Ompas

The Ranger's house at Ompa's house. And Ompa's garage. It's huge.

We were waiting at the light on 88th in Marysville. Bee says, "MOMMY!! That's where zombies live!!"    Thank you, Chris, for that.

In the airport on the way home. We didn't check any bags. Each boy had a backpack and I had my purse and a backpack. It worked out fabulous!

Airshow

We went to the Arlington fly-in with Heather and Drew. I also picked up Diana because Leah had just broken her arm the week before, and Diana didn't get to get out much.
We looked at all the booths. Played on the toys until the day camps showed up. We decided to go to McDonald's for ice cream because it was pretty warm that day and Pheobe was way hot. Then we went back for the air show. The boys liked it but to be honest, when you get an air show of F22's in your backyard everyday, little airplanes doing circles isn't as exciting as it once was!
But it was wonderful to see Pheobe and let all the cousins play.

Seattle trip

We went to Seattle for V's 6th birthday. We left June 24th and were home July 8th.
We took the ranger to my dad's house so he can use it. It had sat in our trailer for the past two years only taken out to get to something else in the trailer. Hopefully dad will love it.
We celebrated V's birthday Monday with her by taking her to Dairy Queen. Then we got her from 11 am to 5pm Wednesday. Picked her up at 11am Thursday and she spent the night with us at the W's house. We all slept in the trailer. We had a party Friday for Clayton, Bee and V at the W's. We had burgers and all kinds of food. And then Costco cupcakes!!! It was a short party cause ms. V had to be back at 6pm.
We stayed at my dad's house and it was wonderful!!! Seriously so relaxing to just let Bee run for the most part. The stressful part was the dogs. They would run off like once a day. If I had my way, I would have had shock collars on both of them. But we only had one collar. We never made it up to mt. Vernon to get the collar. Or down to cabela's. Oh well. Next time we go, we will have 2 collars!
Diesel got into a fight with dad's neighbor dog. It was his fault. He went on their turf. He got holes in his right front leg, back left and around his collar. We took him to the vet when we got back and they just gave him antibiotics. $100 later. Ugh. Then we came home and Diesel bit the heck out of Hooch. Chris had to sew up his eyebrow with thread and needle. I just couldn't push the needle those his tough skin. It made me gag big time. So now they are both on antibiotic...Diesel's from the vet. Hooch's is fish mox. Same thing, different name and only 12 bucks.
We celebrated Bee's birthday with my Dad's birthday on the fourth by having a huge BBQ. It was so much fun. There was 12 dogs, 8 kids and lots of adults, eating lots of great food. None of the dogs fought, most of the kids behaved and all the big kids had a great time. Aimee and Nicci came up! I so wish I could bring them home with me. I miss them greatly. Aimee and I got to hang out one other night. Went to red robin and tried to get our nails done but I was too late in leaving the W's house so all the nail places were closed by the time red robin was done. I also went to her ultrasound appt on the 5th!! I got to see her little peanut!!! So fun!! Aimee and Megan are due around the same time. 2 new babies in January!
We went and saw cars 2 with rich and Fireant and Christine and dad. Glo bug went too but Chris ended up taking him out about halfway through. I hoped he would take a nap but no such luck. We hung out at dads house and played with the ranger and blew off fireworks and had s'mores and just took it easy.
There was some drama while we were there but it was only from one place. It made me realize that vacations are just that, vacations. A time to relax. So next time, I'm going to try and take Chris' advice and not plan a single thing. Just decide what to do that day. I'm not too sure Marysville is the place to do that. Maybe we need a real vacation to California or Vegas to play that way.
Well those are the highlights. I don't have a single picture of anything because I had to switch phones. I'll try and find some via Facebook.

Dads house

This is the front yard of my Dad's house. I miss the green of Seattle!

Park with Aimee

We went to the beach in Mulketio with Aimee and her friends. It was really fun. Bee loved throwing rocks.

granny

Remember this??

Well here is the story!

We are in a little town in Utah. (The town will remain unnamed because it might be someone's Grandma)

All of a sudden, traffic drops to 5 MPH.

On a highway.

I'm thinking there must be a horrible accident ahead or something of the sort. No road construction signs.

Finally after about 15 minutes of 5 MPH driving, I see the problem.

Granny, above, merged onto the highway with her electric wheelchair.

Yup.

Onto the highway!!!

Yes it's a 2 lane highway but people were slowing down. I took a picture!

How could I not??

And you know what Granny did?

Flew the bird!

I KNOW??!!!

And that is all.

25 days

25 days until we are out of here! (If all goes as planned! Crossing our fingers!)

