Hike up Flat top Mtn.

Flattop Mountain is one of the most popular trails in Anchorage for tourists and residents alike.  If you have hiked anywhere . . . you have probably hiked Flattop.  That being said, in the almost 20 years we have lived in Anchorage, Renee has never been up Flattop.

Today was the day.  I usually avoid this trailhead because it is always so crowded!!  But we found a parking spot, which actually surprised me because it was a BLUEBIRD day out.  Everyone in our group had a water bottle, some snacks and a positive mental attitude.  

This way to the top!

Sam didn't have to go too far until he saw some dogs.  These happen to be his favorites . . . weiner dogs!!

I think he would have taken one home if he could of.  

Legs burning . . . I don't know what the kids were complaining about.  They weigh at least 100 lbs less and they always seem to have energy at home.  I turned it into a race with Zach.  He won, but at least he wasn't complaining about the steep angle.  Sam wanted me to carry him . . . yeah right!?!

After a really steep section . . . we made it to the top.  It always amazes me that Anchorages most hiked trail is as steep and dangerous as it is.  There were a ton of people at the top, all of who scrambled up the very steep rock face.  Renee was surprised by the steepness.

Just the four of us made it up.  Jeff doesn't really like heights, so he chose to stay below the real steep part.  Probably a good idea on his part.  

Heading down, and still just gorgeous out!!  We could see our house from the top.  The mountain is literally "right in our backyard".

Here is a better shot of the rock face.  Still think it was easier going up.  Had to be very careful coming down!

The boys and I . . . for better or worse, decided to take the "shortcut".  This actually turned out to be the old trail, and is not maintained.  It was steep!! and slippery with loose rocks.  The three of us had a blast, but this would not have been a good trait for Renee and Jeff.  They chose wisely by taking the long route.  

Almost back to the car.  Sammy found a great tree for climbing.  He is ALL boy, and loves climbing trees.

This hike ended as all good hikes should, at the frozen yogurt shop! Everyone got a well deserved treat for completing the hike.  Jeff, because he didn't make it to the top, had to buy the frozen yogurt. Life is good!

Zach's first school dance

OMG, Zach's first big dance.  I vividly remember MY Jr. High dances.  I don't think I have any pictures from any of them, that would be funny to compare.  Zach is a dork, and I truly love him for that.  He has a wonderful group of friends and I think the world of all of them.  

So . . . let me try to recapture what the evening was like.  First, let me back up.  So Zach had asked his friend Katelyn to the dance a few months ago.  The actual dance, as an event is funny, because to me, it was almost the dance that never was.  The student government was in charge of putting it together, and they really seemed to drag their feet.  All I kept hearing for months was the big dance that was "coming up soon"!  Every time I would ask Zach about it, he either didn't know, or he said the student government was "working on it".  So, eventually . . . a date is set.  To be honest they could not have picked a worse day.  The day selected for the dance was a Saturday, smack in the middle of Memorial Day weekend.  Really?!?  Plus, the weekend was forecast to be GORGEOUS!!  No boat trip for us!!  WHAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

So, it was decided that Zach and Katelyn would go to the dance together and Carsten and Camryn would also join the group.  I wouldn't say that Zach and Katelyn are "dating" but they do hang out together a lot, and it is well known that they "like each other", what ever that means.  Katelyn is great so I have no issues with anything.  Camryn and Carsten are just friends and are in the same group as Zach and Katelyn.

I picked up Carsten and we headed over to Katelyn's parents house for pictures.

A friend of ours heard about the dance and graciously offered to make  a wrist corsage for Katelyn and a boutonniere for Zach.  They turned out AWESOME.  Katelyn really seemed to like the corsage.

The kids all looked so cute in their nice outfits.  Everyone was excited for their first big dance.

Jessica (Katelyn's Mom) had suggested that we come over before hand to their house for pictures.  They have a beautiful stairway that worked out great to capture the moment.

I think that the kids were ready to go, and getting annoyed with all of the photos.  But, a first dance only happens once, and I wanted to capture as much as I could.

Towards the end, we were starting to get the "fake" smiles out of everyone, time to get this party started!!

Our first stop was Olive Garden.  We had a wonderful dinner and kind of our own separate room.  It was great.  I just got a salad (which was huge), because I know that Olive Garden packs you full of food.  There was dancing to be done, so I didn't want to get too stuffed.

The kids were at one end, and the adults at the other.  We had a great conversation on our end.  Both Jessica and Shannon are great.  Both of them are REALLY good friends and have know each other for years.

Jessica had a great idea to bring breadsticks to the dance.  The dance had a potluck component, so snacks of all shapes and sizes were welcome.

The dance went pretty much as I expected.  The event was open to middle schoolers, or the sixth, seventh and eighth graders.  It was funny to watch each of the groups.  It was primarily the sixth graders who did all of the dancing.  I don't know if it was an age thing, or just the dynamic of the grades.  It was fun watching the kids interact.

Not a lot of slow dancing going on.  Some group dances and a lot of just running around.  Probably similar to what we did when I was that age.

Frau Johnson, the teacher sponsor of the dance, saw that the party was kind of stalling, so she suggested that maybe some glow-sticks would be cool for the dance.  I volunteered to run to Walmart to find glow-sticks.  Well . . . I found a whole lot more that just the glow sticks.  They had glow balls, necklaces, glowy eye glasses and yes, glow sticks.  I grabbed about $30 worth of glow "stuff" and headed back.

The parents, while not as active as the kids, were still getting our groove on.

Kids still had WAY more energy!!!

Zach's confused attempt at a slow dance.  

Good friends till the end.  Zach and Katelyn were both selected to go on the upcoming German exchange.

Zach, always a ham!

Afterwards we went over to the Frozen Yogurt shop.  It was difficult getting a nice picture out of the kids.

And then Camryn stole my phone and took a million selfies!

 

Good time was had by all.  Great group of friends and the Mom's were fun to hang out with.  Looking forward to the next big dance, although I am going to suggest that we do it on a weekday . . . not during boating season:)

Ex-Co-workers Birthday

Went over to Rebecca's house for a birthday lunch for her.  Beautiful day out, and we all had fun eating outside.