There will be no pictures today even though we have gone on many adventures in the past 2 weeks. We road our bikes on the Tony Knowles, road our bikes to Subway and Marble Slab, went to the Saturday market and have been getting ready for our last week in Alaska. Molly and I tried to make sure that Jon at least got to do some of the highlights in his short summer here so while we road the bikes we pointed out to him the train as it passed and told him what he missed and the same when we saw the flight seeing helicopter fly over us. I can't believe our time in Alaska is coming to a close - it has been fun and I will miss it here.
TOP TEN THINGS I WILL MISS
1. My friends
2. Nonstop daylight in the summer
3. Random adventures that only Alaska offers
4. Seeing moose and bear walk down my residential neighborhood
5. Riding my bike around
6. Sledding down some of the most awesome mountains anytime I want from Oct - Apr
7. Snow City, Mooses' Tooth and Hacienda's
8. my amazing on-post housing
9. my friends amazing off-post housing for the moments I needed to get away
10. My friends - luckily the Army moves you a lot so I should run into at least one of them again!
Maybe once the packers have come and gone I will post some pictures.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Airborne
Jon jumped yesterday so I went up on a near by mountain to take some pictures of him jumping. It was an awesome view from Skyline drive - you could see Sleeping Lady mountain behind the plane as they jumped. Can't wait to go to NC because at that base the families can sit at the bottom of the jump zone and see then right after they jump.
Jon is the second to last person to jump out of the plane in this picture. It was a great jump so Jon told me - no major injuries unlike the jump earlier this week when his chaplain assistant hurt his back.
Jon and a bunch of other soldiers falling to the ground.
The drop zone - this is where the soldiers landed.
Then I got the girls I have hung out with the past year. We got together and made some water bottles to remember our time together and to explain to them that I am moving and we only have a few more times.
Then we became airborne - one of the families made a zip line so we all did a run or two.
Running the line back up - the guy in red was cutting down trees in their backyard but was pretty excited about the zip line also!
Jon is the second to last person to jump out of the plane in this picture. It was a great jump so Jon told me - no major injuries unlike the jump earlier this week when his chaplain assistant hurt his back.
Jon and a bunch of other soldiers falling to the ground.
The drop zone - this is where the soldiers landed.
Then I got the girls I have hung out with the past year. We got together and made some water bottles to remember our time together and to explain to them that I am moving and we only have a few more times.
Then we became airborne - one of the families made a zip line so we all did a run or two.
Running the line back up - the guy in red was cutting down trees in their backyard but was pretty excited about the zip line also!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
3 weeks - AHHH
As Molly and I were playing around this morning I looked at the calendar and realized in 3 weeks all of our household goods will be packed and we will only have a few more days until we hit the road. So until they come we are going to play with her toys a little more each day because once we hit the road she won't have that many to choose from.
We are preparing for the road trip of all road trips this June and July. We will be traveling over 5,000 miles in our CR-V and camping along the way. We will be loading all of our supplies in the car to include: clothes (for 3 seasons), tents, sleeping bags, air mattress, food, toys, Jon's work uniforms for when we arrive in NC, etc. This should be interesting to say the least.
You may be wondering what we are looking forward to the most - well let me tell you!
*Edmonton Mall - largest mall in North America with over 800 stores, water park, amusement park and 2 putt putt golfs courses
*Glacier National Park - there is a hike that is supposed to have an amazing waterfall at the end
*Mount Rushmore - because it is a national ICON
*camp food - I have been researching some fun recipes and can't wait to try them out
*The exciting adventure of camping out in God's creation (quoted from Jon)
*Seeing family along the way - we will visit all of Molly's great-grandparents on this one trip
*Making it by July 10 so I (Ashley) can hop on a plane and go serve as a camp counselor at Camp ICON the bi-annual conference held by our church back in Waco!!
Molly enjoying the moose her Grandaddy McPherson made her!
We are preparing for the road trip of all road trips this June and July. We will be traveling over 5,000 miles in our CR-V and camping along the way. We will be loading all of our supplies in the car to include: clothes (for 3 seasons), tents, sleeping bags, air mattress, food, toys, Jon's work uniforms for when we arrive in NC, etc. This should be interesting to say the least.
You may be wondering what we are looking forward to the most - well let me tell you!
*Edmonton Mall - largest mall in North America with over 800 stores, water park, amusement park and 2 putt putt golfs courses
*Glacier National Park - there is a hike that is supposed to have an amazing waterfall at the end
*Mount Rushmore - because it is a national ICON
*camp food - I have been researching some fun recipes and can't wait to try them out
*The exciting adventure of camping out in God's creation (quoted from Jon)
*Seeing family along the way - we will visit all of Molly's great-grandparents on this one trip
*Making it by July 10 so I (Ashley) can hop on a plane and go serve as a camp counselor at Camp ICON the bi-annual conference held by our church back in Waco!!
Molly enjoying the moose her Grandaddy McPherson made her!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Dog sitting
Our friends are letting us watch their dogs as they visit family on the east coast and Molly is loving it! Titan (the white dog) loves to follow her around as Molly sticks out her hand to be licked/cleaned. Annie on the other hand just sits and waits for the rare moments Molly decides she needs to bug her.
