Too long...

It has been far too long since I've posted anything. I think it's time for a little update. We have been doing really well. Ben is growing quickly and it's just been so much fun watching him! We went apple picking last Saturday with Matt, Rachel and J so I thought I would share a few photos! :) I hope everyone is doing well. We miss you all!

Hello Family

Juliet just turned two and we had a yellow themed Birthday party at a local park. As you can see some strange characters showed up! It was a great time with the Swann(and Morris) and Stone families. When we got back from her party she kept repeating "that was fun". Juliet also had her first pony ride at the Elmwood park zoo. For some reason this particular zoo is infested with Black vultures. I hope fall finds everyone to be well    

         

 

Dewey Beach

Hi Family,

We just spent the week in Dewey beach Delaware. Juliet finally warmed up to the ocean on the last day. Juliet liked feeding the seagulls and took off running after them. I tried some surf fishing but caught nothing. I did catch a couple of sea bass in the inlet I was surprised how similar they are to sunnies  and rock bass in freshwater. Rachel is getting bigger but she is feeling better. 

This and That

Hello, dear family

Here it is, the middle of August already, and we can see the days getting shorter.  I am not looking forward to the long absence of the sun again, but I guess summer can't last forever (though our summer hasn't been much of a summer to speak of).  We are going to go down to Seward this weekend for some camping and a wildlife cruise.  I am also going to go out deep sea fishing for halibut.  I'm pretty excited about that because I've always wanted to go deep sea fishing, and I will like stocking the freezer with tasty fish, too.  

Recently, Mike took Nathan to work with him one day and I took that opportunity to do some hiking with baby Ayla.  It was really fun!  I put her in the back carrier and we climbed a small mountain..although small is really a relative term here.  Here are a few pictures.

We also recently managed to catch some salmon on the Kasilof River down on the Kenai Peninsula.  Every year there is a period of time during which you can get a special permit and go "dip netting."  Essentially, you have a giant net on a long pole that you put out into the river and wait for a fish to swim into it.  It sounds a little easier than it really is, but it's definitely easier than rod and reel fishing.  We tried it last year, but didn't get any fish because we didn't understand that you have to pay attention to the tides and that there is a specific time during which the fishing will be best.  This year we learned all about that and made sure to pay attention.  We still didn't catch as many as we would have liked, but some is better than none!  Well, I think that's all for now.  

Update on Juliet

Hi Fam!  I've loved Matt's updates on Juliet here!!!  They are so sweet and concise and include pictures and videos.  I love their little peak in to our life over here!  I've never been good at taking (or posting) pictures or videos.  Or sending a little note here and there.  But writing has always been my means of memory.  So I have a blog with letters to Juliet.  Here is my newest post, if you are interested: Do you hear what I hear?

Love,
Rachel

Things are going to be different

Farm

Juliet and I went to pennypack farm to get some vegetables. She especially loved the black berries and she called the hot peppers owie tomatoes. I hope everyone is having a great summer.

Akira puts up with a whole lot!

Hi Everybody,

I have not been on here in forever and Matt you have been posting like crazy! :) I really need to get on here more often because I do enjoy seeing what everyone else is up to. As for me, I have been having a lazy summer enjoying the flowers in the yard and becoming more and more interested in the birds and attracting different variety's of them to my yard. Here are a few pictures of some flowers, though most of you have probably seen all the pics I post on facebook. I will try to come back again soon.

Font Hill Castle

We took a tour of Fonthill today. It is a concrete castle designed and built by Henry Mercer. It has really interesting tile work all over the place and is filled with artifacts collected by Mercer.

1-2- A Boom!!

Juliet's favorite game

Just a Few Pictures

Beth Helps Make Crabcakes

Juliet stares down Aunt Beth 

Rachel and 3 Babies

Oh and by the way Rachel is due in January 

I love the southwestern US. There is no place on earth I would rather live. However I love the spring in the eastern forests. I know it is getting on to summer but I hope you enjoy these photos from this spring and springs past.

Hi everyone!

I hope you are all well. We have been doing very well. Ben is growing like a little weed! :) It's a gorgeous day here today. Not as humid as it has been the past couple of days. I just finished a small sewing project (hemming living room curtains) that I have been meaning to get done for a while. Just like I've been meaning to write on here for a while! :) teehee! It's a great feeling when you accomplish something that's been sitting around for a while, isn't it?! Yeah, I need to tell myself that more often. ;) Well, maybe I will get around to posting some photos of Ben sometime soon. Love you all!

Hi All!


Hope everyone is well. Just wanted to share a few pictures from this weekend.