As we approach the end of 2010 I am left in awe at how fast this past year has flown by! The family and I have done our fair share of traveling this year, although Lauren probably has us beat for total mileage flown! Mom and Dad have been flying back and forth to the Arizona pad as much as they can to escape the rain, and what is now frigid cold.
Over Labor Day weekend Cousin Jonathan visited Anchorage from Seattle. Since it was his first trip up to the big AK we did all sorts of rugged Alaskan experiences to show him what it’s like. Mom and Dad rented a mini-van (yes, Jonathan, E.J. and I put up with being seen in one of those for a few days) and we painted the town! To our benefit, the weather was cooperative and that made the trip better than ever! We checked out the Alaska State Zoo, took in the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, drove down to Portage Glacier, and because Dad and never been, we drove through the tunnel to Whittier and saw absolutely nothing that is Whittier! (What a little place that is!) It was an eventful and fun filled weekend with the family in town! After the fam left, Kelsey and I took Jonathan on a hike up Flattop Mountain for his last day in town. He loved it! We did however miss having Lauren around, and look forward to having her come home! Wait... is she coming home??
E.J. finished up his senior year and graduated from Thunder Mountain High School in the first graduating class. Before graduation he had the opportunity to fly down to Utah with a buddy for skiing in February and then on to Colorado for Spring Break and a visit to Rocky Peters' for MORE skiing! He has taken several trips up to Anchorage to visit me for some male bonding. Now that ski season is in full force, E.J. has been skiing and teaching lessons to the youngsters eager to learn the epic runs on the mountain in Juneau. He has also been filling in as a substitute teacher at Riverbend with Mom, which keeps his cash flow coming.
Lauren… well, she has fled the country for the second time this year. In May, Lauren flew to Panama to visit Aunt Dee Dee for almost three weeks. In Panama she got to see Aunt Dee Dee’s farm, and the coffee that they grow there. She also did some horseback riding and saw lots of animals. She also volunteered in Panama and worked with the kids teaching good hygiene! (Yes, she even did the lice check!) She is currently in Argentina and attended college for a semester this fall – after completing a Spanish Immersion course this summer! Her classes were in Spanish, and I cringed when she told me she was taking Philosophy – in Spanish! She is staying with her friend Belu, who came to visit us in Juneau two years ago, and of course – she has made lots of new friends! If all goes as planned – she should…stress should… be home by mid January!
I’ve been pretty busy this year too. After I finished the Spring Semester, I decided to knock out a few extra classes over the summer. Reality set in when I discovered I didn’t like five-week classes! Fall semester is complete and I’m fully enjoying winter break in my NEW place. Dad bet me I could not go a year without buying clothes, and I was able to save enough money to buy a condo in south Anchorage (Independence Park – fitting!) and I absolutely love being in it! It’s a great place with 2 bedrooms, and all new tile, carpet and paint. It has a fireplace, too! I’ll be flying home at the end of the year to visit the family before I start up school again in January.
O! And Mom and Dad sold the house after what seemed like forever without any offers. They are downsizing to a condo – can you say wow! It won’t be too long before they make their way a bit more frequently to the sandy beaches… wait, the hot dry desert of AZ! Time really is flying…
We hope the holiday season finds you well and wish you the best in the New Year!
Sam – and the rest of the Peters gang!
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