Juneau Update

Jackson trying out skiing during his school
trip to the ski hill.

Wow! It's been a long time since I have posted anything. But it seems that's the case with everyone so I don't feel as bad. Things have been going great up here in Juneau! Jackson is still thoroughly enjoying preschool. They have started being "Happiness Superheros" which means that the entire class puts on superhero capes and walk around the University of Alaska Southeast campus (next to his preschool) and shouting at people to "Have a nice day!". As you can imagine, this activity is right up Jackson's alley and I have been told that he is the most enthusiastic superhero in his class.

In addition to school, Jackson has been doing gymnastics and music class. He will be starting swimming class this week as well. He's a busy boy but he loves all of his activities. Gymnastics is very entertaining. He is not coordinated in any way so watching him attempt jumping jacks and somersaults is hilarious.

We got the boat in the water last week and went for our first cruise this past weekend. We decided to rent a boat slip at Auke Bay harbor so that we wouldn't have to deal with pulling the boat in and out of the water. It will be so much more enjoyable to be able to just hop in the boat and go. We've already made plans with some friends for a trip to Taku Harbor over Memorial Day weekend. Taku Harbor is South of Juneau and is at the mouth of the Taku Inlet which is known for it's abundance of calving glaciers. It should be a beautiful trip.

Taking his gloves off so he can get a
good feel for the "sea creatures".

Other than boat trips, we have quite a few other trips planned for the spring/summer. Coming up in a few weeks we will be heading to Portland. Mike has managers meetings and Fred Meyer is paying to get him there and putting him up in fancy hotel in downtown Portland. Jackson and I decided we couldn't let him enjoy the bamboo robes and slippers on his own, so we're tagging along. We plan on hitting up the zoo and children's museum and doing some shopping (don't tell Mike). It should be fun!

Mike and I will be headed to Cabo at the beginning of June which we are very excited for. Then toward the end of July we are taking the ferry to Haines for the Southeast Alaska State Fair. We are hoping to see some brown bears from the lodge that we will be staying at. It's right along the river where the bears are known to frequent so that will be exciting. Then of course we will be heading to Montana mid August and staying through the first week of September.

That's about it for now. Hope all is well with everyone. I'll get better at posting, I promise!

~Mike, Addie and Jackson

Texas Happenings

Ok. I've been very bad about blogging though I love to read everyone else's. First of all, I want to say the picture Lynne posted on the Segways in San Antonio is my picture and so technically I feel like her blog should count as mine.

We are having BEAUTIFUL weather in Texas. I emphasize that because I know I won't be able to say it this summer. Kaci, Marli and I went to the Botanic Gardens in Fort Worth yesterday for a few hours. It was 74 degrees out and the flowers are beginning to bloom. Marli enjoyed the Japanese Gardens where there is a huge Koi pond and you can feed the fish at close range. There was a small amphitheater there and we all participated in a musical/speach/exercise demonstration directed by (you guessed it) Marli. What we'll do for a 2 1/2 year old! Hopefully no one saw us though Marli thought we were all quite talented.

We are sadly winding down their visit here. "Aaron Baron" arrives Thursday afternoon and then they'll head north Saturday morning with Colorado Springs their first-night destination, then Billings Sunday night and Missoula on Monday. Somewhere along there Marli will have to put away all her cute flip flops and shorts.

I have thoroughly enjoyed both of them and they will be missed!

Garrett is in the process of moving to Burleson which is about 45 minutes away just south of Fort Worth. His band all lives over there and he has rented a room with the guy who has been booking his gigs, Chad Fincher. Chad is in his late twenties and his family has had a western store in Burleson for years that is kind of an institution in the area. Garrett will be working in the Western Store 2-3 days a week. Chad has a neat home on his family's home place. They spent yesterday putting in a garden. Think it will be a great fit for Garrett. It will be much easier for him to pursue his music.

We are still planning on spending August in Montana, though I was too slow on getting back to the owners of the Clinton house. I'm sure something will turn up. We have a couple of different friends from down here who will probably come up while we're there to escape the heat, so it should be fun.

Looking forward to Lynne and Stewart being here the end of March and then Kim and Linda the first week of April. Still have room for more of you any time you want to come. Well, I'd better get back to work. I'm attempting to post a couple of pics from yesterday. One is of Kaci and Marli "On Stage". Fortunatly there are none of me performing.

Colorado Happenings

We had a ball on the segways going around downtown San Antonio in the evening. Would highly recommend them for touring. The backdrop looks fake, but its real - picture taken in Alamo square. The helmets don't do much for the look however. We ate VERY well - 2 really nice dinners downtown. Went to the rodeo Saturday night. Floated on the riverwalk boats on Friday night. The weather was kind of chilly - you sure needed a jacket all the time. Stayed at a really nice hotel right on the river walk. Spent most of Saturday morning at the Alamo - it was fascinating. Went to a Mission on Sunday morning. They were having a mariachi mass in the old mission church (Concepcion) that we peeked in on - it was awesome - wish we'd known ahead of time that it was happening. Stewart and I got home Monday evening just in time for the snow storm thats been off and on all week. We were spoiled with the bare ground and warm weather all winter.

Babysat Lyndee last night, but she was already in bed, so didn't get to see much of her.

Other than that, we're just working hard. Lots of appraisal work out there right now - at least in this part of the world.

P.S. - Whiskey is doing well - no diarrhea!

Pat Liza and the COWboys

Wow, time flies and things get busy.  Been a while since I checked in, and I have to apologize because it has been a while since I have sent this out.  Things have been pretty busy here this winter.  Boys are wrestling 3 nights a week, which they love, but it takes up a lot of time.  This weekend starts a month straight of tournaments that we go to, including our own home tournament, and then after that it is on to the state tournament.  We try to get boxes unpacked and put away in the middle of all the other chaos, so as you can imagine there isn't much getting unpacked.  Work is good for both Liza and I.  Winter is a time for planning and side projects here at the ranch.  It would seem like a slow time of year.  But I have quite a bit on my plate.  Tom, came through Gillette the other day, but unfortunately we were unable to get together, he was behind schedule delivering a car, and I was headed in to the school to talk to the 4th grade class about buffalo.  We have all had our run of sickness.  Mom and Dad came up for a weekend to visit, and to see the boys wrestle, and I woke up that morning with the flu, ran its course by Saturday night, so we were all able to go wrestle on Sunday.  I followed it up the next weekend by getting some bronchial crap that pretty much had me in bed for 3 days.  Owen and Will are both running through ear infections and sinus infections, so it seems like they have been on medicine for a month.  Liza has shared in our misery also.  The only one staying healthy is Charlee.  A couple weeks ago at a Bulls and Broncs up in Gillette Owen won the Mutton Bustin and a new bike.  Put in microphone in front of that boy and the BS gene comes out.  Liza thinks the whole thing was rigged because they were sitting next to the lady that was in charge of it during the rodeo.  During the National Anthem and the prayer Owen stood up and took his hat off.  She was rather impressed by that.  When she left to get gathered up for the mutton busting she came back with a a back number and asked Owen if he wanted to ride because somebody didn't show up.  Minutes later Owen is BSing the clown and crowd and walking off with a new bike.  Well, its after 6 so I better go get the boys up and moving.  Hope all is well.