tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80282155722520396692024-03-14T23:41:18.096-07:00Rudstrom Family BlogThe Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.comBlogger602125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-21751788152261670252018-04-07T15:18:00.001-07:002018-04-07T15:18:55.019-07:00FhjjhftyThe Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-66135514698183500672015-01-10T19:39:00.002-08:002015-01-10T20:13:47.168-08:00Ethiopian Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0_ImiX6PKZQ/VLGTCmquxRI/AAAAAAAAESc/w57hLnU530E/s1600/injera1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0_ImiX6PKZQ/VLGTCmquxRI/AAAAAAAAESc/w57hLnU530E/s1600/injera1.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
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This year we celebrated Ethiopian Christmas by making our most extravagant Ethiopian meal yet. I have successfully made a couple of Ethiopian main dishes but have failed miserably at making injera (the spongy, fermented flat bread).<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-066xLaka-Ys/VLGTHMo5JSI/AAAAAAAAESk/489UKBt8b6U/s1600/injera2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-066xLaka-Ys/VLGTHMo5JSI/AAAAAAAAESk/489UKBt8b6U/s1600/injera2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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To encourage me on this culinary journey, C.O. bought me a special pan with a tight fitting lid along with a cookbook with very detailed instructions on how to prepare injera. I had to order some of the ingredients online but was finally ready to bring a little of Ethiopia to Alaska.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iLCh5DTpy0U/VLGVrx2BobI/AAAAAAAAETU/ny_ZOeKH-kQ/s1600/injera8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iLCh5DTpy0U/VLGVrx2BobI/AAAAAAAAETU/ny_ZOeKH-kQ/s1600/injera8.jpg" height="310" width="400" /></a></div>
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The dough mixture of teff and whole wheat flour fermented for three days before it was time to cook it up. I had a few problems getting it off the griddle but overall it looked and tasted close to what we remember having in Ethiopia.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9rRVTfxZPyE/VLGU27CMxHI/AAAAAAAAESw/zhiujjt5sK4/s1600/injera3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9rRVTfxZPyE/VLGU27CMxHI/AAAAAAAAESw/zhiujjt5sK4/s1600/injera3.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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We made four dishes: misir wot (lentil stew), doro wat (chicken stew), t'ibs w'et (beef stew) and a salad and we drank mango and avocado smoothies like we had at cafes in Ethiopia.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6ULW-aefig/VLGU3eDPiKI/AAAAAAAAES4/lRjFkY19XWw/s1600/injera4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6ULW-aefig/VLGU3eDPiKI/AAAAAAAAES4/lRjFkY19XWw/s1600/injera4.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></div>
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The super fun, up-for-anything Miller family joined us for dinner.</div>
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We all ate with our hands using the injera to scoop up our food.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xQmm13bsHFE/VLGVqVJdEEI/AAAAAAAAETM/qdKcdb_WkOg/s1600/injera7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xQmm13bsHFE/VLGVqVJdEEI/AAAAAAAAETM/qdKcdb_WkOg/s1600/injera7.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></div>
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Harold heard that it was customary to feed people directly from your hand if you feel especially close to them. Michael wasn't quite ready to move their relationship to the next level however.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rIUKibkVu-Q/VLGU5f3ncgI/AAAAAAAAETA/FDX66pvzUgA/s1600/injera5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rIUKibkVu-Q/VLGU5f3ncgI/AAAAAAAAETA/FDX66pvzUgA/s1600/injera5.jpg" height="316" width="400" /></a></div>
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The kids weren't too sure what to make of the Ethiopian food but they were pretty good sports about the whole experience.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9l03im4HFrs/VLGWirqX8JI/AAAAAAAAETg/jbtSD-ewj_o/s1600/injera9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9l03im4HFrs/VLGWirqX8JI/AAAAAAAAETg/jbtSD-ewj_o/s1600/injera9.jpg" height="400" width="293" /></a></div>
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And finally, the very special Ethiopian princess that has made our lives so much richer. </div>
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Merry Ethiopian Christmas</div>
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or is it</div>
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Happy Ethiopian Christmas?</div>
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. . . we're not really sure.</div>
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~AnnMarie</div>
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<br />The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-75314720798995535672014-06-29T15:04:00.000-07:002014-09-15T15:10:15.884-07:00John and Richelle Tied the Knot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pk6mCOWimag/VASSRxjVyzI/AAAAAAAAEPc/48RgiA7J9c0/s1600/IMG_7718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pk6mCOWimag/VASSRxjVyzI/AAAAAAAAEPc/48RgiA7J9c0/s1600/IMG_7718.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
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We were able to travel to Minnesota this year to spend the month of June with friends and family. We did all the usual visiting, swimming, water skiing etc but the main event for our time with family was the wedding of my brother John and his wife Richelle.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-daqC1PfhLWI/VBYQqZ-t49I/AAAAAAAAER8/Oeg-UTp6rCI/s1600/IMG_7396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-daqC1PfhLWI/VBYQqZ-t49I/AAAAAAAAER8/Oeg-UTp6rCI/s1600/IMG_7396.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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They were married outdoors on Kaleva Island near Eveleth. It was a beautiful spot for a wedding. Unfortunately the weather was less than stellar. It was raining and cold but everyone kept their spirits up and had a great weekend.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mzjwUeyhMts/VBW4-wCWoVI/AAAAAAAAERQ/xaoCnbDsx4c/s1600/untitled-8038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mzjwUeyhMts/VBW4-wCWoVI/AAAAAAAAERQ/xaoCnbDsx4c/s1600/untitled-8038.jpg" height="256" width="640" /></a></div>
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John and Richelle asked me to take the wedding photos for their big day. This is a job way outside my comfort zone or skill set but it was a fun challenge so I gave it a try. Here are a few of my favorites from the day. It's easy for me to see what's wrong with each photo but overall I'm happy with how they turned out considering I have never photographed a wedding.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__tL_cYXAuE/VASTgL0uakI/AAAAAAAAEPo/ID-ybuNZUYY/s1600/IMG_7543-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__tL_cYXAuE/VASTgL0uakI/AAAAAAAAEPo/ID-ybuNZUYY/s1600/IMG_7543-2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8P6HDTQhMP0/VBYN9jmEc5I/AAAAAAAAERs/QBV3PNyA32E/s1600/thekiss2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8P6HDTQhMP0/VBYN9jmEc5I/AAAAAAAAERs/QBV3PNyA32E/s1600/thekiss2.jpg" height="383" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDmk-FAFQRc/VASUVeBWWJI/AAAAAAAAEQI/1-wySvNGi8Y/s1600/IMG_7723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDmk-FAFQRc/VASUVeBWWJI/AAAAAAAAEQI/1-wySvNGi8Y/s1600/IMG_7723.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyWXylzCQn0/VASUEzKOQAI/AAAAAAAAEP4/9f7_a_yuxwU/s1600/Linfam-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyWXylzCQn0/VASUEzKOQAI/AAAAAAAAEP4/9f7_a_yuxwU/s1600/Linfam-2.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lindula Family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lhl5opNJFjc/VBYPSgmYTYI/AAAAAAAAER0/K-fGVPasWnI/s1600/untitled-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lhl5opNJFjc/VBYPSgmYTYI/AAAAAAAAER0/K-fGVPasWnI/s1600/untitled-2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Garee Family</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WrF_z_VG5qU/VBW4pgNnSmI/AAAAAAAAERI/pBmPfRGKW6k/s1600/IMG_777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WrF_z_VG5qU/VBW4pgNnSmI/AAAAAAAAERI/pBmPfRGKW6k/s1600/IMG_777.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J1COLVdiFkI/VASaJjzwJqI/AAAAAAAAEQw/KMdV53wj4LU/s1600/IMG_7763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J1COLVdiFkI/VASaJjzwJqI/AAAAAAAAEQw/KMdV53wj4LU/s1600/IMG_7763.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harold and his uncle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QWJrLcSCyHU/VBdivfQQmSI/AAAAAAAAESM/Dhp62NeogZM/s1600/untitled-7960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QWJrLcSCyHU/VBdivfQQmSI/AAAAAAAAESM/Dhp62NeogZM/s1600/untitled-7960.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Tizita and her new auntie (she is seriously happy about this!)</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WufyEf-ozNk/VBW4hCP4oEI/AAAAAAAAERA/cDCWQNlJJN4/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WufyEf-ozNk/VBW4hCP4oEI/AAAAAAAAERA/cDCWQNlJJN4/s1600/cake.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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My mom made this stunning cake! </div>
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In fact, she used the same silk flowers that were on our wedding cake.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jFLzUhG66Ys/VBW5HtKumzI/AAAAAAAAERY/51qCpR89B4w/s1600/untitled-8016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jFLzUhG66Ys/VBW5HtKumzI/AAAAAAAAERY/51qCpR89B4w/s1600/untitled-8016.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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There were two live bands that played throughout the evening as well as music from the happy couple and best man. </div>
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Aren't they adorable?</div>
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~AnnMarie</div>
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The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-33719042338706806512014-05-30T20:10:00.002-07:002014-05-31T07:04:40.847-07:00The Class of 2014 (A Return to Brevig)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There wasn't time to take photos. I was too busy spending time in good company and enjoying my former home. The graduating class asked me to be their speaker this year. There was no question in my mind, I would be there.</div>
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I had all the usual Bush adventures. The Saturday afternoon flight was cancelled due to weather and I had to ask someone in Nome to take me in at the last minute. There was rain and mud and cardboard boxes for luggage but, as I told C.O., it was just like riding a bike. <br />
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Sunday morning my plane landed just before the fog was once again too thick and low for flying.<br />
