Lets celebrate!

Last week daddy was gone Monday through Wednesday working in a place called Kotzebue located 33 miles North of the Arctic Circle. 

Wednesday evening I let the kids take a late nap so they could stay up late that night to watch the firework show at midnight. 

It was pretty weird watching the fireworks since it wasn't dark out. We did have some thick cloud cover which really helped block out our midnight sun. The kids were more interested in playing at the little playground we were parked by.

We celebrated Independence day by just hanging out and enjoying daddy being home from work.

It was a pretty rainy day so we made plans to watch a movie with the kids. Our favorite movie theater to visit is in Anchorage. It is older and not as fancy as the new ones so it isn't ever crowded. Plus, at $3.75 a movie ticket you can't beat that and a big added bonus: Lexie is FREE! That leaves plenty of money for popcorn, soda (caffeine free), & nachos. We watched The Croods. It was a very cute movie and very funny. 

Friday night Andrew & I were able to slip away for a nice dinner together at Eagle River Ale House. It was sooo nice! We sat for a long time enjoyed our meal and just talked, just us! 

Saturday evening Andrew had an overnight trip to Dillingham. He didn't have to be at the airport till 4 so we did some fun things in Anchorage. We took the kids to bouncing bears and had a blast. Mommy even played in some of the inflatables with the kids. After all, the sign said "kids only except parents of toddlers!"  

We have allot of little things happen this past week that I don't want to forget.

* Lance was able to climb up the rope at gymnastics some. He is still a ways from getting to the top but he is getting stronger each week and able to climb a little farther. I was a very proud momma watching him. 

* we have had a bear in our backyard! It laid down rite under our deck and left some "droppings" as proof of his visit. A few of the neighbors have seen him too.

* tickets to Minneapolis have been bought for September. ($20 using my airline miles) I am going to Pampered Chef's leadership training. I am super excited! Momma with no kids at Mall of America! It's gonna be awesome!

* only 8 more days till the kids & I leave for Missouri

* a little over a month till Aunt Sarah comes to visit us in Alaska

* Andrew and I booked our anniversary weekend getaway. This mite not sound awesome to too many women but we are going on a halibut charter! Andrew & I both LOVE to fish so this is perfect for us. We aren't ones to get all dressed up and go to a fancy place, but we are huge outdoorsmen (woman, in my case). We have a baby sitter booked and a cabin rented for the night. I can't wait!

This is our life. God has blessed me with a wonderful hardworking man who is so loving! I love our life. Things aren't always perfect but we got each other and we always have fun together. 

God is good, All the time!

Remembering

It's hard to believe its already been 11 years since this world lost an amazing person, Lance Fahrenkrog. Lance was a friend to all and just an amazing guy. He was so talented and had the most amazing voice.

I hope our son, Lance grows up to be the wonderful man he was becoming.

The Sunday before Lance died he sang a special in church called "I can only imagine!" WOW! It was just amazing! Every time I hear that song I can hear Lance singing his heart out to God. 

Lance, you are greatly missed!! 

I can only imagine 

What it will be like 

When I walk 

By Your side 

I can only imagine 

What my eyes will see 

When Your face 

Is before me 

I can only imagine

I can only imagine 

[Chorus:]

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel 

Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of you be still 

Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I 

fall 

Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all 

I can only imagine

I can only imagine 

I can only imagine 

When that day comes 

And I find myself 

Standing in the sun 

I can only imagine 

When all I will do

Is forever

Forever worship You

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel 

{ From: http://www.elyrics.net }

Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of You be still 

Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I 

fall 

Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all 

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

yeah

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel 

Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of You be still 

Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I 

fall 

Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all 

I can only imagine

yeah

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

When all I will do 

Is forever, 

forever worship you

I can only imagine 

Lyrics from <a href="http://www.elyrics.net">eLyrics.net</a>

Getting back in the groove of things

Since grandpa, grandma and Uncle Timo left it has take a few days to get the kids back into their normal sleeping pattern. Friday morning they were so wore out they didn't wake up till 10:30 and weren't very energetic at all. It was so weird. I keep checking to see if they had fever & were getting sick.

