Alaska July 2007

It has been said in years past that when you visit the Severns you must be prepared for a two-week vacation in one week. We laughed...

We left for Fairbanks on the 19th...arrived to see EVERYONE at the airport to meet us! This was just the beginning of the most awesome trip Jared and I have ever been on (including our honeymoon).:) From the fresh vegetables out of Grandpa's garden, to the wild moose and her twin calves, the Riverboat tour on the Chena River, to the sea lions gorging themselves on salmon in view from our tent in Valdeez, the gold mine where we panned for gold, to exploring Worthington glacier, kayaking Columbia glacier to being with our awesome family, fishing with the pros (Knowltons), spotting bears, standing in awe of Denali, and eating wild blue berries, walking the pipeline, and driving through the most beautiful part of the United States of America. IT WAS AMAZING! There are just no words to describe the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Now that we've somewhat recovered...we're ready to go back!

Gambling in Reno/Fernley

So one of my oldest and best friends, Teresa McCallum, and her husband live in Fernley, NV. We have been wanting to go visit for a long time and we were especially anxious for Kate to meet them. So Kate and I flew out there on the 9th of July. We had a great time visiting, catching up, and being tourists together.:)

We spent one day in Virginia City (a touristy mining town not too far from where they live). We got to go to Farmer's Market in Reno, we looked at houses (they were in the market to buy and wanted my realtor two cents worth), toured the high school where Teresa teaches English, and yes, gambled.

Before you go judging me too harshly, you must know, that before we went, Jared had a dream that I played the quarter slot machines and won 6 million!!!! And he not only dreamed this once but TWICE!

He is so funny. Before I went he asked me if I thought I would see a slot machine while I was there? Um hello? This is Reno/Tahoe baby, there are slot machines in the airport, at the gas stations, and in the front of the grocery stores not to mention the casinos and bars! So yes, it wouldn't be a problem.

So I waited until the last day...here I was at the airport with $20 cash. We had an hour before the plane was leaving, what else was I going to do? Gamble...and win the big bucks! Well, lose I did and at least I did it fast cause there's nothing that feels worse to me than throwing money away.:)

Oh and I almost forgot to tell you about Pitch! Pitch is Teresa and Josh's dog...and Kate's new infatuation. She absolutely could not decide if she should crawl up on and kiss and squeeze the poor guy or go crawling for the hills. It was so funny. I think by the end of the week, Pitch was ready to say goodbye to Baby Kate.:)

P. S. Congrats on the new house guys!!!! Can't wait to come back for another visit!

Ste-B & Our Trip to Tennessee

Kate and I joined my mom and youngest sis Rach on a trip to East Tennessee to visit Steph over the Fourth of July. With good eats, pedicures, shopping, and fireworks how could you not have fun??? It's a 13 hour trip in the car and even though Kate only slept an hour's worth, she didn't cry once. She is the most amazing traveling baby ever! This was just the beginning of our travels...