I am SOOOO excited to be going to Seattle. We will be in town most of August so let us know if you wanna hang out.


Does anyone wanna come help pack??

i kid, I kid....kinda.

Anyways, this week my goal is to have everything sorted through, and what we are leaving here and what we are taking. I have a few more closets and piles that need sorting. After that, everything goes in a box for two months.

Things at are staying out in this order:
Bee
Bee's pacifier
Chris
headache medicine
cell phone
Sewing Machine
Hooch
Louie
wipes
atlas
wallet

anything else?

Did anyone catch that the sewing machine is before the dog?

It's on purpose...no worries.

There's another post below this that was suppose to post on Thursday, silly Blogger!!

New leaves...

As I was sitting, talking to a great friend last night, I realized that I have hurt people's feelings without even realizing it.

In my expressions of my readiness to leave Alaska, I have said things like, "I'm ready for a new adventure," or "I'm sooooo ready to leave."

While those statements are true, there is a hidden meaning in all of them.

I'm going to miss this place. More than just this place, these people.

I have wonderful, fanastic friends here that I'm sure I will be friends with forever.

No joke, FOREVER!!

I am sorry if I have hurt anyone's feelings with these statements. Just know that there is more to them than I lead on.

I do love you!!

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Another thing that needs to be written on here today is....

it's snowing!!!

As much as I don't like this weather, I'm actually enjoying this snowfall.

Anchorage is now pretty again.

Break up isn't pretty around here. A little snowfall just covers all that right up!

I'll try and get some pictures today.

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We have a grumpy volcano around these parts.

Her name is Mt Redoubt. She has thrown up at us over 6 times in the past few days.

The ashfall has missed Anchorage so far. She is still grumpy and spitting things up.

Alaska Airlines canceled a few of there first flights on Monday and delayed a few more. This makes for grumpy people.

Bee and I were on Continential airlines. Our flight was plum (is that right?) full...not one empty seat. The flight attendents were not their pleasant selves. The food tasted like it had been heated up a few times. AND people on the flight were just anxious to get in the air.

Our flight was the first flight out of Seattle to Anchorage since the volcano blew.

We were excited to get home.

Bee did really well on the flight there and on the way home. We sat by some great people so that made things a lot easier! I had enough snacks and toys to entertain an army, or Bee!! I don't think I wanna do it again anytime soon but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

So anyway Mt Redoubt is blowing her lid but it hasn't affected us yet.

We have to replace our air fliters in our cars but that's about it.

Brief Recap

Blogger is having attitude today, and I can't say I'm enjoying it much!!


Anyway here is a brief recap of the last fourteen days. There will be more pictures with stories to come for the next few days.

I had such a great time in Seattle with my family and friends. I miss them bunches and it was nice to have time to just be.



Here is Bee playing cards with Mike, my mom's 'boyfriend'.

Here is my Mom and Bee. Every year we have a Bee and Maimeo picture. We forgot about it until the last day at bedtime sooo we have about fifty okay pictures.
This is what I felt like I dealt with 99% of the time. It wasn't really but felt like it.

This is Payton. He is the most talkative little boy I have met. He is just wonderful. I wish I could have packed him up and taken him home. For real.

This is Maggie at the zoo. She is one of my favorite elephants.

This is Bee and I at the pool. Auntie Kassie works there so we got to go lots.

This is my dad and Bee on the tractor!

Bee and Chris' parents' new dog, Jack. Seconds after this picture, Jack knocks down Bee into that dirt pile on the top! :)


Oh I have so much more to tell and write! I better get busy unpacking!!!

Journal Jar-2

Guess what??? I'm going to Seattle next week. March 9 through March 22.

I get to hang out with family and be out of barely over 0* weather.

If you are in Seattle and wanna hang out, give me a jingle!

AND guess what else?? I get to go to Time Out For Women in Seattle!! Don't be jealous...I'll take pictures! (c: (<--That's a new smiley I learned)

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I found my picture cord so I will post pictures of the past week or two tomorrow.

Thanks for sticking around while I had my blog blah. I only lost 3 followers! YAY!

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Have you been outside the USA? When and Where?
I have been outside the USA. Growing up in the Seattle area, we were about 60 miles to the Candian border.

I remember a few summers where we went up the Canada to go to Stanley Park. It has a zoo and aquarium. The aquarium is awesome from what I remember. It had 'Free Willy's" and 'babumpa' (Begula) whales. We went with cousins and once, just our family.

I also went up there in high school for band trips. We marched in two of their parades every year. One in Victoria and the other....some where else. (??) It was so much fun going up there to roam a city like Victoria. The money exchange always tripped me up though.

So there you are. I've only been to Canada. Where have you been?