Whales, Bears and EASTER!

Happy Easter!
Easter seemed so late this year. We kept waiting and waiting for the day to arrive.  Today is the day. The Easter Bunny was pretty much on par this year...lots of eggs (most were not filled, need to better at this next year), lots of Easter crafts and fun baskets full of little things to make you smile.  This year was the first year we had to explain that the Easter Bunny doesn't take requests, like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny brings small things that fit into your basket.  He also leads you on a wonderous Egg Hunt. 

Amelia started asking when is Halloween and Molly started wondering if Jesus was born on every holiday.  I am not sure what either of these things mean...

So, March went out with a bang and April is starting to bring lots more showers, and a few flowers.  I keep hearing it may still snow but fingers crossed the weather only gets better and better.  We have had a lovely month.  The highlights:  Molly started soccer, and Amelia started swim lessons. Molly is enjoying soccer much more than basketball and Amelia is already jumping off the diving board. Woah. We have been busy full filling our volunteer adventures with the Cloverbuds and Girl Scouts.  Our next adventure is a 2 night camping trip at the end of May with the Girls Scouts. I am busy, busy getting the weekend pulled together with an amazing set of leaders.  In Cloverbuds, the 4H program, I put on the April General Meeting.  The kids learned the science behind walking on eggs...can you?  We painted eggs, made wool roving eggs, and string eggs.  It was a fun night full of crafts!

Molly got to participate a the Baranov Museum. http://www.baranovmuseum.org/  Here she took a artist workshop on creating Russian Style nesting eggs.  The final product was beautiful.  It was a fun afternoon learning another creative way of making Easter special.

We have been pulling together ideas for our trip to Denali at the beginning of June. Its going to be a two week adventure into the interior of Alaska.  We are currently, visiting a dog sledding homestead, white water rafting, and of course taking the shuttle into Denali. Wilderness here we come.

As the title of the post implies, the bears are coming out of hibernation and the whales are migrating.  This week is Whale Fest (http://www.whalefestkodiak.com/Home.html).  We have a bear near the neighborhood. No sighting yet, but many people have posted pictures of him roaming through the backyards. As much as this is terrifying and exciting, I'd love to see one.  The whales are migrating, Gray Whales are spouting in Pods off the beaches and the Orcas are swimming in the channel. No pictures yet from this Gal, but hopefully soon!

Lastly, school is almost out. Mid-May -- 30 days and counting.  I love the short school year and the lack of snow days.  Its been a wonderful Kindergarten Year.  Next year Amelia starts preschool.  Hmmm, maybe I"ll be there too, as I applied to be a Preschool Teacher.  Just another way to stay busy and work with the younger kids on the Island. There are too few opportunities available here for ages 5 and Under.

Andy has been on the move, literally, flying to the East Coast twice last month and once next month. He was chosen as part of special team of logistics personnel. A great job and perfect opportunity for him.  He was the lead on the Tsunami training here at the Base as well. If there is every another disaster, he's your guy.   In addition, he's been learning about contract writing, environmental law, and keeping up with his loves.

Happy Easter and Happy Spring.

February to March

Spring is here....or is it?
Locals say the amazing weather we've been having; sunshine with 45 degree temps is very very unusual.  I say, I'll take it.  Its been great getting the cobwebs out on our scooters, playing at the beach and collecting treasures and thinking of being WARM.  I am ready to feel hot.  I am tired of feeling cool and damp.  So, on days like today the windows are open and the breeze is blowing through...we love it.

Big  news at our house this spring...we  now have a SIX Year old and a 3 Year Old.  Phew.  I still can't believe Molly is SIX.  We had a lovely pool party for her with four of her closest friends on the Island. The girls swam their hearts out, went down the water slide, off the diving board and floated on rafts... THEN they took a "plane" and landed in Hawaii. Upon arrival the girls got a hula hoop and had a mini lesson/competition, ate pizza, blew out the candles and opened gifts. It was fun.

We also had a great time on Spring Break. I knew the Island was becoming a great place to live and the girls and I were busy, busy.  Hiking, beach days, swim lessons, lunch out, library visits, movies and play time with friends. The weather was pretty much perfect all week.

