BIRTHDAY BONFIRE

Hi, folks! I know you all missed not having Cassie down there to celebrate her birthday. However, Carmen and I enjoyed having her here—she blew extra hard on the candles so it counted for me too! J
Carmen fixed us dumpling soup for a birthday dinner—mmmmmmmm! Then we went out to Ward Lake and fixed up a rip-roaring “ha-ha” fire to eat our Oreo Desert by. One of our friends from church, Jenni, came out with us—I included the best picture with her in it even though it is a bit blurry—still getting used to this camera’s settings and taking night pics to boot.Thanks for the b-day presents to all of you down there—and thanks, Joe for the b-day song, never heard that one before. Next year will be the big three oh so I guess I have one year left to be young. Planning to enjoy it, and play lots with our new little bundle.

DRUMROLL PLEASE . . . . AND NOW FOR THE BELLY!

I had to do quite a bit of convincing to get this picture up for you. Isn't my lovely wife's belly cute? (24 weeks in, 16 weeks to go!) Our wonderful baby is now beginning to really move around. The other night he/she might have even been pushing back (playing patty cake) with dad! It's been lots of fun. Thank you for all your prayers.

TODD GIVES UNCLE GUS A GREAT PRESENT!
Here's is a picture of me opening my great present from my little nephew Todd--Great Job Todd! I'd add a few more pics of it but as you can see I had trouble even getting this one on. I had to take a picture of a picture since we don't have a scanner and didn't have our fancy new camera on Christmas Eve. Anyways, more pics are in the mail to you Todd! I love my new paper organizer. I have it sitting on my desk at school and I'm already filling it up with papers! Thanks!

JACK AND I GO TO THE BEACH

Jack and I went to the beach today and threw the frisbee. We just had to take pictures of this old tree root. Of course, peek-a-boo is much more fun. Frisbee was fun too--Jack went for a swim (didn't get a pic of that but I do have video I might put on later.)

Trying to hit the camera is always a fun game--I couldn't believe I got such a clear shot of this. You may have noticed we decided not to go to the white sand beach--haha!

PEACEFUL KETCHIKAN MORNING

I took this shot last year, shortly after they opened the 3rd ave. bypass. I get to drive by this view every morning going to work, and I decided I ought to snap a picture or two. I like these mornings in Ketchikan—not rainy but overcast, calm, peaceful. The clouds high and wispy, the water quiet.

HERE'S TO FISH

Fish don't care if it rains all the time--which it does. In fact, just to prove my point, we almost broke the record this year. 195 inches of rain this year. The record, set back in '46, if i remember right, was just over 200 inches. Anyway, fish don't really care. This aprx. 30lb king hit a herring plug a few years back (my first king ever.)