete with shoes entirely too small and a helmet that doesn't fit.

Then he was dressed as DARTH!  We found this outfit at a yard sale for 50 cents.  Dman loves it.  One day he decided that he was going to be Darth all day complete with his sunday shoes because they are completly black.  We had to go to the grocery store.  He went as Darth.  There was a slight hesitation as he got out of the car and noticed the stares and smiles from others.  But then, he was totally empowered because "Darth would walk with power."  He strode around that store with relentless confidence.  THE BEST PART:  He decided that he needed to check his blood pressure.  Imagine with me...Darth checking his blood pressure.  The pharmacist and techs started to laugh and then slowly I saw their heads disappear below the counter.  It was funny I tell ya!

And then we come to the COWBOY.  As many of you know.  This little boys LOVES his black boots.  He wears them everywhere.  They are so worn that he gets rocks stuck in his heels.  He has to pick the rocks out.  But, he will not give up on these boots.  His poor foot is scrunched into it considering his foot has magically fit since age 2!

And now due to another garage sale and his own money...We have a storm trooper!

 Last but not the least...D man had the chance to go to work with his Daddy for a few hours.  I think he loved it.  It was a good opportunity for him to "see" what it is that his Daddy does everyday.  He had a lot of fun.