Nay News

Jacob took us for a train ride to see some of the great outdoors of Alaska. The train ride started in Anchorage and ended in Seward. It took several house to get there because the train will slow down and even stop to allow passengers a change to take pictures of wild life and the natural beauties that are all along the way. The kids got a little restless after a while and so they both got a chance to explore the train. There is a dinning car, sleeping cars, viewing cars, and regular passenger cars. Andrew introduced himself to everybody he met and asked them for their name. All day long he had people saying, "Oh look there's Andrew. Hi, Andrew!" Even the conductor stopped long enough to take a picture with the celebrity!

The kids took a camel ride at the Cedar City Renaissance Faire!

Micah as wanted to go to Kennecott Copper Mine sense he moved to Utah. While we were visiting family in northern Utah we had a chance to drive over to the copper mine. We learned a lot about copper mining and how Kennecott has effected Utah’s history and economy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADNREW!! We had fireworks at Andrew’s birthday party. Both of the kids like to watch fireworks. They just have very different ideas of a good time and a safe distance!

I was surprised at how green the scenery became the closer we got to the Grand Canyon.

We went to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon while we still lived in the “area.” The kids had fun walking on the trails and visiting with all the people we passed.

We took the kids to play in the fountains in Saint George! They had a great time playing in the water and making silly poses for the camera!

We went to Saint George, Utah with Tom, Chelsea, and Caleb. We made our own adventure out of climbing on the red rocks up above the city of Saint George!

Marissa got to go shooting with Grandpa! She is a very good shot. It only took her 5 minutes to line up the sights and the target perfectly in between each shot!

Spring snow up Cedar Canyon at the turn off to Cedar Brakes!

Marissa earned a reading award at school for a dinner at Wingers! We are very proud of her for working so hard to be a good reader! Micah had broccoli with his meal. They only brought out one piece because it was so big! It was almost the size of his hand!

2010 Photos This has been a wild year full of adventures for our family. We got to spend some time at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Then just a few weeks later we were at the “Top of the World”. It amazes me how quickly life can change. Once upon a time my greatest worry was keeping up with all of the house hold chores so visitors could stop by. Now I wonder if I don’t get to the dishes before I fall into bed, will there be running water to wash the dishes with in the morning? Life has changed in so many ways. It has been a grand adventure so far. And we look forward to see what new adventures next year will bring!

From the Grand Canyon to the Top of the World

This spring I was hired to teach Preschool and Kindergarten at Kali School in Point Lay, Alaska for the 2010-2011 school year. I knew when I accepted the job that it would be an andventure for me and my family. I have now been here for a week and I am loving this adventure we are on. I have had several questions from family and friends about what life is like here. I thought the best place to start would be at the begining: flying to Point Lay, meeting people, our new house, and my very first classroom. After a full week of new hirer training at in Barrow they came and took us to the air port to fly to Point Lay. When we got to the Barrow Airport we were the last ones on our flight to arrive. They instently started checking our lugage. It took me a few minutes to get around all of the bags and people to get to the counter. When I got to the desk I asked if they needed to see my ID. The lady's respons was no and that she knew who I was. Our lugage and all of us were checked...

Andrew and Marissa have had a great time riding their bikes. Marissa was nervous about riding something with only two wheels, but then she saw a boy in her class that lives just down the street from us riding his bike. She is getting more daring every time she rides it. Andrew, as usual, was scaring me from the first time he tried his bike. He rides his bike on the sidewalk, grass, rocks...you name I'm sure if he hasn't tried riding his bike on it he will and soon. He falls a lot, but that doesn't seem to slow him down much. There is always another adventure he has to explore.

I know I am the mom and that I should always think that my kids are amazing, but my kids really are. I don't know how they got the idea to get into the toy bin. And Marissa is a very sweet sister to sit and read to Andrew.

As you might already know I went on a trip this last week for two days to try and find a job. I wasn't home for three mornings in a row to get Marissa ready for school. Before I left I asked Micah if he wanted me to show him how to put her hair up in a pony tail. He felt more comfortable with just brushing it out and putting a little gel in it to keep it from frizzing. When I got home and asked about how doing her hair had gone he said that her hair progressively got more tangled each morning when he brushed it out. I put her hair in a pony tail moments later and saw how broken and damaged most of her hair was. (I'm not saying it was perfect before I left she has needed a hair cut, but she wants "princess hair." So she really doesn't even like it when we tell her it is just a trim.) I guess when you add everything up: long hair that broken and damaged and loosing it's curl, a mommy who is more comfortable using pony tails, and three days of a daddy try...

I got home from work a few weeks ago and found a very tired Andy Man waiting for me to come home.

I decided that I really did need to take new pictures of the kids. They really have grown up a lot in just the last few weeks. Well at least it seems that way to me.