When the Cat's Away...

Sarah’s Thoughts: I’m going to reveal some secrets because I don’t think my grandma reads my blog. If you do, Grandma, take this opportunity to do the right thing and skip this week’s entry. So, for everyone else, my grandma is turning 90 in 3 weeks so we are going to throw a surprise birthday party for her in North Dakota. We have all kinds of games and activities planned and I thought it would be fun to have t-shirts. I had the intention of having them professionally made, but the steep sticker price combined with the lack of a good design, prompted me to make them myself. I called my friend, Rachel for some pointers, visited Joanne’s for supplies and haven’t stopped cutting and painting since. I have to admit, I’ve been having a lot of fun. This was just the project I was needing to keep me busy while Luke is gone and the weather is rapidly deteriorating. I’ve posted a couple samples below.

P.S. Luke has our camera on his hunting trip, so I’ll be scrounging for pictures to post the next few weeks.

Low- First cold of the season

High- All the progress on my t-shirt project

Luke Update: After Luke got checked in at the airport, we went out for dinner and I asked him to describe the typical day while guiding a moose hunter. He said the alarm goes off before light. The tent is cold, but luckily he’s already prepped the coffee and positioned the stove in such a way that he can turn it on from the comfort of his sleeping bag. After getting dressed, making breakfast for his hunter and getting things ready for the day, he and his hunter head out to a find a look-out spot. They set up moose attracting tools and high-powered optics. As the sun rises, they scour the landscape for 50+ antler racks and simulate moose sounds with the hopes of drawing in a trophy bull. This activity goes on all day. When the light begins to fade, they head back to camp for supper and sleep. Some days, they find the bush plane made a stop and left a package of cookies or jar of peanut butter. After dinner, Luke preps the coffee for the next day and makes sure the stove is just in arms reach before turning in for the night. Now I can’t be sure, but this just might be what Luke has been up to.

Owen Update: The very second Luke left town, Owen came down with a cold. No fever, he only seems to be a runny nose, but its left the poor kid feeling very sensitive. He can’t handle the word, “no” or anything that might be contradictory to his plans. Any hint of mutiny and he dissolves into a blubbering heap of snotty weeping. Example: We went to visit my brother at his new house. When it was time to go, I was trying to get everyone back into car. The problem was that whenever Dolly hopped into the car, so did Chachi (Christian’s dog) and when Chachi hopped out, Dolly was right behind him. The very thought of leaving Chachi behind was too much for Owen, and with a red, wet face, he led a loud protest. After several unsuccessful attempts at separating the dogs and at trying to explain to Owen that we couldn’t bring Chachi home, Chachi spent the rest of the day at our house. Luke wasn't there to help, and so I decided that sometimes, giving in is O.K.

Owen and our next door neighbor, baby Jordan

"Mr. Bump" belongs to Christian

for his constant stream of injuries

Little Miss Sunshine belongs to my Aunt Sandy

always encouraging and positive

Already September!

Sarah’s Thoughts: My cousin, Jason, has been working in the cruise ship realm for a number of years. Last week, he hooked my brother, Kristen and Luke and I up with dinner aboard one of the ships. We got dressed up, kissed Owen good-bye and boarded the Zuiderdam to see how the other half live. Besides the extravagantly decorated elevators and crew members at your beck and call, I was especially struck by the excessive number of Purell dispensers. As we were standing in line to board the ship, there was a crew member with a enormous udder of the disinfectant, squirting a dab into each persons outstretched hands. It felt a little bit end-of-the-world-ish... Like we were this remnant of the human race that survived a catastrophic epidemic and now we were trying to live normally, but had this ever-present fear of another outbreak... we must always disinfect. Always. Dinner was delicious. We enjoyed our view of Douglas Island along with a complementary bottle of wine and a very attentive wait staff. After a brief tour around the ship, we sped off to Costco for a right-before-closing power-shop session. Nice little Monday.

