Cori Celebrates with Friends

Since Scott was due to be gone for Cori's actual birthday this year we planned Cori's birthday party this past Saturday rather than on her actual birthday. As you know, Scott arrived back home early so we celebrated her actual birthday together but decided for the sake of Mom's nerves we wouldn't try to change the date of the party.

Normally we have a party with a theme and coordinate the food and decorations around that theme. We also usually rent our local pool or bowling alley or some sort of place which makes decorating and working with a theme a tad bit easier to do. Cori decided this year she did not want a theme. She wanted a normal birthday party and all she wanted to do was play LOTS of games. So play games we did! We started our DRY outdoor party ( with this season being one of our rainiest in years, you can't tell me there isn't something to be said for the power of Prayer!) with a potato sack race. The sacks were a little small but it actually made the race more difficultto play and much funnier to watch.

We also played a great variation of tag. We filled a knee high half full with flour and tied it off. If you were tagged with flour you had to sit down. The object was to be the last one standing with no flour residue on your person. This game was a big hit with the boys; Wren told me it was his favorite game. I enjoyed watching the kids try to walk with water filled balloons between their knees from the starting point to the finish line. The winners only had to share their prize of a nice fluffy beach towel with the wet losers if they wanted to.

We had more games than we had time to play. Eventually we moved on to cake and presents which Cori tells me was her favorite part! Scott made a "Funny Bunny" cake this year. Cori really likes the little guy but we do have to keep tabs on which stickers and shirts she has. Some of them get a little fresh!

Her friends gave her a lot of wonderful gifts. The Swiffer Carpet Flick and the HUGE monkey throw rug were big hits. She even received a nice present(a Cinderalla light) that she knew Cassi would adore. As soon as we were home from the party she told Cassi she should put it in her room. Later I asked Cassi if she received any of the prizes from the party( I was afraid I'd overlooked her) and she declared, "I got the best prize ever", Cori gave me her Disney princess light. I loved the fact that Cori acknowledged what giving Cassi the light would mean and more especially I am so glad Cassi was grateful for it! Being a day full of games to win and lose, I am certain Scott and I were winning the parenting game today!

Cori's 9th Birthday

Not sure how many of you know, but the birthday fairy visits our home every birthday just like the Tooth Fairy, Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny would come other times of the year. It is a tradition the girls came up with in a round about way some years ago. It's a great story and if you every want to know more about it, I will share it with you in another story later.

More importantly, this year was like every other and the Birthday Fairy did visit our home. We weren't here this year however. We were in Anchorage picking up Scott. The fairy left a note the morning of Cori's birthday at the hotel, explaining that since she wasn't absolutley certain she could track us down in Anchorage she left Cori's presents at the house which Cori would find upon her return home.

Amazinglythat fairy got everthing decorated while we were away and when we pulled in at 10PM that night, sure enough there were presents to open. We were all pretty tired(especially Cali) but Cori still loved seeing everthing done up in her honor and went ahead and opened her gifts before going to bed. We had given Cori the option of getting a big 'ole gift or having her carpet replaced which she has been requesting for some time. She chose the carpet so there weren't too many gifts this year since there weren't any from Mom and Dad. All in all though, that Birthday Fairy comes through with some fun stuff.

GiGi turns 45

On September 13th GiGi turned 45. It was a good day. The normal gang of us (Scott was hunting) got together at a rather new restaurant we had not visited before. It was very nice; the food was great. The kids had a good time and Holly's husband was on his week home so he was able to attend for a nice change. This photo doesn't have everyone in it but I thought it was proof of the lively time we had.

Retainer is GONE! by Cori

GUESS WHAT? I GOT MY RETAINER GONE FOR GOOD. ABOUT A WEEK AGO I WHENT TO DR,MOORE'S OFFICE AND HE SAID TO ME TO STOP WHERING MY RETAINER BUT I NEED TO WHERE MY HEAD GEER MORE. IN ABOUT SEVEN WEEK'S I WILL GET MY HEAD GEER OFF. BUT I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO GET BRASES. WELL I HAVE TO GO TALK TO YOU LATTER BYE. LOVE,CORI

Scott got one!

I received a call today from Scott. I hadn't heard anything since Saturday when I received a call from one of the young men he is hunting with letting me know he was happy and still hunting. Since I didn't get to actually talk to him the other day, I knew when I heard his voice this afternoon, the news must be good. He did take an elk and he sounds very pleased about it. He will be coming home Friday night in time for Cori's birthday on Saturday baring elk meat which is what she told him to bring home for her. We will meet him at the hotel and spend a littel time in Anchorage on Saturday since Cori's birthday party isn't planned until the following weekend. ( We didn't want Daddy to miss it) Here is the only photo I've received so far but it's not bad. I am sure he will relish in sharing details of the hunt with some of you but he will be glad to know you've seen his trophy.

Hi.

Today is September 11th. An amazingly important day to all of us. I have no clue why I decided to do this today nor do I understand how it all came about on this day of all days. But since I have figured it out and since it is the day that it is; I am posting a photo you have all already seen. I think most of you know why it's so special; it goes with saying. But in the event your lost to the meaning behind the photo, just know that this is one special flag and we are eternally grateful for it. Hope you all have a joy filled day and I hope we all stop several times on this day especially, to thank GOD for all the gifts in our lives. Remember gifts come in many disguises so take a moment to look for the less obvious.

Love to all of you!

Hi Guys,

I am trying something new. I thought I might write more often about the things happening here in Alaska if I only had to post it once and not send individual emails and so forth. I believe I can post photos here also so I will have to look around and check it out soon. I will keep you posted. For now, keep this in mind and as I post I will let you know until it becomes more normal for all of us.