Lots of catching up to do........

I have too much to catch up on and I will just hit the highlights. After Brandon, Gregg and I had a fun Spring Break get away Brandon and I came home to Alaska and waited for the snow to melt and for spring to arrive. Brandon geared up for his senior year of soccer and was chosen as one of the captains. The first two games of the season were cancelled due to snow on the field. Not too surprising we do live in Alaska but the snow finally started to melt and the games began the end of April!!! Brandon played awesome his first game and during warm ups the following week severely sprained his ankle and tore a ligament and his season was over. He tried giving it 2 weeks to heal in hopes of finishing the season but it wasn't to be. Lots of things happened in May. Brandon sung the National Anthem at his Graduation and walked across the stage as High School Graduate. We also had a wedding, Brady and his fiance, Samantha (we call her Sam) were married on my birthday. We are so happy and excited for them!! Gregg and I love having a daughter and Dustin, Daniel and Brandon finally have a sister. We also had a baby moose born in the wooded area of our backyard. The Mom and baby stayed in the backyard for two days. We had so much fun watching the new baby wobble around our yard!! We still see them in the neighborhood from time to time. The Mom is easy to identify cause she has a huge scar on her side. We are loving summer!!! The wildflowers are everywhere, Lupine, Chocolate Lily's and Arctic Daisies. I have seen the Caribou on the river flats several times this summer too. Never a boring day in Alaska! Mixed in with all the fun I am still packing boxes for the move to Washington. We are all going to miss Alaska but look forward to the new adventures for all of us.

Spring Break...........NOT!!!!

We had some very nice and mild days in February and rumors of an early "break up" a term used by Alaskans referring to the melting snow and the arrival of spring. A week ago we only had about 4 inches of snow on the ground and the potential for an early spring seemed possible, but after 3 back to back March snow storms we now have over a foot or more of the white stuff!! In addition to the snow, the cold temperatures have returned too. The past 2 mornings we have been -15 or colder and only teens for daytime high temps. Spring soccer started on Monday so I guess we know why winter came back. I told Brandon to get used to indoor conditioning cause Mother Nature didn't want them enjoying the great outdoors just yet. I can't complain too much about the snow cause it did bring moose to visit the back yard and allow me to snap a few photos. I love the backyard wildlife!! Simply amazing!!

Munching Moose

I spent the day cleaning an army of angry dust bunnies from behind the
fridge and under the stove and vacuumed the dead bugs out of all the lights
and then Brady says " Hey Mom, there's a little moose out in the front
yard." So I grabbed my camera and big lens and went out on the front porch
thinking he was back in the trees a bit and I took most of these pictures with the
moose being about 20 ft. away and as close as about 8 ft. I was on the
porch and he just started right for me walking real slow and not bothered at
all that I was out there. Talk about being at one with nature, totally
staring into this little guys eyes was amazing!! He never once showed any
aggressive behavior and I could have jumped inside at anytime but choose to
stay and take his picture as long as he would stay. He was way to close for
my big lens. I almost needed a different one on my camera but I had no clue he was going to stroll on over so close. The squirrels were out running around today too but
they were too ADHD to take their picture, just wouldn't hold still!!

Thought I'd Post a Little Bull........Bull Moose That Is....

I just happened to be looking out the window when this moose came strolling into the backyard. I hurried and grabbed my camera cause I figured he wouldn't be around very long, snapped a couple of pictures and then he just decides to get comfy. He spent a couple of hours napping in our backyard. It's been pretty cold, 6 degrees at the time I was taking the pictures, so I'm sure he was just trying to conserve energy by having a little snooze. He is not a monster by any means but it was fun to get a bull in the backyard. We usually only get cows and calves which is fine by me. It adds to the amazing experience our family is having living in Alaska. We left behind the big city life and drive by shootings and traded it in for wildlife in the yard, fresh clean air, glaciers, volcanoes, salmon runs and the most beautiful scenery no matter where you go. A very good trade and amazing adventure!!

Snow Camo Moose

I saw this moose for the first time last week and again last night. It has always been too dark for good pictures. So after last night I had figured out where this cow and her calf were bedding down and I headed out first thing this morning and I was able to find them. The calf with her is her 2008 calf and it is not "spotted" like her. The cow has a BIG belly and it would be really cool if her spring calf this year was spotted like its Mom. This cow is a Piebald. It carries the Albino gene but she only got splotches of white.