~FIT FOR A KING~

This is a break in the time line but I couldn't resist posting these pictures I just took. We had to make a quick trip to the store today and the girls noticed this darling dog bed. They were sure it was just perfect for Booger. Amazingly it was the least expensive bed there. I told them I would get it if they split the cost with me.

As you can tell for the simple fact that I am posting this information; they thought it just that important! We bought the bed. Keep in mind that Booger is only 5.2 pounds and it is all the bigger he will likely ever be.

Here are the pictures...He loves the bed!
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

A visit with Santa

We had the opportunity to visit with the real Santa again this year. You may not be aware but last year Santa left a photo of himself in front of our tree for the girls to find Christmas morning. He was eating the cookies we made for him and everything.

We heard that he would be taking time out of his busy schedule to visit Kenai again this year so we hurried over to see him. It was incredibly exciting to see him in person after knowing he'd walked through our house and ate our cookies last year. Wow!

Cali doesn't remember him much and was a little nervous about meeting such an important guy. It took her a little while to move in but she did end up getting close enough to get a couple Christmas card photos.














Cassi was VERY excited about seeing Santa again. She was quite prepared to put on her best face and tell Santa everything she thought she might want for Christmas.




















Cori isn't sure she still believes. Actually she says she is sure but as she gets older she is certainly more wary of people she doesn't know well. She also is thinking she is a little too old to be posing with Santa but I guilted her into it one more year.





















We managed to get a couple of them all together but Cali seemed to be looking over her shoulder the whole time.




For the record, I probably wouldn't have taken the to see that Santa guy had I known they would be whispering in his ear that they wanted a puppy. And even then, I didn't think he would really bring a puppy all the way from the North Pole on a sleigh.

Here's hoping you all had a nice chat with Santa this year as well and that he made your Christmas wishes come true too!

The Story of a Brave Little Girl

You have all probably heard about Cassi Raye and her exciting evening last Thursday.

It turned out to be quite an exciting evening for all of us and except for Cassi's fear and pain, Scott was probably the most emotionally challenged as he was with her when it happened.

Cassi had a scheduled Christmas party at her Cheer gym at 5:30 Thursday. I was due to host a Family Fun Night Roller skating Party for our school from 6:00- 8:00. On my way over at 5:45 I got a phone call from Scott telling me Cassi had broken her arm. She couldn't have been in the gym more than 10 minutes. I couldn't beleive it.

The mom in me came out and I called Cassi. I needed to talk to her and thought she might need to talk to me. It seemed as though Daddy had it under control but my heart was still going crazy. Fortunately the roller skating rink is right around the corner from the hospital so I was able to stop throw the supplies out the door of my car to my friend Misty and run like heck to meet them. Truthfully there were angels looking out for us through out the evening and I sincerely felt my prayers were answered in every way.

Cassi was such a trooper through out the whole process. When I arrived she was calm; a little scared but completely confident in the care of her Daddy. Shortly after I arrived they took her for her first set of x-rays. It was a little painful but we survived it. When they told us there was a need for a second set she got a little shook up. Twisting her arm to get just the right angle really hurt. Still she hung in like a fighter. I was really amazed.

Once she got back to her room they decided to put in an IV or the preparations for one. The first nurse has some trouble and it too was painful but again as soon as they stopped trying she pulled it together. The second nurse came in and put it in her hand which went incredibly smooth. Again, another gift for which I felt we were blessed.

They never did have to give her pain-meds which in the end helped her wake up, from the local they used to set the arm, so much faster. We were there for several hours but I have to say for the most part she was as comfortable as we could have asked for given the circumstances.

Here are a few pictures of her ordeal. Her arm reminded her of a snake she kept saying. It just looked weak and wiggly to me.

She ended up going to school the next day. She was there all day save arriving one hour late. She even had smiles to share for all of her friends who made get well cards for her first thing in the morning.

Finally...The end of Soccer Season, Sort of!

Well, our last tournament was actually the weekend of August 4th and 5th. It was an odd ending for Cori's team and a bit of a disappointment. The good side is that as a team we certainly made our mark around town and it is quite evident that we will be competition for a long time to come.

Since we weren't quite ready for it to end on such a note we made the decision to attend one last "for-fun" tournament the past weekend. We didn't actually attend this tournament with our full comp soccer team. This tournament requires only a team of 3 with a maximum of 6. It is called LIVE 3 v. 3. There are 3 players on the field at a time and the field is only 30' x 40' with much smaller goals.

