Spring 2014

This spring was very dry compared to last.  We enjoyed a warm Easter and have been putting in appearances at the tiny Episcopal church in town.  We also hit the Elks Club where, of course, the Easter bunny arrived by helicopter and the kids hunted for eggs on the lawn.  I had no idea they would be hard boiled eggs.  Although I was happy not to have all the candy, it was almost worst going home with 4 or 5 dozen hard boiled and dyed eggs, many cracked.

Turns out Kate recognized the Easter bunny, played by a 12 year old girl, from school

We spent a spring day visiting Mossy Kilcher's farm.  Feeding and petting animals both new and old,

climbing aboard tractors,

and admiring her beach cabins

Brian's favorite cabin

Kate poses for a photo next to her dream house

We also spent some afternoons at the beach playing Kate's clever beach games...

Baseball

Bocce

Soccer

First learn stand, then learn fly.  Nature rule Kate-san, not mine.

The last days of school ended with a full day of tide pooling for all the schools.  

School was out May 19 and James was ready to get the summer started right away.

We signed up for the library's summer reading program and James signed away for his first library card.  

Kate ran two more 5k runs, including the culminating Girls on the Run event.  Since the ship was out, our friend Natalia was Kate's running buddy. 

Kate, the poster child for Girls on the Run, inspiring girls to be healthy, confident, and joyful!

While James dabbled in soccer,

and learned to "stride" on a pedalless bike,

Kate turned the fort into a homestead equipped with wash basin and clothes line.

  We also hiked Diamond Creek as a family.  It's always fun to compare what the adults are wearing versus the children in our Alaska summer beach photos.

Mud bath

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Strangely enough we also attended a USO sponsored rodeo-esque event.  The group consisted of several legit cowboys and cowgirls with titles like Miss Rodeo USA, Mounted Shooting World Champion, and a country singer I'd never heard of until he started singing.  I heard one of his songs performed on American Idol this year.  Apparently, they specifically targeted small Coast Guard towns in Alaska for their tour this year.  When I heard their itinerary, I realized it was probably an amazing trip for them.  Our kids still enjoyed lassoing chairs and or parents, dancing, and hanging with our Coast Guard friends.

Kate tries to lasso James

Shortly after the Memorial Day rodeo, we said good bye to our Coast Guard friends who were transferring.  Fair winds and following seas...tis the life we lead.

Yes, that is Cheetos residue all over their faces