August...Already

I cannot believe that tomorrow is August already... where has the summer gone? We have not been up to much this week. Working out at the gym. Tuesday we playing a wet and muddy softball game. We went out time dinner with Samantha, Hans and Jacob. Mike went fishing on Wednesday at Ship Creek with Hans but they did not get anything.

We found out early this week that my pastor from Fargo First Presbyterian is going to be in Alaska next week! Steve and his wife are taking a cruise from Vancouver to Alaska and will be in Anchorage the 11th and 12th of August! It will be great to see them.

Mike's Grandma R will be up here in 20 days! She is staying for 10 days! I am excited to see her too!

Mike went back to work on Thursday, on days again this week. I am headed to Hope, Alaska this weekend for a Women's retreat with church. It should be a weekend full of food, fun and fellowship.

Salmon Fishing

The Lineup

Holy Birds

1st fish! (Red Salmon)

Mike in the water (he stayed relatively dry!)



Yesterday Mike and I got up at 4:00 AM (crazy I know). And we drove down to the Kenai River to go dip netting, well Mike did. I read and worked on my cross stitch (like and old lady as Mike would say). It was really slow as far as fish go. We got there at 8 and Mike got in the water right away. He got his first fist around 9:15ish and then quickly got two more! we were both really excited until we looked at the net and noticed that all 4 screws that hold the net on to the pole has broken (around 11)! After freaking out for a minute I ran back to the car and drove to Home Depot and got 4 new bolts and nuts. Using our handy dandy leatherman we took the old bolts out and put the new ones in. Mike was back in the water around 12:30. However he did not get another fist until 3 :( We left at about 4:30 with 5 fish. Not a ton but we were please with the ones we got. Mike is working on Filleting them today and we are making some for dinner :)

Filleting in the Kitchen!

Fresh Salmon in Alaska! Anyone who comes to visit us will get a wonderful Salmon Dinner!

The fillets from the three fish we cut up (we gave Samantha and Hans the other 2 for letting us borrow their net!)

Green Monster

So a networking site I am often one. The girls have been talking about the "green monster." Which is a shake type thing, so I decided to try it. It is quite good. And hits all 4 main food groups here is the recipe... please try it before you bash it.

The basic recipe is:

1 cup spinach (hand full) (veggies)

1 frozen banana (fruit)

1 cup milk (dairy)

1 tablespoon peanut butter (protein)

I also added a hand full of blueberries and some chocolate chips

It is healthy (minus the chocolate chips) and I promise you can not taste the spinach.

There is a webpage with more recipes can be found here

http://greenmonstermovement.com/?page_id=39

Happy slurping!

Dip Netting

SALMON

HOLY PEOPLE
HOLY COOLERS


A DIP NET

MIKE WITH HIS SALMON

In Alaska only residents can dip net. Since Mike and I have been here one year as of July first, Mike went on Friday. He went with friends from church (Jody and Clark). The went all day and there were a tons a people down there on both sides of the river according to them. He caught 6 Salmon and 2 rock fish (a small version of Halibut). He let the Halibut go. We took the Salmon to a processing factory to get filleted, frozen and packages.

Twenty-three

I am twenty-three as of today. It seems a little weird to be that old, how did I grow up so fast? Some times I feel like I should still be in high school and other times I feel much older that the other 23 year olds around. Mike got me the Kayak for my birthday which I LOVE!! And also a nano ipod to use at work. Thanks Mike! When my parents were up in Alaska they got us a grill which we have been using and LOVE food tastes so much better on the grill! I have also received cards from my parents, my grandparents, Mikes grandparent (R & I) and have received many birthday wishes via text and facebook.

So this is what I am thinking on my 23rd birthday

I am so happy for all the people that I have in my life at this time!

I am thankful for all the people who have supported me to get me to where I am today.

I am thankful that in this economy that Mike and I both have jobs that we enjoy!

I am thankful for the beautiful weather we have been having in Anchorage thus far this summer.

I am thankful for Java!

