Highland Games

Sam is the Ravenwood Rockstar of the Snare Drum. He is the first 3rd
grader to ever get asked to perform with the Advanced group. Hip hip
hooray for Sam. This year he was asked to perform at the Scottish
Highland Games with a group from Anchorage. I drove him into town
once a week for practice with the promise that they would outfit him
for the event. He LOVED every second of it and performed perfectly.
I am glad that he has this unique passion.

Brotherly Love @ Lunch time

July 20/Day 5/Recover

After all that glorious time in the car together (only survivied by
multiple times through a Jiim Gaffigan CD and several podcasts of
NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me) we opted for a recovery day in Eagle
River.

1. Eagle River Nature Center.
2. Mt. McKinley viewing at the top of Skyline.
3. Movie night (and Greg fixing my computer--hooray Greg!!)

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.