It's been quite a long time since the last post - I hope not to have a delay like this again! Because the amount of time this blog is covering is a doozy I stopped compiling pictures about a month ago so the next post will cover July and August - whew...it's been crazy fun!
Yuri celebrated another trek around the sun in February and Rory happily helped him blow out the candles.
Easter
This fun holiday continues to take over the Morgan home. Here are the girls posing with the bins of candy and eggs - just before the egg filling party.
Some of the lovely Ladies of Riverview - helping fill over 2000 eggs for the neighborhood hunt.
Finally captured this photo - neither girl was scared off the Easter Bunny this year! Big win for me!
The obligatory coloring Easter eggs picture.
The girls with their Easter Loot.
My sweet little bunnies.
Business Leader of the Year - Andy Warwick
We were pretty proud to learn that my dad was selected as Business Leader of the Year in Fairbanks this year. Not surprisingly, when notified of the award he politely declined. When told he couldn't do that he finally got on board and we had one heck of a party!
Here is my dad (forefront) with his childhood bud, Bill Allen.
Although it wasn't a kid event, Grandad wanted the girls there so he got what he wished. How stinking cute are these two?!
We participated in a fun photo booth.
Grandma Judy with the girls...unfortunately it's a bad quality I-Phone picture.
The girls with the man of the evening.
The Riverview Rats (plus a few non-Riverview long-time friends) came to town to help celebrate dad's achievement. So, the party couldn't very well end after the main event - everyone headed to the Boatele to continue the celebration. L to R - Carter Henry, John Sadler, me, my brother Jesse , Lucas Henry, Trevor Crowder and Jimmy Dodson. I will mention that Yuri was also in attendance but he was on the other side of the lens.
And, I can't forget Clark Gordon (front) - he got the award for the longest distance traveled (Georgia).
The girls (and Carter) working the selfie stick.
As mentioned, Clark Gordon traveled from Georgia - fortunately, he brought is lovely wife and three adorable kids. I can't express how great it was to catch up and see first hand how much he is enjoying life!
Night at the Museum
I attended an auction last year where, along with a few friends, we purchased a Night at the (Children's) Museum package. Well, the museum was finally constructed and we got to partake in the fun. How may kids can say that they have slept in a museum? Lucky kids.
Here is the gang all cozy in bed watching movies.
Kids in PJ's partaking in a lot of junk food.
Seeing double? Massie standing next to her impression. This was before the girls found out that the booty impression was even more entertaining.
The sleepover gang.
Betty and Bruce's 20 Year Anniversary
Our dear friends celebrated their 20th anniversary and we were there to help celebrate! Betty and Bruce invited 8 of us to Girdwood, Alaska to hunker down and celebrate love.
Here are the two love birds.
Not a bad way to spend a long weekend. I think we sat on the floor all day watching the Kentucky Derby and the Mayweather fight. Lots of relaxation going on here.
Graduations
Although Massie didn't graduate from anything, her school still put on a performance for the parents. Massie's class sang a handful of songs, both in English and Spanish. Massie stopped crying for at least 10 seconds of one song. She is in the middle row, third from the right in pink polka dots (before the epic breakdown).
Rory graduated from Kindergarten. The picture is terrible but you get the gist - Rory and her fabulous, award winning, teacher, Ms. Butcher.
Rory and her Senior Buddy, Abby; here is Rory delivering flowers and a gift (right after ballet class).
Sad to See You Vermont
My dear friend Renee lost her mother to cancer this Spring so a few of us hopped on a plane to be with her in Vermont. We were treated like royalty by her family and friends - we met more warm, caring and fabulous people than I could possibly name.
Another Vermont shot (clockwise) - Renee and Mike, Lanie, Portia and me.
Home in Homer
We purchased a little travel trailer last fall and took our maiden voyage this spring to Homer Alaska. Homer is quite a distance from Fairbanks so Yuri drove to Anchorage and the girls and I hopped on a plane to meet him there. From the airport we drove several hours to camp outside of Homer with several members of Yuri's family.
Here are the girls on their way down.
My handsome man.
The boys (L to R) - Kirill (Yuri's brother-in-law), Bob (Leon's father in-law) and Leon (Yuri's brother).
Yuri with the girls and his nephew Bruce.
