Grandma's 90th Birthday Part

January chill may have a a grip on Alaska, but back in May 2009, we celebrated my Grandma Ima's 90th birthday. She turned 90 Dec 26th, 2009. We celebrated her birthday in May because it was warmer and heck...once you're 89 1/2, you are in what I like to call the "zone". You may as well celebrate every day both prior to and after turning 90. On the other hand, shouldn't every day of life be a celebration? We are here, we are healthy, we should PARTY like it's 1999!!! And since you haven't seen any posts since May 2009, the assumption can be made that indeed, we've been spending the last 9 months packing in as much fun and special friend and family time as possible. Over the next few months, my goal is to play catch up from the last year so that I can start fresh with THIS year's activities come May 2010.

On May 31st, 2009, we ceremoniously recognized 90 years of Grandma Ima "Working The Problem". Working all those problems kept Grandma sharp. And also spunky. Although, spunky may be too soft a word because no one can win an argument or change her mind. I googled "spunky" and also found "spirited" and "plucky". Googling "spirited", I found "characterized by animation, vigor, or courage". Courage, self-assuredness, vigor. Yes, I think that is closer. Grandma Ima is the only person I know who knows exactly what she needs, when she needs it, and how to implement changes to meet those needs. This goes along with vigor, the definition of which is "the capacity for natural growth and survival" and "active bodily and mental strength".

I think that is it! Grandma was full of Vigor! Happy Birthday Grandma! Here's to another year full of fun, happiness, adventure, and "Working The Problem"!

Parties are HARD work!

The Family!

Easter pictures

Arctic Gymnastics held an indoor easter egg hunt, had arts and crafts and even had the Easter Bunny available for pictures.  They used foam blocks used to cushion falls from the uneven bars to "hide" the candy filled easter eggs.  The boys had a blast.  Not only is there no grass here in April, but snow and ice usually cover the ground.  To have an indoor option for easter egg hunts and activities is just great!   In the next two pictures, Cedric and Blake wear their bunny hats they made and wiggle their noses like a bunny.  Blake was just cracking up trying to get his nose to wiggle.  :-)

March Ice Bowling

It may be sunny now, but back in March it was still cold and icy.  During Fur Ronde, the Peanut Farm set up ice bowling "lanes" on the frozen stream next to the restaurant.  The weather was as good as it gets in March, so we decided to try it out.  The holes of the bowling balls were packed with snow and ice, so it was tricky to get a grip on the ball, so the boys stuck to just rolling the ball.  Even Jim "palmed" the ball and let it roll off his fingertips.  As for me, I did my best putting the tips of my fingers into the frozen partially filled holes.  We all did pretty good scorewise, because there were hay bales at the end of the lane.  Your ball could bounce off the hay bales and slide back into the pins to knock more down.  I got several strikes that way.  In addition, other balls could cross into your lane.  This could be good and bad.  For me, it turned out to be great when a ball from a neighboring lane slid over the lane line and knocked down the rest of the pins that my ball missed.  STRIKE!  Well....kind of.  Here are a few pictures of our ice bowling adventure:  

  

Happy 7th Birthday Cedric!

At 11:06pm March 6th, 2002, Cedric came quietly and smoothly into the world.  He peered at me with curiosity that has steadily grown over the years.  Cedric is determined to be the best at everything.  He loves school and will practice his school work on the weekends by making up assignments to do.  One of his favorite things to do is practice his multiplication tables.   I'll print out 12 sheets of multiplication problems to solve and he'll finish them in 30 minutes and beg for more.  Cedric also loves to perfect his athletic skills.  He loves practicing baseball and soccer skills.  You notice a particular word being repeated here, practice.  I like to joke that Cedric doesn't play, he practices.  Luckily, he has a happy go lucky brother to show him how to play.  

 Here is a pic of Dada and Cedric when he was a few days old.  

6 weeks.   18 months. 3 years. 6 years with his Eagle Eye Reader Award.   Happy Birthday Cedric.  Glad you liked your H2Oassis birthday party!   Cedric opening one of his favorite gifts, a box of pencils and a journal.   The kids moved too fast for me to get a good shot, but here Esther and Cedric are holding hands.  So sweet.   Wave Pool! Cedric and Blake on the Pirate Ship.  Aaaarrrrrgh ye Mateys! Here was a present too big for the party.  What could it be???

"Wowie...golf clubs!  Thanks Grandma Pat and Grandpa Keith!  I really can't wait for the snow to melt now!   If I practice enough, I could be like Tiger Woods! " 

Redoubt eruptions...spectacular

Embeding the video didn't work...at least I didn't know how to make it work, so I'll just post the link.  Check out this fantastic time lapse photography of Redoubt eruptions: http://vimeo.com/3892358

Redoubt ashfall in Anchorage

It was bound to happen.  The wind flow aimed directly at Anchorage when Kaboom.  Redoubt erupts.  I watched the ash arrive on Radar and boy was it moving fast.  The ash arrived in about 2 hours...maybe less.  I left work at 5pm and drove into the ash as it was falling.  These pictures were taken by Jim from our back deck.  Notice the particles falling.  It looks like snow....but it's not.  In fact, Jim first thought there was blowing snow outside, but when he looked closer, noticed it was ash.  The white snow is now a dull orangey brown.   The wind was blowing really hard when the ash was falling.  There were ash whirls and clouds of ash/dust blowing all over the place.  If you look closely in this picture, you can see grooves in the snow/ice where the ash gouged out paths and then settled in the low spots.   The Anchorage airport is closed until 3pm due to ash removal.  Hopefully, they will get the runways clear by then.  

Fasching Karnival

So I'm a little behind...what else is new?  :-)  

Here are pictures from the Fasching Karnival at the Rilke Schule German Immersion School in February.  

Here is Blake proudly displaying his Karnival hat.  

Fishing for prizes.  Everyone is a winner!   Cedric going for a goal in hockey. Blake scored a goal on the first try!   This is a picture of Katherine and Blake.  They've been friends since they were babies.  If you don't know the story, Katherine declared Blake was his boyfriend when they were 3 years old and has not let go.  This picture is so funny because Blake looks so devious.  Mostly, he's been worn down by Katherine over the last 1 1/2 years.  LOL   Blake getting his face painted.   Woooooofffff!! Cedric getting his face painted. He wanted Spiderman, but they couldn't do it so he opted for a pretty rainbow.   When I first saw this game, I wasn't so sure about it.  Let's see....put sharp darts into the hands of young children.  It just seemed a little dangerous for everyone around.  The kids did fine, though and even popped a few balloons. The football throw.   Here is Cedric making it through both hoops.