Mother's Day

This year we had a barbecue with the Waite's, Bowen's, Napoleon's, and Clarke's.  This was a bitter sweet get together because it was a farewell to the Bowen's who are moving to Boise.  Nate and Jared cooked burgers and hot dogs, even though it was raining and cold.

We played our last game of "Stick It".

The kids hung out one last time!

We gave Heather and Nate a picture of Alaska with all our signatures, and said our good-byes!

We have all become such great friends...well actually family!  We will really miss the Bowen family!

Father's and Son's campout

Every Mother's Day weekend our church does a Father/Son Campout to celebrate the Aaronic Priesthood Birthday.  They campout in the Alaskan Wilderness...the bears are out, it is still in the 30's at night, and it doesn't get dark until 10:30!  The boys look forward to it every year!  The have a great weekend and I get a night to myself (the best Mother's Day gift ever!)

Hydrothunder

The Young Men and leaders in our church go on what they call the HydroThunder every Spring.  They drive down to the Kenai River and go rafting and then drive back to Turnagain Pass and go snow machining.  They have a great time...as you can see.  Jared was the only one who caught a fish, so he was VERY proud!

Game Nights

We have the best friends here in Alaska...and for the past several long winter months we have been getting the families together on weekends to play games.  One of our favorites is Hand and Foot.  It is really just an excuse to get together and eat yummy food, but we have so much fun.  The kids play and watch movies and we get some good "friend" time.  Even Sawyer gets in on the fun!  This has made out winter not so bad!

Cinco De Mayo

We celebrated Cinco De Mayo with a bunch of friends this year.  It was a great party, with great food, pina coladas, piñata, and of course mustaches!

Satefest

Joshua's 5th grade had a "Statefest" day at school.  Each of the kids presented their "state" projects, brochures, and food.  Joshua's state was West Virginia.  He made Pepperoni Rolls.  All the parents walked around and the kids had to tell them about their state.  It was a lot of fun seeing all the kids (aka: parents) work!

Only in Alaska.....

Can you go ICE FLY FISHING!

Nathan's April Happenings......

Nathan had been busy with track this month...until he hurt his back and now he is done for the season!

Nathan also had a school Spanish project.  He had to research and recreate a Pablo Picasso's Self Portrait.

Nathan has been part of the National Junior Honor Society and earned his service pin this month.  We are so proud of him!

Joshua's happenings in April

Joshua is getting very anxious for WARM weather, in fact he is pretending it is warm.....he spent one Saturday morning outside climbing the tree in shorts and bare feet.  That afternoon he decided to be adventurous and take his rip stick down the hill in front of our house in shorts...you can see it didn't turn out too well.  Looks like he'll be wearing pants for a little while longer!

Joshua also earned his Webelos badge, Arrow of Light and Religious Knot.  We are so proud of him!  Now he is on his way to Eagle!

Joshua also had his last school project (we hope).  He was assigned West Virginia and had to make a suitcase for the state.