Happy Thanksgiving

Alaska and Missouri

Benjamin and I taking Emmy for a walk

Snow machine time! 

We have arrived home and back into our normal routines and things like school and dentist appointments. 

While we are back to routine, Levi went to Missouri with Poppa for a duck hunt. 

I'd say they had a great time. 

What a great Senior Trip; Boston, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, and finally Missouri. 

...and we came home

We packed ten checked bags (thank you Alaska Airlines Club 49) and five carry on bags and headed to the airport. 

*disclaimer: it has been three years since we went outside and four of us desperately needed new clothing, thus the abundant luggage

Benjamin, Curious George and me in the Nashville airport

Daddy, Benjamin and George 

Inflight entertainment, yes, please. 

Food, we needed food!!!

I had a Qdoba taco salad. 

And, woah, we are missing a Blessing!  He stayed behind for one more adventure before coming home. 

We arrived home around two a.m. Saturday morning. 

Sunday morning headed to church. So thankful to be back with our church family. 

Fall in Appalachia

One of the big to do items on my list was to take the tour of Gap Cave in the Cumberland Gap National Park because Benjamin is going to have a lesson on caves in science. 

The Cumberland Gap is right here folks, see the gap? Yeah, I grew up here. 

My Mom did the cave tour with us, here we are

Later that same week my cousin and her kids came to visit us and we went back to the CGNP with them, this time to the Pinnacle. 

Two kiddos standing in two states at one time. 

Four big kids standing in two states at once. 

We had dinner at a friend's home and they had s'mores. 

Then I picked my husband up at the airport and our trip seemed to fly by. More to come, until then...

Weekend With Friends

One thing I rarely make time to do is spend more than a few hours with friends while we are traveling. Last summer when I spent a week with friends for a wedding I knew I had to attempt a weekend trip to see the Bestie. I got a bonus as two more friends came too!!!!

The road trip selfie. Okay, selfies have their place and I enjoy these family memories. 

Michelle and I only met face to face last summer but she is a true kindred spirit and forever friend. Michelle flew up from Florida to spend the week with Patti and  the weekend with with us. 

Patti has been my forever friend since high school and she is the common factor between Michelle and I. 

Patti, Kim and I went to high school together. So thankful for these forever friends. 

After our initial meeting at the house we went to Texas Roadhouse to meet more people we love. 

The rest of Saturday was shopping and food, games and lots of talking and laughing amongst ourselves and with our kids. 

Sunday we went to a mountain and enjoyed the sights of the mountains and the fall leaves are becoming more brilliant every day. 

A wooly worm. 

More friend pictures

Benjamin and I playing Yahtzee

Dinner time

Bella liked Levi

Sitting outside after dinner

The Alaska girl was cold. 

And ending with a collage

I am thankful for these frindships and the times together. 

Visitors

I am glad these two waited to show up after the garden was harvested. Looks like we have winter residents. 

Before and During

Last summer I went to the lower 48 for a wedding and the photo on the left was taken. Today I had the blessing of being with these two friends again and we got a friendship picture and my during picture for comparison. One of my friends made this comparison.

 Fifty-two pounds and counting...

Kentucky Nature

I am enjoying the Kentucky fall and all the  fall nature to show to Benjamin. 

We saw a wooly worm, this one tells us the winter may not be so bad. 

Spider web

and the changing of the leaves. 

Those Kentucky mountains

Kids' Trip 2015

The big kids are on the East Coast and yesterday they were able to get into the cold Atlantic Ocean. 

They saw a couple of headlights (lighthouses) in Maine. 

They are staying with Alaskan friends who moved back east last year. Reunion time with life long friends. 

Cold water

The crew

Meanwhile, back in Alaska...

... we got snow last week then it warmed up and rained for three days and last night the temperature dropped and we got another wet snow. Good for snowmen and odd for us Alaskans. 

Too Quiet

The oldest three Blessings headed off to parts unknown for a trip with their leadership team. Sigh, they grow up so quickly. 

Here is their group on the plane with their chaperone. 

The house was so quiet all day long. I do believe this house has not been this quiet in fifteen years. Benjamin is sick and cannot speak above a whisper. All three of the pictures below were all from the same day. He slept on and off all day long.