We are not back to the grind and its Spirit week at school so each day the kids have to dress up in something different.  Today was Sports Day. Molly put on Florida Gators and Patriots gear...is this our kid or what?!

Amelia is a typical three year old.  She never know what she wants or when she wants it and can be a challenge. When she isn't in a state of indecision she is down right fun. 

Andy's been away on travel the past two weeks learning about logistical command operations. Sounds fun, huh?  Molly starts soccer today and I am secretly hoping she likes it better than basketball.  I also got out the sewing machine with her for some quality time.  We shall see if I become a master sewer or not. Who knows...

Enjoy the few pictures!

Off Island Adventure

I have enjoyed being on Kodiak for the last 8 months.  The days are regular, easy, fun, and full of life.  We just left for a little over a week to Portland, OR.  Oh my.  It was amazing. I have fully come to appreciate a fantastic meal, friendly faces, great wine/beer, culture, activities, warm air, greenery... was it hard to come back, definitely.  Are we glad to be home.  Yes. 

Living on an Island makes you appreciate all the things you don't have on a regular basis, including Family.

We started our adventure with a beautiful Kodiak day and flew off Island with no delays. We met up with the Maine grandparents and set off to the beautiful Arch Cape.  Our little beach house was a structural wonder, with fantastic charm and few shorts steps to the beach.  Andy and I were spoiled with four lovely nights at the Arch Cape Inn (http://www.archcapeinn.com/).  The sun was out and it was 60 for the weekend.  It was awesome, beach combing, eating, laughing with friends.   The wedding was small and lovely.  Andy and I were chosen as witnesses to the ceremony and we were honored.

We finished our beach weekend with a trip to Astoria and visited the Lewis and Clark Winter Encampment, the Columbia Maritime Museum and ate along the river.   A perfect end to the beach.

We moved into Portland, OR and visited the Pittock Museum.  Its a beautiful Mansion built by the founder of the Oregonian Newspaper. Its beautiful. We of course toured on a rainy day, but the inside portion was awesome.  We went to Powell's books, and had dinner at the Screen Door. yummy!

If it seems like we ate and drank a lot, we did. It was awesome.  Next up food trucks and the science museum.  At OSMI there is something for everyone and we enjoyed pulling levers, digging for fossils, engineering feats and learning how to skate board.  At the food trucks we tasted our way around the world with lots of home made and wonderful little foods.

Wednesday is Winery Day.  Six Wineries in the Dundee Valley.  To note 2011 was a stellar year for the Pinot Noir. Many varieties were sampled and it was hard not bring them all home.  It was a beautiful day to be outside exploring the vine filled  hills.

Our last day in in Portland it rained. A great day to tour the Japaneese Garden. It was tranquil and lovely.  The girls got to dress in Kimonos and par take in the mom/daughter day.  It was beautiful if not wet. A must see if you go to Portland.  The Rogue Brewery has a public eating house attached. The food was good, the beer was better :).

It was sad to say good bye, but great knowing we made the best of every minute with Mom/Dad (aka Mimi and Bubba).  They seem so far away now, but soon enough we have another visit.

Enjoy the pictures!

Hug Point

Hug Point

The Groom

Leah and Jeff

Bride and Groom

Sacagawea

Winter Encampment

Log Run

Not quite big enough to fire...so jungle gym

White Rose Winery

Tea Tasting

Snow

Eight Months.  Eight months since we started this new adventure.  We really can not complain. The Island has wonderful people, many places to explore and discover new hobbies, and the weather hasn't been all that bad.  I do miss the endless days of sunshine and the possibility of being able to travel easily off the Island.

After the January birthdays we moved right into youth basketball season, 4H Cloverbuds, and lots of Girl Scouting activities.  Molly has never played basketball before.  She is my creative child who wants to run free and do her own thing, BUT I convinced her to try it out.  I decided to help coach the team to help Molly with the transition of physical exercise and motivation.  We've been playing now for about 3 weeks. In games, we haven't  hit the rim, or touched the ball once, but we've done a great job running up and down the court. AND at the end of every game I say did you have fun and she always responds YES. I'd say that is great start. 