I got the warm welcome that Brevig is known for as I walked around town saying hi to everyone. I'm pretty sure I have never gotten as many hugs in the span of two days as I did during my visit. It was a bit surreal to be back in Brevig. It felt like I had never left. I saw our old house near the ocean and it seemed as though I could just walk in and be home.<br />
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In my third year of teaching, the group of students you see in the picture above walked into my classroom. They were some of my favorite students. They were a blast to teach and worked very hard at school. I knew all those years ago that these kids had a bright future. I felt honored to be a part of their special day. The kids all did a wonderful job with their speeches and their slide show was beautiful making an all around enjoyable ceremony. <br />
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The graduation speech I gave was about 13 minutes long. I don't suppose very many people will ever watch it but for my sake I'm thankful to have it preserved. I've watched it a couple times since returning and it makes me cry every time. The two most important points I wanted to get across was how much these young people have going for them and what a big difference they made in my life. It's common to hear about teachers who make a difference in students' lives but in this case, it was these students who made <em>me</em> love teaching. <br />
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I am forever grateful to Brevig Mission and this class for shaping who I am today. It was good to be "home" for a little while.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/96138034" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/96138034">Brevig Grad Speech 2014 2</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user5176998">AnnMarie Rudstrom</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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~AnnMarie</div>
The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-27502322879798825412014-04-17T23:06:00.001-07:002014-04-17T23:09:38.257-07:00Harold Does Poetry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Harold never ceases to amaze us with his long list of talents. The most recent discovery was his ability to write poetry. Harold has always enjoyed writing stories but this was something completely different and came seemingly out of nowhere. We were on a road trip and Tizita was in the middle of a crying fit when Harold whipped this out to make her feel better. C.O. and I were blown away.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2pwOYefwM0/U0_vxdk87nI/AAAAAAAAEOI/Xii37l9izyc/s1600/pretty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2pwOYefwM0/U0_vxdk87nI/AAAAAAAAEOI/Xii37l9izyc/s1600/pretty.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tizita is just like a flower;</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rosy and red.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's the prettiest of all.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look at her shining bright.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's the prettiest in sight.</span></i></div>
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By: Harold Ramos Rudstrom</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTXFVBtYW8c/U1C1479FE4I/AAAAAAAAEOY/rdGCZyRbnZA/s1600/poetry+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTXFVBtYW8c/U1C1479FE4I/AAAAAAAAEOY/rdGCZyRbnZA/s1600/poetry+.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></div>
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This evening we had the opportunity to learn more about poetry and celebrate Harold's writing. The Soldotna Public Library held a poetry reading session for kids in recognition of National Poetry Month. They began by reading a selection of poems from around the world followed by nursery rhymes. Kids were encouraged to bring their favorite poem to share as well. We had Harold practice reading slowly and clearly at home so he was prepared for an audience. Harold was too shy to go up by himself but he did a nice job sharing his piece with the group. We are so proud!<br />
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~AnnMarie</div>
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<br />The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-7903897344789966772014-03-16T00:01:00.000-07:002014-03-16T09:19:31.497-07:00The Curtain Project or Why it Takes Us So Long to Decorate <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We are very happy with the house we bought here in Soldotna. It has just the right amount of space, a nice layout and a cozy feel but we haven't really had time to decorate and add our personal touch. We finally got going and decided curtains would be our first decorating project.</div>
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Martha Stewart magazine first inspired this project. The idea is to use painter's drop cloth as the fabric for curtains or whatever you're doing with cloth. The fabric is inexpensive and comes in larger widths than what you can find at the average fabric store. It's also a lot less expensive. You also have the option to dye the fabric whatever color you would like.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-THdW4gDbWno/Uwu8AkN5W7I/AAAAAAAAECc/qUoXfvWRj9g/s1600/curtains3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-THdW4gDbWno/Uwu8AkN5W7I/AAAAAAAAECc/qUoXfvWRj9g/s1600/curtains3.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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The first step was to cut out the curtain panels from a piece of drop cloth. </div>
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We borrowed a large stainless steel sink and a propane burner from a turkey fryer and did the dying outside. It seemed like way to scary of an operation to do in the house.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nWcZwlxcpqY/Uwu-dfx6m5I/AAAAAAAAECw/tyTBxby88YE/s1600/curtains5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nWcZwlxcpqY/Uwu-dfx6m5I/AAAAAAAAECw/tyTBxby88YE/s1600/curtains5.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
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Salt, dye and a vat of boiling water is the magic trifecta for adding color to your life. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iG1wQnx75S0/Uwu-jGiuZ8I/AAAAAAAAEC8/fqu-XyZf0KI/s1600/curtains7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iG1wQnx75S0/Uwu-jGiuZ8I/AAAAAAAAEC8/fqu-XyZf0KI/s1600/curtains7.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
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In goes the fabric. </div>
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Our friend Andy stopped by so we put him to work stirring. He got a bit of purple dye on his new jeans. Lesson learned: wear play clothes when you come to the Rudstroms.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X5DxTeVaDYs/Uwu-jBLAUEI/AAAAAAAAEC4/AkHDthkUb3s/s1600/curtains9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X5DxTeVaDYs/Uwu-jBLAUEI/AAAAAAAAEC4/AkHDthkUb3s/s1600/curtains9.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's so purply!</div>
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We've decided to have a subtle nautical theme in the living area so C.O. made the rod supports from boat cleats. </div>
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The curtains add a lot to the living area. It's like they're coming off the wall to give you a big, cozy, purple hug.</div>
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Slowly things are coming together in the house. Our project list and ideas are a mile long but little by little the house is starting to reflect our style.<br />
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~AnnMarie</div>
The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-72131753139261148962013-12-21T17:37:00.001-08:002013-12-21T17:41:09.859-08:00The Rudstrom Family Christmas Tree <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WzGDLvk3FGo/UrY1OLeA_5I/AAAAAAAAEBQ/lViEBPHbZFI/s1600/gris3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WzGDLvk3FGo/UrY1OLeA_5I/AAAAAAAAEBQ/lViEBPHbZFI/s400/gris3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/82474013" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/82474013">Christmas Tree '13</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user5176998">AnnMarie Rudstrom</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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"We're kicking off our fun old fashioned family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols."</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lYgzoAl6NlI/UrTL_8EM0TI/AAAAAAAAD_4/W6XMePxV1_8/s1600/gris1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lYgzoAl6NlI/UrTL_8EM0TI/AAAAAAAAD_4/W6XMePxV1_8/s400/gris1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"They invented [Christmas tree lots] because people forgot how to have a fun old fashioned family Christmas. <span style="text-align: center;">You see kids, this is what our fore fathers did. They walked out into the woods, they picked out that special tree and they cut it down with their bare hands."</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ArefdvlAE0I/UrTMCwHbVvI/AAAAAAAAEAA/3ENvAylOovo/s1600/tree1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ArefdvlAE0I/UrTMCwHbVvI/AAAAAAAAEAA/3ENvAylOovo/s400/tree1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">“The most enduring traditions of the season are best enjoyed in the warm embrace of kith and kin. Thith tree is a thymbol of the thspirit of the <strike>Griswold</strike> Rudstrom family Chrithmath,” </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evpMdSNILis/UrTNUverKaI/AAAAAAAAEAY/isqrKceBtYk/s1600/tree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evpMdSNILis/UrTNUverKaI/AAAAAAAAEAY/isqrKceBtYk/s640/tree2.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>
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(A chorus of angels fades in.) There it is! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WjgqBEo37Wg/UrTN2-G6J2I/AAAAAAAAEAs/sJGUp6tMj_8/s1600/tree3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WjgqBEo37Wg/UrTN2-G6J2I/AAAAAAAAEAs/sJGUp6tMj_8/s400/tree3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Thankfully C.O. did <i>not</i> forget the saw.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PJZagfcHKYI/UrZCIjAmfeI/AAAAAAAAEBg/YzICW7S_LM4/s1600/tree4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PJZagfcHKYI/UrZCIjAmfeI/AAAAAAAAEBg/YzICW7S_LM4/s640/tree4.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span>I give you the Rudstrom Family Christmas Tree.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LM4fHZawyA/UrTNbVaYnPI/AAAAAAAAEAg/EaZr6Y47Mp8/s1600/gris2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LM4fHZawyA/UrTNbVaYnPI/AAAAAAAAEAg/EaZr6Y47Mp8/s400/gris2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Merry Christmas everyone!</div>
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Love,</div>
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The Rudstroms</div>
