10 Years And Counting....

On the 24th of September, Bruce and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary. The time has really flown by. It's been an amazing 10 years and I am so grateful that we have been sealed together for Time & All Eternity. I couldn't bear the thought of not having my family with me in the eternities and I know that through the blessings of the Temple I can. We've had lots of ups and a few downs and through it all, we've been blessed and have grown closer together as we lean on one another for support. We miscarried our first pregnancy and through this experience grew closer as a couple as we grieved our loss. Bruce fell off of our roof and broke his leg and shattered his heel. Through this, we learned the importance of planning ahead and saving for a rainy day. We learned patience. We laughed and cried and loved together. We have been blessed with the births of 3 healthy, happy and adorable children whom we love and wouldn't trade for anything. I have learned what it means to be a step mother and how to break the awful notion of "wicked stepmother". It was not easy. It brought me to tears more than once and I doubt that it is over, but Cody and I have come a long ways and I am grateful he is part of our family. We sold our business and over a year, lost everything that Bruce and I had worked so hard for when we received it back in ruins. Our financial situation was flipped upside down. I learned to appreciate Bruce's hard working nature. I knew that he would support his family no matter what. We have taken on new adventures. We bought into commercial fishing 4 years ago and have really enjoyed the family time that it allows us to have. And, although we have moved very far away from our friends and families. We really love it up in Alaska. Bruce always has lots of ideas and adventures in store for us. I love him and cherish each day that we are able to spend together. We are able to work together. He is very patient, for that I am VERY grateful. It wouldn't be good to have 2 impatient people in the house. He is truly my best friend, my shoulder to cry on, my Eternal Companion and I don't know what I'd do without him. I look forward to the rest of what life has to bring. And, I know that with him by my side, we can weather any storm.

Bear Visitors

We've had several bear experiences in the past several weeks. We went to Anchorage a few weeks ago and went to Costco, fixed our truck, sold my Yukon (finally) and when we came home, we got off the ferry around 1:00 a.m., so we didn't unload the truck. We hadn't seen any bears at all this summer, so didn't even think about leaving our stuff in the back of the truck. But, in the morning, I heard a dog bark outside and realized that ours was still in the house, so I looked out the window to see what it was and a black bear was sittting infront of our truck. It then moved over to the side of our truck where it had pulled some groceries out and was helping himself. He ate our Lucky Charms, took a bite out of our tortillas and opened a Gatorade to wash it down with. Of course, I didn't have my camera handy. Bruce ran out there in his underwear and his rifle (should have had a picture of that). It didn't seem too threatened by us and ran off after he shot a round near it.

The next night I heard our dog growling at the door and I went down to check it out and flipped on the porch light and saw bear prints on my porch (it was raining). So, I called Bruce down again and he grabbed his gun (in his underewear again, I believe). The bear had run from my side door around the porch and off the front. So, here's a few pictures of that. Bruce saw this one, but it was smaller than the first one. I had forgotten to bring the dog's dish inside and he was helping himself.

Then, a couple of days ago. I heard the dog barking right in front of my house like she saw/found something. She is usually down at the end of the cove, so I went out to investigate and found that she had treed a baby black bear right next to my porch at about 6:00 pm. So, I got my camera and let the kids each have a look at it. We kept a close eye out for the mother, but never saw her. Ever since then, Deshka asks quite often if the bear is in the tree and she goes and looks. So, I'm sure that we will have more experiences. But, for now, I am taking precautions and not "inviting" them over. I put in the dog food, I don't leave food in my truck, and I don't take the garbage out until about a 1/2 hour before the trash guy comes and after my kids are gone for the day. I always send Cheyenne out before I send the kids to the bus, to chase away any unwanted visitors.

Summer '09 In Review

We got a new kitty in June. Her name is Ella and she is only 5 weeks old in these pictures.

Deshka & Ella

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This is our stack of Copper River Red Salmon after we cut it into strips and smoked it in the our smokehouse. It is now ready to cut into small pieces and put them in jars to be pressure cooked.

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I've never met a kid who didn't like to put olives on the ends of their fingers. Mine are no exception.

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After Bruce finished his boat, we all went for a ride around the end of the lake looking for fish. It was the first time I'd been on the lake, so it was a lot of fun.

Bruce, Olivia and Dakota enjoying the ride

The kids looking overboard for fish

My first trip out on the lake. We took our new skiff out for a ride with the whole family and took some pictures of our cabin from a different view.

Boise Idaho Temple

My sister, Brandy and her husband, Jeff, were able to be Sealed for Time and All Eternity in the Boise Idaho Temple on July 22. Their son, Blake, who is one, was also sealed to them and now their baby to be will be born in the covenant as well. We are so excited for them and the big step they have made this day!! Congratulations - We Love You!!