We also had two or three weeks of swim lessons.  Molly has become very comfortable in the water learning how to do the back stroke, use a kick board, go down the water slide and jump off the 3ft diving board.   So, I am thinking swimming and maybe cross country will be her thing.

Cloverbuds is a 4H program for ages 5 to 8.  I have  never been in a 4H program before but the community needed someone to run this program.  I said, sure I'd give it a shot.  We meet once a month and its a way for kids to learn a little bit of everything thru crafts, projects, science experiment etc...   We've had a bit of slow start with only 4 or 5 kids for each meeting, but am hoping for a few more to join.

Amelia and I are having a great time.  On Wednesdays we attend the FUN program at the Wildlife Refuge. We have learned about eagles, sea otters, snowshoe hare, and bears.  Each week is a new adventure.  She and I also swim once or twice a week.  Amelia is a little mermaid in the water.  Amelia has also decided she does not like the cold weather and hiking is not her thing.  Oh well, as she gets older I am sure she will appreciate it a bit more.

So, the alaska snow and cold temps have found us.  We have been getting a dusting of snow on a daily basis and the temps have been in the 20's.  When the sun is out its really quite lovely.  We are all fighting dry skin and very pale skin. 

We are all looking forward

Basketball

Swim

Dance Camp

a little rainy day fun

to a trip off the Island to see Mimi and Bubba in Portland OR.  Fingers crossed the weather stays nice and the planes are on time!

Joca January

Happy New Year!
As with every year, the Joca's have a lot of celebrating to do. There are many, many birthdays!
Our special two are Andy and Amelia.  A January shout out to our friends Jen and James, family Uncle Billy, Buddy, Lisa and Annalisa.

We rang in the New Year just the four of us in southern style with black eyed peas and collard greens and of course a few noise makers and confetti.  At first I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized the kids couldn't make a noise out of the noisemakers... that was until they got the hang of it and what a racket.  I did truly love the fact that I could drink champagne, watch the ball drop at 8pm Alaska time, and then head to bed :). 

Andy's birthday was next. He turned 38.  This year it was on a Sunday. Sunday Funday.  We started the day off with breakfast and presents. Had a huge lunch of all of Andy's favorite sea foods, halibut, oysters, black cod and cake.  It was fantastic.   With all good things we got some great news that he has been promoted to Facility Engineer of Base Kodiak. He will take over the position on or around June 1st.  We will stay on our current orders and will have the opportunity to extend our stay in Kodiak next year.  He will also be able to "frock up" to Commander.  Essentially he will wear the commander ensigna but will not receive the pay raise. This is a fantastic job and we are really proud of him.

He has also been working very hard on our house installing Laminate flooring. He may have found his calling after the Coast Guard... Just Kidding. It does look great and we are really enjoying our living space.

Next Up Amelia's birthday.  Amelia turned 3.  Its hard to believe that three years ago I was walking around the Providence Boat Show thinking, are these contractions...am I having a baby?. For my RI friends, the Providence Boat show is a fun outing.  Anyway, we had a great day celebrating with friends, lunch out on the town and a family dinner and presents.  Amelia then had a birthday party with her new Kodiak Friends. Princess and Pirates. The kids played games, did a craft, we ate lunch, and blew out the candles.  The day was a balmy 40 degrees and sunny.  A sure sign that Amelia's 3rd year will be one for the record books.

Molly and I are doing great. We are selling Girl Scout Cookies and if anyone wants to make a donation to our troop, please let me know.  We also have started youth basketball on base. This is Molly's first year playing but I can see lots of potential.  In swimming she is learning to jump off the 3ft diving board, and do the crawl stroke. 

Its been a whirl wind. We are missing our families as we celebrate but are steadily making plans for trips off the Island. We will be in Portland OR next month, Anchorage the beginning of June, and the East Coast Mid-July.  If you want to see us let us know and we'll tell you where to meet us. I should also tell you that Andy will be in Barrow, AK (check a map) the top of the state for a month in August.

Lots of Love. Enjoy the pictures!