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The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-37234363423261484902013-11-30T23:07:00.000-08:002013-11-30T23:11:53.137-08:00The Best Thanksgiving Yet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After most every holiday C.O. and I say, "That was the best one yet." Well, it happened again. This Thanksgiving was the best Thanksgiving yet. The holiday week kicked off with C.O.'s parents arriving from Minnesota.<br />
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Our entire family was thankful to spend these few days with Mac and Mary after not seeing them for well over a year. I noticed the kids were more content with all of the attention they received throughout the week. Grandparents are a good thing.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-89UmIvDYST4/Upqiz2lO2FI/AAAAAAAAD_g/1zLRP71FUUA/s1600/mary2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-89UmIvDYST4/Upqiz2lO2FI/AAAAAAAAD_g/1zLRP71FUUA/s400/mary2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mary Crockett came down from Anchorage to stay a couple days. Mary was my student up in Brevig Mission but now is all grown up, a college student and is considered a close friend of the family. She has grown into such a wonderful young lady (that is a very old person thing to say I just realized). </div>
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Stu came from Bird Creek, south of Anchorage. Stu is now making Alaska his home after moving from C.O.'s hometown of Side Lake, Minnesota. It's been fun to get to know him better.</div>
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There's something special about gathering with the same relatives year after year but I love celebrating holidays with a group of people who don't necessarily know each other. A group made up of friends new and old and family too. Our Thanksgiving Day table was filled with just that kind of group: families and singles, kids and grandparents, those who traveled from across town and those who had to fly a couple thousand miles to get here. Perfect.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8641vNleBtk/UpqhyURQ-_I/AAAAAAAAD_A/gBmfqdnammU/s1600/thanksgiving3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="393" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8641vNleBtk/UpqhyURQ-_I/AAAAAAAAD_A/gBmfqdnammU/s640/thanksgiving3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We had a total of 18 people for Thanksgiving dinner and were able to seat everyone at one table thanks to a couple sheets of plywood, saw horses and a 20 foot piece of cloth. Throughout the night we enjoyed sledding and a bonfire, games and chatting, pie and egg nog and a whole lot of laughter. See. It was the best Thanksgiving yet.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jR5FxeGf-_0/UpqhwfDjy8I/AAAAAAAAD-4/jTLDVqWa8SA/s1600/thanksgiving2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="393" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jR5FxeGf-_0/UpqhwfDjy8I/AAAAAAAAD-4/jTLDVqWa8SA/s640/thanksgiving2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Maybe next year we'll find you seated at our plywood banquet table. We'd love to have you!<br />
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~AnnMarie</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jR5FxeGf-_0/UpqhwfDjy8I/AAAAAAAAD-4/jTLDVqWa8SA/s1600/thanksgiving2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-55869640076753072872013-10-16T15:17:00.000-07:002013-10-16T22:28:48.144-07:00Camping Through the Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was not looking forward to spending this past summer in Alaska. Summer in Minnesota is what our family has always done and I wasn't very happy about giving that up. C.O. and I looked at the average yearly temperature in Soldotna versus the average temperature in Minnesota and the statistics were depressing. Cool and wet and gray is the norm but we had no choice but to stay. Work and finances determined that. </div>
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But thankfully it turns out we had a pretty great summer. Long time locals kept saying summers like this only come around once every ten years. While I don't like the sounds of that, I was happy we were here to enjoy one of those perfect Kenai Peninsula summers. Warm temperatures, clear skies and just enough rain when we needed it suited me just fine. And I was thankful for each day.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGxj21YHnjg/UlR8ahi4bVI/AAAAAAAAD88/rRMrEFnr-5k/s1600/camping2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGxj21YHnjg/UlR8ahi4bVI/AAAAAAAAD88/rRMrEFnr-5k/s400/camping2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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As I mentioned in an earlier post, C.O. worked 80 plus hour weeks for most of the summer. I wish it wasn't the case but the kids and I made the best of it. I decided to take advantage of the weather and take the kids on as many camping adventures as I could manage.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qykWv6ct110/UlXDV-NiONI/AAAAAAAAD-c/ixE8q8waIL4/s1600/camp4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qykWv6ct110/UlXDV-NiONI/AAAAAAAAD-c/ixE8q8waIL4/s400/camp4.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I was first inspired to take the kids camping when we joined in on a Memorial Day camping trip with a bunch of families from our church. Camping with a group of people is a blast. I didn't have to worry about the kids, the older ones looked out for the younger ones and they were constantly entertained so I was free to relax. Other people did most of the cooking as well. I just talked and stared at the fire for a couple days. Perfect. (This was the complete opposite of our future camping trips when I had to watch the kids, cook and pitch the tent on my own.)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H2c5R4mExeY/UlXCkd8GKfI/AAAAAAAAD98/xoJzEuPeIWo/s1600/camp1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H2c5R4mExeY/UlXCkd8GKfI/AAAAAAAAD98/xoJzEuPeIWo/s400/camp1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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The first solo camping trip was at Johnson Lake State Park. We were introduced to this spot by our friends Mollie and Trevor from Anchorage. Staying right on the lake had some advantages. For Harold the advantage was being able to fish practically from your front (tent) door.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww5Kx4Yi9p8/UlXDQ7ZPjlI/AAAAAAAAD-M/Nfp28Yal6CM/s1600/camp3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww5Kx4Yi9p8/UlXDQ7ZPjlI/AAAAAAAAD-M/Nfp28Yal6CM/s400/camp3.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Harold is an absolute fishing fanatic. I tried to explain to him that I would first have to set up the tent and get dinner going before we could do any fishing. I thought he understood the situation but as soon as we pulled in, Harold grabbed his pole and ran to the water's edge. Thankfully there were other adults around that were willing to help Harold out when I was busy or just plain unsure of what to do with hooks, sinkers, spinner, fire balls and all that other stuff I don't know much about.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_hM0qCVWUpM/UlXDKE4UduI/AAAAAAAAD-E/ZMJxgAVZEdY/s1600/camp5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_hM0qCVWUpM/UlXDKE4UduI/AAAAAAAAD-E/ZMJxgAVZEdY/s400/camp5.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Our usual routine was to pack up the car (which took all day), drive to the campground and spend the first night on our own. C.O. would work a crazy long day so that the following day he could get off around dinner time and at least spend the evening with us. I was thankful for even those few hours together.<br />
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<i>A quick Johnson Lake story that must be told here. I was taking a morning walk around the lake with the kids. Tizita's thing at the time was to ask me, "Who's that?"for everyone we saw. So I told her to just ask people their name. A couple pulled up in their motorhome near the lake to do a little fishing. Tizita asked the lady, "What's your name?" She said, "Arlene, what's your's?." Arlene then introduced us ot her husband Aimo. I told her that Aimo sure sounded like a Finnish name and that my maiden name was Lindula. While I was busy lamenting the loss of my beautiful Finnish name after I got married she said to me, "As in Cindy Lindula?" My brain was totally confused for a moment or two or ten. Turns out Arlene lives in Northern Minnesota, knows a bunch of my family and works with my mom at the Cherry Greenhouse! It's a small world after all. Now Arlene and I are friends on Facebook. The End Moral of the Story: Don't be afraid to talk to strangers.</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ksy_Dtnim8I/UlR8sozfTzI/AAAAAAAAD9M/TwVRFduWDZE/s1600/camping3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ksy_Dtnim8I/UlR8sozfTzI/AAAAAAAAD9M/TwVRFduWDZE/s400/camping3.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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In my opinion, the most beautiful place we stayed was at Captain Cook State Park north of Kenai about 30 miles. It is situated right on Cook Inlet. You can kind of make out the water from the above photo. Our campsite was basically on the bluff at the edge of the Inlet. Amazing views, for sure but it was also a little stressful trying to keep the kids within sight while I set up camp. I trust Harold but still worry about Tizita getting herself in a scary situation.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hAbE87QUYS4/UlXDUpw0qoI/AAAAAAAAD-U/r1ZrvxwmvvE/s1600/camp6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hAbE87QUYS4/UlXDUpw0qoI/AAAAAAAAD-U/r1ZrvxwmvvE/s400/camp6.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Exploring the beach was the best part of Captain Cook State Park. We had fun climbing on rocks, finding pretty rocks and acting silly. Tizita does her best to keep up with her older brother. She fell a few times and got hurt but there's just no stopping her. She is determined to do everything just like Harold!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEYbRFegVGw/UlR8jUFj7eI/AAAAAAAAD9E/PyVhjv-UMWo/s1600/camping7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEYbRFegVGw/UlR8jUFj7eI/AAAAAAAAD9E/PyVhjv-UMWo/s400/camping7.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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We changed things up a bit when I signed the three of us up for family camp at Solid Rock Bible Camp just down the road from us. This was fun because we were camping but our food and entertainment was provided by the camp staff.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ADCitbUf7wM/UlR80xAcr6I/AAAAAAAAD9U/G03cQ9jmzqM/s1600/camping4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ADCitbUf7wM/UlR80xAcr6I/AAAAAAAAD9U/G03cQ9jmzqM/s400/camping4.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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It was a little weird camping so close to home. I realized it was only 7 minutes from our campsite to our house's front door. So I went home each day to give Tizita a nap and to shower. Then went back for more activities and slept in the tent on the ground. Crazy but it worked.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cfssfLVLLkI/UlR81NpCvaI/AAAAAAAAD9Y/jx8nIRRW8bI/s1600/camping5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cfssfLVLLkI/UlR81NpCvaI/AAAAAAAAD9Y/jx8nIRRW8bI/s400/camping5.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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There were a ton of fun activities at Solid Rock. Mostly the usual camp things, archery, riflery, swimming, kayaking, a game room, crafts etc. But the second day was the main event with a mini "fair". There were carnival games, cotton candy, fry bread, a dunk tank, carriage rides and pony rides.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--FdslSNzaks/UlR9AokS4sI/AAAAAAAAD9k/VonniA95iXE/s1600/camping6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--FdslSNzaks/UlR9AokS4sI/AAAAAAAAD9k/VonniA95iXE/s400/camping6.jpg" width="275" /></a><br />