Low- Realizing that as of Wednesday, I’ll be on my own for 2 weeks.

High- Unexpected 65 degree September Saturday and time with my folks

Luke Update: It was a big week. Luke officially hung up his guiding waders for the 2009 season and is currently creating a pile of gear to take with him on his moose trip up north. He takes off Wednesday night and then when he gets back, he’ll have a day and a half before we leave on a trip south. All this upcoming traveling means that if we’re going to have any smoked coho salmon in the freezer this winter, now is the time to catch them. Luke has been out a few times over the past week for salmon and halibut without much luck. He did manage to score some pity halibut so we were able to enjoy some halibut curry for the first time this year.... Ah! So much to catch, so little time...

Owen Update: I wish I could paint a picture for you of the amazing number of words that flow from Owen’s mouth. Whether it’s “Pterodactyl” or “Mama, I want to take a bath with dinos too,” nothing is to difficult for him. I use to sing this “clean-up” song to Owen whenever we were straightening up his room. I stopped singing it months ago because it didn’t seem like he was really catching on. Yesterday, we were picking up toys and Owen started singing the song. I was amazed. He’s like this person who has been in a coma. I’ve been talking to him and singing to him, not thinking he was really hearing or understanding anything. Then all of a sudden, he’s coming out of the coma and I realize that he heard and remembers everything. I’m sure all of you that have kids are saying, “yes, we remember that phase.” Still, daily I’m awed by my incredible boy.

Taking advantage of a free ride up Uncle Christian's new driveway

The classic "up to no good" look

Christian's newly purchased house

Melting a down-rigger weight into molten led for bullets

Owen's "Deadliest Catch" pose

Taking "Tops" for a little spin on the old Red Flyer

And now for a little peek at dinner with the Koldens

Note, Christian in prime form

Grandpa Roger

Chrsitian and his mother. Classic pose

Boys that make their mother's hearts surge with pride

Christian and Kristen.

This and that

Sarah’s Thoughts: I’m not sure what happened this week. Its all sort of a blur. Work was draining and the rain hasn’t stopped. It rained so hard last weekend that all the lakes and streams flooded onto the roads. I didn’t take one picture this week, so I’ve compiled a few oldies and a couple recent photos taken by Owen’s various daycare providers this summer. I’m looking forward to a trip at the end of September and pressing onto the holidays... besides that, I’m feeling blah. Rain, rain, go away.

Low- burrr!

High- Looking forward to a last-minute visit from my parents this week!

Luke Update: Luke is starting his last big push of fishing trips. Today he completed the first of 6 days in a row. He has just 2 trips booked for next week and then is officially finished for the 2009 season! Yipee! Today’s fish report was seriously thinning numbers of salmon at his go-to creek, so hopefully, the weather will cooperate and he’ll be able to reach some other streams for the remainder of his trips. Here’s a little trivia: Before Luke started his business, he worked for another outfit for 6 years doing similar trips via float plane. This is his 6th season operating Sea Runner Guide Service... Also, if he’s able to complete the remainder of his trips, that will make 60 for this season, which is an all-time record. I just realized that’s a lot of 6’s... Hmmmm...

Owen Update: This weekend, Owen has expanded his palate, experiencing 2 new beverages. The first was hot chocolate. Two thumbs up. I’m sure most of you are thinking, “duh,” but our boy is not a big lover of sweets. He’d much rather have an apple then a cookie. Weird, I know. Today after nap time, I made Owen some hot chocolate in the special walrus mug that I use to drink hot chocolate out of when I was a little girl and he slurped it down, wanting more! Maybe it was just the mug? The second beverage, got two thumbs down which is probably a good thing... At a wedding this weekend, we took Owen with us to the beverage station to pick out our special drinks (beer). For some reason, he NEEDED my beer. Big, fat tears, red face, dolphin kicking, crying and crying for a good 5 minutes. People around us were pretending not to notice, the whole scene was a bit embarasing... I tried to offer him pop corn, punch, a dinosaur, but nothing was working. Finally, I thought, “Fine. I’m just going to give him a sip and he’ll realize he doesn’t want it.” Sure enough, one little taste and he decided that the punch wasn’t so bad. Silly boy!

loving the hose

Owen at the beach with his day care buddies + some others friends

(Owen is right in the middle with the red jacket.

