Tree Party

 We had a tea party in the tree house. Irene got a little mixed up and thought it was a pee party, but we got that situation figured out.

Party Time

Today might be the first day we have had no party since we've been here. Except I just remembered we're having strawberry shortcake over here tonight to use the hundreds of berries Grandma T/Ammi picked yesterday. Aunt Beth went back to Fairbanks today, and it's another sunny day Out North. Here are some party pics. 

Grandma T with her famous potato salad.

Abe and his little Eden

With Ellsi. I really think Evangeline is mid-smile here.

Shannon, Emily and Eli. 

Harrison and Finnlee

Jake, Jesse Lauren

Tara was a hit with the kids

Maci and Xander

The birthdays: Lauren, Lyndi, Jake and Uncle Ray

This picture was to verify the existence of Jake and Tara to Kyle

Cousins' Day getting started. Day after birthday party.

Zach made this wonderful scallop poke. It was so good the cousins
ate it with their hands.

Zach and Becky also brought us some fresh, cold Kachemak bay oysters.

To make sure we didn't go a day without fresh seafood, Uncle Carl
made us some King Salmon caviar. It should also be noted that he made some
White King Salmon sashimi for the first party, and Evangeline would only eat that
and mac and cheese for supper.

Irene found a friend in the caviar.

Alaska!

  We made it. After a long, long trip during which Irene did not sleep a wink, we arrived at Grandma and PopPop's house (there is the missing part where PopPop came to Greensboro for a few days before accompanying us home, but I think I've got a few pictures of that to put up later).

 We had a huge welcoming committee at the airport, and Evangeline and Ellsi Kay immediately figured out that a)they are cousins and b)Ellsi can pick Evangeline up.

 Our first day here was hot and sunny, with lots of cousins and aunties and uncles and grandmas. We spent all day outside in the lake. Aunt Beth was good enough to cover the girls in sunscreen so that only the adults got sunburns. Then we had an impromptu bbq with about 20 people. Not bad.

 Today is a bit breezy and cooler, and the girls are off to the new big playground with Grandma and Pops.

First order of business: dress-ups. With a dress that "goes all the way to the ground".
And parasol.

I have no idea what this dress might have been used for.
Hopefully not a wedding.

GG, aunt Beth and Irene survey the toys.

Tap shoes.

Aunt Beth and Grandma made this play area for the girls.
It took about 6 minutes to pretty much dismantle it.

They followed Ammi around, watching her water flowers.

Ammi put them to work.

First beach day. 

Irene, Aunt Beth, Evngeline and "Miss DreDre" on the small dock.
The water is very high this year, so the end of the dock is submerged.

Mom, Tara, Jake and Eli stay a safe distance from the kid action.

Ammi and Aunt Beth helping Evangeline venture out.

Look, dad!

Maybe next year her legs will reach.

Evangeline practicing for her race with Aunt Jessie.

Waiting to go to the playground, fiddling with zippers.

my 30th birfday

Since I am now a middle aged man, I thought I should do a home improvement project. The chickens had eaten the bottom of the door, so I painted it and added metal plate. The girls "helped." They are such good painters.

And oh yes, the roosters. We found a home for them.

Hopefully they are either good fighters or tasted good.

My birthday party was a great success.

The high point of the night was when Kate went over the edge of the treehouse hanging on to the rope. Not only did she survive an eight foot drop, but also landed on her feet and went right back up. Do not encourage this sort of behavior.

And then Cousin/Uncle Aaron showed up! He lives in DC now, as he is working for لجزيرة العربية America, and was shooting a documentary in Durham the next day. So, on his way through, he stopped by. It was a great surprise to see him at the gate. Its been since our wedding that we saw him last. The Medinas kids have mastered the art of stalling before a car ride.

More eyes, less teeth.

 Ellee and I went to see Camera Obscura on my actual birthday in Saxapahaw. It was good, and we picked up Irene's very first band shirt.

The singer was probably 7 months pregnant and it showed.

You've probably never heard of them.