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We met a bunch of neat families and made many new friends. I would love to do it again someday, maybe C.O. could even join us.</div>
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A lot of people asked if I was scared taking the kids camping by myself. I don't know if they meant that I might be scared of bears or bad guys or what but I wasn't scared of any of that. The campgrounds were full of people so I really wasn't worried. Mutiny from my children was probably the scariest possibility of all. But they're still with me and enjoyed their summer experiences so I'd call this adventure a success.</div>
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~AnnMarie</div>
The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-72142313712366011092013-09-19T16:06:00.001-07:002013-09-19T16:15:50.272-07:00September Lilacs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UwMJIwV7Kso/Ujt-N4b4AyI/AAAAAAAAD8E/-ilxaPW57tU/s1600/lilac2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UwMJIwV7Kso/Ujt-N4b4AyI/AAAAAAAAD8E/-ilxaPW57tU/s640/lilac2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I was a little disappointed this spring when our lilac bush out back barely bloomed. It got a few blossoms here and there but it was all in all pretty sad compared to the Minnesota lilac bushes I'm used to seeing. Since it was our first spring here I wasn't sure what to expect but I thought maybe this was just another plant not really cut out for cool Alaskan weather.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TjJdKYA-reg/Ujt-FLijjwI/AAAAAAAAD78/h3IVeiuvzls/s1600/lilac1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TjJdKYA-reg/Ujt-FLijjwI/AAAAAAAAD78/h3IVeiuvzls/s640/lilac1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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About a week ago, I noticed that the lilac tree had a few blossoms on it. What a sweet, unexpected surprise! Now it's blooming like crazy and oddly enough fall colors are in full swing as well. I like this photo because it shows a lilac bloom with the brown and yellow leaves on the very same tree. It's unusual but I'll take it as one last sweet reminder of warm weather before winter sets in.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tC8M4PKTVBc/Ujt_C3fbCYI/AAAAAAAAD8U/QDEQmAICreU/s1600/lilac3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tC8M4PKTVBc/Ujt_C3fbCYI/AAAAAAAAD8U/QDEQmAICreU/s640/lilac3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">I ran across a recipe for lilac scones over at</span><a href="http://kitchenvignettes.blogspot.com/2012/05/lilac-scones-with-rhubarb-curd.html" style="text-align: left;"> Kitchen Vignettes</a><span style="text-align: left;"> recently. Though all the blooms hadn't opened fully, C.O. and I decided to harvest a cup full of lilacs to try out this recipe. Since it had frosted the night before we were nervous the flowers wouldn't last another day. Turns out we were wrong. It's three days later and the lilac bush looks prettier than ever. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fwvtwaz9j6Y/Ujt-dQ6GpII/AAAAAAAAD8M/JTPX-eJScI0/s1600/lilac4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fwvtwaz9j6Y/Ujt-dQ6GpII/AAAAAAAAD8M/JTPX-eJScI0/s640/lilac4.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I'm curious what will happen next year with my seasonally confused lilac bush.<br />
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~AnnMarie</div>
The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-21320508779533260232013-09-02T16:13:00.002-07:002013-09-19T16:21:48.961-07:00Whittier is a Little Weird<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">This spring C.O. found a job working for a fish processing plant in Kenai. Summer is a time of </span>abundant <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">fish around here so the plant operates around the clock. Which meant C.O. had to work a crazy amount of hours. Honestly, we hardly saw him this summer. He worked </span><span style="text-align: center;">7 days a week, 12-16 hour days</span>.</div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">A few times, C.O. even had to travel for work. His skills were needed on a boat anchored near Whittier, about a two and a half hour drive from Soldotna. Before his second trip to Whittier, I figured we would drive him down so we could spend at least a couple hours together as a family. It also gave the kids and I a chance to explore a new part of Alaska.</span></div>
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I hate to be so blunt and possibly offensive to the residents of Whittier, but it's true, this town is just plain weird. There's<a href="http://kokogiak.com/strangetown/default.asp"> a book about Whittier</a> that calls it "the strangest town in Alaska." So, it's not just me folks.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--AM7mBlXX0U/UhU_QN-YLEI/AAAAAAAAD68/MFBDw8eie1Q/s1600/whittier3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--AM7mBlXX0U/UhU_QN-YLEI/AAAAAAAAD68/MFBDw8eie1Q/s640/whittier3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The first odd thing about Whittier is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Anderson_Memorial_Tunnel#Anton_Anderson_Memorial_Tunnel">the tunnel.</a> The only road to Whittier passes through a two mile long tunnel which is wide enough for a single lane of traffic. People plan their comings and goings based on the time traffic is scheduled to go their direction. Before the year 2000, travelers had to drive their car on a train that would then bring vehicles through the tunnel. So, it's a little more convenient today than it was 13 years ago.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ls6xoDtpX4s/UhU-x11MfyI/AAAAAAAAD6s/yAAbTSw01yI/s1600/whittier1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ls6xoDtpX4s/UhU-x11MfyI/AAAAAAAAD6s/yAAbTSw01yI/s640/whittier1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Rudstrom station wagon waiting to drive through the second longest tunnel in North America.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tWuRHKChMww/UhU-usVUhJI/AAAAAAAAD6k/SJdKgi4QdoY/s1600/whittier2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tWuRHKChMww/UhU-usVUhJI/AAAAAAAAD6k/SJdKgi4QdoY/s640/whittier2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Glaciers peek out along the highway as you drive toward Whittier. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">This one can be seen as you wait to enter the tunnel.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JT0lFX4-paA/UhU_PvuqmYI/AAAAAAAAD60/xt03Xhma3qg/s1600/whittier4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JT0lFX4-paA/UhU_PvuqmYI/AAAAAAAAD60/xt03Xhma3qg/s640/whittier4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We made a big deal to the kids about how an entire mountain was over our head as we were driving along.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tTHLFx6hZdM/UhVA0RjopgI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/HykVx7Npt6E/s1600/whittier5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tTHLFx6hZdM/UhVA0RjopgI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/HykVx7Npt6E/s640/whittier5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As soon as we arrived in town we drove straight to the docks to drop C.O. off. C.O. boarded the tender that took him two hours beyond Whittier to the Portage Bay, the barge in need of some repairs.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Now the kids and I were on our own . . . again . . . like it was nearly every single day this summer. (Can you tell yet that I was weary of C.O.'s work schedule?)</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynFfSVdv3U4/UhVBhKUw0-I/AAAAAAAAD7Y/m5_aWieiaao/s1600/whittier8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynFfSVdv3U4/UhVBhKUw0-I/AAAAAAAAD7Y/m5_aWieiaao/s640/whittier8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We walked around the tiny town to see what Whittier had to offer. It's a small place, a half a day is all you need to see it all, unless you sign up for a cruise or kayak tour of the harbor. Other than the scenery being spectacular, Whittier also has an interesting history with it's roll in WWII. If you care to read more about go <a href="http://www.travelalaska.com/Destinations/Communities/Whittier.aspx">here</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whittier,_Alaska">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WPK0oM1Uvac/UhVAZVqvUgI/AAAAAAAAD7I/65nRXwsqnsk/s1600/whittier6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WPK0oM1Uvac/UhVAZVqvUgI/AAAAAAAAD7I/65nRXwsqnsk/s640/whittier6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The strangest thing about this fishing town is that 90% of the population lives in one apartment building. That's right, this building houses the police officer, the drug dealer, the mayor, the school teachers, the preacher, and most everyone else. I thought the dynamics of a small village could be tough. Imagine living here.</span><br />
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Whittier is only a couple hour drive from Anchorage so quite a few people come down to do some fishing and tour buses stop in daily during the summer months.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0hhVwHiKUwc/UhVBiKst3YI/AAAAAAAAD7o/WgLr6ympqOY/s1600/whittier9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0hhVwHiKUwc/UhVBiKst3YI/AAAAAAAAD7o/WgLr6ympqOY/s640/whittier9.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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After one night in town, it was back through the tunnel to start the drive home. A day later C.O. was able to catch a ride with in a semi-truck full of fish totes back to the plant in Kenai.<br />
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Now that summer is done, he's working a regular schedule and we're very happy to have him back. <br />
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~AnnMarie</div>
The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-44699580166633915332013-07-03T15:14:00.000-07:002013-07-03T15:21:10.244-07:00Lordy, Lordy My Man is Forty (and One Month)<br />
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In June we celebrated a couple of big milestones. C.O. turned forty