His little blonde twin next to him is, Zander- the one he bit.)

all zipped up with mama

Owen, Bailey, and the Greats (Yia Yia and Grandma)

checking out daddy

baby owen at the boy scout camp beach

...the old man is snoring...

Sarah’s Thoughts: The big news this week is that Luke and I became home owners. Since we’ve been married, we’ve rented our house from Luke’s parents with the intension of buying it someday. Low interest rates and the $8000.00 tax credit for first time home owners made it all possible, along with an extremely generous deal from Luke’s parents (thanks Steve and Cathy!). The whole thing was a bit anti-climactic, however, since we’ve been living in the house for the past 5 years. It would be nice to mark this milestone by making some sort of improvement, like installing a hot tub or replacing the carpet or repainting the outside of the house... but now that we’re paying $600.00 more each month, I think that instead we’re going to hunker down and try not to spend anything! Maybe I’ll just finally have a party instead...

Low- Its raining, its pouring... Luke says that fall is here. I vehemently oppose this statement, but secretly, I know he’s right.

High- Baby Jordyn! He was born right next-door (home birth) to our neighbors, Bob and Amy last wednesday. Welcome to the neighborhood, little guy!

Luke Update: Its mid-August already and Luke’s fishing season is winding down. He only has a handful of trips left, although Luke’s guiding won’t end there. He’s heading up to western Alaska to guide moose hunters for 2 weeks in September. The outfit is called “Cinder River” and the patrons pay a handsome price for their chance at a monster bull. Luke guided for Cinder River Lodge one other time, before Owen was born. He was paired with one hunter and dropped off in the middle of nowhere with a tent and supplies. Periodically, a pilot from the “lodge” would check in and drop off supplies but for the most part, they were on their own. The whole thing is very remote and I won’t get to talk to him for the duration. I think he’s excited about the adventure, but already getting nervous about missing us. I’m getting nervous about 2 weeks by myself with Owen and Dolly. At least its not snowing yet!

Owen Update: Last Tuesday, I went to pick Owen up from daycare and Leanne, his daycare provider, said, “Owen had to sit in time-out today because he bit Zander.” Sadly, this wasn’t shocking to me. He’s bit before. The biting is never fueled by anger or malice but done playfully. Regardless, he bites hard and usually leaves his victims in tears. When we arrived at home, Luke took Owen out of his car seat and asked about his day. I said, “Owen, can you tell Daddy what you did to Zander?” He looked at Luke and almost whispered, “bite Zander”. I don’t know if it was the time out that left the impression on his brain, or if I don’t give his memory enough credit, but I was amazed that he remembered what he’d done, understood my question and verbally answered. Several times over the next few days, we talked about how its not O.K. to bite and how he hurt his friend. Lately, I’ve noticed him catch himself pre-bite and choose to back off, so I know its all sinking in, but if you find yourself playing with Owen, best keep an eye on those chompers!

for some reason, the laundry basket was the

choice of refuge from the tickle-monster

Rasta boy

sporting a new rain jacket on a soggy day

Owen reminding me of a Who

from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

Baby Jordyn and his mama, Amy

August

Sarah’s Thoughts: I’ve been feeling a little directionless. I don’t know if its the sometimes hectic, get-outside-this-minute-because-who-knows-when-the-sun-will-shine-again lifestyle that seems to be summer or if I’m just disorganized and in need of focus. Probably a little of both. I’m feeling like we have a lot of different irons in the fire at the moment, so I’m hesitant to throw myself into any one thing in case I have to suddenly change directions... as a result, I’m treading water- not really doing anything. The reality is that I need to sit down and make some good old fashioned lists. I need to realize that just because I’m not sure when I’ll hear from a client on the latest graphic design project doesn’t mean I can’t take 30 minutes and go for a jog, or clean a bathroom. Just because I haven’t fully planned our trip in October doesn’t mean I can’t start some laundry or return a phone call...

