Monthly Archives: July 2016

This is an all picture post of Eve’s life so far. 

It was misty when we woke up this morning.  It had rained all night making us quite glad that we had let off our fireworks a day early as it would not have been nearly as fun in the rain.  Eve was looking extra grown up this morning, but had a bit of an entitled attitude that almost bought her a morning of quiet time in her room good thing it was short lived.  She had requested pancake, eggs, and bacon for breakfast then the kids put on “101 Dalmatians” a movie she had been given for her birthday.  After the movie we straitened up the house and all dressed all the while discussing what our plans might be for the day.  Eve proclaimed that she was going to be the one to pick, but instead of telling us what she wanted to do she said.  “The only thing is I don’t want to go hiking on my birthday.” Okay.  We had a skewer to return to the Blacks that had been picked up when we left the beach Sunday night.  So we moseyed on over to near island to return the skewer.  They weren’t home so we text them a message, and left the skewer.  Then we asked Eve if she wanted to walk to the end of the big docks to check out the sea lions and she said no, but by the time we had walked up the dock a little ways back toward our car she had changed her mind.  We turned and walked back toward the end of the big docks.  We had walked the docks before but had never made it to the very end.  We joked with Chuck and Donna that we were going to sell our house and buy a boat to live on sending them this picture. 

I like the name of this boat especially when paired with it’s skiff. 

We let Eve go with out her sling today for the first time.  It was filthy and I had washed it, she seemed to be doing well with out it, so we let her go slingless.  We watched the sea lions for a while Caleb called the large male King Burpo and kept barking back at him.  The were just far enough away that binoculars would have been nice, but the car was a little too far to run back after them. 
We were almost all the way back to our car when the Rich and Corrie pulled up. We let them know we left the skewer on the door handle on their boat and asked them if they would be interested in some chocolate cake.  Eve had brought her birthday cake with the thought to share it with our fellow chocolate cake loving friends.  Corrie had some candles so Eve was able to blow the candles out.  Her wish she said out loud.  She wished that we would all become princesses and princes.  So sweet of her.  Cake and coffee/hot chocolate hit the spot.  

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​We visited until nearly 7:00pm.  The kids made themselves at home, with Eve climbing up to the cockpit (That isn’t what it is called on a boat but I don’t know the proper name) then letting herself down into the cabin through a little trap door, and Hannah taking a nap on one of the bunks.  I probably worried a little bit too much about wearing out our welcome with staying too long or the kids getting too comfortable, but no one seemed to mind and I’m pretty sure we all were having fun. What a blessing this new friendship has been.  We came home and watched “Happy Feet” and ate pizza as Eve had requested for her birthday dinner.  Happy Birthday Eve Alessandra Owens we could not imagine life with out you spunky, spirited, glass half full girl. 

After being awake way too long, like way way too long my back ached in the night. It was not nearly as restful as I had hoped it would be.  I made Chad promise to wake me up at noon which he did do.  A crowbar would have come in handy when it came time to actively trying to be awake and get my fuzzy brain rolling.  I ended up checking email, Instagram, Facebook and making a video on google photos before I felt like I could get up and face the day.  One look in the mirror and I knew my body was not convinced.  The bags under my eyes were impressive and my eyes were slightly red which completed the look.  Lol.  It is a good thing I know Chad’s love for me is not based on my appearance and for sure God’s love is not I don’t take too many other peoples opinions to heart.  I had an egg salad sandwich for breakfast/lunch and then got Eve all ready to go while Chad, Caleb, and Hannah walked to the store.  Eve went out and picked salmon berries bringing in the biggest and best ones to share with me. I am one blessed mama.  When the big kids returned with Chad we hopped in the car and went for an afternoon drive out to Anton Larson Bay.  We had not intended to drive that far.  We had intended to go just until Baskin Lake, but some how we drove right past it with out recognizing it.  My dad will love that road. We have it on the must do list for his visit.  

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Alaskan drive through!  Chad is picking salmon berries out his window. 

We got back into town a little late so instead of the dinner we had planned we tried out a restaurant down town that has been calling our name for about 6 weeks now. 

It was awesome!  Caleb had the calamari steak burger which was a huge grilled squid steak, I didn’t even know there was such a thing.  It was delicious too. Chad had a cod sandwich, Hannah had a smoked salmon, cream cheese and crackers appetizer plate, Eve had a personal pizza, and I enjoyed the large perfectly done scallops.  Then, we settled in on the couch in our apartment to watch “Herbie The Love Bug.” 

