Enjoying the weather!

So...we've actually had some nice weather up here in Alaska the past week. Enough so, that Shayne and I were able to get some yard work done, and do some fishing. As you can see from the fishing pictures, the Reds are in at the Russian! We went the day after it opened and had a very good time. Shayne actually went two more days after this, with a couple of friends, and got his limit both days. Nothing like fresh salmon for dinner!

Yup... here I am 5 1/2 months pregnant squeezing into my waders (not sure how much longer I'll be able to do this) and my new wading boots and hiking about 30-45 minutes up river to fish. And I must say...I caught my entire limit of three before Shayne even landed one! In fact, after I landed my third Red, I not only let him have my hole, I gave him my rod as well. Ya...he caught all three of his within about 20-30 minutes. Granted he had the wrong line on his rod, but still...am I good or what?! And as a side note...Shayne decided we needed to take a side profile pic, b/c I don't look large enough from the front! :)

The other picture is of Shayne and the dogs taking a break on our wonderful lawn. Shayne has worked hard all week outside getting "stuff" done, so deserved a break. I just thought it was funny how the second he laid down, Tipz was all snuggled next to him. I went and grabbed the camera and by the time I got back outside Bo had laid down as well. So cute!

Flashback Father's Day

So I'm a little late with the Father's Day post, but better late than never huh? I thought I would write just a bit about each of the Father's (or soon-to-be-Father's) in my life.

This first pic is of Shayne fishing with his little brother Dallan. This says a lot about Shayne's personality that he doesn't often let many people see. He loves to be with his family, and loves to help others, and loves to fish...so in this picture, there is no other place he'd rather be at that moment than where he is. I have no doubts he is going to be an incredible father. He's WAY more patient than me, and is incredibly sensitive and understanding. I can't wait to see him with his own son.

This is me with my dad, Van. I think it's the cutest picture b/c I'm just staring at him, and you can see how much my dad loves me by how he's looking back at me. I am his first child, and his little girl. He's always told me he wanted a little girl first. My dad is a great example of standing up for what you believe in, following the spirit, and not caring what other people think. He's always had a strong testimony of the gospel, and has never been afraid to share that with his family. He's taught me most everything I know about horses, which has been something I've been passionate about my whole life. My dad is extremely proud of us kids, which is a good feeling. In fact you want to see my dad tear up, just ask about his kids...or say something good about one of his kids. I loved that he was always available to give me a blessing when I needed it, and I received many as I was going through the medical issues I had. He's been very understanding of the struggles I've had in my life, and has always supported and loved me. He's been a great dad and friend! I love you dad!!

This is Shayne with his dad, Dana. I love this picture b/c of the way Shayne has his hand on his dad's shoulder...it just says volumes about their relationship. Shayne is Dana's first child as well, and they have always been close. Shayne and his dad are best buddies. Shayne has always talked about his dad with admiration and respect. When Shayne was getting ready to have surgery, Dana quit his job for awhile in order to make sure he spent quality time with a son that might not survive the surgery. As a result, they have a pretty close bond. They have some great stories together. Dana never had a problem taking Shayne fishing, or to basketball, or to baseball, or to whatever Shayne needed/wanted to do. He also taught Shayne the value of hard work. Shayne and his dad milked cows by hand every morning and evening while Shayne was growing up. He also instilled in Shayne the value of using your mind to make a living instead of your hands with hard labor. He made sure Shayne went to college and got an education. Dana has been a great father-in-law. He's been extremely supportive of Shayne and I, and I've never questioned his desire to do whatever we needed to help our family. I know Shayne respects and loves him a lot.

I am so lucky to have such incredible men in my life!

Zockets!!

Ok all my blogging friends! I am so excited to let you know about something my mom's been doing. She has gotten very brave and stepped outside her comfort zone and done something she's dreamed about, and felt like she should do for some time now. She wrote AND illustrated her own children's book!! It is amazing! I absolutely love it.

It is not only a very cute rhyming story about a Zocket (my mom made up this little creature), but you also get a hand-made (by my amazing mom) Zocket to go with each book. That way the child really associates the book with something more concrete. Every kid I've read it to has loved it. In fact my principal bought one for his three year old son, and he refused to read any other books for awhile at bedtime, and has been going everywhere with his Zocket. My principal sent my mom an email and a picture of his son with his Zocket, to let her know how great the book was.

She actually has a whole series written, but has only been able to publish the first book at this point. She has gone out and published this on her own, at her own expense. He entire goal is to help kids bond with those who are reading the book to them, whether it be case workers working with kids in scary situations, at day-care when the child is scared and uncomfortable, a new baby-sitter, or just a mom and dad wanting to interact with their child. All the books have a theme/moral to teach the kids as well.

Anyway...I'm so proud of my mom! She is incredibly talented, and I just have to tell everyone about what she's doing. So...I hope all of you go to her website: www.zocketbooks.com and check out her book. You can actually purchase it online or email her as well. If you like what you see, tell all your friends! I know a lot of you have little kids, and friends that have little kids. I'm hoping that using word of mouth will get her book out there. It really is an amazing book. Please check it out!!

p.s. For those of you that mention my name or know my mom, let her know and she'll sign the book for you as well.