My sister, Brandy, and her family: Jeff, Blake and Katarina

Crystal, Dad (Joe), Mom (Marva), Katarina, Brandy, Jeff, Blake, Joseph, Julie, Jonathan, Jewels, Emma

Beauty Like No Other

Roomate Reunion

It's been 10 years since Lacey and I were roommates at BMCC in Pendleton, Oregon. But, we try to get together whenever we can. It's been atleast 2 years since we'd seen each other and we only had 1 day together, but it was so great to see her and her boys again. Hopefully we won't have to wait so long next time to see each other.

Crystal, Lacey and Conner

Mommy kisses

Family Reunion

July 17-18

My mom with all of her brothers and sisters:

Phil Moulton, Rick Kortum, Eric Moulton, Doug Kortum, Marva Grimm(mom), Kathleen Escobar, Judy Roice

Jonathan set the timer and ran down to join us for the photo (almost falling off a cliff in the process). Good balance Jonathan!! It was a good 30 foot drop, atleast, to his right.

My brothers -Jonathan and Joseph - after climbing up "the cliffs"

While I'm waiting for my pictures to load, I figured this would be a good time to add some text. My sister and her husband finally were able to set a date to go through the Boise Idaho Temple. So, with some careful planning, I was able to make it down for my family reunion that was being held a few days before that. All of my siblings were there except my sister, Summer, who was in the middle of moving to Pocatello. I left all of my kids up in Alaska with Bruce. Shocking, I know! They all did just fine without me, but we all missed each other lots. My kids wouldn't stop hugging and loving on me for a whole day after I got home.

The family reunion was held in Salmon, Idaho where I grew up on my grandparent's ranch (now my uncle's) up Pratt Creek. It is our Thompson family reunion. My grandma, Margie's, brother's and sisters and all of their families. All of my mom's brothers and sisters were there - there was even a memorial set up for her oldest brother, Jim, that passed away this past fall.

We had lots of fun with all the activities that were set up for us: slip 'n slide, karaoke, frisbee golf, 4 wheelers, tye dying, eating, visiting, hiking, auction (to raise money for the next reunion) etc....

I donated a can of smoked Copper River Red Salmon for the auction and my aunt bought it for $76! Maybe I should have brought two :)

We got up early one morning and went and played tennis for a few hours. A family tradition whenever the boys get together. I was just lucky enough to have no kids with me this time and got invited to go along. Definately not as good as the rest of them, but it's still a lot of fun.

The only way I was brave enough to try the slip 'n slide was to carry my 2 year old neice, Britta, down with me. It was actually a lot of fun and very refreshing on a hot summer day

My mom going for a ride down the 100' slip 'n slide. She even tried it face first the last time, but I didn't get any pictures.

My brother, Joseph, climbing out of the tree in the front yard

This one was a classic, so it earned the right to be on both of my blogs. This is a face that, as kids, we were always terrified of. It was located in an old Attic full of lots of interesting finds. We always thought it was something to hold my grandma's wigs on, but come to find out, it was just a face that my Aunt Kath made in high school.

I was checking out (not using) an old 2 man outhouse located in one of the corrals.

My brother, Joseph, and his son, Braxton

My brother, Jonathan, and his daughter, Emma

4th of July

We started the day off by eating breakfast at the church that the Primary provided. After that, we went to mainstreet where they do their kelp box races. Cody even got to go down once in a friends car and got a T-shirt that says "I survived the kelp box races ~ Cordova, AK 2009" He had fun and it was exciting to watch him go down. We then went and did the kids' street games. They have a cake walk and then different races in each age group (bunny hop, 3 legged race, etc...) Dakota won the bunny hop race for his age and Olivia's team took 2nd in the 3 legged race.) I even did the adult 3-legged race and my partner and I took 3rd. We would have done better, but I looked over about 10 feet from the end to see if we were winning and my next step got off and we almost tripped. So, it slowed us down a lot and the next day I had a huge bruise on my leg where the rope dug into my leg. But, it was fun. They give out tickets as you participate and you can go upstairs in one of the buildings and cash them all in for prizes when you're done. Olivia had 25 tickets and got a gumball machine and a ring pop. Dakota had 29 tickets (with help from Deshka's tickets) and he got a squirt gun and some M&M's. After that, they do a free BBQ on mainstreet for everyone. The coast guard always flies their huge orange helicopter over town for all to see. Of course, we all (especially Bruce and Dakota) love to watch that. We ate some great food and then headed out the road a few miles and had a picnic for several hours with some good friends. At 6:00 we went back to town and we all went and played some softball, while Bruce put his net on his boat. He joined us afterwards and played a few innings with us too. I haven't played softball for atleast 10 years, so it was a lot of fun. I'm still sore because I am so out of shape. The weather was in the high 70's, which is unusual for up here. So, it was a great day, full of lots of fun.

Dakota just adores his big brother, Cody.

Superman?

Popsickles for a hot summer day

We left the fire for a minute to go sing happy birthday to Jake Songer and Dakota thought he'd leave his marshmallow to cook while we were gone. I'm surprised there was anything left when we got back. So, here he is pretending to eat his charred marshmallow.

Cody, freezing in front of the glacier. This was actually a couple of days before the 4th.