Daddy got home from work and was pretty wore out too. Lance was happy to help him nap. 

Andrew stopped and picked me up flowers on his way home from work. "Just because" flowers are the best!!! Andrew knows how much I love daisies too!! 

We had a pretty low key weekend of going to bed early and sleeping in. We did manager to wake up on time for church on Sunday! 

Yesterday I had a baby sitter scheduled for the kids so we could finally go on a date. Andrew called and said he has to leave super early Today so we decided to spend time as a family instead. The kids have been pretty clingy to daddy. I think it's because of everyone coming and going so much lately. 

We took the kids bowling, & We had so much! They even had little bowling shoes for the kids. Too cute!

The kids did great waiting for their turn. Lance decided he was too big to use the ball roller (not sure what that thing is called) so he would throw it by himself. He did pretty good too. It was pretty cute watching Lexie pushed the ball down the ball roller ramp thingy. It was almost like watching someone bowl in slow motion.

After a few rounds the kids discovered the arcade. After that they were done bowling. I cashed in a $5 and started passin out quarters. Daddy & Lane had lots of fun racing an hunting.

We had a great evening! Lexie was wore out and fell asleep before we got out of the parking lot.

Daddy left at 3:30 this morning for a town North of Nome. I hate that this is the normal. We are waiting to hear about a transfer to Fairbanks where daddy will be home every night. We are really praying about this. We know God has a reason for everything and has perfect timing. 

More Visitors part 3

Wednesday evening I booked a float trip for us. We had such a great time with my parents I just knew we had to take Chip, Sue & Tim. 

The river was up quite a bit from when we with my mom and dad so the float trip went by pretty fast. 

There was a couple spots with some bigger rapids. Chip, Sue & Tim were at the front of the raft so they got pretty wet going through one set of rapids. The kids loved the rapids and would yell "wwwweeeeeeee!!" When we went through them. 

We saw several eagles on our float trip. It really was amazing!! God's handy work is really magnified here in Alaska. I keep catching myself saying, "It's so beautiful!" 

Sue said, "Everywhere I look looks like a postcard!" 

Andrew had to return to work on Thursday. Everyone else spent the day sleeping in and hanging out. We did get out for a bit to go on a hike to Thunderbird Falls near the house. Everyone loved the hike. 

That evening we ate a yummy dinner then went for ice cream at Avalanche Frozen yogurt. There was one last place we wanted to show Chip & Sue. We drove up skyline to top so they could look out of the Eagle River. The view is breath taking!!! 

The kids were asleep by 8 so we were all able to relax and spend some time together before I had to take them to the airport. 

We had an amazing time and can't wait for them to come back!! The kids absolutely loved spending time with their grandparents. We hated to see them leave but are already planning stuff for next time. There is so much to do here and we only visited a small fraction of Alaska. 

More Visitors part 2

Tuesday morning I woke up around 8 and got a text that the boys were already on their way back. They had a fishing trip of a lifetime and were done in no time at all. They reeled in halibut after halibut. They didn't take any pictures because they were too busy reeling fish in to take a second to snap a picture. I was pretty jealous hearing all about their trip. 

Chip was beaming! The only thing that could have made it better was if uncle Jason could have went too. The guys had so much meat from the fish that we were able to send Chip and Sue home with 50 pounds of halibut filets and still have plenty for us. 

We hadn't expected the boys to be so quick with their fishing trip so I hadn't booked them to go with us on our wildlife cruise to Seldovia. Even thought the cruise was booked full the captain let the boys go along with us too. I was glad too!!

The wildlife cruise was so beautiful. We seen tons of birds, otters and seals. 

Once we arrived to the island of Seldovia we were ready for lunch. 

