Family Day

Hatcher's Pass has become a family fav over the years, and we headed out today for a little family hike up the mountain. Here was our view from the top... (with the help of my awesome telephoto lens)

Unfortunately, when we got to the top, the lake we usually like to stick our toes into, was not yet what you would call, thawed out.

Morgan decided to start a snowball fight with daddy...

...and then she ran away when daddy fought back.

The gang in front of an old cabin at the Hatcher's Pass mines.

Our Melon baby.

It was such a beautiful day outside yesterday, that when Matt got home from work, we decided to have an outside on the deck dinner, (one of our favorite summer things to do) and for dessert, we had Watermelon. Well, I left a large quarter uncut, and apparently, Morgan was still hungry. Matt went back to the kitchen to do some cleaning up, and found this scene. She's little, but she's got a hollow leg, and when she wants to...the girl can eat!

Camp LaDaSa

Our ward cub camp was this week, and since we were going to be there every day anyway, we decided to make it a mini family camping trip. We left Saturday night, and got set up in a cabin at LaDaSa. This was the position Morgan took up while the rest of us unloaded the car. We hadn't been there very long when this is what Gabe was doing...

And Bear...

And Morgan...

Gabe got a little sassy and had to be tossed in the lake.

Gabe showing off his beach bod.

Morgan took to rowing the canoe very naturally.

Getting ready to go out in the boat with daddy.

"I see land ahead!"

Morgan went on a daddy/daughter date shooting guns the first night we were there. Here's how she did shooting Matt's 22.

Our last little grad.

Monday May 17th was Morgan's Kindergarten graduation, and boy was it a show.

Morgan and her teacher Mrs. Chadwell. (who's maiden name is the same as Morgan's Middle name-Kimball)

When I Grow Up...

Bare with me now, this is my only girl, and this was the first year she's really been into Ballet. We took her to the Dancer's Workshop here in Wasilla, and she went for lessons every week, without fail. I had heard there was a big deal recital at the end of the school year, but I really had no idea!

So, like a dummy, I volunteered to chaperon one of the nightly performances. (yes, there were more than one) Plus, I had to chaperon on the night of the dress rehearsal, and final bow rehearsal. We had one crazy week, since the same week we were out at LaDaSa for the boy's cub camp, Morgan and I had to make trips in for various Ballet things. Pictures, Final Bow, Dress rehearsal, and and two performances at the PAC in Anchorage. Here's our little angel back stage next to the sound guy as we got ready to do our dress rehearsal.

Goofing around in their dressing room.

So excited to get back on stage for the final bow. After three days of being stuck in their dressing room for 5 hours a day, these girls were in surprisingly good moods.

We were waiting on the of the platforms backstage, and she was NOT in the mood to smile.

We kept the girls busy with games, coloring books, and when all else failed, cartoon DVD's on the computer.

Morgan trying out Molly's mask.
Molly was in several other dances with the 'big girls' and Morgan was completely enamored with her.

Yeah!!! One live performance down, one more to go.
Grandma and Aunt Renae were in the audience with Matt and I on night 2. Morgan was so excited to see her fans backstage!

Morgan, showing Renae and I some of her moves.

After the performance, we waited out in the lobby for our ballerinas to be presented. Matt was waiting with 1 1/2 dozen pink roses for our little actress.

I don't think she could have been more pleased.

Alaska Native Museum.

Chandler and Matt went to the Alaska Heritage Museum with the 4th graders this year. Since I was not there, I sent the camera with Matt, and these are the 4 pictures that came back. Hey, at least my kid is in most of them.

Chandler standing next to rib cage bones of a whale. Doesn't he look excited?

The skeleton of a Gray Whale.

Again, doesn't he look excited to be there? Really, he's a very happy kid...he just HATES having his picture taken.

I had to fight laughter the other day, when Chandler informed me that because he was born in Alaska, that made him Native to Alaska, and could thus hunt whales and seals with the other natives in the state. Apparently he misunderstood some stories his uncle Jacob had told him about hunting with the natives in Aniak.