Massie and Rory with their cousin Estelle.
Here are the girls again but this time their cousin Quinn has joined the shot.
Homer Spit - this picture was taken about 5 minutes before I fell in...what a muddy mess I was!
Little, brightly-colored, monkeys.
Look closely for the dandelion remnants on Massie's nose.
The cousins - Tyson (front) is clearly the shy one.
Going home.
Dance, Dance, Dance
Betty and Bruce traveled to Fairbanks to attend Rory and Massie's dance recital. In addition to the fact that we love to have them visit it was particularly nice to have Betty here as styling hair has never been my strong suit and the girls needed cute "dance hair".
In addition to the girls' dance routines, we got to enjoy a "Daddy-Daughter" dance - Yuri killed it (in a good way)! Here are three stars of the show.
As a former dancer, Betty knew to have flowers for the girls.
Reading time for Massie and Betty.
While Betty was visiting she picked up a few rabbits for a friend. The girls go to enjoy their company for a few days in a homemade fort/bunny cage.
Massie Turns Four
As usual, to celebrate Massie's birthday we had a big backyard party. As our neighbor Rodger said, our kids are starting to pull bigger crowds for parties than their parents - no doubt!
Beautiful birthday cupcakes made my my friend, Jacyn - Jacyn's Creations.
Camping at Chatanika
We had a second opportunity to use the new travel trailer when we packed up and headed about 90 miles down the Steese Highway to meet up with the Burks Clan. Megan had scoped out a beautiful spot right on the river in Chatanika with no other inhabitants.
Here are the rug rats posing with just a small percentage of the stuff that had been piled into the trailer.
Loving life on the river
Our camp mates.
The Burks travel with their Guinna Pigs - the girls loved holding and loving them.
There was a lot of fishing and wet boots.
My outdoor girl!
Bentley and Massie preparing for a 4-wheeler ride.
Summer Activities
As noted, the summer has been busy and fun-filled! Both girls joined soccer teams; Rory loved it, Massie did not.
Rory was one of the star players on the team (quite unlike her mother at the same age) - with those long legs she was often in front of the pack.
Celebrating one of several goals.
The Warwick family at the fields watching the games.
Through college I was a nanny for the children of a local doctor, Steve Fisher. Unfortunately, he and his wife, Marty, moved out of Fairbanks nearly 10 years ago. Something brought them back for a visit this summer and I love that they made their way over to our house to finally meet the girls. We look forward to seeing them next year in Washington at the wedding of their eldest daughter, Riley (soon to be a doctor herself).
Somewhere in the chaos of summer we celebrated Harper Dodson's second birthday. The girls enjoyed celebrating this adorable, curly-haired cutie.
Summer has also brought us the Midnight Sun Festival - particularly the midnight sun race that starts at 10pm and runs past our home. Our neighborhood comes alive with parties and the kids can stay up as late as they can possibly handle. Here I am on a neighbor's Vespa - I NEED THIS!
Uncle Jesse and Massie scoping out the neighborhood parties - there were a lot.
My Mother-in-law, Linda, invited us over for a lovely dinner to celebrate all the wonderful fathers in our lives. There is the Wargan/Morwick (Warwick/Morgan) Clan on Father's Day.
This summer also ushered in my birthday - we had a low key celebration at the lake - a perfect birthday in my book.
The infamous swing in the cabin.
This summer also saw us being entertained at a lot of parties. Here are the girls playing dress-up at the lake prior to heading across to a party at the Gordon's.
Playing a game of Corn Hole - is this really what the game is called? Perhaps we should come up with an alternative.
The Morgan and Parrish Clans.
The kids with the Bubble Master, Heather Lambert, at a neighborhood get together.
Neighborhood kiddos.
A lot of the neighborhood parties include bounce houses and ball pits. I've said it before and I'll say it again - these are some lucky kids.
This was the summer for Rory to finally dunk her head in the pool. Massie is not quite there but she likes to lounge in the pool none-the-less.
The dunk (just like momma with that plugged nose).
Rory partook in a little tennis this summer - she certainly looks the part.
Summer slumber party in the living room.
And a few pictures to closeout the blog...
One of a million selfies on my phone - Massie really has the plumped lip thing going.
I hope you are all enjoying your summers!