We enjoyed walking around looking at shops. The guys were all pretty wore out since they had gotten up at 3 am, so we just kind hung out let the kids play. 

The way back to Homer went by super quick because everyone napped. Everyone that is except grandma and Lexie. 

. We checked into our motel and everyone relaxed before dinner. Lexie finally took a nap. Out hotel rooms were pretty small, but at least this time we had our own rooms. 

That night Chip & Sue went to bed and everyone else snuck off to do some fishing off the Homer Spit. We had great luck. It was awesome! You couldn't imagine an a more beautiful background as the mountains with the sun going down on them. 

We caught pollock and flounder. I even snagged a star fish. 

Lexie loved playing with the starfish!!

Lance loved fishing. He caught his first ocean fish.

I am not sure how many fish we all ended up catching. 

Lexie caught we first fish ever! She reeled in in all by herself. 

The next morning everyone slept in while Chip, Sue and I walked down to Two Sisters bakery to grab breakfast for everyone. It was super yummy!!

We spent the morning back out on the Homer Spit fishing with grandpa. We had  good luck again. Chip & Timothy even managed to snag a starfish each too. What are the odds of that happening?

Chip caught a creepy looking fish called an Irish Lord Fish!

We had a wonderful morning fishing and playing in the beach!

More Visitors part 1

We had the most awesome time with Grandpa and Grandma Conway and Uncle Timothy (or Tea Tea as Lexie called him). The weather was awesome and we just had an awesome time!! It was definitely a very memorable visit for everyone.

Daddy & Lance went and picked grandma, grandpa and Tim from the airport on Saturday. Lance & Lexie were super excited to show them our house and talk to them. We just kind of hung out, ate and then took a ride to look for moose. 

Sunday morning we went to church.

Here is a picture of Lance and Timothy playing a game

We late took Chip, Sue, & Tim to Eklutna Lake. We love it there! The water is so blue and the lake is surrounded by beautiful mountains. 

After spending some time at the lake we took them to another favorite spot, The Reindeer Farm in Palmer. 

This is a picture of me holding up Lexie to "kiss" Denali the Moose. She held a half of a banana in her mouth and fed it to him. Lexie isn't afraid of anything not even a full grown moose!!

Even grandma fed the moose and reindeer! 

Monday after lunch we headed down to Ninilchik for a fishing charter the next day.

On the way we stopped to do some sockeye salmon fishing where the Kenai and Russian River meet. It was pretty crazy! There were people lined up in row along the edge fishing. Everyone had on waders since the water was so cold. Well, everyone that is except me, Chip, Tim and Andy. Nothing was going to keep us from fishing!

We really didn't know what we were doing but thought we would just learn from watching everyone else. We didn't catch anything, but still had a blast. The best part was when a big brown BEAR walked out. It scared grandma Sue pretty bad! She was sitting on the bank with Lance & Lexie and didn't know what to do. We left shortly after that. 

We got down to Ninilchik and checked into our cabin. When I booked our cabin I was told it had room for 6 adults so I thought it would be perfect us. I had imagined a cabin with a couple bedrooms and a small kitchen. Well....... That wasn't the case. It was all one tiny room. I seriously couldn't stop laughing. I made sure to take a picture of Sue when she walked into the room 

I am sure she was thinking "you have got to be kidding me!"

We made the best of it and had a great time though. The kids thought the bunk beds were awesome.

We spent the evening around the campfire enjoying some salmon, hot dogs and potatoes that Andrew cooked up. Then we later enjoyed some s'mores. Such a great evening!

Bedtime was a little tricky. The guys had to wake up super early go the Fishing trip and the kids just weren't tired since they had slept so much in the truck on the way down. 

I decided to take the kids for a nice drive. It was so pretty. We seen lots of moose and just some beautiful scenery like this Russian Orthodox Church.

A ride was just what the kids needed to help them go to sleep!