The wisdom of Crochet

Some of the things my sweet mother tried to teach me when I was a girl, I truly never wanted to learn.   Thankfully, I grew up.  Now I treasure the the things she tought me.  And every time I go home for a visit I try to have her teach me something that I didn't have the foresight to value when I was young. Crocheting is one of them.   This is a little hat I made as a baby gift.  I can't believe I ever thought crocheting was just for old people.  Or maybe I was right, and it took getting old to appreciate the value of this type of skill.  Think about how much more I will know when I get to be my moms age.  I love you Mommy!

Erasers do not make good earplugs!

So this is a photo of the eraser that is still lodged in TJ's ear after two trips to the clinic to trying get it removed.  

It looks like you should be able to get it but when we try he cries so bad we have to stop.  I'm hoping we won't have to fly to Anchorage to have it removed.  A sister from the Bush branch said they had to do a surgery to have a bean removed from a boys ear.  I hope it doesn't come to that.

For now the plan is to wait until we travel, but I have to talk to a specialist.  Poor TJ is pretty upset and it hurts him a lot when we touch it.  However he would like to go to Anchorage so he could go to McDonald's.  That will be one expensive happy meal!

Happy 10th Birthday TJ!

Wishing a Very Special Birthday to this Awesome 10 year old Boy!

He is literally the best son I could wish for!

The Captain Literally cake I made for TJ.  He loves Studio C on BYU TV!

TJ's buddy William Guidry Jr. came over and spent the day partying with TJ.

July in Saint Mary's

Something for everyone. 
Gracie loves climbing to the top of the pole at the
school playground

TJ found that there are a few rare day's up here where it's
"hot out" even though we're not in Hawaii.

 

There aren't any gecko's to catch.  But  Gracie will alway's find something!

Yes, this is a real sign, it's not the only one standing in a barrell. 
The  pase is much slower here, and things are simpler.

Happy 4th of July!
It wasn't a warm day, but it was a good one.
Hope declared her Independance by taking her 1st step.

We walked all over the village trying to find the start of the parade.
Come to find out we could have just stayed at the house and it would have
passed us twice.

Did I mention things are simpler here?  Very small parade without any
traditional floats.  Just some vehicles and 4-wheelers and
a whole bunch of candy!

 

Gracie doesn't look like she should be able to hold Hope
but she packs her around all the time.

Heading up the hill to  watch the parade pass by again.
(and hopefully get more candy.)
Everywhere you go in Saint Mary's is either up or down hill.

This local dwelling has a great village of the Andreafsky River. 
I just hope it doesn't fall down the hill.

The barge brings supplies (and hopefully soon our truck) up the river.

Back in Alaska June 2012

Saint Mary's Alaska

 

Life doesn't always work out the way you expect.  I certainly never expected to be living back in Bush Alaska.  But if I have to come back, it's nice to be in a village as beautiful as Saint Mary's.

Saint Mary's cemetery, over looking the Andreafsky River

some familiar flowers to welcome us home

fireweed buds mark the beginning of summer

It's not Hawaii, but the kids managed shorts on hot days.  (This is not our dog.  But the kids sure wish it was!)