Cori's best friend just started playing competitive soccer this year and doesn't have quite as much experience as Cori. Because of this she and Cori didn't get to play together as often as they would have liked. Once Cori decided to play 3 v. 3, she was very sure she wanted to play with Alli more than she wanted to create a highly competitive team. She talked her Dad into coaching her team of 4. She chose one other young player from her comp team, and Alli, her best friend. Because the two other players we young and the fact that Cori is actually a young skilled player they were able to play in a lower age group so we added Cassi as a sub, in the event one of the girls needed a break and had an injury.

Cassi was not originally really thrilled about playing as she has never played competitively. She was rather nervous about the whole thing at the first practice. One it was over however she decided it might be a lot of fun and then we had to wonder was being a sub going to be enough.

Needless to say, the day before the tournament we found out that there were no other U-9 teams and therefore we would have to play all U-10 teams. Quite a challenge since we also found out that 5 teams of the 8 in the division they put us in were made up of competitive players which meant a pretty high level of skill. We actually considered pulling out of the tourny but Cori simply decided that they would practice every night of the week leading up to the big day! Of course, coach Dad loved that every day ofter work!

The tournament did turn out to be quite a challenge. We were often out skilled. That being said, Each girl really stepped up to the plate. Cassi was really tough for having never have played competitively and Cori was a wonder-Gurl! Not having some of the usual older leaders from her team, she really kicked it in on Saturday! She was everywhere! She knew her teams' game depended on her and she pulled it off.

It was a really fun, long day! It moves very quickly. I forgot to mention that Scott also filled in as Coach for Alli's big sisters team too! Basically we went from one game to another the whole day.

Since I had forewarned the tournament director of the drastic age difference within our bracket he created a championship between us and the youngest of the other teams.
We took second! Scott can explain why it worked out as such. It could have been very different however we decided the girls had to also learn that sometimes officials can really mess up. The nice thing is that they ended up having second place medals for the girls and they were really proud to take those home!

At the end of the day, we decided we liked this ending much better than the one we had two weeks before.

~Cali LOVES Joey~

Just a short note to share some LOVE!

The other day I had an appointment so Cali and the girls were going to go stay with my friend Misty and her kids. Certainly by now, you all know about Misty's son Joey. Cali loves no one in the world more than Joey.

Anyway, Cali is not normally a fan of having her hair done nor is she to particular to her clothing. Simply said, she does not primp! Her sister's do but she doesn't!

When I told her she was going to go visit Joey she suddenly wanted me to give her a belt; a sure sign of primping in this house! And of all things, she wanted her hair done, like the "gurls"!

I stood her on toilet in the bathroom to fix her hair with a glittery butterfly clip and she told me to take her picture. What you see here is her own pose. I didn't really mess with her at all.

When we were all done, she said "Joey is going to love my belt and my hair, isn't he?"
" Yes, he is." I replied.

~Fighting the Alaska Wilderness~

Well many of you have probably heard about the excitement here in Kenai on Tuesday night. For those of you who haven't heard the story, it goes something like this.

At approximately 2:00 am Scott and I were plunged from our dreams by a loud noise and the slight feeling of our house shaking. I should mention that the previous evening we had been woken by a loud ruckus that turned out to be a bear knocking over a 6-7 foot garbage hut in the neighbors' yard, into his boat.

Needless to say the 2:00 am wake up call shook us up but we both had an inkling there was a giant claw and fang baring furball involved. We sat up and waited a minute trying to get our bearings and to determine the direction from which the sound and thump came. I did get my thoughts together enough to run across the hall and make sure all the girls were sound in slumber and not downstairs sleepwalking while hurling furniture across the room. They were all asleep and had not been disturbed by the noise.

I went back across the hall to find Scott coming towards me with a shotgun getting ready to head downstairs to protect the family. I sat back down on the bed and waited. Shortly following his departure he came running back upstairs urgently informing me that a bear had knocked down one of the freezers we have outside and was traipsing off with last years harvest.

Scott headed back down to continue scoping out the situation with me following behind. He managed to run the bear off so my concerns were more about getting back to sleep than anything else.

Scott headed outside to upright the freezer which at this point was whirring quite loud with obvious difficulty. It was also obvious that the meat on the ground needed to be cleared up. There still was little concern as the meat was frozen which to most people, logically would mean no smell, us included.

As Scott was outside the kitchen window trying to bring order to the situation the bear returned and Scott looked up to find the bear walking towards him and the frozen food aisle of the Holmes' abode. Fortunately Scott went outside with the trusty shotgun I mentioned before and was calm enough to shoot him square in the forehead. The bear went down immediately and Scott managed to get in the house. It wasn't until he was safe in the house that everything really started shaking.



