Tuesday, July 28, 2009

A New Venture

I am now writing HOW TO articles for eHow.com and I just posted my first one. It's all about how to travel with an infant on an airplane without losing your mind. You can support me just by viewing it!

Click HERE!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Our Weekend In Homer

This past Thursday, we loaded up Rory (the RV) and headed down to Homer for the weekend with Darrin's mom and sister, Raychel. It's about a four hour drive if you don't stop (which we did) so we arrived at our campground at dinner time and grilled up some burgers in the rain. We also explored the beach in front of our campground. We ended up moving sites because I wanted to be able to kick the kids outside without having to watch them every second near the water.


Jordy is our best camping kid. She is always ready to explore and she never cares if she's dirty.


Jake is a little more reserved. He doesn't like to get too dirty.


Doobie found this hollow log and spent some time throwing rocks into it.

Later that evening, Darrin, Raychel and I took a walk down the boardwalk to the Time Bandit gift shop where we got to spend some time chatting with Captain Johnathan Hillstrand (See THIS post). On our way back, the kids and grandma met us on the path and handed out big hugs.

Then the kids showed us all the fun they had while we were out walking. Jordan learned to walk on this log without help.
Jake made me this flower pot.


Doobie slid down the entire log on his belly.
It took a really long time.
My Alaska Man.

On our second day we took the kids to get their picture taken by this big crab pot out in front of the Time Bandit store.

We also did some other shopping.

We also took a little charter cruise out into the bay to see some wildlife. The kids got to drive the boat a little. Jake took his job very seriously.

Jordy did not take her job seriously and she made me seasick in the process.

But we saw this sea lion.

And this otter.
On Friday we also had lunch at Capt. Patty's restaurant. We highly recommend it if you like seafood. Raychel said she would drive down to Homer and back in one day just to have lunch there.
We stayed in Homer two nights and left on Saturday to drive back home. It took seven hours to get home because of road construction. Thank goodness we had a bathroom on board.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Captain Johnathan

This past weekend we drove to Homer, Alaska with Darrin's mom and sister. I have a lot of pictures to upload but for now I leave you with just one. For all you Deadliest Catch fans out there....


Captain Johnathan Hillstrand of the Time Bandit just happened to be home in Homer for the weekend and was hanging out signing autographs at the Time Bandit gift shop. We were the last people in the store that night so he signed some stuff for us and then offered to come outside to take some pictures.

FUN!

Baby Photography

If you are interested in seeing more shots of my recent photo shoot of Baby Jackson, head over to his mommy's blog and check them out.

CLICK ME!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

More of the Same

Darrin's sister, Raychel is in town for a couple weeks so of course we had to take her out on a four-wheeling adventure. We went to a new place near the Knik river and explored for a bit. All the kids came along and rode with us. They were awesome and tough and brave. As usual, super fun.


The whole crew.


At the river with a glacier in the background.


Darrin and I shared a machine and the kids rotated between the adults. This is Jordan's helmet in this shot.


Bobble Head Babies. Joshy face planted into the dirt a few times trying to walk with his heavy helmet on.


Jake never wanted to take his helmet off. He wanted to wear it in the car all the way there and back.


Joshy looks scared but he was very brave. That is until we almost sank in a huge puddle and then he was scared every time we went through water.


Grandma Diana, Jake, Aunt Raychel and Jordy.


Grandma Diana and Joshy coming across the water.


Aunt Raychel coming through the deep end.

Darrin just mentioned to me that a lot of our blog posts are starting to look the same with all these four-wheeling pictures. Sorry for the redundancy but we love it!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Daddy Is HOME!

For the past seventeen days, daddy has been working hard out in Bristol Bay, Alaska catching fish. Even though this is the shortest trip he's ever worked, it was still seventeen days too long for us. We are all SO HAPPY that he's home safe and sound.


On the way to the airport!


Waiting patiently in the airport.


An hour later, waiting impatiently in the airport.


FINALLY!


Welcome home Daddy!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Photography Field Trip

Yesterday my friend Tracy and I went on a hunting expedition. The target? The next greatest place for a photography shoot. We got soaking wet, eaten alive by bugs and a little dirty from slipping and sliding around the waterfalls but we still like the spot.



Rockin' that self timer feature.






So yeah. Good fun.

Goodbye Dukes!

This morning my good friend Dukes (Erin Rukes) drove off into the Alaska interior on her way to Arizona. She had been staying with me for several days while she finished up the last minute details of her road trip. Please pray for her safe journey!



We had one of her going away parties at The Moose's Tooth restaurant. Yum!

You'll be missed Dukesy! Love you muchly.

Too Much SUN!

I'm in the house for the first time in WEEKS! We've been basking in the sun every single day either here at home or at various friends' houses or at the local playground. I haven't spent much time on the computer hence no bloggedy lately. To prove it, here's photo documentation.







Saturday, July 04, 2009

Baby Jack

Last week I announced the birth of Jackson Lloyd Matthew, baby son of our friends Patrick and Lucy Matthew. Today I had the honor of taking his one week old photos. He was such a doll face and I snapped a couple hundred shots. Sometimes I just can't stop myself.

Bittersweet

Yesterday I had the opportunity to be in front of the camera for a bit instead of behind it. My friends and I had a blast getting pictures done together at my favorite location. We did this as sort of a last hurrah because our friend Erin is moving away to Pheonix next week. We will miss you Dukes!