Low- Work. We were so busy and down two assistants, so I had to keep running into the back to chart for the hygenists or help in the surgeries... and we seemed to have an extra load of H.M. patients (high maintenance) this week for some reason...

High- My friend Amy gave me a raspberry plant! I grew-up with raspberries in the back yard and I’m so excited for this plant to grow and spread and make all kinds of baby raspberries!

Luke Update: I know you’ve been waiting with bated breath all week to hear the deer report. Well, let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Luke and his buddy John went on an overnight alpine deer hunt to the back side of Douglas Island on opening day. Luke had never shot a deer on opening day. That, however, is no longer the case. Before they even made camp, Luke got his first deer of the 2009 season. The following day, John followed suit. The only bummer was that it took them so long to hike down the mountain with all their gear and 2 deer, they missed the tide. When they got back to the boat it was high and dry with 1 hour of outgoing tide and then another 2 of incoming tide to go until the boat would be floating again. Lucky for us, they had nothing but time to take a lot of pictures of themselves with deer antlers.

Owen Update: I didn’t know it, but there’s this corner out there and Owen is in the process of turning it. He’s seems to be much more confident and comfortable with himself and more at ease when we leave him with other people. He had his 2 year-old check-up last monday. In the past whenever he goes to the doctor’s office, he is very nervous- he starts to cry as soon as the nurse walks in the room. I was anticipating this on Monday, but thankfully, he did great. He opened his mouth wide to show Dr. Monica (who he called “Yia Yia”) all of his pearly whites. He cried during the administration of 3 shots, but recovered quickly and even gave the nurse a high-five on his way out the door. I am pleased to report he is in the 70th percentile for height (35”)and weight (31 lbs) and that good old head circumference is holding strong in the 90%.

shoveling at Sandy Beach

the joker with his T-Rex

it's been awhile since the last bath picture...

(Notice the dinos in the tub. They're everywhere!)

future rock climber

(he made it to the top platform all by himself!)

Proud hunters with their deer antlers

just waiting on the tide

Owen's first canned smile for the camera.

gotta love the hose.

mighty hunter bringing home the back strap

Still Summer-loving

Sarah’s Thoughts: Luke left us this weekend to browse the sunny mountain meadows for deer and for some reason, whenever Luke is gone hunting, I have this urge to remodel. I usually paint, but this time, since it was just an overnight trip, I decided to take down Owen’s crib. He’s been sleeping in a big boy bed for 3 months now and the amount of toys and books he acquires keep growing so it was time for the crib to go. Its amazing how big this tiny job felt. It took way too much time, created an amazing amount of space in his room, and afterwards, I felt like I’d accomplished this fulfilling, life-changing task. Owen was just excited to have the crib mattress on the floor for a little while so he could jump on it.

Low- This very moment, imagining my life as a widow since Luke was suppose to be back from deer hunting 5 hours ago... (he just called, is on his way home, missed the tide)

High- Owen running through the sprinkler this weekend.

Luke Update: Sockeye, deer, beautiful weather. It’s on! Luke struggles every summer with the need to work as much as he can verses the longing to do the things that makes Alaska great... This year, he’s decided to indulge a little bit. Last Monday he took the day off of guiding to head down to Sweetheart creek and fish for sockeye salmon. The salmon returning to the creek are hatchery fish, so each fisherman is allowed to keep 25 fish per day. If you hit the creek at the prime time, and are proficient at throwing a cast net, the task can be accomplished fairly quickly. However, when Luke was there, the fishing was a little slow. He left the house at 3:30 am, got home at 9:30 pm and had 18 fish between 3 of them. However, I’m not complaining! Gotta love those sockeye! Deer report next week.