on June 2nd and we "celebrated" our tenth wedding anniversary on June 21st. C.O.'s new job at Snug Harbor Seafoods got in the way of doing anything special for our anniversary but at least he was able to take his birthday off. I suggested we postpone our anniversary celebration for 10.5 years of marriage. Anyway let's not talk about that for too long or I get kind of sad. <br />
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C.O.'s first gift of the day was a truck from Harold that he found at a garage sale. The truck was appropriately named "Time Flys." I wonder if the makers realized they spelled <i>flies</i> wrong?</div>
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Our first stop was at Louie's in Kenai for breakfast. They have a lot of dead animals hanging on the walls making it feel very Alaskan I guess. The waitress found out it was his birthday so she added a candle to his toast. Sadly it went out before I took the photo making this moment seem a lot less birthday-ish.<br />
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Then came the best part of the day, we dropped the kids off with our friends the Millers. As much as we love our kids, it's good to escape from them once in a while and today was a perfect excuse to do just that. </div>
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Then the two of us drove south to spend the day in beautiful Homer.</div>
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We started with one of C.O.'s favorite past times, looking at boats down on the harbor followed by a walk along the Homer Spit exploring shops and taking in the views. </div>
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We had a late lunch at the<a href="http://www.mermaidbistro.com/"> Mermaid Cafe</a>, an adorable little place that is a cafe, bookstore and bed and breakfast. I want you to notice two things about this photo: the amazing looking food AND all that sunshine. Sunshine is not such a common thing in Homer so it's deserves to be appreciated.</div>
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The used book store had an extensive collection of nautical books, another of C.O.'s favorite things. The Mermaid won us over with all her charms. Maybe this is where we'll stay for our 10.5 wedding anniversary. </div>
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The day went quickly but it was relaxed and memorable. I'm thankful for that time we spent together especially now. Since June 2nd C.O. as worked every single day and we are starting to miss him in a big way. It'll be a relief in August when he can work a regular forty hour week and spend weekends at home. </div>
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Happy 40th to my hard working, super talented, wonderful husband. </div>
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~AnnMarie</div>
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The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-16755749745864606052013-05-30T09:36:00.001-07:002013-05-30T09:51:02.157-07:00Clam Digging: A Real Alaskan Field Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Harold's kindergarten class took part in a unique field trip this spring. His very brave teacher took the kids to a nearby beach to dig for clams. Wow, were they into it! And why wouldn't they be? "O.K. kids, here's some shovels, go dig in the mud and look for buried treasure." What kid wouldn't be excited? C.O. was one of the parent volunteers for this class trip and had the chance to learn a little more about this local past time.</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">So what's involved in clamming? </span></div>
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First find a muddy beach, grab a shovel and start walking.</div>
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When you see a small dimple in the mud start shoveling. That's your clue as to where a clam dug himself a hole.</div>
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Then reach down in that hole, don't be shy now, and pull yourself out a clam.</div>
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Ta-Da!<br />
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The kids went home with a couple clams each. I don't know what the other families did with their's but this mama wasn't quite prepared to make clams for dinner. So ours eventually made their way into the trash can. Harold really wanted one for a pet but we finally convinced him they wouldn't make the best companions.</div>
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Oh and there was a little tag-along on this adventure. </div>
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At the end of the day, the entire crew warmed up with a fire and marshmallows on the beach.</div>
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Mrs. Vasilie's 2013 kindergarten class.</div>
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(Harold is hiding in the middle of the three kids standing in the back.)</div>
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We were shopping the other day and Harold saw a <a href="http://www.goodboatgear.com/detail/1379/%20Clam%20Gun?gclid=CJjzmpOgvrcCFSFyQgodoUUAHQ">clam gun</a> for sale. He walked up to it excitedly and asked if we could buy one. Then earlier this week as we drove along the Homer spit Harold noticed the tide was out leaving the mud flats exposed. Harold wistfully said it looked like a great place to find clams. I think he's caught the bug. With every new experience we have in this great state, Harold proves that he is an Alaskan boy through and through.<br />
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~AnnMarie</div>
The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-5638119248537961382013-05-12T20:43:00.000-07:002013-05-12T23:09:56.401-07:00Shifting Gears<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This story begins in September of 1985. This was the year that would set the stage for the rest of my life (Dramatic hey?), it was the year I started kindergarten. Since that fall, I have spent most of my days involved in education in one way or another. My experience morphed from elementary school to high school to college with an opportunity to studying abroad to a teaching practicum and finally into being a teacher myself. School has been my life for as long as I can remember.<br />
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Despite the fact that I enjoy my job, it has been a difficult year for me as a working mom. I feel like nearly all of my creative energy goes into my students and very little is left for my children. I miss out on spending week days with Tizita, volunteering in Harold's class or doing all those fun projects I see on Pinterest. ;) When it was just Harold at home, I felt like I could manage everything and feel good about my life as a working mom. Having a second child has changed that. Now I mostly just feel exhausted. I know that stay at home moms are tired as well but holding down a full time job compounds the struggle of being a parent.<br />
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C.O. has done a fantastic job the past few years of managing our household, being the primary caregiver, running his own business and working various jobs on the side. Meanwhile, my job has provided a steady income with health insurance, a retirement plan and all that good stuff but best of all it allowed us to have summer vacation. Every year we've had two and a half months off together as a family. How many families can say that? I will forever be thankful for those summers at the cabin, traveling and spending time with our friends and family in Minnesota. But our plans and lifestyle are always evolving. This winter, C.O. and I decided it was time to switch rolls. I will temporarily be putting my career on hold and C.O. is looking for full time employment, ideally in the field of engineering.<br />
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C.O. is actively searching for a job and I am just two weeks away from living the new dream. I still have professional goals I'd like to pursue in education and I plan to go back into teaching sometime in the not too distant future. In the meantime, I will continue on with this story of being active in the school setting but this time as a "parent volunteer".<br />
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I think I will miss teaching but then I take a look at these two . . .<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PQYEK7GOGIo/UZBCCxoRvFI/AAAAAAAAD2E/3iqAYGWla_o/s1600/HaroldOobleck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PQYEK7GOGIo/UZBCCxoRvFI/AAAAAAAAD2E/3iqAYGWla_o/s320/HaroldOobleck.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and I know we are making the right decision.<br />
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~AnnMarie</div>
The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-88803607639701089892013-03-24T22:13:00.001-07:002013-04-01T22:54:43.270-07:00St. Patrick's Day from the Air (or Turning Green for the Holiday)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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We had an offer to go flying with our friend Andy on St. Patrick's Day. It is something we've been wanting to do since we first moved here so we didn't hesitate to accept. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-suR8xGfFY7A/UUclFKRVf1I/AAAAAAAAD0Y/iXhmVDTdtJ8/s1600/andy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-suR8xGfFY7A/UUclFKRVf1I/AAAAAAAAD0Y/iXhmVDTdtJ8/s640/andy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We met Andy early this Fall. His son is Harold's friend and classmate. Once upon a time Andy worked as a pilot in the Bering Straits both for Hageland Aviation and Bering Air. This of course put him in the "hey, you're all right"<i> </i>category but he has since moved into the "good friend" category.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Leaning on the </span><a href="http://rudstrom.blogspot.com/2012/04/100-flights.html" style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">expert flier</a><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"> for support. </span></td></tr>
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Our tour started at the Soldotna Airport where that pretty red plane lives (isn't is nice to see a plane that isn't primarily white?). We flew over Tustumena Lake, circled around toward Kenai and back into Soldotna. On the way back Andy flew low over our house which was exciting for Harold (and maybe his mom too). </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TVIV9TP4CU0/UUcmq3zXCVI/AAAAAAAAD0c/7F70TMM3pCY/s1600/glacier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TVIV9TP4CU0/UUcmq3zXCVI/AAAAAAAAD0c/7F70TMM3pCY/s640/glacier.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We live in a pretty amazing place. I never tire of seeing mountains and glaciers in the distance as we drive from place to place. Taking it in from above on a perfectly sunny day is even more inspiring.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TfS9Ap9wXcQ/UU8TlV2Cl3I/AAAAAAAAD00/zKG2tv0Hw7Q/s1600/mtns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="401" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TfS9Ap9wXcQ/UU8TlV2Cl3I/AAAAAAAAD00/zKG2tv0Hw7Q/s640/mtns.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I normally don't get motion sickness on flights, but I guess that's the case on flights that take a relatively straight path. Midway through this journey, I started feeling pretty um . . . green. It could be because of the amount of turning or because I was trying to take photos while wrangling in an active two year old. Either way, it was all I could do to hold it together until we landed. It turns out my pride is more powerful than my queasy stomach and I made it home without loosing it completely. </div>
