Bald Eagles

On the last night of our trip we stayed at the Cape Fox Hotel in Ketchikan. These eagles were in a tree right outside our hotel room window.

It was so much fun taking photographs on this memorable trip! I will post a few more tomorrow.

Our vacation

Brothers

Merit Henry

Spending time with cousins on Heckman Lake

Lucy and Will

Merit and Isabel

Willem caught the first fish!

Look at this proud fisherman!

Ketchikan Memories

The Heckman Lake cabin.

Willem caught a trout the first evening we were there!

We're back!

We just arrived home tonight after a fun vacation. Ketchikan, Alaska is very pretty and the Heckman Lake cabin is so peaceful. I am anxious to post some pictures tomorrow. I feel like Willem and I are really happy to be home, but Vance and Merit could have stayed another week.

Leaving for Vacation

We leave on vacation today. We are headed to a remote cabin on a beautiful lake. One of the best things about this cabin is Vance's blackberry doesn't get service there. It will be a true work break for him. I am so excited to spend time with my family -- and Cary, Nate and the girls -- I'll make cards, play "would you rather" go for boat rides, knit..... I won't post for a while so see you in a week.

Playroom

The kitchen area is put together and ready for play in the boys playroom! The IKEA rack, baskets and cookware add a fun touch. I picked up the Little Tikes oven last week at Bargain Town - it was two bucks! It was dirty, I mean really dirty but nothing a little bleach water and good scrub couldn't fix. And more Grocery Outlet rugs to add to the fun!

Bathroom makeover

A little bathroom makeover, inspired by flowers. :) The bathroom connected to our bedroom has been quite plain and is also small. I really wanted to give it a makeover for little or no money. It has a great tiled shower and also tiled flour. I painted this cute night table white (I think it may need a second coat). Picked up a four dollar, purple rug at Grocery Outlet and gathered the glass bottles and dish I purchased last week at thrift stores. My whole inspiration - these beautiful blooming flowers in our yard! So of course I have bundles of these in three different vases. Tomorrow I will post the makeover I gave our playroom!

Senior Center

Have you walked into a Senior Center Thrift Store lately? Let me describe to you the sights, sounds and blessings we receive there. I am a book lover. Hardbacks are 50 cents, paperbacks 25 cents. What a fun treat to take my boys to the Senior Center Thrift Store and tell them they may each choose a book. When walking into the store, I smell old books, musty clothes and homemade soup. The center is connected to the store. There is always an elderly person working the regisiter, happy to see two energetic little boys and pleased to hear the pitter patter of their feet throughout the store. Yesterdays bargains were old childrens books, a few stoneware mugs, some bright fun cloth napkins and some old glass medicine bottles. Sometimes there are fun cabinets and chairs too. This old cabinet I purchased some time ago, but just this week painted it white and sanded the edges. When I think of the elderly in our community, I feel a longing to support them. Man, I feel so thankful and happy when I walk into that thrift store. I love how the loud noises and big smiles on my boys' faces are welcomed by the people working there. I'm happy that when I purchase something there the money goes towards a great cause. One of my goals during the second half of 2008 is to bless the elderly in our community.

Saturday Sweet Summer Fun

Neighborhood kids hanging out...