Colony Christmas

After the dance recital, we went over to Palmer for the Parade of Lights and Fireworks.  It's on of our favorite Christmas traditions.  The fireworks are lit in the library parking lot, and we were able to stand right across the street.  It's like standing in a meteor shower.  

BOOM!

KABOOM!

Mary insisted on making a snowflake while we were waiting for the fireworks to begin.

It was cold, but we were able to warm up with some hot chocolate and kettle corn.

Christmas Recital

This year we had 2 dancers in the Christmas recital.  Mary is in a tap/ballet/tumbling class, and Clara is in on a traveling Jazz drill team and in level 3 ballet.  Needless to say we are proud of both of them.

Waiting to perform.

In front of the "pup''cakes.

Our 2 favorite dancers.

Getting ready to rock it Christmas style.

Clara is in the pink skirt in the middle.

Clara on her tippie toes.

Backstage wishing Mom would just go away.

Still waiting to perform.

They both did very well.  It is amazing that Clara was Mary's age when she started with Sonja's Studio, and now wants to go "en pointe".  I wonder if Mary will choose the ballet route or the tumbling/cheering route.

Haloween 2010

I try to put on a Halloween party every year, and every year the weather is crappy.  Wind, snow, rain, cold or a combination of everything.  This year I decided to do a pre-Halloween party with the intention of having the kids outside instead of all crammed inside the garage.  To my delight, the weather was awesome!  Great weather however, was only part of a great party because this year we spookied up the backyard and had a scavenger hunt.  It was a super fun time!

Bill put a blade on the weed whacker and cleared a path around our property in the back.  Then he and Clara made tombstones.  We added Frankie clawing his way out of a grave, a pumpkin patch, a spider's web, a strobe light, a black cat, a flying ghoul, and lots of little toys and candy along the way.  It was sheer mayhem.'

Frankenstein trying to get out of his grave.

The pumpkin patch.

Shrunken heads.

Spider's web.  The "egg sacs" are actually upside down tootsie pops wrapped in webbing.

This was a flying ghoul Bill rigged up to scare the unsuspecting kids along the path.  It was AWESOME!

We also had some pumpkin carving going on.  One pumpkin for each family, and then they got to take theirs home.

Clara sporting some of her "loot".

Georgea and Wyatt cautiously trying to get to the tootsie pops.

Night time around the bonfire.

Clean up after the party.  What a mess!  Must have been a good time.

 Now we're just trying to figure out how to ramp up the terror for next year's bash!

This One is for Joe!

Camping at Hidden Lake

Whenever we camp at Hidden Lake, we think of our friend Joe.  The first time we camped there, he was with us.  That was many years ago, and I thought I would post some of this year's pictures for him to look at.

A whole family of Loons.

Another family of Loons!

Mushrooms growing up the side of a hill.

Itty bitty red mushroom.

Enjoying a dry moment and the campfire.

Mountain climbing in the rain.

Walking around the campground.

This year there were few bears, but a lot of rain and mushrooms.  This campground is one of our favorites.  It is clean, and usually fairly empty.  The kids run around, climb rocks, ride bikes or paddle out on the lake.  It is near enough to fish in the Russian River or hike one of the many trails in the Kenai Wildlife Preserve.  Of course we always have to be on the lookout for bears.

Alaska State Fair (part 2)

So, after the wet, wet, miserable, rainy day of the fair we decided we would  have to come back again for rides and general goofing off.  Lucky for me my friend Dawn was up for a "girls day" with out the kids.  She's the Superintendent of the Beekeeping exhibit.  I went along as her helper and got in free.  I'm sure I was a super big help!  There are no pictures of us.  We don't have to prove how much fun we had!

Woke up to a glorious morning.  The blue skies beckoned us once again to the fair.  We were going to wait until the last day (Labor Day).  But, I thought I could be pushing my luck and get another rainy day.  I originally had plans to meet Dawn and her kids Monday.  Clara needed someone to ride the Apollo 13 with her, and the 10,001 Arabian Nights and the Gravitron.  Dawn already gave me grief about changing my plans, so I wont go in to my sudden change of heart except that... it was a gorgeous day!  We called Clara's friend Shelby to see if she wanted to go, and we were off. 

It was such a nice day.  We got there early enough to miss the craziness at the rides and games, before we moved on to food/shopping and shows.  Mary was thrilled.  We rode some rides together, and went down the big slide twice.  If I didn't have to ride with her because of her size, she didn't want me to ride.  She's a thrill seeker! 

Flying the helicopter!

Driving the pink VW.

Riding the train.

On the ferris wheel.  That's Pioneer Peak in the background.

Clara is breaking new ground this year.  She went on the big rides.  She has always opted out of them in the past.

The 10,001 Arabian Nights.  Clara is 2nd from the left.

Getting on the Apollo 13 ride.  They were moved to the front compartment much to their dismay.

Needless to say there were some new experiences I had to adjust to also!

GULP!!!