Eve had an extra loose tooth.  We joked with her that she had to get it pulled out before her birthday.  I can’t believe when we wake up in the morning our baby will be 6 years old. 

On the 2nd of July I was able to get my second day of med/surg orientation in.  I actually enjoyed it.  The other L&D nurse on said, “They are going to make a med/surg nurse out of you after all.”  Ha ha it isn’t that I didn’t like it to begin with, I just LOVE my pregnant laboring mamas.  Last week another nurse had asked me to work her Wednesday and she would work my Sunday so that she could go on a dinner cruise.  I didn’t have anything planned and it would allow me to go to church.  It sounded like a win win.  An hour nap before church was kind of a tease, but I will pretend it kept me at least had way functioning.  It was announced at church that they would be having a BBQ and fireworks on the beach out in Chiniak around 7pm.  It sounded like a late night, maybe too late.  We already had afternoon plans that we weren’t going to break.  I guess I can sleep in the car out at the beach if need be.  We stopped at Walmart on the way home and picked up salmon eggs and some extra weights for fishing.  We quickly made egg salad sandwiches, but not quick enough soon the powers family was over and we were no where near ready.  They helped us peal eggs and soon we too were ready.  The plan was to go to the stocked Abercrombie lake. The sun was out and beautiful, it couldn’t have been a better day for it.  

Eve sporting her birthday outfit from Grandma Owens. although we caught three fish total none of them were big enough to keep.  The best place to catch a fish was at the edge of the lilies, because of that several times we ended up snagging our lines in the tree or amongst the lily pads.  Sandra who was in shorts and water shoes was good enough to rescue the line.  I wish I had taken a picture because especially the line stuck in the tree made for a very precarious rescue. After fishing we headed to Island Freeze a new frozen yogurt place that just opened up in town.  We stopped on the way there for Chad to run into the fireworks stand to scope it out.  Soon he came running out to grab a little extra cash disappearing with a promise to be back in two minutes.  Sure enough he came trotting back it with a couple of bags of fireworks.  We were going to be so late, thank goodness our friends were so forgiving.  Island freeze was good, a little expensive for what it is, but there was a lot of combination options which made it extra fun with the kids.  We bought one bowl of yogurt and all five shared it.  We finished up there around 4:30pm.  We ran home and had the kids change their clothes, Hannah must have grabbed her swimming suite because she had it when we made it to the beach.  We then stopped and picked up a large package of hot dogs then headed towards Chiniak.  It is a long drive out there so I reclined my seat and covered my head in hopes of getting in a short nap.  It took us a little while to find out group and one of the beaches we checked out there was a minke whale about 50 yards out into the water we noticed it right away has it breached the water flopping down on it’s side.  Then it preceded to come up and show it’s back blow its air and Bob along the surface parallel to the beach.  Wow! So crazy.  So weird to have it so close to shore.  I hope it is not swimming in that close because it is sick.  We continued up whale bone hill finding our group on the other side. We arived around 7:15pm.  It may as well have been 4:00pm the kids took off with their friends playing.  We enjoyed watching them while visiting.  I was short on memory so I didn’t take many pictures.  The plan was to wait until dark then light the fire works, although the sparklers, bunker busters, and bottle rockets got a head start.  The kids (and Chad) have been looking forward to the fireworks here in Alaska all of the fireworks and firecrackers for that matter, that are illegal in the lower 48 easpecially Oregon are legal here.  With supervision by Chad and Richard Caleb was lighting off mortars and gave us quite a show. 
Yes, they are in swimming suits and they are swimming in the nice warm Kodiak Alasaka ocean water…😱.  Brrrrrr! Eve was not supposed to be swimming but of course she “fell” in.  Her splint doesn’t seem too worse off for the wear.  The sunset was to die for. 

Now this is s’mores done by a master.  Cinnamon graham crackers with chocolate chips melted by the fire, topped with three perfectly toasted marshmallows.  Talk about perfection. 

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​We had four hours of fireworks off and on. ​
​we waited for complete darkness and it never really came. We left around 1:30-1:45am.  It was close enough. ​We climbed into the car to go home all full of joy, love and appreciation for the people that have been brought into our lives.  The kids proclaimed that this was quite possibly the best day of their whole lives.  It could only be made better by the presence f family.  

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 The next morning Caleb proudly showed off his pyrotechnics guy war wounds.  Blisters and burns on his thumbs, asking if he can go buy more and set them off tonight.