Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Bennett is Crawling



Haircuts for the boys.








Attempted Photo Shoot

It didn't go so well!!













Girls Day Out

I took Kenadee and Kenzie to Alice in Wonderland, put on by some youth who were in a summer acting camp. Afterwards we went to McDonalds for ice cream cones. These girls are such good friends, and they are so fun to be around.













Nate and Millie's Visit

At the begining of August, Nate and Millie came to visit us for just over a week. Once again, we had a very fun filled time, checking out new places and taking them to some of our favorites.
This was Nate's first time meeting Bennett!

Day one Millie and I took the kids to the park while Nate and Ben went mountain biking.



We were lucky enough to have Millie here on her birthday, so we celebrated with homemade lasanga and this yummy chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting and strawberries!


Of course we were bound to have some rainy days. To any of you who want to come visit, we have learned that August is the rainy month!


The boys in the back of the van.



We found this great park close to our house with this super cool blue bridge. We had to take advantage of a photo opportunity!


Love these two!



Monday night we headed up to McHugh Creek for tin foil dinners and smores. It was raining, but we didn't let that stop us!


This is one of the falls along McHugh Creek.



I think they look great with a kid!!


Here we are hiking near the Anchorage Science Center. The kids love throwing rocks in the river.


Bennett on the other hand loved eating the rocks, sand, sticks, pretty much anything he could get his hands on!


We recently found a spot that you can go down to the beach. It is very close to the airport, so you get to watch airplanes taking off right over your head on the beach! It is so cool!!


Of course we have to take time for crafts. This one was a great one to have Uncle Nate help with. We took three pringles cans and made our own rainstick. The kids were loving nailing the nails into the cans.



We used hot glue and duck tape to keep it all together. We filled it with rice and pinto beans. It works pretty good. I just hope no one falls on it!


We took Nate and Millie to the temple for sealings. It was such a wonderful experience to be in the temple with family!


Of course we made a stop by the conservation center. Millie and Bennett are just chilling with their new moose friend.


I don't know the name of this little lake, but isn't it amazingly beautiful? The picture doesn't hardly do it justice!



This is u pin Whittier. We heard about some other fun hikes up there. This one came to some gorgeous falls. We made up our own way down. We discovered this cool little area along the way.


It was so green!


I also don't know the name of this hike, but it was amazing. It ended up at this platform with a beautiful view of Whittier. All along the way there were wild blueberry and salmonberry bushes.

Cute Benson fell asleep in the pack on Nate's back. I guess we really wore him out this day!

We had such a fun time having so much family out this summer! We feel very blessed to have so much support, and loved the opportunities to check out this beautiful state that we live in! Hopefully next summer we can do it all again!!


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Papa, Paige and Maddie come to visit

We were so lucky this summer to have my dad and little sisters come visit us. We had a blast with them seeing some of what there is to see here in Alaska. I loved having my dad, who is just like me with seeing it all and going until we can't walk anymore. I think we had a couple of days that we really wore out our crew, but it was fun!
Papa and the kids

Paige and Bennett

Kena and Maddie


Hike at Bird Creek

Maddie and Paige at Thunderbird Falls


A brown bear fishing at Russian River Falls. It was so cool to see him across the river.


Our family at the Crow Creek Mine


The whole group at Winner's Creek


Me, Maddie, Ben and Bennett at the Winner Creek hand tram. Dad, Paige, Kena and Benson are in the tram.

Kena in front of the beautiful wildflowers on the Trail of Blue Ice


Bennett posing for us in Whittier, AK. Whittier is this very quaint port town about an hour south of Anchorage. To get to the town you have to drive through a 2.5 mile one lane tunnel.

The girls and Bennett in Whittier.


Papa, Kena and Bennett by the river close to Byron Glacier.


Dad, Maddie, Paige, Kena and Benson in front of the Elk at the conservation center.


Group shot in Whittier.


Ben visits Utah

This is Ben's youngest sister Jessica and her beautiful family.
Ben and his 3 brothers, Jared, David and Hyrum.



All the Mishler siblings with mom, Aunt Pat and Cindy.








Benson is 3

Our little guy turned 3 in July. I can't believe how time flies. We had Papa, Aunt Maddie and Aunt Paige here for his birthday. We made a race car cake, which he loved. He got some super fun presents from everyone.




This one was from the Chappells.