Camping Friday

On Friday morning we packed up Rory the RV and drove about three hours North-ish to our friend's property just outside of Glennallen, Alaska. They have a parking lot on a lake with access to unending miles of muddy trails for the avid 4-wheeler enthusiasts. We spent the first day just playing in the lake, roasting marshmallows and shooting guns.


The Peanut Gallery. The kids sat safely on the machines while other people shot guns at cans on sticks in the lake.

This was my first time EVER shooting a gun. If you think I look terrified, I am. But I checked it off the bucket list.

Grandma Diana came along and shot some too.

Darrin is serious about his can shooting.

Doobie was very protective of this 4-wheeler. He threw a screaming tantrum anytime somebody came near him. So he ended up banished from the machines after some hand-to-backside attention.

Dinner in the RV. Barbecued chicken, mandarin oranges and noodle salad. Jake apparently does not care for noodle salad. This was made abundantly clear when I forced him to eat a bite and he threw up.

Earlier in the day we played in the lake. I mean swamp.

Doobie is finally big enough to done the waders and wade through the muck. Leaches don't stick to waders.

Daddy was looking for a safe way across to the other bank. He never found one.

Jake did though. He just walked straight across while we hoped and prayed he didn't fall over and force one of us (and by that I mean Daddy) to go swimming after him.

Jordy loves splashing around in her mud stompin' boots.

There goes Jake again.

This kid LIVES for stressing me out.

But he made it back and forth safely several times. I guess he's a big boy and they like doing big boy things like that.

Interniew With A Kindergartener

This past week, little Jakey had his kindergarten interview. He met with the principal at school and they chatted about important things like which playground is for recess and whether he could paint during art time.

Looking like a sharp dressed man.

Giving Daddy a hug before the big interview.

For a detailed transcript of their conversation, click here.

Jordan's Party

Jordan had her little birthday party at H2Oasis on Wednesday. We had a great time splashing and playing with friends. Jordy said she had a great birthday.




Doobie had a blast!


Jordan and Sophie, little fishes.


Josh and Kate. It was her first time at the park. He showed her the ropes.


Jake is brave these days. He even gets his face wet.


Jordan and Kate, having a snack.


All that swimming makes us hungry.


Party People!


The big FOUR!


Hugging baby Kate.


Hugging Sophie.


Huggin' Grandma.


Hugging DOOBIE!


Even I got one.

Munchkee is FOUR!

Happy birthday to my sweet baby Jordan! Four years ago today, after 5 short (but intense) hours of labor, Jordan Emily Powers was born at 3:52pm (during the Dr. Phil show - yes I was watching) at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. She weighed 7 pounds 8.5 ounces and was 20 inches long.

Meeting big brother for the first time. This poke in the eye would foreshadow the next four years very acurately.


Bundled up on her sweet blanket made by Lucy.

We are getting ready for a fabulous day of fun so expect more pictures later...or tomorrow...or whenever I get to it.

Tiny Dancer

Today was a big day for Jordan - and a HUGE day for me. Her very first official dance class at Studio 49. The living vicariously through my only daughter has begun.

Getting the hang of those little tappers. Slippery little suckers.


Heel, toe across the floor. The older girls were student teachers. They were awesome. Always holding hands and correcting feet and arms.


Now toe, heel back across the floor.

Now, slide to the side...


No, that would be sideways please...


Now she's got it.


We have just changed into our acro shoes. Some ballet positions on the floor. Here is a plie in first position.


An attempt at fifth position. I LOVE her fat little belly.


Watching the mats be put out.


Now we're tumbling.


And bear walking.


Now we're tumbling backwards.


Rolling like a crayon. A RED crayon.


No, not traumatized. Just rocking.


Jordy's kickin' it freestyle at the end of class. I taught her that move. It loses a little something in the translation I think.

Please forgive me for the poor photo quality. I didn't want to use my flash and disturb the class and also, I dropped my camera about an hour before and things weren't working right after that. So I'd appreciate it if you'd indulge me by considering it as artistic flair rather than equipment malfunction and operator clumsiness.

Happy Birthday Baby Brother!

This entry was actually supposed to post yesterday, but for some reason it didn't publish and I didn't notice until this morning...



26 years ago today, I was staying with my Aunt Pat while my mom was having a baby. Being the only girl in the midst of three boys, I was seriously hoping for a sister. It was beyond hope actually. I was praying desperately. I was about 5 or 6 years old and I have a fuzzy memory of being with my cousin, Kaycee when her mom came in to give us the big news.

"It's a boy!"

Aunt Pat and Kaycee squealed with joy while I collapsed into inconsolable tears. Four brothers. A fact that seemed incredibly tortuous to me in that moment. 26 years later I can now appreciate the situation. My brothers all agree that I was spoiled rotten as the only girl, an accusation that I vehemently deny in public. My baby brother turned out to be an amazing blessing (eventually) and I love him so much. He is awesome in every way and I'm so glad he's not a girl.

Happy Birthday to my baby brother, Josh. He is 26 today (I'm pretty sure). And he reads my blog (I think), so Josh, I hope you have a wonderful day!


Uncle Josh and Baby Jake 2007


Uncle Josh with Jordan and Jake where we celebrated his birthday two years ago. Hurray for the zoo!


Josh and I 2009