Columbia Glacier

This has been on my Bucket List ever since moving to Alaska. I came
across an ad for this adventure and new that I wanted to make it there
someday. When I put together the itinerary for the Warner Family
Alaska Adventure Trip this was titled as "The Splurge." And while it
did cost $220, I think it was worth every penny.

I remember

I'm documenting this and reluctantly thinking that one day I'll say,
"I remember when gas was ONLY $4.00 a gallon."

Day Camp

Sam's favorite week of the summer is Cub Scout day camp. It is little
boy HEAVEN. Four days of archery, capture the flag, canoes, crafts,
whittling, hiking, kickball, dodgeball, and bb guns all with your best
friends.

This was the first time I have been able to go canoeing at camp
carlquist and I made the most of it. My boat paddled and splashed our
way to a great time. I'm not sure the boys in my boat wanted to get
wet, but after a few drenching battles they decided to make the most
of it and feverishly stalked others on the lake until they too were
sopping wet.

Beach Lake

We live in the land of over a million lakes (by the way I looked it
up--we had more than one discussion about this last month:
From a regulatory viewpoint there is no distinction between a lake and
a pond. Both are surface waters of the state and subject to the same
water quality standards. From a naming convention there is no precise
difference between a lake and pond, although waterbodies named "lakes"
are generally larger and/or deeper than waterbodies named "ponds."
From an ecological or limnological perspective, there is a difference
between the two. The difference, however, is somewhat arbitrary and
not consistent or precise.)

Back to Alaska Lakes. . .

Several weeks ago as part of a Friday hike we ended at Beach Lake.
Isn't it beautiful?

Hoist the Colors

Summer officially starts when we hang the colors.  I love to see the Red White and Blue stand out amongst all the Green. 

Harry

Christian and Tanner have the jackpot of a great friend in Harry Turner. As the caboose of his family his parents are delighted to have him spend time with our masses and experience family chaos. In return they SPOIL Christian and Tanner with swimming and restaurants and boating.

> Thanks for letting the boys go with us – we had a good day in the sunshine :)

Would of, Could of

If I had had my camera I would have Captured these moments:

1. Talmage walking with his six inches too short hiking stick. He hobbled and wobbled around like a really really old person with his eye sparkling and a wide grin smeared all over his face the entire time. I also loved watching just his left arm swing vigorously back and forth as he waddled, I mean hiked to Thunderbird Falls.

2. Tanner giving Mudge a shoulder ride. Those twins sure love that boy. The other day I saw such genuine love in Tanner as he lifted Mudge up with his feet for a superman ride.

3. Warner riding a two wheeler with training wheels. While wearing underwear makes you a big boys in our house, ride a two wheeler earns you the title.

4. Sam and his buddies riding around the campground for the eighty-second time. One of my favorite things to do while camping was riding my bike around the campground. I remember feeling so adventurous and brave. Camping this weekend was perfect. Blue blue skies. The midnight sun blazing. Good food and even better company.

Three

My dad always says that things break in threes.

Last week we were sad to see a leg pop off of the trampoline. A welder advised us to purchase a new trampoline. Sad news all around. As much as the trampoline is a summertime life line we weren't too discourage...there's always craigslist.

Then my computer went down. I'm pretty sure it is a nasty virus. I've tried everything. Worst case scenario I lose a lot of pictures...but thanks so blogging I'll have a several of the most important ones saved.

Yesterday on our weekly hike I discovered that my camera was broken. Really? Yup, the shutter mechanics won't even budge. There no noise. It isn't good. At least I can breathe a sigh of relief, that's three right?

Greg

Thanks for being my inspiration on this one brother!!  It looks like Long Beach and the $300 flight might be our new favorite splurge. . . we'll have to do it again with a few more cousins and siblings.

First Day of Summer

The boys and I decided to drive to the Eagle River Nature Center and tromp along the Albert Loop. It is a wonderful hike that we've only done a handful of times since it is typically closed from July to September because of Salmon in the river and hungry Bears in the area. There were boardwalks and bridges, single track, and the perfect midway stopping point at the river's edge.
One of the greatest advantages to having a 12 passenger van is that is allows the boys to invite friends on our adventures.
Christian, Harry Turner, and Tanner
Christian and Harry played this hike with your eyes closed game from the halfway point to the end.

Asher, Sam, and Gavin
I could barely keep up with these three and their Harry Potter wands.

Tanner

Mudge throwing rocks in the River.
He happily rode in the backpack.

Here's to the Arizona Warners!

Thinking of you Greg, Jess, and Auburn.

Father and Sons

Eric took ALL seven boys to the Fathers and Sons Campout this weekend.  Seven you ask?  Yup, six seemed too easy so we invited one of Christian and Tanner's friends Harry to join the madness.  I think the boys had a great time and if it wasn't for the littlest one trying to swim across the river Eric would have had a great time too.  

About four a.m. I woke up to a little one crying.  At first I was disoriented, this was after all my night off, but quickly realized that Eric must have dropped off a little one sometime in the night (the perks to camping only five minutes from home).   I gave him a drink of milk and he was soon back to sleep in a nice warm cozy bed.  

Eric sure is a great dad.  The boys look forward to spending time with him.  Today they spent hours playing "D-A-D" (Dungeons and Dragons) together.  It is their favorite thing in the world to use their imaginations and jump into a world of adventure with him.  

Fwd: Summer Fun

Talmage has turned into a little dare devil.  He's quite partial to
the blue ride on toy and will push it up the neighbor's driveways,
plop down on it backwards, throw his hands in the air, and speed down
as fast and he can.   He's already face planted a handful of times,
ran into a lawn chair, and a tree.  Of course, I'm having heart
failure and he's laughing.  Go get 'em Tiger.

I love the feet in the 1st video.  Hyrum has been an excellent partner in Adventure.  From the moment he wakes up until we put him down at night, Mudge is craving outdoor fun.  

Favorites

I love my babies. Period. The End.
I get asked a lot, "What is your favorite stage?" Babies. It has always been babies.
But I've sensed a shift recently. A lot of my friends are having babies. I am SO happy for them, but when I think about me and a baby I feel woozy. Obviously it isn't the right time. The past few months I really felt the need to get my bearings and not only focus on helping my boys grow up but to do a little growing up of my own.

And in all that growing and thinking I've discovered that I really, really, REALLY LOVE five and six-year-olds. There is something magic about being five. Hyrum is SO EXCITED about life. He is discovering and questioning. He is trying new things and pushing himself. Yesterday I asked if he wanted to learn how to play the piano and his face just lit up. His first lesson was this morning and he is did SO WELL. Hyrum believes. . . in everything. In family, in love, in Santa and the Tooth Fairy and Leprechauns. Today as we walked hand in hand to school we had a whole conversation about Leprechauns and how sneaky those little guys can be. Legoes still come alive and fight and conquer bad guys. When Hy grows up he wants to be a garbage man or a seminary teacher. . . or maybe a dragon fighter. At six a box of legoes is the greatest gift in the world. At six three friends at a party is perfect. At six Popsicles and cupcakes hit the spot. Somedays I wish six would last a whole lot longer than 365 days. . . because I really, really love six-year-olds.

Corbin, Hyrum, Shyan, and Ajay