North to Alaska!

We just returned from 4 days in beautiful Alaska. We had a great time. My older brother, Jeff, and his wife, Amanda, and their two boys, Jackson and Bradford, live about an hour outside of Anchorage. Mostly our trip was to see them and their boys, but we did get a little adventure in. We went out on my brother's boat and went on the Big Sue river on Thursday. It was a really nice adventure...fairly tame, but we are not wilderness folk so it was pretty perfect. Unfortunately the weather was not great and we were unable to get out on Prince William Sound in his other boat...but that will just have to wait for another trip. We do plan to go back sooner rather than later. :) Friday was spent pretty tamely in Palmer (were they live) hanging out, grabbing a bite to eat and letting the kids play together. Saturday Amanda took us into Anchorage and out to Beluga Point to see if we could see anymore wildlife. It was really just a great trip and it makes us miss Jeff, Amanda, Jack and Brad all the more. We can't wait to see them again.

My nephews are little handsome devils and they were really really good with Sydney. She had a great time with them and wants to go back soon. She is so funny, when she really likes a man she calls them a "little boy". It started with my younger brother Ben. She would say, "Uncle Ben Little boy?" and we would tell her that he was a big boy...but soon enough she started calling him a little boy again. She started doing the same thing with Uncle Jeff. I think it's a term of endearment...it's how she tells them she loves them. Of course she says Daddy is a little boy too.

Here are some pictures from the trip! Enjoy!

Little Brad fell asleep on his daddy's chair on the boat as we were cruising the river

He always had a stick or a rock or something. He is such a cutie...and the vocabulary, it blew our minds.

Handsome Jack with Sydney on the boat.

Finding things in the sand.
Sydney and Jack at Beluga Point.

This was out on the Big Sue. We stopped off at a beach so the kids could play a bit.

Another picture of taken at the beach.

Family photo time. Boy those PFD's (personal flotation device) are sure sexy!

This is a picture of Sydney, Bradford and Jackson out on Beluga point.

Bradford, Sydney and Jack (with Gus in the background) on the beach.

Wednesday evening we went out on a drive in search of some wildlife. We didn't see any animals, just some really pretty views/scenery.

Another Big Sue beach photo! These are some good lookin' kids!

Jackson and Bradford (with their daddy in the background) on the boat!

Mommy & Sydney on the boat!

Daddy & Sydney on the boat!

Angie's first 5k!

Today was my first 5k run. I have been preparing for this for about 9 weeks now and this was the first of two that I am registered for. It was harder than I thought it would be. There were times when I was not sure I was going to make it, but thanks to a really nice friend and neighbor, Anjanette and the people waiting for us at the finish line (thanks John, Madison, Kaeda and Dawson) I did finish and in faster time than I ever imagined, 33 minutes! Woo hoo!!! It felt great and crossing that finish line was really satisfying. My next one is in September. I am glad it's not tomorrow.

Me and AJ pre-race...waiting in line for the little girl's room!Coming in for the big finish!!!
Another finishing line photo! I was so happy to see the end.

YAY! WE DID IT!!!!

It was hard work and I am glad I did it. Shows me how far I have come and how far I need to go.

Learning to fly...

They really do not stay little for long, do they??? Here is a video of our, not quite, 2 1/2 year old riding her bike. I think we might be impressed. She is definitely ahead of the curve in the cul-de-sac...and this is only day 2 of her riding her bike. Daddy must be a good coach. She just motors right along with the other kids. Of course she still has training wheels, but those will be history by the time she is 3 (so says her father). She has fallen a few times...Jed has counted 5 times so far and she has a scrape on her elbow, and there hasn't been any tears and just a "get up and do it again" attitude. What a little trooper we have.

Weddings/Birthdays/Old friends

It was a busy weekend for the Garonzik's. Wedding reception on Saturday evening followed by a birthday celebration for my nephew, Benjamin, and then I met with some friends from highschool for drinks and appetizers this evening. It was a fun, but very full weekend. I guess we must like it that way. :) Next weekend won't be any duller, that much I know. It was great fun to meet with Amy and Erica this evening. We got together at a place in Des Moines called Butler Bar & Grill, which is owned by a fellow Alum of our highschool and is fairly new, maybe 7 or 8 months old. We had a great time and chatted for about 3 hours...food was good, service was good and the place really looks nice. Sydney got her first bike today and her daddy helped her learn to ride it after we got home from the birthday party. According to daddy, she is pretty good at it. I will have to check this out tomorrow for myself. We have a bit of a dare devil on our hands for sure, so I reckon we will have some skinned knees in our future.

Proud Poppa and Benjamin, Chase and Sydney.

She is checking out her new bike at Uncle Ben's house!

Sydney and Uncle Ben. You wouldn't know it by this picture, but she barely gives him the time of day, well except when she wants to show someone her pretty hair, then she says, "Show Uncle Ben?"

Getting together with old high school friends. I love to do this! It is so fun to catch up and find out what everyone else has been doing. Although I never like to see pictures of myself, but that's ok...this was a fun evening!