Owen Update: I have a jumping bean on my hands. I have to make sure I’m close to Owen whenever there is anything around that he could potentially climb onto because before I know it, he’s throwing himself off. Large rocks, chairs, even the stairs at church today. That was a little scary since my hands were full of stuff. I had to throw my arm-load down the stairs so I could catch Owen. Scary and embarrassing... The other day, I was unsuccessfully trying to tell Owen to come to me. Frustrated, since he wouldn’t listen, I started counting, “Owen you need to come now! 1.... 2..... “ He squeeled with delight, ran over and jumped on me, because what else could I possibly be counting up to? Time to jump! In other news, he said his name for the first time today, but it was more “Own” or “O-nun”. Pretty precious.

Work picnic, all the kiddeos minus 3

Owen admiring the catch

Schultz dentistry staff at our summer picnic

Owen and the alders

montana creek

throwing the cast net for sockeye

big boy

Sarah’s Thoughts: We have been blessed with incredible weather this summer so as a result, my house remains a disaster area and every day, Owen has new bug bites. This summer, I’ve watched my baby grow into a little boy. He’s so much more independent, sometimes preferring the company of other people over me, which has been a little bit heartbreaking. Though summer’s not over, I’m realizing that August is right around the corner and soon fall will be upon us again. I think for the first time this year, I’m O.K. with that. Summer is such a busy time of sporatic fishing trips and all-day beach adventures, there’s no routine outside of work. We know its the one chance we have to see the sun and we better take advantage! By the time the last cruise ship leaves port and the leaves begin to fall off the trees, we’re ready to pull on the pajama pants, start a fire in the wood stove and dive into the inside projects that have been neglected all summer. I'm not quite ready for the wood stove, but I wouldn't mind trying on those pajama pants...

Low- Saturday morning- Tired, mosquitos swarming, and pounding headache while trying to wrangle a whiney 2 year-old and schlep our mounds of camping gear down a steep bank and across the rocks and seaweed to the boat.

High- Berries! We have strawberries growing on the side of the house, blueberries in the back yard and found nagoon berries on our camp-out!

Luke Update: Its official. Luke’s super secret go-to spot X is swelling with pink salmon so the nail-biting weather days are over. Thank goodness! However, Luke better not catch any of you crowding in on his humpy bounty when he’s pulling up to shore with a boat full of eager beavers or heads will be rolling! Since we’ve been home, Luke has had trips for the past 20 days in a row, with only 3 days off. Needless to say, this weekend, when we both found ourselves with time off, it was a welcome and much needed break! We headed out camping on Friday night and attempted a little halibut fishing, but with no luck. We did get to see a family of marmots, lots of eagles, sea lions, a doe and fawn and a group of on-duty coast guard members chasing chum salmon in the stream where they were trying to spawn. Ah, nature!

Owen Update: Like his mama, Owen has been loving berry season. He tends to get quite frantic, demanding “mon pick, mama” (translation, “pick more berries and feed them to me immediately, mama”). His hands down favorite is the strawberries and while my little crop is doing quite well, its definitely not enough to satisfy his lion-sized hunger. I had visions of storing up a healthy harvest of strawberries, but I can already tell that’s not going to happen. I’m continually amazed at the rate with which his vocabulary and memory is increasing. He knows that when we go to “chuch” he gets to play on the “wee” (slide) and see his beloved “Abby” and “Uke” (Luke). Gone are the days that I can momentarily distract him and cause him to forget about whatever fixation had him on the verge of a meltdown. He’s running and jumping and becoming more and more an independent little boy.

swimming in the water-filled rubber raft on the lawn.

Who needs a fancy kiddy pool?

Owen discovers that he loves ice cream

(it was suppose to be mine!)

strawberries in our yard

nagoon berries

posing at the glacier

high and dry at low tide

rubbermaid totes work for swimming pools too!

who knew?

ready for school with his dino lunch box

first fishing pole

fire