Everybody Loves a Parade

I took the girls to the Progress Days parade today.

We go most years because there isn't usually anything else going on. We are usually in between tournaments and trying to stick close to home. It is also notorious for LOTS of candy which the kids think is awesome. What they have yet to figure out is that I usually give it all away before they realize it's missing.

This year the weather was pretty good. It was a little cloudy and breezy but not cold so no complaints here.

The girls brought a blanket and stretched out a while waiting for the first trooper cars to round the corner. While our parade isn't huge by any stretch of the imagination I thought there was quite a fabulous visual assortment of things going on this year.

The girls were really impressed with this guy and his ability to stay upright on those tiny tires. He was impressed with my camera as he really wanted me to get his picture. He spun in front of me a few times and finally asked, "Did you get a good one?". I hope this meets his approval!

This young man impressed me more; he was actually handing out flyers too!

The Women's Auxiliary handed out flags to each of us. At some point I've got to to figure out what I can do with them all. I can't throw them away (guilt)and they are stuck in everything I own around my kitchen(Americana themed), what else do I do with them?

Cali liked Smokey the Bear, he even tipped his hat to us.

And look here, we even have a old time train. My older two kids rode this train many years ago when they were in preschool. They remembered it fondly today as it passed by.

I must say while we may be lacking many things around here one thing we aren't with out is some loud, squirmy wiener dogs. Gosh, if there was 1 there were 200 in that parade group. They were really cute and they were EVERYWHERE! This is probably a third of the full picture had I been able to get one.

I think this little girl is probably a tired little sack of potatoes this evening. She was stopping at every person handing out paint sticks. Lowe's really ought to pay this kid! She was awesome!

We even had a local florist handing out fresh flowers to all the women. It was really nice. Cali quickly confiscated mine after the Princesses and Parties people came by with a princess crown for her. She said "With these flowers, I really am a princess." Little does she know even with out flowers, she always will be!

Subsistence Fishing

The girls are now officially Dip-netters. They have actually contributed to sustainable living for our family.

Is there subsistence fishing where you live? In Alaska there are many resources one of which is dip-netting. It seems each year we go out for a day or two. We don't do a lot. We try to never take more than we will use, which is of course the true definition of sustainable living.

When the two older girls were much smaller we would take them out to the beach and wade out in the water with them on our shoulders. Well, OK, they were on Scott's shoulders but still, I was there. Then they got a bit bigger and we couldn't do that any longer yet still they were too small to get the dip-net out far enough so we couldn't really let them fish.

This year they really wanted to try it on their own. They are finally tall enough to get out in the water a bit and almost strong enough to hold the net easily. Since we do so little of it we decided we would purchase 1 pair of chest waders and let them swap them out taking turns in the water. It seems to have worked.

Cassi tried first. She stayed out quite a while but never really got a bump. They swapped out and 5 minutes later Cori had our family's first fish.



She stayed out a bit longer in hopes of more but it wasn't to be.
She told me while Cassi was in the water that she had to get all of her excitement about that fish out because she didn't want Cassi to be upset. :) So we hurried and took this showin'-off-the-fish picture.

Scott had little luck with the fish tonight. I'm sure it was no help that his waders had a hole in them and was spending most of his time focused on convincing himself he was not going to end up with hypothermia.

Cassi was so intent on getting her fish that she went in again and even stayed in alone while Scott went to get our car.

I stayed on shore near her but with no waders of my own I was only there to dive after her in the event she went in the drink.

To give you an idea of what we're talking about, this is a short view of the beach. It stretches on about 4-5 times as much. And this is only 1 fishing spot. There are many. The subsistence season only lasts about 1 month so people come from everywhere to try and get the fish.

Cali had quite a bit of fun chasing gulls and jumping over fish heads. :) They are everywhere.


She never did quite catch one but she she never did stop thinking she could. And she found it so fun!

Grandpa is due to go with us tomorrow after work. Cassi is thinking he might just be her good luck charm. I hope so.

I enjoy knowing they are learning to appreciate the ways we can live off the land. It's an Alaskan way of life for which I am grateful.

Edit* I can't believe I forgot to show you this picture I took of the clouds. I think it looks just like a salmon. Do you see it?

Hiking with Friends

Do your kids attend public school? Do you find that there are clicks of people who shut you out or people who feel that you and your friends are shutting them out. I am sure it is a problem that surfaced long before I ever even thought about having kids in school. Such is life.

However, before the end of school this year, myself and a couple friends decided to set about changing things. Our solution was to schedule a gathering in which a group of people were aware. Each of those people were in charge of telling people they knew and so on and so on. The idea was that many people would learn of the event, attend with people they were comfortable with and make some new friends at the same time.

We have done 3 of these hikes since the end of school and will likely get a few more together before summer is over. It's been great. I think the biggest problem is getting the word out but we are working on it. Next year we intend to schedule 3 or 4 before the end of school so everyone can mark their calendars before summer break.


While I can't show you any close ups of other children, here is a fun shot of several of the kid group and one of several of the parent group. Silly stuff huh? But oh so fun!

Wordless Wednesday (posted late-on Thursday)

OK, there is one word- dagnabit!

Sponge Balls for Summer

We are headed on a beach hike tomorrow. While traipsing about the internet today I stumbled across these fun little sponge balls at Makes and Takes.




I figured they will be fun at the beach.

We will just give them a dip in the ocean and hurl! Cassi and Cali had fun making them. They each made their own. Then I started getting fancy and made some mini's. Everything is more fun when it's tiny, don'tcha think?

Marie made a short little video tutorial. If you are interested in making some of your own, go check it out! Your kids will be glad you did. I'll let you know how they work at the beach.

Sweet Sisters

Cori spent a short time today making a treat for Cassi's soccer team. They had an extra long practice and we thought it was a nice way to tie it up.

Recently, in our house, frozen grapes have become a favorite so Cori poked oodles of grapes for the team. Cali was supposed to help but she wandered away rather quickly.

Cori stuck to it and Cassi and her little friends had a yummy snack at the end of practice.

Get Your Free Starbucks Pastry

Go to Starbucks tomorrow morning (July 21st) before 10:30 am and get your free pastry.
I'm not sure I can get there as I am headed the opposite direction for a hike much earlier in the morning but I thought some of you might make it. Print this coupon or save it to your phone to show them, either way is fine.

Meet My Family

I talk a lot about my family in Florida. Would you like to meet them?
This is me and my 'little' brother Patrick.


This is Grandma Phyllis. Great-Grandma to my girls.

And this is her baby, Shannon.

This is Aunt Jerri.

She has so many pets that I am sure I missed a few but let's give it a go.
Here is Hermie. He likes chicken!

This is Coby.

This is Alazae. She is a crazy girl.

I'm not talking about the one peeing on the wall. That is a boy, can't you tell. :)

Here is Alazae again having a birthday treat with her big brother.

I told you I missed some because there are 4 dog bowls in the feeding line. Cali loved getting all their food together.

This is one of the many fish Aunt Jerri has. Cali calls this guy Nemo. Surprised aren't you?

This is Aunt Karen. She just had a birthday but she doesn't want to talk about it. Ha!

This is Aunt Renee'.

And her 'big' baby named Red. Here he is coming...

...and going.
And now that you have met everyone I have pictures of, I'll go too!