Finally, we found some time to upload some cool photos of our trip:

This is Mt. Redoubt, which started erupting in March, but is still spewing clouds of gas. They expect another lava eruption anytime. We are looking at it from the Kenai Peninsula, across Cook Inlet (on our way to Homer). We're about 20 miles away! There's still volcanic ash all over the streets and plants.

This is a sunset from our Anchorage hotel room. We're staying at the Hotel Captain Cook--one of the nicest places in all of Alaska.

At the Soldotna show (the first one), we got the coveted "bear booth." Steph thought of putting one of our catalogs in the bear's claw.

We saw some eagles on our drive to Homer, but the best shots we got were at a trash dump. I guess eagles are pretty much scavengers. They sure look beautiful, though.

Speaking of beautiful, here's a shot we're going to send to Irish Dancing & Culture magazine. In the background is Homer Spit. It's pretty much "the end of the world."

This shot is from Homer. It's the halibut fishing capital of the world. We've been eating lots of halibut on this trip--yumm.

This is from Homer Spit too.

This shot is from a scenic overlook as you enter Homer, Alaska. I've been told Homer is the prettiest place in Alaska. It's hard to argue. And we had an unusually beautiful day for our visit.

One of several wild moose we've seen on our trip. This was one of three who crossed the road just ahead of us. Alaskans find this pretty ho-hum, but it's still cool to us. Note: 162 moose have been killed by motor vehicles on the Kenai Peninsula since last July!

This cool shot was taken on our way back from Homer. In the foreground is a Russian Orthodox cemetary. Cook inlet and a mountain range we don't know the name of is in the background.

This is the Turnagain Arm--on the way from Anchorage to Soldotna/Homer.

This is a mountain (duh). We stopped at a wildlife conservation area where they have various Alaskan animals behind fences. These are elk.

A genuine grizzly bear (called brown bear here). It was inside a fence.

A moose.

More later!

Alakan Mountains....and Moose!

Hey everbody, Steph here! Sorry we haven't posted yet. We've been extrememly busy. It feels like we've been gone for weeks instead of days! Don't believe we've been that busy? Well, here's proof.

Since Sunday morning we have...

• Ridden in 3 airplanes, a taxi, a bus, a monorail, a huge van, a rental car, and walked for many miles around Seattle and airports.
• Been to the top of the Seattle Space Needle. (Its' amazing how easy it is to lose sight of a building that tall. We got totally lost trying to find it.)
• Seen the famous fish-throwing fish market and the rest of the interesting (and sometimes odd) stands in the Seattle Public Market.
• Seen 7 moose!
• Seen a ton of bald eagles and several, well, non-bald eagles.
• Visited an animal refuge and saw a bunch of animals including some brown bears (i.e. grizzlies)!
• Driven from Anchrage to Soldotna.
• Seen two active volcanoes with smoke bellowing out (pretty sweet).
• Seen the Portage Glacier (from a distance).
• Drove from Soldotna to Homer and drove along the Homer Spit (BEAUTIFUL!).
• Eaten hamburgers, pizza, a pile of amazing seafood (clams, oysters, crab, shrimp), the nation's best calm chowder, halibut tacos, fried halibut, fried halibut (we like halibut), Alaskan Amber (for Dad of course), and i had my first cream soda!
• watched "Bourne Identitiy" in our hotel room.
• I practiced dance and dad worked out (we're not complete bums!).
• been at the convention all day today. (it's acutually still going on, just taking a break to blog!)
• I made a little 2 1/2 year old friend named Clara. (She was SO CUTE!)
• Taken a ton of videos and photos that we will try to put up soon! (we're having some technical difficulty with the videos. ) =)

After the convention we're driving back to Anchorage.

Well, we miss you all and will see you when we get back! More posts to come!

10th Annual Bunny Pictures

When Madison was 4 months old we did our first spring bunny picture in front of our pink azaleas. Here are this year's pictures. Same ears--same azaleas.

Pictures from Taylor's Surprise Party

FINALLY, here are pictures from Taylor's surprise party which was held at the Wallis Home. Below, the girls wait for Taylor in Helena's room.

Taylor was VERY surprised when she opened the door!!!!

Many thanks to Helena for planning and hosting the party. She did a fantastic job!

Lunch was pulled-beef barbeque sandwiches, and we had ice cream sundaes for dessert.

To get her group gift, Taylor was sent on a scavenger hunt.

Her treasure was buried, so she had to dig for it.

The group gift was cash to go on a shopping spree.

Taylor and her sisters:

Taylor and Coleman:

Taylor and Auntie Beck:

Taylor with Mrs. Wallis and Helena. Thanks again for hosting such a fun afternoon!

Taylor with Marie Hughes, Rachel, and Sarah. We are so glad you could be in town for Taylor's party.

The gang!

You just THINK we're normal!

but we're not!

WORLDS!

This week I (Stephanie) got to compete in the World Championships for Irish dance (a.k.a. Oireachtas Rince Na Cruinne) in Philadelphia. I had 151 dancers in my competition and out of those only 50 recalled (got to dance a 3rd dance and place). I did not recall, but had a GREAT time!! There were 8 countries represented in my competition! It was so neat hearing all of the different accents. Not only did I get to dance in Worlds for the 1st time, but I also got to eat my very first Philly Cheese Steak! (Pat's of course!!) Yummmmmmm.

THANK YOU to Nanny, Grandma, Karen, Auntie Beck, Aunt Sharon, Aunt Nancy, Miss Laura, Alexis, Courtney, Rachel, Miss Becky, Jonathan, Andrew, Nicole, Miss Mimi, Isaac, Hannah, Mrs. Sennecal, Laurissa, Emma, Mrs. Murphy, Erin, Mrs. Taylor, Caitlyn, Siobhan, Mrs. Perks, and of course my wonderful family for coming to watch. I definitely had the LOUDEST applause!!! =) It was great having you all there! Boys......you're the best for sticking through it all!

Special thanks to Miss Heather and Miss Lisa for all your support, encouragement, and great teaching!

And for everybody else who prayed for me and wished me good luck, it was much appreciated!! I have the best friends in the whole wide world!

Nationals is next!! ha ha!

Birthday Surprise!

Hey guys, this is Tay! Sorry we haven't posted in a while!

Tuesday is my 13th birthday. I was planning on having a bunch of girls over at the end of the month, haha, yeah not really what happened!:) Steph had a surprise party for her 13th birthday, so I was kinda expecting it, until I asked my Mom if she was planning a surprise party for me. Her response was " Taylor, when do I have time to plan you a surprise party?!" The funny thing is that she didn't lie to me. My wonderful friend, Helena, planned the whole party for me. Thank you so much girl! It was a blast and I was so surprised! I screamed really loud. All the girls were huddled in Helena's bedroom, real shocker!:) hahaha! Fun times... PICTURES COMING SOON!

Happy Valentine's Day!

A day late, but here are this year's Valentine's pictures in the form of a slideshow. Hope you enjoy watching! Happy Valentine's Day!

Here are a few of my favorite shots:

A Valentine's Tradition

In 2003, my friend Bethany took the original 

L-O-V-E picture of our girls. She

 probably never guessed how compulsive I (Mel) would become 

about it. Every year since that first Valentine picture, Valentine's cards have become a staple in our home. Here are all the cards from the most recent to the original. This year's card will be posted on Valentine's Day! Thanks, Bethany, for inspiring these pictures!

The  year of the picture is listed above it.

2008, front

2008, back

2007

2006

2005

2004

Here is Bethany's original L-O-V-E picture. 2003