More Summer Fun!

The high tunnel was beautiful again this in spite of the cool, wet summer.  We enjoyed several meals of corn, lots of tomatoes, squash, onions, and sweet potatoes.  Everyone works together and enjoys the harvest. 



Alectra between the peppers and sweet potatoes.

Harvest bandits!

Broccoli and peas in the background.

Yummm!

It is always warm enough to play in the water.  You just have to take a hot shower when your teeth start to chatter too much!

summer

Sliding in the rain is fun but messy!

The girls wanted to try softball this summer so they signed up for Little League. There aren't enough girls for two teams so they did a lot of practicing. It was fun to see them learn new skills and only one widow got broken.

Alexis working on her balance.

Alectra waiting for the pitch.

The high tunnel did its crazy thing with more food than I knew what to do with.  Thsi cabbage was 10 inches in diameter and when I cut into it it split open like a ripe watermelon. 

 

We canned 40 qts of beans this summer, they are so yummy!
 

Dipenet fishery on the Kenai river.  The red salmon were running and we went to try our luck. The kids are old enough that we don't have to worry so much.  The glacier silt is slippery and so messy it is hard to stand or walk on. We didn't catch very many.
 

Warren celebrating on the river.
 

Later that week we went across the bay to China Poot and spent the day loading up!

Looking up the creek, it is so beautiful.

Jayce lands another one!

Alectra with her fish.
 

An otter followed us out into the bay as we went home.

Our Limit? How many? I don't know, but it looks like enough work for one day!

 

 

 

 

 

Spring

Spring was filled with many moose eating the first green grass on the ranch.

 

Pregnant cats and kittens.
 

Piano recitals
 

Dance recitals
 

Alexis in "releve"
 

Alectra doing "attitude" jumps.
 

Planting in the high tunnel.
 

Sleeping kittens in the sun.
 

 

Three Days in Florida

It was time to see Great-Grandpa Beachy's, so we took off down the road with Warren's parents and Becky's family in a three car caravan for a visit.  It was so fun to see their new house and spend time talking and praying together.  What a blessing and heritage God has given us. 

We stayed at Aunt Connie and Uncle Ron's, awakening each morning to peacocks and a quick swim in the chilly pool.  We spent one afternoon at the beach.  The kids were amazed to be swimming in WARM ocean water.

Body surfing

 



Pretty Shells

 

Covered in Sand!

 

Lyda's looking for fossilised shark teeth.

 

Zachary being eaten by the beach.

Hunting for teeth

 We visited other Aunt's and Uncle's and had a wonderful time.  Three days was much to short but it instilled a hunger in the kids to visit again.  They now have faces to attach to the names they hear so often. We spent a day visiting the Thomas Edison Museum and it was very interesting.  We will be studying him in school soon.  When we do the girls will know what a phonograph does and what it looks like.  So Fun!

Grandpa Dave's Shop Time

 In January we went to the east coast for Dave and Brenda's 50th wedding anniversary celebration.  Warren's sister Becky and family also came from OR. Grandpa had a lot of company in his shop.  They made candles, copper rings, name tags, weapons and NOISE.  I think Grandpa had as much fun as the kids did.

Cutting out a sword for Davy.

Jayce, Zach, and Ben setting the wicks.

Austin and the girls getting the molds ready.

Davy carving the sword into shape.

Zach and Alectra drilling holes in the name tags. 

Snow, Snow and More Snow

This was the year of snow.  We got our first snow in Nov and it just kept snowing.  Warren spent many hours plowing the road with the skid steer. 

Snow bunnies on a warm day.

Jayce is 13

It is official, Jayce turned 13 January 5, 2012.  He fulfilled his kindergarten dream of studying chemistry.  Yippee!

chemicals, test tubes, and Bunsen burners, Oh My!