I ran upstairs to check the girls and calm them down knowing they were scared out of their minds from the gunshot. I quickly returned to give Scott the chance to talk through his adrenaline rush as they were still sound asleep.

Using a flashlight we looked out the window; we wanted to factually determine whether or not the bear was brown or black. We were pretty sure it was brown but being that different laws apply we wanted to be sure before alerting the authorities. After we made sure it was in fact a brown bear Scott went to look up some regulations on the computer, to make sure what the protocol was for reporting a "defense of life and property" bear kill.

While he was doing his research I was planted at my little kitchen window still not sure that the thing might not get up and walk away. The window was open and I was just standing there sipping a cup of coffee when I started hearing what I thought were twigs cracking outside in the trees to the back-side area of the house. I immediately yelled for Scott who came to me mumbling "you've got to be kidding me".

I told him to stand there and listen as my adrenaline was still in high speed and it was certainly possible I was hearing things as I was standing there looking at a huge dead bear just outside my window. But no, he heard it too!

All of a sudden, Scott tells me there is a sow (female bear) and a cub in the yard! I moved across the kitchen and bent down to look out the large kitchen window that overlooks the front yard and I manage to burp out..."no, it is a sow and 2 cubs!" making a total of 3 bears coming toward the house. Don't ask me why I bent down but I think I was in a crouch out of fear.

For the record, we are not absolutely certain these were cubs. Because they were traveling with a sow we must assume they were but they weren't tiny! I am guessing they were at least 2nd year cubs.

At this point I am sure we were in absolute shock however Scott ran for the front door (with the shotgun), opened the door and started yelling at the live bears. 2 ran off right away but the 3rd one loped a couple of steps off and turned back to look at Scott. Raising the now infamous shotgun he fired a round in the air which promptly ran the 3rd furball off.

Finally we were able to call the police and the Fish and Game authorities. The police were out on a call and would take a while to arrive. I headed to check on the kids again but still no one had moved. It was between 4 and 5 when I finally laid down; Scott finished talking to the police well after 5. The guy from fish and game didn't come until after 7.



It turns out that even if you are not at fault and it is ruled a defense of life and property occurrence you are still responsible for cleaning it, getting it off your property and turning the hide over to Fish and Game. We had to hire a guy to come out and help Scott take care of it plus he missed a day of work because of the fiasco.


In case you are wondering, the freezer never did get upright until the police came and by that time the motor was shot! We had to purchase a new one.

Our case was ruled a DLP with acceptable cause. We were not fined. I think it was the dead bear with a shot in the forehead that lie less than 6 feet from Scott's footprints in the dirt near the freezer that saved us! It may have also been Scott's offer to allow them to launder his clothes if they needed proof of the close encounter.

When Cori woke up the next day she came running back by my computer whispering, "Mom, Dad's talking to someone of the phone about a bear and I see a dead one lying in the yard!" Who knew?

After gutting and cleaning it Scott took the hide over to the Fish and Game office and they estimate that he weighed about 550 pounds and measured about 8 foot! I know the photo with Cori taking aim makes him appear rather small but for reference take a gander at the size of his head in the photo where Cori is showing of his chompers! Scary huh?!


There was an article in Friday's newspaper; the caption read "Attacks on Outdoor Freezers Leave One Bear on Ice". They didn't have all the facts correct (they interviewed the Fish and Game guy, not Scott) but the gist of the story is the same. Such is life when you choose to live in the Alaskan wilderness.

Exciting International Space Station Contact from Kenai AK

Hi again. I know I have been inundating you all with blog news lately but this is very exciting. I know you will love it!





On Saturday July 7th 2007 Cori and Cassi had the opportunity to speak with Astronaut Clayton C. Anderson from the International Space Station. It was an incredible experience and there was a lot of time for interaction with him.

While Uncle Mark and Aunt Jeanie were visiting we heard that we would have this opportunity so we asked for their help coming up with some questions to ask Mr. Anderson. Unfortunately I sent them in a little late. While it happened that their questions were asked, it did not turn out that the girls got to ask their questions themselves. Some of them were asked by other children.

Cori said to him "I heard that the Great Wall of China is visible from space. Are there any other man made or natural features that you have seen from the space station?

She also asked If there had ever been a female commander or leader of a mission into space, which was a question we personally sent in.

