FRIENDS AND FAMILY

The Hot Tub continues to be a big hit at our house. What a great way to WARM UP on a cold Alaskan winter day!!  Emma, Estrella (Don's daughter), and Rachel Thomas enjoy the day.

On Sat. Feb. 11th, Jerry and Maaret drove down to visit. Maaret is going to stay for a couple of weeks to let us play with the twins, and give her a break! Jerry had to return to North Pole on Mon. to get back to work! He was missing his little family even before he left. We will take good care of them and have lots of fun trying to keep up with August, and seeing all of Maggies artwork first hand. Maggie lost her 1st tooth today. 

Little Max in one of his "quiet" moments.

Maggie and Gus are Big Fans of the hot tub. As was Maaret.

Little Audrey is a very sociable gal. She loves to "chat" and smile.

Sunday "see what we can find" dinner! 

Emma, Jerry, Maaret & Mikie Jaketta.

Stewie with his tomato soup he put together. It was the Guys 

turn to cook! I like that idea.

Jerrys first go at riding a 

Snow Go. He and Dave went for a tour of the area.

Rod gave him a few pointers before he left. Jerry loved it,

 says it's lots more fun than riding a motorcycle.

August enjoyed the quieter side of snow-going.

Maggie is very proud of the Snow-Woman that she and Maaret

made. She especially likes the hair and nose.

 

LET FREEDOM RING...

"AWLI" BOARD MEETING HELD IN SOLDOTNA

ON JANUARY 26TH 2009 ROD OFFICIALLY GAVE NOTICE TO THE  MEDI CENTER OF HIS DECISION TO START HIS OWN BUSINESS.  IT WILL BE CALLED THE....

      "ALASKA WEIGHT LOSS INSTITUTE" . 

HE WILL FOCUS MAINLY ON THE HCG DIET, AND FOLLOW UP ON LAP BAND SURGERIES.  

HIS LAST DAY AT THE MEDI CENTER WILL BE FEB. 25TH. LOCATION OF THE NEW OFFICE IS STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED. 

THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WERE..AUDREY, DON, SUSAN THOMAS, WADE THOMAS (OUR BUSINESS MANAGER),

 TOOTS AND ROD. MANY GREAT IDEAS WERE BROUGHT FORTH AND MUCH WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

TWINS!!!

YEA, I know its been months since I posted. I'm a busy person. So to get us up to date. on Dec 31st, my daughter Maaret had twins, a boy, Max William and a girl, Audrey Xela. Rod was able to go up and observe the c-section. Maaret was very glad to have someone in her corner there. The surgeon was less than great. But Rod was able to spend a few days visiting Mar and Jen and families up there. 

Rod with Max and Audrey

Gramdpa promised to read to Maggie and Olivia when he came to visit.

Helping to make Grandpas famous "Popcorn"  

Audrey, with Little Audrey, her namesake

Most of the time I was in North Pole it was -45 to -50 below...core temp!!!

Look, She likes me!

Aren't they Sweet?!

All the North Pole Grandkids, 

Olivia,Me, Maggie, Parker

Audrey, Max, August, and Sophia

.

CUTEST GRANDCHILDREN IN NORTH POLE!!!

Jerry and Maarets kids, August, Audrey, Max and Maggie

Garry and Jennys kids Olivia, Sophia, and Parker

And Life goes on....

As most of you know Maaret had twins on Dec 31st.  I was up there for about ten days then, and returned on the 19th for another couple of weeks. Rod was able to go up and observe the

C-section and visit for a week-end. Don and Audrey surprised all of us and came up new years eve. We had a great time, visiting, snuggling babies, doing fireworks and such even though the  temps in North Pole were bitter. It was great to see the grandkids again, they are all so cute and interesting! Thanks to Mar and Jen and families for their hospitality while I was there. 

the fishing grandpa

Create your own visitor map!

The "White Man" hunting his prey! 

Go to the left....NO to the right.....wait they're behind you now!
The locals love the hides, they love to see us coming.
Meat processing GARAGE
Caribou anyone?

"ROUGHING IT" in Adak
Trusty Rusty

Alaska Peninsula Range

Please sir....... take your seat! 

Don is "Don for anything!" This time it's hunting at Adak Island

THIS MONTH IS SUCH A SPECIAL MONTH...

It's BIRTHDAY  time for you, and you, and you, and...........

It seems I've not been good at doing Birthdays lately, so I thought I'd dedicate this blog to all those who have had or will have Birthdays around this time. So here it is....

This Month is such a special month, it's Birthday time for you. I'd really like to Celebrate this special day with You....

Zipidy hey and Heidi ho there's something I can do.

I'll sing a song that we all know....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY  to....

Dallas................Oct. 3rd

Tommy..............Oct. 4th

Joyce Ardans....Nov. 1st

Michelle............Nov. 2nd

Don Slats...........Nov. 9th

Cassie................Nov. 13

Olivia.................Nov. 22th

Maaret..............Nov. 28th

Dan....................Dec. 1st

Sheri W............ Dec. 12th

A FINAL FAREWELL...

SOME BEACH, SOMEWHERE...

There's a big umbrella casting shade over a empty chair
Palm trees are growing and a warm breezes a blowing
I picture myself right there

On Some beach, somewhere

ONE LAST DIP

Remember the loader that was stuck? Look closely down the beach in front of Rod. The loader is still there, still stuck, two wheels completely buried, the other two half way in. You can see the high tide mark up the beach, near the umbrella, close to the wall. The loader is toast!

So, the last day of Rods conference they let everyone out early, the only day they had any "playtime". As luck would have it, just at the end of classes Rod began to not feel so well, and spent the rest of the day in the bathroom, or bed. Poor guy, the only beach time he had. Any way, early the next morning we got up early so that Rod could have a least one dip in the ocean. It was great!!

LAST DAY IN PARADISE

It's almost over. Been a wonderful week of warm water, sandy beaches, , relaxing, nice temps, good food (all inclusive you know), swimming, long walks on the beach, some trinket shopping (for Gram Rubys memory) and, oh yea, the Hcg conference!!  Which by they way has been very successful for Rod, tons of info on hcg, patient care and management. Lots of good contacts, networking etc. It may prove to be extremely useful.

We've had a great time with Di here, we play well together and only got kicked off the beach once..something about being too late or dark, or rip tides? or rocks, or drop-offs? We're not exactly sure since we couldn't understand any thing they were saying. We did finally get the message when they kept flashing the flashlight at us and swam out to get us. Who knew the beach closes at dusk???

They have been cleaning the sand away from the umbrellas today, seems it washes up and nearly covers them if left alone. Anyway, they had a very large loader with a bucket scooping up sand and such and dumping it back into the ocean. It picked up a chunk of concrete, so the driver went down the beach to dispose of it. Unfortunately, the loader got stuck in the sand (or clay). Yea, Rod told me loaders don't get stuck but I guess no one told the mexican working on it because he is stuck. When we came in, after our "late" swim, he was still stuck, with the tide coming in and two wheels buried. They had a track hoe  and a big amphibian truck trying to pull the loader out, but to no avail. It will be interesting to see its position in the morning.

But the day is over now, and tomorrow we leave with sorrow  in our hearts. We will return to the land of the frozen for me, for Rod and Di the land of "work till you drop". We'll catch up on the mail and bills, and try to return all the missed messages we've received. A great time had, grateful that we could be here even for just a week. 

AHH, MAZATLAN!!!