Happy Halloween

Halloween this year was a fun one!  Kali was a vampire, Meg was Padme {Queen Amidala}, and Owen was Horton {Hears A Who}.  - I just sewed a flower on his trunk -   Kali's latest BFF {she talks about him a lot}, Kaden, from church/school happened to be a vampire as well!  We'll just call them Edward & Bella!  :D  Aren't they cute!!!

 

 

        

Kali

Kali had a great week of school last week.  We went to an awards assembly on friday for 1st-3rd grade.  Kali's teacher submitted very few awards, of which Kali recieved the "Citizenship" Award . . . Treating Others with Great Kindness.  We were VERY proud of Kali for having one of the most important attributes!  

Then I went in for Kali's Spotlight for the week. She could write a few things about herself and bring some pictures.  This is what she wrote:

- I have one sister and one brother

- My birthday is September 2

- My favorite food is Cordon Bleu

- I like to ride my bike and jump on the 

trampoline

- I can wakesurf

After she read everything about her, the class got to ask/comment on a few things.  It was unanimous . . . they ALL thought she was cool for wakesurfing with her Uncle Matt, especially on his shoulders!!

Cousins

From painting each other, to getting thrown out the tube together {Kali & Meg are behind the boys},

COUSINS MAKE THE BEST FRIENDS!

Austin #3 {Surf's Up}

This was Jason's dream to learn how to surf.  We were both very excited to learn how to surf behind a boat.  Jason's older brother makes surfboards {Smed Wakesurfing}.  He changes the ballast on one side of the boat, creating a larger wake on one side.  It was so much fun, we might just bring his boards up here and start the wakesurfing sport in Alaska!

  

  

Austin #2 {Kids Surfin}

Boating was the kids' favorite!  Anytime we had to stop to change surfers, they jumped off the boat to swim!  We were spoiled by surfin almost everyday.  Owen didn't want to go, but mom didn't let him have a choice {gotta have pics!}; Kali loved going with Uncle Matt; and Meg loved going with Aunt Shayla. Stay tuned for more pics!

    

  

  

ACL {Austin City Limits}

We arrived in Austin, just like tons of others, for the ever-famous Austin City Limits.  Little did Austin know that the Smedley's have their own band!!  Otherwise I think we would of been invited!  Owen isn't pictured because he made his guitar a horse!  {Downtown has the best kids museum I've ever been to}

Austin #1 {San Antonio}

While we were in Austin we drove down to San Antonio for General Conference to visit Jason's Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents.  While we were at the Miller's we swam our little hearts out in their fun pool.  It's AMAZING how fast kids learn how to swim when they do it EVERYDAY!!  Kali was doing flips off the rocks; and Meg decided to take her lifejacket off, jump in and doggie paddle over to the stairs!  By the time we got out of the pool the girls were swimming all by themselves.  YEAH!!!!

 

 

Austin

Funny . . . I forgot about blog'n lately. Just so everyone knows, yup we are still alive {thanks Massey's for making sure :) }. We took off over a week ago to Austin and wont be back till tuesday. But I will have some cool pix to post for sure! Jason's brother makes wake-surfboards in Austin and is taking us everyday to the lake! We have a wakeboard, but the surfin is pretty sweet too! So stay tuned!

{we'll have to get a MacBook Pro so we can blog on the road!!! haha}

Eklutna

We took off last sunday with my brother Jeff & his girlfriend Raechel to Eklutna Lake/Glacier.  It's a 13 mile bike ride around the glacier-fed lake and to a cute little cabin that holds 13 people.  We all carried a load in our backpacks, while Jason & Jeff each took a day to pull the bike trailer.  When we finally reached the cabin it was dark, and I had to make our double-layer pizza with just a headlamp to see what I was doing.  We forgot our coal for our dutch oven, so had to use the inside of the 

stove . . . but mmmmmmm, did it turn out yummy!!!  For breakfast we had dutch babies (flour/milk/eggs/syrup) and then went as far as we could to reach the face of the glacier.  While we were back there we saw 6 dall sheep!  Eklutna is our family favorite to go camping/biking, and this time was no exception with the fall colors and calm, glass-like lake.  Simply breathtaking and a blast.  If anyone is up for coming with us next time and splitting the cost of the cabin let us know!  {On certain days you can have 4-wheelers which makes it easier with kids}

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our New Stove

Jason & I get more and more excited about backpacking and obtaining more gear for the future.  We only lack a backpacking stove and a water purifier . . . until now.   Jason created the lightest stove ever {after watching youtube}.  He took an empty sprite can, cut it up, stuck it together with insulation inside, poked holes in the side and on top {to fill with fuel} . . . and wham bam! We have a stove!!  He uses a can of Heet to use for fuel, filled up the sprite can with water . . . and 5 minutes later . . . we have boiling water!  Pretty sweet if I may say so myself!  Supposedly it will hold a pot of water.  Im sure we'll be testing it out more just for kicks!!