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Many thanks to Andy for the ride. I hope you all had a very green St. Patrick's Day! </div>
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~AnnMarie</div>
<br />The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-22302707405175947032013-03-13T15:48:00.001-07:002013-03-13T15:49:11.770-07:00Sometimes You've Got to Get Away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was feeling itchy for a change of scenery just before the weekend of my birthday. So I called up a hotel in Anchorage and booked a room for a couple of nights as a birthday present to myself and the family. The kids' number one priority was to have a place to swim. Eat, swim, sleep and veg out in front of the TV was all we planned to do. </div>
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<u>Pool Time</u></div>
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Tizita's time in lakes and pools has been limited compared to fish-boy Harold. She was a bit nervous of the water at first but it wasn't long until she was pestering us just as much as Harold to "swim . . . water". She also got very brave about jumping off the side of the pool into daddy's arms.</div>
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If only we all would have the <i>joie de vivre</i> that this girl has hey? </div>
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Despite our best efforts of doing as little as possible, the timing of our trip coincided with <a href="http://www.furrondy.net/">Fur Rondy</a>, the events leading up to the start of the Iditarod. Our hotel was conveniently located within walking distance of the downtown events and right next to the snow sculpture competition. We could watch the sculptures take form from our hotel window!</div>
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<u>Snow Sculptures</u></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FIBXIYMOhsg/USmknBHaOGI/AAAAAAAADyE/iLld6gXmeWo/s1600/sculpture4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" mea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FIBXIYMOhsg/USmknBHaOGI/AAAAAAAADyE/iLld6gXmeWo/s400/sculpture4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VQzsgdYu0ek/UUD4qFU10hI/AAAAAAAADzs/gcl8JhiAju8/s1600/msnow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VQzsgdYu0ek/UUD4qFU10hI/AAAAAAAADzs/gcl8JhiAju8/s400/msnow.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>The Carnival</u></div>
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Just a few block from our hotel was a carnival midway. The glowing lights and spinning rides were also visible from our hotel. Harold could hardly wait to go on a ride, play a game and eat cotton candy. We crossed everything off his list.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3ltoCXGFW8/USpV67B3bxI/AAAAAAAADzQ/LPJvL9vl3ZA/s1600/carnival3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3ltoCXGFW8/USpV67B3bxI/AAAAAAAADzQ/LPJvL9vl3ZA/s400/carnival3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I associate carnivals with hot and humid August-type weather, not cold and snow. But in Alaska, everyone is just a little tougher than your average American. Any weather is good weather for having fun. So if the carnival is in town, you best bundle up and enjoy it!</div>
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<u>Family Bonding</u></div>
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The weekend was every thing we hoped it would be. It was good for us to do a little less running around . . . </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kusad5TokOw/UUD6lTZ2BEI/AAAAAAAADz8/nwUP51b5_ig/s1600/lounge_zps693d86bd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kusad5TokOw/UUD6lTZ2BEI/AAAAAAAADz8/nwUP51b5_ig/s400/lounge_zps693d86bd.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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and whole lot more of this.</div>
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<u>Homeward Bound</u></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ylIODBD40g0/UUD6ufIdkPI/AAAAAAAAD0E/5XlIv--_zYw/s1600/sleeper2_zps93239e85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ylIODBD40g0/UUD6ufIdkPI/AAAAAAAAD0E/5XlIv--_zYw/s320/sleeper2_zps93239e85.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6gViZdOgxTY/UUD5vb8U6VI/AAAAAAAADz0/2eaD73PGU98/s1600/sleeper1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6gViZdOgxTY/UUD5vb8U6VI/AAAAAAAADz0/2eaD73PGU98/s320/sleeper1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The ride home was nice and peaceful.</div>
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~AnnMarie</div>
The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-80449240832230361592013-03-02T16:50:00.000-08:002013-03-02T17:00:01.201-08:00The Big Trophy Winner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Harold was able to compete in his first official motor sports event in February. Freddie's Roadhouse in Ninilchik hosts snowmachine drag races most Saturdays throughout the winter.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lfLnTCkuhXE/USmYQRprekI/AAAAAAAADwI/-VfS0ONIDK8/s1600/lineup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lfLnTCkuhXE/USmYQRprekI/AAAAAAAADwI/-VfS0ONIDK8/s640/lineup.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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There were only two racers in the 250 cc and under class. The other racer's machine was bigger and the kid was older but Harold still pulled off the win.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvPXJN55aa4/USmYWVrrp1I/AAAAAAAADwQ/-SK6X5mrUFk/s1600/award.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvPXJN55aa4/USmYWVrrp1I/AAAAAAAADwQ/-SK6X5mrUFk/s640/award.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Harold is very, very proud of his trophy. He shows it off whenever he can. It has traveled to school for show and tell and he made sure to draw his Sunday School teacher a detailed picture of it. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LLFRDttRb2Y/USmXxrU7dqI/AAAAAAAADwA/-cLnaRTleC4/s1600/trophymachine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="465" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LLFRDttRb2Y/USmXxrU7dqI/AAAAAAAADwA/-cLnaRTleC4/s640/trophymachine.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hopefully there will be more opportunities for him to race in the years to come. Circle track races would be more fun but so far there hasn't been any around here. Maybe next winter C.O. and Harold will round up a few other kids and start their own races. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JOENUL7RffU/USlVEV487TI/AAAAAAAADu4/wLkKcPGKpAE/s1600/newspaper2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="568" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JOENUL7RffU/USlVEV487TI/AAAAAAAADu4/wLkKcPGKpAE/s640/newspaper2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Harold even made it in the local paper.</div>
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~AnnMarie</div>
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The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-6546265368294087342013-02-23T16:39:00.002-08:002013-02-23T17:05:35.342-08:00Tustumena 200 Sled Dog RaceIt seems that Harold and my parents have become quite the dog mushing enthusiasts. Especially when it comes to the Iditarod. You may remember <a href="http://rudstrom.blogspot.com/2012/03/harold-had-adventure.html">Harold traveling to Elim</a> last winter to see my brother and to see the Iditarod mushers come through town on their way to Nome. It turns out these enthusiasts also have great timing.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Etn_yyW7LK8/USlWSDR6E7I/AAAAAAAADvQ/5tL8ZxyMoEs/s1600/familywdogs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Etn_yyW7LK8/USlWSDR6E7I/AAAAAAAADvQ/5tL8ZxyMoEs/s640/familywdogs.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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My folks were up for a visit the first week of Feburary and it just so happened that there was a dog mushing race, <a href="http://www.tustumena200.com/">The Tustumena 200</a>, taking place just down the road from us. So we were sure to make our way down for the start of the race. <br />
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In order for mushers to compete in the Iditarod Race they must compete in some qualifying races. The Tustumena 200 is on the list of races that count as one of the qualifiers for the Iditarod. So we were able to see some names we recognized.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aZbzkLRQq1s/USlV6XFbs7I/AAAAAAAADvI/jl_bdmz2nSk/s1600/seaveys2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aZbzkLRQq1s/USlV6XFbs7I/AAAAAAAADvI/jl_bdmz2nSk/s640/seaveys2.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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The Seaveys happen to live not far from where we are now. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Seavey">Mitch Seavey</a> and his son Dallas have both won the Iditarod. In fact, last year Harold was cheering hard for Dallas as he became the youngest racer ever to win the Iditarod. Harold was sorely disappointed that Dallas wasn't around for the T200 but we did get to see Mitch take off.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HkS6GYhkU2U/USlVmO-WHKI/AAAAAAAADvA/hluYkhFobtI/s1600/seaveys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HkS6GYhkU2U/USlVmO-WHKI/AAAAAAAADvA/hluYkhFobtI/s640/seaveys.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Mitch Seavey was the winner of the T200 that weekend.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evYxHDJjIfQ/USlU1qVBcFI/AAAAAAAADus/B51aEzW_oMs/s1600/Jamie+Nelson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evYxHDJjIfQ/USlU1qVBcFI/AAAAAAAADus/B51aEzW_oMs/s640/Jamie+Nelson.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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We also saw <a href="http://www.mushingbootcamp.com/pages/instructors.html">Jamie Nelson of Togo, Minnesota</a> as she crossed the start line. Jamie is the four time winner of the <a href="http://www.beargrease.com/">John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon </a>and has also completed the Iditarod numerous times. I felt like we were part of a secret Togo club: the Lindulas, Rudstroms and Jamie Nelson since we were most likely the only people in the crowd who have set foot in Togo.<br />
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It was a wonderfully warm and beautiful day. A great day to be a spectator. I would imagine this will become a yearly event for our family.<br />
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~AnnMarie</div>