I am thankful for Mike who would do anything for me and gets me through everything with laughter.

I am thankful that I have loving parents who support me.

I am thankful for coffee and chocolate which get me through a bad day.

I am thankful for the beautiful and diverse scenery that God created including Mountains, Rivers, Lakes and Prairies.

I am thankful for children and the joy they bring into the world.

I am thankful for clean water, a bed to sleep in, and having enough food to not go hungry.

I am thankful for the technology in this world that helps us stay connected with family, I do not know what I would do if I could not pick up the phone to call my parents, grandparents or a friend.

and finally ...

I am thankful for free stuff on your birthday

On your birthday/ before your birthday you can register at web sites and they will send you free coupons for your birthday here are my favorites.

Red Robin-free burger for your birthday (plus dessert) (http://www.redrobin.com/eclub/)

Cold Stone- free Like-it Creation for your birthday (http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/mycs/myCS_pub_home.aspx)

Baskin Robins- free2.5 oz scoop for your birthday (https://www.baskinrobbins.com/bdayclub/RegisterInfo1.aspx)

Seward Alaska

Mike and I packed up the car on Friday and drove down to Trail River Camp Ground about 20 miles outside of Seward Alaska. Friday we just stayed at the camp. We walked around the loops in the camp ground. Made Pork chops for dinner and walked down to the lake. The camp ground was very very quiet but there were quite a few people there. The camp ground had pit toilets and a pump for water but was well maintained.

Saturday we got up and went into Seward. We walked around, had lunch at a little pizza place and the drove to Exit Glacier. It was so pretty. We just did a 3 mile hike next time we will start earlier and do the 8 mile one where you can get closer to the ice field. We went back to the camp ground hung out in the sun and read. Then we made hobo packs for dinner... yummy!! And of course smores for dessert.

Today we got up and it was really cloudy. We made breakfast and as we were packing up the sun burnt off the clouds!! So we packed up our site and drove down to the lake. We put the kayak in the water and the little wind that was there went away!! It was perfect kayak weather. We both saw a porcupine. We both went out for about 2 hours. We had a great weekend camping!!

Hair Cut

I got another hair cut. It has been HOT in Anchorage! Like over 80 which is a heat wave. So I have been really really warm. My hair was always in a pony tail so I decide to just chop it off. I get to Meg Allen Salon in Anchorage, compared to my normal Great Clips or the like, since I wanted a decent cut. They were much more helpful and take way more time but also cost a LOT more.

Before

After

On an Alaska note you can not see the mountain today. There is sooo much haze in the area. There are fires in Denali and it is getting trapped in the area do to the weather system.

DOWL HKM

One year ago today I was my first full day of work at DOWL Engineers. It has gone so fast while I feel like have have been at in Alaska for a year I can not believe that I have worked as an Engineer for a Year. I have learned so much but still feel that I have so much more to learn at the same time. I have worked on the Juneau International Airport, King Salmon Airport, Fairbanks Airport and numerous other small projects. It is a great place to start my career.

The Forth in Alaska

Happy Fourth of July! Happy Birthday America!


The forth in Alaska is different... to say the least. We have fireworks... at midnight... like every where else. but they are not pretty. Why?? you ask. because this is what it looks like at midnight in Alaska. Pretty...yes but no stars no pitch black, we have that All. Winter. Long.

Mike is working night right now. Tomorrow I plan on going down to the Saturday Market and the parade down town. We are having ribs and potatoes for dinner with chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert. Do not know what I will do tomorrow night, maybe scrapbook or sew.

I wish everyone a Happy Forth full of BBQ, Family and Good Times.

Thoughts and Prayers

Please keep Baby Jacob (and his parents Samantha and Hans) in your thoughts and prayers today. His stomach has not been feeling good since this weekend. The doctors did some testing on Monday but have to do more testing today. He might have a small tear in his stomach :(. If they find that he does he will be taken into surgery to have it repaired immediately.

Edit: Everything went well at the appointment today. He will be on some medicines for Reflux. Much better than surgery.