Scott and I thought Cassi was given a fantastic question to ask which was, What's sleeping like in space when there is no gravity to hold you or your sheets down?
It turns out they sleep in sleeping bags standing up. Who knew?

She also asked him "How is the digestive process affected by the lack of gravity?" This and his answer got a little chuckle from all of us.

Since there was a little extra time Cori came up with the idea of asking "Is there any special candy you like to take with you to the space station?" It would have made a great commercial for Kit Kat because apparently that is his candy bar of choice.

While we were quite aware of the opportunity the event provided the girls it got even better this morning. The phone started ringing pretty early with the news that there was a photo of the girls on the front page of the newspaper. They were both very excited and loved the spotlight it created. Go figure.

I am putting the actual Peninsula Clarion Article here along with the front page photo. We do have a little video Scott shot and if we can figure out how to put it on DVD we will send a copy soon.

By the way, Did you know both Cori and Cassi might possibly be astronauts someday? Amazing what some opportunities inspire isn't it? Love you all bunches!

'Loud and clear'
Students, ISS make contact

The International Space Station zipped over the southern Aleutians at 17,500 miles per hour, coming within range of the Challenger Learning Center's radio antenna at 11:45 a.m. Saturday. Dale Hershberger tracked the station's orbit on his laptop and began transmitting his message as the spacecraft inched closer to Kenai.

"NAISS coming in loud and clear," NASA Astronaut Clayton C. Anderson's voice came in through the static over Hershberger's ham radio. "Go ahead with your questions."

Nearly a dozen kids lined up at the radio's microphone to ask Anderson questions in Alaska's first-ever official hookup with a NASA astronaut aboard the orbiting space station. Leah Eskelin, the center's lead flight director, said one of the astronauts' goals, apart from their mission, is to make a contact to all 50 states via amateur radio.

"Alaska hasn't had an opportunity until now," she said. "It took a concerted effort on all parts."

Last year the learning center contacted Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeffrey Williams and had a short question and answer session with him, but it wasn't sanctioned by NASA, Eskelin said.

"Our last contact was at 5:30 in the morning," Eskelin said. The space station has to be high enough above the horizon in order for the Learning Center to receive a clear signal. "Height determines the length of time we have to make contact," she said, adding that they expected an eight-minute window, giving the kids enough time to ask 15 questions.

Hershberger, a volunteer at the Challenger Learning Center and ham radio operator for more than 30 years, said because the station's orbit only comes to within 51 degrees north and south latitude that it would only be 13 degrees above the horizon when the center is able to contact it.

"When he comes out over the southern end of the Aleutian chain then we'll have the footprint," Hershberger said. "At best we can have 13 degree elevation."

At 210 miles above the Earth's surface and traveling a steady clip of 17,500 miles per hour, the space station's orbit doesn't change, Hershberger said. Last year's contact was early in the morning because the planet moves all the time, he said.

When Anderson's voice rang out through the center's surround sound, Hershberger didn't waste time with pleasantries and handed the microphone to 8-year-old Bryan Hanson.

"Do you believe in life on other planets?" Hanson asked.

Anderson replied that while parts of the solar system may not contain life as we think of it here on Earth, he's confident there's life elsewhere in the universe.

"I liked it all," Hanson said, standing in the lobby with his family following the event. "It was neat asking questions and looking at the chart."

Hanson said he builds airplanes, rockets, cars and submarines and wants to be an aerospace engineer when he grows up. Learning that there is a small window of opportunity when it comes to talking to an astronaut was interesting, he said.

"I learned there are certain places where he can come in and out so you can talk to each other," Bryan said.

For Cori Holmes, 9, and Emily Hamilton, 8, talking to someone floating in outer space was exciting. Hamilton and Holmes asked Anderson a variety of questions ranging from the role women play in space travel to what man-made and natural features are visible from space.

"Getting to know the things he likes to do and the things he likes was cool," they said. "It took 40 to 45 minutes (for him) to get around the world so we could talk to him."

In addition to talking to Alaska school kids and engaging in routine maintenance of the spacecraft, Eskelin said, Anderson is studying vitamin and mineral loss in outer space, which involves taking blood and urine samples. So when Cassi Holmes, 8, asked him how zero gravity affects his digestive system, Anderson replied that learning how to use the toilet in space was difficult at first, but he soon figured it out.

"Your body knows when it's time to go," he said.

Anderson was within range of the learning center's antenna for about 10 minutes, giving him enough time to take questions from the audience. The space station soared over the Canadian border when Anderson's transmission cut out at 11:55 a.m.

Jessica Cejnar