This picture should have been shared in the last post - the gang from my birthday party (part 1) at the Sundborg home. I love each and every one of these people and feel so incredibly blessed to have them all in my live.
Visit to the Fair
Our yearly trek to the Tanana Valley State Fair has come and gone. The weather was great, the food was good and fun was had by all of us (except Bruce who got a little nauseous going on one too many rides).
The girls love riding the horses at the fair - fortunately they only talk about horses once a year (I have no interest in involving horses in my daily life).
Plumber in the making?
Betty and Bruce Visit Harding
Our good friends Betty and Bruce visited us at Harding for a long weekend. Having them around is always so easy...the just go with the flow.
Betty and Bruce spoil the girls whenever they come through town...here are Rory and Massie showing off their new nail decals.
Group shot - Massie wasn't feeling particularly photogenic on this day.
Rory flying two kites and looking cute as a button doing it.
...then there was the little monster (a cute freckled monster).
Rory's First Day of Kindergarten
No words needed for this ADORABLE picture! Yuri and I just attended Rory's parent-teacher conference this morning - she got good grades and knows 88 sight words (the goal for exiting kindergarten is 25-50 sight words). There - my bragging is over.
Baby Finley Arrives
Heather and Jimmy Dodson welcomed baby #2 to their family a few months ago. We couldn't resist heading straight over to meet the little Princess, Finley. Here I am with Dodson baby #1, Harper, and Rory with Finley.
Massie being gentle with Finley.
Night at The Mecca...
It all started out as a community/civic minded night - a fundraiser for the Fairbanks Children's Museum (and a show of support for our friend, Heather Lambert); however, it ended at the Mecca. Those of you from Fairbanks will know what kind of night you have when you end at the Mecca (let's just say I wasn't very productive the next day). Below is Jodi, friend and owner of the Mecca, my mom Judy, me and Lisa Sundborg.
40 in Palm Springs
Well, Robyn, Dyanne and I are all officially 40. We have known each other for well over 20 years and our friendships have stood the test of time. We met up in Palm Springs to celebrate and thought that since it was a September trip the weather would likely be comfortable. WRONG - it was 100 stinking degrees. Dy and Rob braved the sun and I cowered with a hat, under the fan, inside the pergola, in a bucket of ice (okay...maybe a slight exaggeration). Regardless, we had a nice time reminiscing, eating, drinking and laughing.
While Mom's away...
While I was away in Palm Springs Yuri and the girls enjoyed being outside in unseasonably warm weather.
The Wargan Morwick Clan in Cali
The Morgan and Warwick families packed up our suitcases and headed to Santa Barbara for the wedding of family friend, Nelson Parrish, and his now wife, Valeska. I don't have the words to describe how incredibly beautiful the wedding and reception were but I know for certain that I will never again have the pleasure of attending a party as over-the-top gorgeous as this one. From the location (on the top of a hill/mountain), to the food and company, every little detail was though through. The weekend started with a pre-wedding party and ended with an after wedding brunch -let's just say that we were all very well taken care of and had a BLAST celebrating with great friends and family. Below is a picture I stole from Christi Parrish's Facebook page of Nelson and Valeska's ceremony under a gorgeous oak tree.
Waiting midway up the mountain for the second shuttle to bring us up to the wedding. It was HOT.
Rory makes friends everywhere she goes.
Yuri serving the Kid's Table.
My brother, Jesse, and his girlfriend, Carrie, were in attendance as well. We had a great time with these two.
Grandma Judy on the dance floor with the girls.
Grandad Andy made an appearance as well.
Yeah...Jesse looks quite handsome...I think I was flashing some sort of Riverview Gang sign...not my best look.
Massie was looking a little worse for the wear by the end of the night.
We stayed at cabins near the wedding/reception - for us Alaskans (and there were a lot of us) it was by no means roughing it. I would call it Glamping although they encourage a rustic environment which means no outdoor lighting (we had power in our cabins) which required headlamps for the trip back to the cabins at night.
At the pool just prior to the wedding.
Taking in Santa Barbara nature.
Shielding ourselves from the blasting sun!
The day before the wedding we hit the beach (1 minute from our cabins) - Massie is not sold on having sand between her toes but Rory embraced it.
The Wargan Morwick Gang - Andy, Rory, Yuri, Jesse, Carrie, Massie and Judy.
The
After the wedding we loaded up the minivan (sans Jesse and Carrie) and headed to Disney Land. The hotel pool was kid centric so we spent the first day just lounging in the water.
Massie is likely crying because a speck of water entered her eye socket.
And then we hit the park.
The most important part of visiting Disney Land happened - the girls got to meet Anna and Elsa. They had a brief chat and got their picture taken. At one point Massie looked so excited I thought steam was going to come out of her ears!
Walking home after a long but fun day at the Park. Yuri is a trooper!
After two days at the Park we headed to the Los Angeles Zoo. It was fun to run around to look at animals that the girls had never seen outside of a book or TV. Here they are with the elephants.
Massie curled up in her granddad's jacket in Grandma's lap.
Back Home
It's not just me - our house is freeeeeeeezing.
A brief break at Shaye and Ainsley's birthday party.
A Yuri, Rory and Massie masterpiece - snowman #1 of the year. Pretty darned good and I had nothing to do with it (I don't have the patience to do this).
Yuri and I attended the HIPOW fundraiser again this year - it's a great place to catch up with friends and buy a thing or two that we can't live without.
Finally...I got this blog published!