The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-57782810529077037472013-01-29T07:30:00.003-08:002013-01-29T09:00:42.683-08:00Return to the Seward Peninsula <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T_gojvN8tyU/UQdoIQx_DaI/AAAAAAAADtY/HheJm_33evM/s1600/artjames.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="411" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T_gojvN8tyU/UQdoIQx_DaI/AAAAAAAADtY/HheJm_33evM/s640/artjames.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is our friend James, the guy standing on the right there.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YyE9QRazXsw/UQdo0fd4wXI/AAAAAAAADtw/7LZcVzvZvo8/s1600/Nomeart1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YyE9QRazXsw/UQdo0fd4wXI/AAAAAAAADtw/7LZcVzvZvo8/s640/Nomeart1.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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James Adcox is our very talented artist friend. In fact, he painted those scenes you see behind him. Let's just take a moment to say "wow" shall we?<br />
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*moment*<br />
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O.K. now we can move on. <br />
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We first met James years ago when <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMvqxW2RFbM">he was painting murals</a> for the newly remodeled Brevig Mission School. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W4De3gKCbRY/UQdoy7xJP-I/AAAAAAAADto/MP9pPGQsPq4/s1600/nomeart2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W4De3gKCbRY/UQdoy7xJP-I/AAAAAAAADto/MP9pPGQsPq4/s640/nomeart2.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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James was one of the artists chosen to do an art piece for the
newly built hospital in Nome. James formerly of Nome now live near us in Soldotna. The pieces were painted here on the Kenai then shipped north and installed at the <a href="http://www.nortonsoundhealth.org/index.html">Nome Regional Hospital</a>. James so kindly asked C.O. to be one of his crew members for the installation. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdmp3a8bibM/UQdo10yO7hI/AAAAAAAADt4/kfGaFU8Fv4w/s1600/nomeart3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdmp3a8bibM/UQdo10yO7hI/AAAAAAAADt4/kfGaFU8Fv4w/s640/nomeart3.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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It sounded like a great experience, so of course C.O. agreed. C.O. now gets to add "Professional Art Installer Guy" to his resume.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUiqroF7oNs/UQdpNaQOwoI/AAAAAAAADuA/EZRwjqnLKmk/s1600/nomeart6.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUiqroF7oNs/UQdpNaQOwoI/AAAAAAAADuA/EZRwjqnLKmk/s640/nomeart6.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br />
This lovely set of paintings captures the process of a whale hunt in three scenes. Knowledgeable art folks would call it a <i>triptych</i>. I wish you all could see them in person. If you're ever in Nome, stop by
the hospital and admire them for a while. You can also read more about <a href="http://adcoxfamily.wordpress.com/2013/01/26/spring-whale-harvest/">the paintings from their infancy </a>over on the <a href="http://adcoxfamily.wordpress.com/">Adcox's Blog</a>. I also found <a href="http://nomemade-nomealaska.blogspot.com/2013/01/norton-sound-health-corporation-grand.html">this blog post</a> that has many beautiful pictures of the new facility in Nome.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UcPaOPmVrU/UQdoLe1geAI/AAAAAAAADtg/9q0BnqKY02M/s1600/artamy.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="547" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UcPaOPmVrU/UQdoLe1geAI/AAAAAAAADtg/9q0BnqKY02M/s640/artamy.JPG" width="640" /></a> This is James's wife Amy, she's also our friend. I'd just like to point out that she threw a lovely art viewing at their home before "Spring Whale Harvest" went to its forever home in Nome. We sure have cool friends.<br />
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Side Note A:<br />
C.O. and James took this little trip in early November and I'm just now getting around to posting about it. Please don't judge.<br />
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Side Note B:<br />
C.O. also got to travel to Brevig Mission and Elim to do some wrap up work for Kawarak's Head Start buildings that he has maintained for the past few years. He was able to see many of our friends in Brevig during his few days there (I was terribly jealous). He also got to stay with my brother John for a couple days in Elim.<br />
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Side Note C:<br />
My mom came up to stay with me and help take care of the kids while C.O. was gone. Thanks Mom, I couldn't have done it with out you.<br />
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~AnnMarie</div>
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The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-51856452013855829302013-01-13T18:33:00.000-08:002013-01-14T14:57:37.253-08:00Over the Holidays We . . . <br />
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We kicked off the holiday season with some Christmas Tree hunting. Our friends the Millers have property in Nikiski a few miles north of Soldotna. They were kind enough to invite us to come with them to find <i>The Rudstrom Family Christmas Tree</i> (I just can't help but think of the Griswolds right about now). Kids, dogs, fluffy snowfall finished off with some chili and beer bread made for a perfect day.<br />
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That same weekend, our church hosted the dinner theater production, "A Night at Bethlehem Inn". The audience members were dinner guests at the inn as they watched the drama take place around them.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OQP_CFod8G4/UPNC9KuWPwI/AAAAAAAADrA/IZq07rS3Dac/s1600/bethlehem1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OQP_CFod8G4/UPNC9KuWPwI/AAAAAAAADrA/IZq07rS3Dac/s400/bethlehem1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I played the part of the Senator's Wife. The Senator was the guest of honor and a representative of Caesar Augustus as he collected taxes from the guests. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/55240314" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/55240314">A Night at Bethlehem Inn</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user5176998">AnnMarie Rudstrom</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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Harold performed as part of the children's choir that was to entertain the Senator.</div>
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We spent Christmas Eve with our friend Andy and crew but Christmas Day was just the four Rudstroms and Aussie dog. It felt good to stay in our pajamas and eat pizza for dinner. It was restful and relaxing like holidays ought to be. </div>
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I managed to get nice Christmas photos of the kids. It seems impossible for the four of us to take a decent photo these days so we have to be happy with a couple family members at a time. </div>
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It was New Year's Eve that our social calendar really filled up. My childhood friend, Wynnie, has lived in Palmer for many years now. She drove down on New Year's Eve to spend the night with us. It wasn't long after she arrived that we all piled in the car and began the two and a half hour drive down to Seward to meet up with some teacher friends from Brevig Mission. </div>
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I taught with <a href="http://fromsouthernexposuretonorthern.blogspot.com/">John and Misty Moore</a> last year in Brevig. When they invited us to meet them in Seward at the Sea Life Center, we were sure to take advantage of the chance to see them and their sweet girls. Harold talks about the Moore girls often and misses having them nearby.</div>
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Only a few hours after Wynnie left, my brother John flew into town. The kids loved playing with Uncle John. He brought them some pretty awesome Christmas gifts too. Tizita got the Princess Tiana doll with a matching dress.</div>
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While Harold got his first working train set. They played with it for hours and hours. </div>
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We drove John to Anchorage where he would see friends and continue his journey North to Elim. While we were in Anchorage we stayed with my cousin Jenny and her family, played games and let the kids stay up way too late. </div>
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The next day we saw <a href="http://rudstrom.blogspot.com/2010/10/daniel-lee.html">our friend Kenny</a> at the hospital, unfortunately. He had been in a bad snow machine accident and was flown to Anchorage to have surgery to stop the bleeding in his brain. This guy has more lives than a cat, let me tell you. It is no small miracle that he survived. Kenny looked pretty rough so we used this opportunity to reinforce the importance of wearing a helmet with Harold. Kenny is a good friend of C.O.'s from Brevig Mission, we hope next time we will meet under less traumatic circumstances.</div>
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We continued our Anchorage tour with another hospital visit. This time to see our friend Angie, also a resident of Brevig Mission, and her newly adopted son Levi. Levi was born 3 months premature so they have been spending a lot of time at the hospital until Levi is ready to go home. I don't have pictures of this handsome little guy but you can read about their journey starting<a href="http://steveandangiealston.blogspot.com/2012/12/introducing-levi-benjamin.html"> here</a>, then continue on <a href="http://steveandangiealston.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</div>
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How wonderful it was to keep up with friendships we made in Brevig Mission. </div>
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Phew! That was a lot of goings on but we enjoyed every minute.</div>
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Happy New Year everyone!</div>
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~AnnMarie</div>
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The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-21533165350407950812012-12-10T17:40:00.001-08:002012-12-10T18:05:45.924-08:00Officially Tizita Rita<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week C.O. and I had a court appointment to re-adopt Tizita in the United States. While her adoption was final because of the ruling from the Ethiopian courts, having an offical birth certificate housed in the state of Alaska will make it much more convenient for future business.<br />
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Since we had a lawyer and were updating her birth certificate, we also had Tizita's middle name changed. She was given the middle name Charles in Ethiopia after they found out C.O. would be the father. But after all this goes through she will officially be Tizita Rita. This will sound a lot better when she is called to walk across the stage at graudation. Don't you think?<br />
