Summer is here!

At least it feels that way here in Homer, Alaska...our temps have reached over 60 this weekend! Feels like a heat wave has hit, especially after our cold summer that we had last summer. We are all hoping it is not a cruel joke of spring and this will be our week of summer...if it is, it might just be time to head to warmer climates!! We had our first picnic in our yard earlier this week...it was a little chilly by the time evening rolled around, but fun anyway...the beginnings of summer!

The box of sandals and crocs emerged as did the scrambling to find shorts and capris...whew, what do we do with such warm days! All the kids slept out in tents on Friday night and then spent all day Saturday running and playing in the yard, with a little work and spring clean-up thrown in for fun. Everyone had rosy red cheeks and arms by days end. No one wanted the day to end and kept hoping for more adventures in the sun, but the day had to come to an end as we put away tents, sleeping bags, jump ropes.... Saturday night showers and dinner made everyone sleepy and by 8 o'clock five of six kids were dragging themselves off to bed. No one realized how much they had worn themselves out! We are looking forward to more summer days!

Something we have to deal with this summer is the ash that we are left with from Mt. Redoubt dumping on us in April. The rain has washed some of it into the ground, but there is still plenty on top of the ground. One stroll across the lawn and your feet are covered in a gray layer of ash...each step you take, a small ash cloud erupts around your feet! At the end of the day when the kids come in from playing, Adams in particular looks like he has rolled in chalk as he is covered in ash from his head to his toes. Thank goodness water doesn't cost anything!

Now that it is May, school is winding down although we still gotta push to finish. It gets harder this time of year to keep plugging away at school especially when the warm summer air is calling us! The kids have completed some subjects and will be finishing up as the month goes along. Another end of the school year tradition is piano recital for those that are taking lessons. This year Ann Marie, Ethan, Tyler, and Kailee will all be participating in the recital mid-May.

Steve and Ann Marie completed the EMT course with flying colors a couple weeks ago! They both did very well on their EMT practical test and are still waiting the results from the medical test. They are now certified ETT's and can go on emergency calls. The EMT course was alot of work, but they both enjoyed the challenge and the knowledge they gained from the experience.

We are looking forward to a summer of picnics, camping, gardening, working, and playing!