Seattle and the Lake...

We went to Seattle when we left the North Slope -

enjoyed visiting with family and the weather.

Mt Rainier towering above Puget Sound...
Downtown Seattle skyline.

Seattle skyline with the Space Needle...

and just the Space Needle...

Paul, Mom & I at Lake Bosworth. My Dad, Grandpa & Uncle bought lots on this lake around 1946 for $500 each. My Dad (with the help of friends) built a cabin - this is where we spent most of our summers. Eventually it became my parents retirment home until my Dad became too ill to help keep it up. The people who own the lot next door (my Grandpa's old lot) are family friends and we got to see the old house...

Here is the house with the boathouse.

Grandbabies - together for the first time...

Stephanie and Sydney flew down to Seattle for a visit with Gretchen

and her family over July 4th. It was great to see the cousins interact

- we missed Brian and Michael who both had to work.

Cousins meeting for the first time...

Syndey & Dulce cleaning up - now if only they will do this when they are teenagers...
then again - what do I care - I'm Nanna!

Sean is such a happy baby - smiling and willing to go to anyone.

Sydney in her July 4th dress.

Love this picture!

Great Grandma (GG) - my mom came for a visit too!

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get two two year olds to look in the same direction at the same time and smile? We had a tough time getting pictures...

Stephanie & Syndey - enjoying some sunshine!

Having fun on the swingset...

They were both smiling - but facing the opposite way...

We just had to buy them ice cream when we went out to dinner...

Most of the adults trying to get a group shot of the three kids..

That was about the best that could be done...none of them look that thrilled

but at least they're looking the same way!

Hey - facing the same way!

Sean was laughing so loud at being in the swing that the girls kept looking at him and laughing...

Gretchen made a July 4th cake - and Dulce is ready to eat it!

Exploring the flowers - great picture!

Sitting with Mom/Auntie Gretchen.

Sydney making Sean laugh...

Nothing like cousins having fun together!

Awwww!

Papa & Dulce - I think he was trying to teach her how to use the stethoscope.

Going for a run!

cool photography/editing! Thanks David!

SID Sleepover

Many of you followed the adventures of SID on my facebook page

I thought I'd put some pictures up here too...

Everyday we traveled back and forth to work via the hovercraft

but one day it broke down...and so there we were -

5 miles offshore - we could see the camp but it was a bit too cold to swim there...

The man camp was close to being finished - but didn't have running water or a working kitchen.

Here are the guys hanging out in the cafeteria.

Hanging out in the break shack...

Ariel getting ready to eat his heater meal...looks good huh?

Getting ready to hear all about the rules of staying in the man camp...

Two women & 105 men - who do you think was in charge? :)

No TV - no video games - no computer - what to do?

Play poker of course!

The logistics crew - the people that made it all happen!

Helicopter! We were so excited to see this!!

Because it was over water we had to put survival suits on for the flight...

which made manifesting interesting -

a 9 seat helicopter quickly became a 7 seat helicopter!

Rocky is ready to get on that helicopter!

Finding a quiet place to get power and decent cell coverage...

When this picture is bigger you can see Oliktok in the distance...

We will never forget where we were on our 22nd wedding anniversary!

Alan is 6'8"...I'm short but I feel REALLY short standing next to him!

Ariel and Pete getting waiting for the helicopter...

Dave from Arkansas - and Tim from Minnesota working on the mannifest board.

One last picture of the melting ice road...

Enjoying a beautiful day...& waiting for the next helicopter.

Not only did we survive - we actually had a bit of fun in the process...

Funny thing about this picture - they weren't posing! The helicopter had landed and it was very windy - I just happened to turn around and get the picture...

Flying off of SID...

and towards Oliktok point...

to home! (well - for only the next 24 hours because Scott & I were on our way out).

Thanks to everyone who made helped make my time on SID fun...

you know who you are!