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Thankfully this whole adoption process is coming to an end but we still aren't quite done. We need to get a social security number assigned to Tizita and there will be one more offical post adoption report completed by a social worker submitted before we are free and clear. It's a long road but it doesn't seem so bad now that Tizita Rita is home.<br />
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~AnnMarie</div>
The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-71076275293065506292012-11-20T18:34:00.000-08:002012-12-10T17:39:33.348-08:00Our Artsy Fartsy School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I have been teaching at Sterling Elementary for more than a quarter now and have not had the chance, until now, to share my awesome new work place with you. 'Thankful' is how I feel about where I ended up getting hired. Sterling Elementary has been a welcoming and supportive environment as I learn to navigate a new job. I am excited about the emphasis this school chooses to put on art. It has challenged me to find new ways to integrate art into the curriculum on a regular basis.</div>
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First let me share some of the inspirational and beautiful art that is located throughout the building. Most of these pieces were done collaboratively with students and either their teacher or with an artist in residence. </div>
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The mod doors also brighten up a traditionally bland space in buildings. I'm a huge fan of <a href="http://rudstrom.blogspot.com/2011/09/happy-little-door.html">sprucing up doors</a>. =)</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22845398@N05/8203888437/" title="arstydoor1"><img alt="arstydoor1 by corudstr" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8203888437_d3be5be706.jpg" width="301" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22845398@N05/8203898583/" title="arstydoor2"><img alt="arstydoor2 by corudstr" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8203898583_0fc791fb5f.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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At the beginning of the year my kindergarten class did an "All About Me" unit. Two pieces of artwork were produced by each student. The first was pointillism type art in which we "dotted" out our names.</div>
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The second art directive was to use painting and photograph to describe your personality. They turned out beautifully and the students received many, many compliments on their work. <br />
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Many students say that art is their favorite part of kindergarten. I totally agree!</div>
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~AnnMarie<br />
*Student pieces were used with permission from their parents. </div>
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The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-63691244399464306522012-10-28T18:52:00.001-07:002012-10-28T19:30:58.218-07:00What A Stud<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J5rKVBG_F38/UH5SSLTA8uI/AAAAAAAADn4/uSqxwDtaYEc/s1600/studded4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J5rKVBG_F38/UH5SSLTA8uI/AAAAAAAADn4/uSqxwDtaYEc/s400/studded4.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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Unlike many places throughout the U.S., in Alaska it's legal to drive on public roads with studded tires. Mid-October brought snow mixed with rain to our region so it was time to update the tires on my car. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fN7aCHwrfiI/UH5QWiZHBcI/AAAAAAAADnc/FLQ-0irqfEg/s1600/studded1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fN7aCHwrfiI/UH5QWiZHBcI/AAAAAAAADnc/FLQ-0irqfEg/s400/studded1.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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It felt completely different driving once the new and improved tires were on my car. I love the ticking sound the studs make when I pull out of the school parking lot. The slow tick that eventually grows to a reassuring hum that lets me know my tires are firmly connected to the pavement.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-30W7EHq_JDo/UH5Q559KCeI/AAAAAAAADnw/iodq9o0MQG0/s1600/studded3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-30W7EHq_JDo/UH5Q559KCeI/AAAAAAAADnw/iodq9o0MQG0/s400/studded3.JPG" width="265" /></a><br />
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I guess I have two people to thank for my snow tires. Tizita was C.O.'s assistant the evening he changed out my tires. When Harold was little, he spent a lot of time out in the shop being daddy's "helper." A few people asked if our little girl would learn the mechanic trade as well. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8TMBmnon3iU/UH5QpLoTt0I/AAAAAAAADno/bxeaERNkEms/s1600/studded2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8TMBmnon3iU/UH5QpLoTt0I/AAAAAAAADno/bxeaERNkEms/s400/studded2.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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Of course! We are all about equal opportunity at the Rudstrom household. Tizita's a mechanical natural. Her cute pink snow pants have been permanently stained with dirt, grime and grease from her time out in the garage. Our sweet little girl loves getting her hands dirty and helping out with dad's projects. </div>
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Here's to driving safe this winter!</div>
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~AnnMarie</div>
The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-78930334716575536802012-10-12T18:02:00.000-07:002012-10-14T22:43:46.132-07:00We Are Not (Do You Hear Me?) Going to Get a Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is <u>no way</u> we could add a dog to our already hectic life.</div>
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Dogs need tons of exercise.</div>
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They get hair on the carpet.</div>
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Not to mention the hair on your clothes.</div>
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Have you seen the price of dog food?</div>
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A dog would be such a hassle when we want to travel.</div>
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I'm sorry but, they are just too much work! <br />
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<strong>*sigh*</strong><br />
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Meet Aussie: The dog that chose us.</div>
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It is not terribly uncommon for a dog to wander through our yard. We have quite a few neighbors and everyone in Alaska seems to have a dog. About a week and a half ago a very friendly and handsome dog ended up playing in the yard with the kids. Come evening, he didn't go home. We woke up the next morning and found him sitting on the back porch. It was hard not to take pity on him when he sat at the back door looking at us like this:</div>
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<a href="http://s1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff456/AnnMarie_Rudstrom/?action=view&current=dogwin.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="dogwin" border="0" height="400" src="http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff456/AnnMarie_Rudstrom/dogwin.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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We wrote our phone number on his collar hoping he would wander home, that his owners would call and we could let them know that he had been spending quite a bit of time at our house. This is sort of what happened. "Our" dog ended up at one of the neighbor's house who decided to look him up on a facebook page which listed local missing dogs. What do ya know? A picture of this dog had been posted. The neighbor called the owners and said their dog had been found. The owners were worried about his well being since he had been gone for over a week but the lady said he looked great and even had a collar with a phone number on it. The owners ended up calling us and asking if we had been taking care of their dog.</div>
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C.O. explained the situation and by the end of the conversation they asked if we'd just like to keep him. It turns out, they had been out biking one day when a lady pulled up in her car asking them to take her dog since she was leaving town shortly and couldn't take him along. The family took him out of pity but really weren't interested in having another dog. We learned that he is part Australian Shepard and part German Shepard. He is named Aussie, he's already had his first round of shots, is house trained, knows how to sit, is gentle with children and can walk nicely on a leash. He's just an all around nice dog so despite or intitial misgivings . . . we think we'll keep him. </div>
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~AnnMarie</div>
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The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028215572252039669.post-80722646729092447822012-09-23T18:32:00.004-07:002012-09-24T16:54:35.447-07:00Meeting the Buyse Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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About five years ago we received a call from our adoption agency, Christian World Adoption. They told us about another family in Alaska that was in the process of adopting a child from Guatemala and that they had a few questions for us. C.O. and Montey had talked briefly at that time but we had not kept in touch. Harold came in October, their daughter came the following January. <br />
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We got another call last winter from CWA that the Buyses were considering adopting again. This time from Ethiopia! They are planning to adopt a sibling set in fact. As we were passing through Anchorage during our bush living days, we were never quite able to connect. But now that we live within a reasonable driving distance, we planned a date to meet for lunch. <br />
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Over Labor Day, our two little miracles were introduced. They were so busy being five year olds, I don't think they realized how cool it was to meet each other.<br />
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The Buyses are a lovely family with a big heart for adoption. I hope that we will continue to see them over the years as our children grow. It will be valuable for our children to know there are others out there growing up in similar situations. I'm pretty sure we will be the only two families in Alaska with Guatemalan and Ethiopian children calling eachother brother and sister. =) We pray for a smooth adoption process, that the paperwork will go through as quickly as possible and that God will prepare the Buyses for their children and the two <em>future</em> Buyses for their new family.<br />
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~AnnMarie</div>
The Rudstromshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176964803695998350noreply@blogger.com3