Riding Thomas the Train.

We got up Saturday, and it was the perfect day to go check out the mini train that runs over by the Transportation Museum. It was so fun! If your ever in Wasilla during the summer on the 1st or 3rd Saturday of the month, you definitely need to try this out!

Morgan, Clayton and Carson claimed the first 3 seats of the train. Along the way, they have built these little miniatures that are so fun for the kids to look at.

I took all of these by holding the camera up, and shooting backwards. We weren't allowed to turn around in our seat, since the movement might make the train go off the tracks.

This was the view in front of me.

Renae and I got really good at taking pictures like this in Utah, so we through in a few just for fun.

One of the miniatures along the way.

At the very end, there was a tunnel we got to go through, and a bridge that passed over a little pond fed by a waterfall. It was so cute that everything was so little. The kids absolutely loved it!

Fair Time in Alaska

Wednesday we took the kids out of school, and headed to the fair for a day of fun, food, and family time.

Flash forward 8 years, and here's my life, with 2 teenage drivers. Scary, hu? I think Morgan and Matt won the race.

This poor pig was a great white breed of pig, and weighed in at a whopping 950 lbs. She was due the day we were at the fair. Makes that 25 lbs most of us gain with our babies seam not so bad, hu?

We could have spent 3 hours, and $30 on food for these stupid goats, and the kids would have been happy as can be.

Gabe insisted on having his picture taken in this cutout. He was so funny!

Can you believe it? An Alligator in Alaska? Only at the fair.

WARNING WARNING WARNING

LOOK AWAY GRANDMA STASTNY!!!!!

Sorry Grandma, but Morgan insisted on having her photo taken with this snake. Creepy, hu?

Morgan and I on the dragon roller coaster. She screamed every minute of it, and had the bes time! At one point in the ride, the guy in front of us turned around, and said, "is she okay?"

I said "ya, these are happy screams"

Matt went on the Dragon ride as Morgan's buddy, and Gabe took Chandler. Loved the fair this day! Every time Chandler came close to me, he'd scream out "mommmmy!"

Gabe was a very good brother, and road the very tame rides with his little sister, so she wouldn't be alone. What a good guy. Yes, I let Chandler ride the Hang Gliders. I allowed a machine to carry my baby up 40 feet in the air, suspended by some metal and a few bolts, and some fabric wings that let's face it, have no prayer of actually gliding anywhere should something happen. But look at his face...how could I say no to that?

This is our spoiled little brat. She received a huge sucker because I felt bad telling her no to every ride she wanted to go onto because she wasn't tall enough. I guess I should've just told her to get used to it. "you didn't get the tall genes princess"

Hatcher's Pass Family Photo Pre-view

The sun was shining, mom had time, and aunt Sally let us barrow the fancy camera. No better time than to head up to Hatcher's Pass and try to get some pictures taken for the holidays, right? We started out down by the river, but quickly headed up to the old Independence Mine. Old historical buildings with lots of stairs, paint chipping away, and trim that coordinated lovely with our outfits. It was awesome! I will definitely remember this place for photos again.

These are just a few. I could have spent the whole day loading all the pictures we took.

I think this says it all.

These two were hilarious, looking through both ends of the telescope.

I'm warning you now...this might just be our Christmas card picture. I love everything about it...its definitely one of the contenders.

I love this one, cause this is just like at home. Matt goes to steel a kiss, and we always have an audience waiting in the wings. "Goin' in for a bend and a kiss, hu dad?" (Gabe's favorite thing to say)

Yes! She's so excited to start Ballet on Tuesday!

I love this one. Doesn't it belong in a Children's clothing store catalog?

My sweet little school girl.
(yes, I know the shoes are on the wrong feet..what can I say, she insists otherwise)

Matt with his boys.

They love to wrestle.

And they were oh so glad that picture takin' was over.

Convention Party and Temple Square

These are some photos I missed from our trip to Utah. We took a break from the party the first night to walk down to temple square and look around.

These Scentsy signs were everywhere in downtown SLC. It was pretty cool to see. We partied like it was 1999! It was actually pretty fun to be with the girls and just have a good time dancing, eating, singing, eating, playing games, eating, and stealing tiera's from unsuspecting consultants in the bathroom.

My Sweet Pulled Pork Goodness.

One of my favorite things about our business trip to Utah was the food. I discovered this lovely little dish last year in Idaho, (thanks to my SIL Caryn) and it has become my favorite! Sweet Pulled Pork Salad. Y-UMMM!
So when I got home, I immediately got on my computer and googled this recipe. I slow cooked the pork roast in a combination of brown sugar and salsa for about 4-5 hours till I could pull it apart, then I let it marinade overnight in the sauce.

I took flour tortillas, black beans, (I know, I omitted the rice) than the sweet pulled pork, then romaine lettuce. I topped that with fresh made salsa, guacamole, and avocado ranch. KILLER SALAD!!!! I love the Internet. Now I can have my favorite Utah salad whenever I want. And the good news? My kids and hubby love it too. And there's always leftover pork for lunch the next day.

***Funny side story*** the kids were asking what park of the pig the meat came from. I told them it came from the pigs butt. Then Gabe got a funny look on his face, and said "you mean we're eating sweet pulled pork butt?"

Tomorrow, I'll let you know how my MIMI's CAFE bread pudding with banana sauce goes. I will also post my recipe I found for P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps. To Die For!

Hiking in Utah.

While I was in Utah, Renae and I decided we had to hike up to the Timpanogos Caves. I wanted to do it last year, but had the kids, and didn't think their Alaska blood could take the heat plus the excursion of hiking up the steep mountain trail. I'm so glad we did it. Had a ball.


You'd think we were really vain, with all the stopping and picture taking we were doing, hu? Really, Renae and I were just trying to keep up with the 20 year old that was kicking our butts all the way up the mountain. :)

We were much more at home in the cool 45 degree caves. Especially since our tour group was so lively and fun!

MAKIN' HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES.

Saturday Mom and I headed out to Pyrus Farm in Palmer. Its a You pick farm, where they have wagons, and buckets, and you go out and pick your own vegetables. There's all kinds of stuff on right now. Peas, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and rhubarb. I love getting rhubarb and making strawberry rhubarb jam, and the kids love getting fresh peas and eating them like candy. Plus, its nestled down in Paler, under the beautiful Pioneer Peek Mountain.

Morgan found this tiny little toy tractor to ride around in while we were waiting in line to pay for our food.

Matt and the boys went dip netting at fish creek last night. Its open for one week only, and is located only a few miles from our house. So they got suited up, and headed down to see what kind of damage they could do. They got muddy, caught lots of fish and stayed out till midnight. Doesn't that sound like fun to you? Matt was even able to use getting stuck in the mud in part of his lesson today in Priesthood.

Morgan riding her bike home from Grandma's house last night. She loves this bike.

It was such a beautiful day today, that we decided with not much time left for summer, we would go up to Hatcher's Pass and enjoy the sunshine as a family. We called some good friends, and hiked our kids up a really steep mountain. I am come to really enjoy Hatcher's Pass and all its grandeur.

This is why we put up with 6 months of winter. For days like this.

So, after we got down from the mountain, and said goodbye to our friends, we got in our car, and were already to head home, when the kids started begging to go on another hike. Matt had not been up to Gold Cord Trail yet, so we headed there for a quick run up the mountain to our favorite lake.

Our classic shot of the family in front of the Lynch Cabin built in 1930.

I love this lake. I couldn't laid down on one of the flat rocks there, closed my eyes, and lost track of time for hours.