I let the dogs out and left the door open so they could come in and out as they please and forgot about Molly who can walk now. Jon called me from the computer to see what was going on. Molly had gone outside and down the stairs to play with the dogs - luckily they go to the bathroom on the other side of the lawn!
Later that afternoon she was back out again. I can only take it so long when she cries at the door to be outside so I let her out to play with them again - this time supervised.
The dogs are wearing her out along with the SUN!! Molly and I goth got a little sun Saturday as you can see with her rosy red cheeks. This is Jon and Molly's planning session for Mother's Day. They cooked me breakfast and took me to Bear's tooth for lunch and a movie and then McDonald's for an ice cream cone and a relaxing afternoon sitting on our neighbors swing out in the sun! My present didn't make it but neither did the ones we sent our own mother's - that way everyone can celebrate a second mother's day in our families!!
Moving Update:
In one month the movers will have come and cleared our house and we will be cleaning for our final inspection, then June 15 we hit the road for a 5,348 mile cross country ROADTRIP! We are camping out and seeing some amazing sites like the Edmonton Mall, Glacier National Park, Mount Rushmore and FAMILY!! I will miss seeing the snow capped mountains out my windows but it will be nice to be a little closer to family and friends.
I let the dogs out and left the door open so they could come in and out as they please and forgot about Molly who can walk now. Jon called me from the computer to see what was going on. Molly had gone outside and down the stairs to play with the dogs - luckily they go to the bathroom on the other side of the lawn!
Later that afternoon she was back out again. I can only take it so long when she cries at the door to be outside so I let her out to play with them again - this time supervised.
The dogs are wearing her out along with the SUN!! Molly and I goth got a little sun Saturday as you can see with her rosy red cheeks. This is Jon and Molly's planning session for Mother's Day. They cooked me breakfast and took me to Bear's tooth for lunch and a movie and then McDonald's for an ice cream cone and a relaxing afternoon sitting on our neighbors swing out in the sun! My present didn't make it but neither did the ones we sent our own mother's - that way everyone can celebrate a second mother's day in our families!!Moving Update:
In one month the movers will have come and cleared our house and we will be cleaning for our final inspection, then June 15 we hit the road for a 5,348 mile cross country ROADTRIP! We are camping out and seeing some amazing sites like the Edmonton Mall, Glacier National Park, Mount Rushmore and FAMILY!! I will miss seeing the snow capped mountains out my windows but it will be nice to be a little closer to family and friends.
Friday, April 30, 2010
3 Bears
On my drive home yesterday I saw three bears in the tree. A momma and her two babies who were just 3 blocks from our house. The bears are coming out and while I like seeing them I prefer for them to be a little further away from my house. Last year one walked down our street while all the kids were corralled into one garage. Now that Molly is a big girl and out riding her bike with the big kids I will have to be on bear watch.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Easter/One year photoshoot
Luckily for Molly her Aunt Kaitlin is an amazing photographer and she happened to be here for Easter so we got some photos of Molly taken. For the parents/grandparents in our life please don't feel like you need to get them off the blog - they are coming for your upcoming holidays in May and June.
Our impromptu session before Easter lunch.
Molly doing a McPherson pose - when the arms go up that means they are tired. Her grandaddy and dad both do this.
Our impromptu session before Easter lunch.
Molly doing a McPherson pose - when the arms go up that means they are tired. Her grandaddy and dad both do this.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
We climbed to the star!
We joined our hiking buddies for yet another fun adventure this weekend. William (who is 3) told Valerie last year he wanted to hike to the star overlooking Anchorage so yesterday we put on our hiking boots and went to the star. I called up our friend Tina to see if any of her kids wanted to go with us and we did an even trade - Molly for Olivia. Molly got to stay inside and play and Olivia got the adventure of a lifetime. The hike up was actually pretty nice - I thought the snow was deep and annoying while hiking up but that was before our final descent to the star then I knew what deep snow was. It was a 3.5 mile hike and with Jon's handy dandy Garmin watch I can tell you our pace, how many feet up we climbed, his heart rate and any other detail you could imagine but instead I will just show you pictures!
Early on - here is when I thought the snow was a little deep and annoying b/c my whole foot sunk each time.
Group shot! Vince, Jon, Olivia, Ashley, William and Valerie - Titan is once again running around somewhere so he can hike it 3-4 times when we are done.
Right before the final ascent.
The last push to the star - uncharted walking. We are glad we did not cause an avalanche.
That is right - my entire leg sunk. Too bad it happened at least 80 more times and I started crawling on my hands and knees.
WE MADE IT!!
The best part - sledding straight down the mountain and not hiking the regular trail.
Mid April and this is what the mountains around us look like. I don't know what will be the reward for hiking once the snow melts.
Early on - here is when I thought the snow was a little deep and annoying b/c my whole foot sunk each time.
Group shot! Vince, Jon, Olivia, Ashley, William and Valerie - Titan is once again running around somewhere so he can hike it 3-4 times when we are done.
Right before the final ascent.
The last push to the star - uncharted walking. We are glad we did not cause an avalanche.
That is right - my entire leg sunk. Too bad it happened at least 80 more times and I started crawling on my hands and knees.
WE MADE IT!!
The best part - sledding straight down the mountain and not hiking the regular trail.
Mid April and this is what the mountains around us look like. I don't know what will be the reward for hiking once the snow melts.
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