Brown Boys in Alaska!

Well, Rebecca finally convinced me to participate in the family blog. I wanted to share with all of her fellow bloggers a recent trip I was able to go on with my dad and two younger brothers. It is the first time we have been able to take a trip with just the four of us and we had a great time! We were very excited when dad informed us that he had won a salmon fishing trip to alaska at a silent auction benefiting the Walla Walla Community College Viticulture & Enology program (grape growing/ wine making) last fall. We would fish for 3 days on the Ann Marie, a 38 foot gill netter owned by Senator Tom Wagoner (Republican). Let me just say that we had no idea what our trip would entail but that Senator Wagoner is an expert fisherman and a truly genuine leader of the great state of Alaska.

Upon arrival in Anchorage, we had to catch a puddle jumper to Kenai where we stayed the first night in a Hotel. Fortunately yet unfortunately, this was the one and only night that I was able to sleep in my own bed. Jared and I shared a room while Dad and Andrew shared a different room. I never saw a grizzly bear on my trip but you can be guaranteed I heard 3 every night, all night! Andrew is the king of grizzly bears, that boy sure can snore! You might want to get that checked out Muba!

On the morning of the second day of our trip we drove about 100 miles from Kenai to Homer where we boarded the Ann Marie. From Homer we traveled about 14 nautical miles to the "X" on the map. It was literally seconds from the time the bait hit the water until we had our first fish hooked. I think Andrew caught the very first fish but mine ended up being the first keeper. Dad caught the biggest fish that first morning and then got a little sea sick. He was a real trooper and chummed for fish for about 2-3 consecutive hours. The seas were pretty rough that day, and I would be lying if I said I didn't get a little queezy myself. After catching our limit, we headed to port in Seldovia. Most of the time our trips to and from the fishing hole were consumed with friendly cribbage games or Jared whipping out "perfect push-ups".

The first night on the boat was a long night as it doesn't get totally dark until about 2:30am. In addition to that, Jared, Andrew, and myself shared a little make shift "love nest" on the stearn of the boat that Senator Wagoner had built a few years back. It consisted of a tiny door that led to an almost queen sized mattress. Let me just say that after the 3rd day on the boat I was ready to suffocate a couple of harsh smelling grizzly bears. I heard conditions up front weren't much better as Dad and Tom had a snore-off each night. It was a rough couple of nights but I wouldn't trade it for anything. We had the time of our lives and it makes me a little sad that I don't get to spend more time like that with my dad and brothers.

We are all looking forward to the next trip and have started planning a bird hunting trip for late fall once the boys are done with Apple/ Grape Harvest. Thanks Dad for putting together such a fantastic trip!

Summer Time Fun!

Ava (2) & her friend Ellee (1) at Pioneer Park
Jake having fun on the slide!
Jake loves to climb...he's our little monkey!
Our two little cheeseballs!....so silly!
For some reason...this brings back memories of Jake...hmmm...
The kids LOVE their riding toys!

Little Lounger....

SO BIG!!!

Lake Chelan with all our buddies!

Well, it's not often enough that I get to spend any time at all with my dear friend Leah so I called her up and told her we were heading over the mountains to visit her in Chelan! It worked out great since Eric was fishing in Alaska and Sara and her two little munchkins decided to join us. All together there were six little ones (all five and under). What fun! We squeezed in a few card games and conversed minimally between kids needing one of us for one thing or another. I guess we'll have more time to talk when we're in our forties and our kids aren't so needy. It's just a season in our lives right? The kids had a blast though...Jake really enjoyed the paddle boat with Tate (they actually took it out all by themselves!). It was adorable because they were completely imitating what their daddies would do if they were on a boat. They drove back and forth from the beach to the dock. Once they were on the dock, they would tie up, let one of them off, cast the line, and meet the other one on the beach...and then do it all over again (and over, and over). So cute! That was definitely the best part of Jake's trip. Ava enjoyed digging in the sand on the beach and instructing the others as to what they should be doing....very bossy! We're working on that. However, she is such a little tomboy and enjoys being messy and hangin' with all the boys (completely unlike her mother!). It was a wonderful little getaway and great to get out of town for a couple days. Thanks girls for a great time! Let's do it again soon!

Jake's End Of The Year Program

Jake's end of the year program was actually on June 10th, but I thought I better include it in our blog even though it's a month later (better late than never, right?). Jake grew by leaps and bounds this year emotionally, socially, and academically. He has learned all his letters and sounds, can write his name, say the Pledge of Allegiance, and has made all sorts of little buddies. We were so pleased with his progress and we are so thankful for his great teachers this year. He will go back next year and do one more year of preschool before going to kindergarten the following year. We came to that decision because he has such a late spring birthday and all the teachers I know say that boys can always use that "extra" year. We are so proud of you Jakey Boy! We love you little guy! -Mommy & Daddy

VASELINE...doesn't that speak for itself??

Ok, ok, ok. I know I have been awful about blogging lately, so this is my attempt to get back into it. We'll see....I don't have real high expectations.

These lovely photos are of our little Ava about a month ago when she got into (no, I mean attacked) the jar of vaseline in her changing table. At first when I glanced at her I think my jaw dropped and I wasn't sure if I should scold her or laugh hysterically. She thought she was pretty funny so I just ran for my camera. What in the world? This girl is into just about everything...obviously. I guess that's what happens when you're two and you know someone else always cleans up after you. Oh, did I mention that "Baby" got all vaselined up too?! Ava wanted everyone to see that as well.

Jacobs' Family Trip to Palm Springs!

Ok...Ok...I know this blog is insanely overdue as our trip was on May 10th, but I thought better late than never, right? We had a wonderful time with my whole family down in Palm Springs. The guys golfed a ton, we girls were able to go to the spa, lunch, and shopping, and the kids...well, they just played in the pool (and loved it!). My mom and I did venture out one day and found this crazy steep mountain to climb that the people of Palm Desert call "Bump and Grind." Funny huh? Well, it's exactly that! It's this amazing trail that goes straight up the mountain on vaguely rough terrain (rocks, dirt, snakes, lizards, etc.). We had to start early since it was already 85 degrees when we began at 6:45 a.m., but it was completely worth the trouble once we made it to the top (I would have brought my camera, but it was all I could do to carry a water bottle). The views were spectacular as you could see pretty much the entire valley and a gorgeous golf course that was at the bottom of this particular mountain.

We celebrated Mother's Day with my mom and the guys all made a wonderful dinner...and most importantly, cleaned up! On Tuesday night, Eric & I, my parents, and Andy & Mel went to dinner at this Italian restaurant called "The Nest." It was so hilarious because they also have a piano bar where all these "seasoned" people were dancing. Mom and Dad went out and ripped it up (they've taken lessons for the last 5-6 years). It was cute. I will shamefully admit we hit our favorite Kareoke hotspot on the way home and sang a few songs. I think I might be getting out of the business though...I wouldn't advise singing a song you barely know. We ended the trip with a celebration of my dad's birthday on Saturday and all the grown-ups went to Tommy Bahama's for dinner (if you've never been, you HAVE to try it sometime). We had a great time!

Family Time at the Mariner's (Jake's 5th Birthday)