Partying it up with the best of friends!

A few weeks ago, a good friend of ours, Jen, graduated from the Physicians Assistant program.  She of course wanted to have a graduation party to celebrate such an accomplishment.  Wanting to go all out, the plan was to get a function catered or go out.  Unfortunately this did not work out, so she worked with some friends and planned a potluck BBQ.  Little did she know that what was really being planned was a formal, sit-down meal with our group at another friends house.  It was a complete surprise to her!  Everyone showed up, dressed-up (which is rare in Alaska), and surprised her when she walked in the door.  It was even worked out with her husband for him to bring formal clothes for the two of them!  The look on her face was priceless.  We then got to enjoy a great evening with amazing food and the best friends anyone could ask for.  Being the end of summer, a lot of us have been out and about, and have not seen each other all together for awhile, so it was a great time to see everyone at one function.  The evening was so perfect and fun - we are so blessed to be a part of such a great group of friends who care so much for each other and support each other in everything they do!

Jen's surprise!

Eating our formal dinner on the deck

Cameronn (who planned the whole thing), Jen, and Tami

Cam, Tami & I

Andrew & I

[photo by Sarah C.]

All of us together!

[photo by Sarah C.]

The girls

[photo by Sarah C.]

I love these women!

[photo by Sarah C.]

7 Year Anniversary and the Beginning of the School Year

Two weeks ago was our seven year wedding anniversary - crazy!  Below is a photo from our anniversary dinner at Benihana (thanks Dad & Mom) and from our wedding - my, how things have changed in seven years!

At Benihana for our anniversary dinner

In the limo on the way to our wedding reception - August 13, 2005

After dinner, it was still a nice sunny evening, so we went downtown Anchorage, to Bootlegger's Cove and took some photos of the Cook Inlet.

A gorgeous sunny day in Bootlegger's Cove - Anchorage, Alaska

A sunny view of the Cook Inlet - Anchorage, Alaska

This week school starts, so we will be quite busy with work and school again and I likely will not be posting as often...

To wrap the summer up, through our road trip and anniversary, we have been thinking back on the last eight years.  We have talked about how much our lives have changed, yet how blessed we have been and still are.  Not only are we married to each other, our best friend and favorite traveling partner, but we have amazing family, friends, and an amazing church that we are blessed to be a part of!  The last month has been an excellent opportunity to reflect on all we have and remember how important it is to be aware of that.

Seattle/Canada Road Trip

So last week we flew down to Seattle, bought a vehicle and then drove it back up to Alaska!
We flew down Friday (with a nice layover in Juneau, where we got to hang out with friends).  Then Saturday, we bought the vehicle (a Certified Pre-Owned 2010 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI), and hung out in the Seattle-area Saturday and Sunday.  Monday morning we headed out North to Alaska - we did the trip in four days and 2,304 miles!

The Seattle Waterfront - it was in the 90s that weekend!

We went down to the Seattle Waterfront Saturday night with our friends Dwayne and Misti

Day 1 - Seattle, Washington to Prince George, British Columbia

The beautiful rest stop where we had lunch in Hope, British Columbia

The new car at beautiful rest stop where we had lunch in Hope, British Columbia

Fraser River Valley

Day 2 - Prince George, British Columbia to Dease Lake, British Columbia

Goofing around in the car

Lunch (and photo) stop in Smithers, British Columbia

Getting diesel in the middle of nowhere

Nass River Bridge, British Columbia

Day 3 - Dease Lake, British Columbia to Haines Junction, Yukon Territory

One of the seven bears we saw on the trip

Overlooking the town of Teslin and Nisutlin River, British Columbia

Andrew and the DC-3 weathervane at the Yukon Transportation Museum 

in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

Me and a neat train engine at the Yukon Transportation Museum in Whitehorse, Y.T.

Another bear!

Mountains at Haines Junction, Yukon Territory

Day 4 - Haines Junction, Yukon Territory to Chugiak, Alaska!

The fake Mountie car in Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory

The Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway

We made it back to America - Fast Eddy's in Tok, Alaska

Rain is coming our way!

Our new wheels on the way home!

We made it home!

Arctic Thunder 2012

This past weekend was Arctic Thunder 2012, our area’s biannual air show and military base open house.  This year the main even was the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds!  The day did not quite go as planned for us due to much larger numbers than planned causing some traffic and shuttle delays (http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-arctic-thunder-2012-air-show-sees-record-number-20120728,0,3162836.story).  Officials stated that there was somewhere between 100,000 to 150,000 people were there on Saturday alone!  We went with some friends, had some long waits, but we still ended up having a blast!

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds lined up on the tarmac

A gorgeous day!

The Bolstridges

The weather ended up being a nice range of temperatures.  It varied from sunny and in the upper 70s to cloudy, with a cool wind.  It was perfect so we did not freeze, but did not roast (although most of us went home with slightly pink faces).  When we arrived on the JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson) flightline, the warbird demonstration had just begun!  

B-25 a.k.a "Doolittle Raider"

We walked around, took some photos, and scoped out a good spot to watch the rest of the show.  After some snacks, the joint forces demonstration started and then in the middle of it some F-22s had to take off to Japan for a mission.  Once they took off, the demonstration finished, and then the formal F-22 demonstration followed!

Andrew and John taking pictures

F-15 engines

Emily and Olivia

John and Lincoln

Andrew and Lincoln

F-22 taking off for Japan

C-17 performing a tactical landing

C-17

John getting Lincoln ready for the F-22s

Some airmen got the best view on the tarmac

Lincoln getting sugared up

Finally, on to the main event – the Thunderbirds!  After watching them practice a few times from my office earlier in the week, I was beyond excited.  My best guess was that the last time I had seen this group in an airshow was when I was in high school.  When they took off, the excitement was still there as I grinned and took photos non-stop!

As the Thunderbirds landed we headed back to catch the shuttle to our cars, and ended up waiting for awhile, but we had a blast spending the time with good friends.  It wound up being a great Saturday – well worth the wait!