Cutest Husband...

So while I was in Anchorage for a week taking a class for my Alaska teacher certification, Shayne spent three days at Girls' Camp. They went across the bay from Homer, near Seldovia, and camped on the beach. He had a very good time as you can see from him on the tree swing...Alaska style. We don't use tires for our tree swings, we use boat buoy's! :)

Anyway...while there he told me he made me something. I'm thinking he participated in the Girls' Camp craft...kinda funny huh?! Well, when we both got home he sat me down in front of the tv, plugged the camera in, made me close my eyes, and when I opened them this is what I saw on the TV screen.

Isn't he the cutest?! He made it out of the clam shells found on the beach. He even had a couple of the girls going, "Aaahhh...that's so cute!" I love it when he does things like this!

The Flavor is...

We had an appointment yesterday w/ Dr. Anderson, and we were able to find out what we are having!! We thought from a previous ultrasound done by one of the nurses at the hospital that it might be a girl, so when asked if we knew what the flavor was we told him we thought it might be a girl. He then informed us that what we were looking at on the screen was a little penis!! I was so surprized, I just exclaimed, "It is?! Really?!" I looked at Shayne and he was just smiling. :)

We were definitely ok w/ having a little girl, but we have both felt like we were having a boy from the beginning. So, to hear Doc tell us Shayne is going to have a little fishing buddy was a good feeling! I would post a pic of the ultrasound showing the little stem on the apple, but I'm in Anchorage @ Kaye's taking a class for my teaching certificate, so I'll post it next week. Just wanted to let everyone know. We are excited!! A little boy in October!! :)

Our Week...and the 20 Week Baby Bump

Shayne, me, Bo, and Tipz on Kasilof Beach

Wow! What a week. I actually have posted three different posts tonight, so make sure you check them all out. Sorry, but this is a long blog! Anyway...let me give a way too long description of what's been going on the past week in the Pond home:

Wednesday: Last day of classes, and high school graduations. Shayne and I went to both my school's graduation and Skyview's. My school recognized me, and gave me the most beautiful flowers at the graduation. The kids gave me a standing ovation as I accepted the flowers. What a great group of kids! They actually made me cry. Shayne worked that night as well.

Thursday: Last day of work for me. I cleaned my room, entered grades, and turned in my keys. It was actually really hard for me to leave. I have absolutely LOVED teaching at the Alternative H.S. They are some amazing kids, and a great bunch of teachers to work with. I'm going to miss them lots! Shayne didn't sleep, at all, but did a bunch of chores and what not around the house to get ready for our guests that were coming for Memorial Day weekend.

After work we met the vet at Corey's to have our 3 yr old horse colt, Cojo, "cut" or castrated. It didn't go as well as we'd hoped and we ended up being there for about 2 hours. It wasn't a pleasant experience for him...not that it would have been anyway, but it was made worse by his lack of cooperation. But...it got taken care of, and I now have a nice gelding to work with...I like that much better than having a stud horse to work with.

Jared, Kaye and Malia, and Ty, Liz and Zack showed up around 10:00 that night. We all stayed up way too late talking, but it was nice to see all of them.

Bo actually getting out into the water and retrieving the stick...he usually gets distracted and doesn't retrieve the stick! :)

Friday: We found out on Friday that Haakon, Lyndsay, and their kids, 5 yr old Corinne, 3 yr old Lauryn, and 14 mnth old Torstin, were coming down as well. They had a motor home to stay in, so just needed a parking space. They are a very fun family, and we loved having them here. Everyone was coming down, b/c the opener for King Salmon fishing was that Friday night at midnight. So, their plan, (and by "their" I mean, the men) was to drive down to the Ninlchik river and start fishing at midnight. They left @ 11:00 pm and didn't get home until about 7 am the next morning. I might add that Shayne was the only one to bring home a King. He hooked into three, landed two, but was only allowed to bring home one. Yeah for him! :) Us women stayed up way too late talking again, and just having a good time.

Shayne w/ one of the King's he landed. Doesn't he look warm?!

Saturday: After the men got home and got about anywhere from 2-4 hours of sleep depending on their kids, or lack thereof...they did a bunch of work around the house. They cut up a bunch of dead fall, and built a huge wood pile for fire wood. The place looks awesome!! A couple of us went into town and got groceries for our big BBQ. Shayne grilled up the King salmon he caught, and it was delicious! We had a blast just hanging out! Ty, Liz and Zack left shortly after the BBQ.

Sunday: We don't have church until 1pm on Sunday, so we got to sleep in again. Haakon, Lyndsay, and their kids left around 12:30, and the rest of us were planning on going to church. However, I got a call about 12:15 informing me that my newly gelded horse, Cojo, and been spooked the night before by a bear and had ran himself into a metal roping chute, built for small cows, had wedged himself in there and had been there for most of the night. He had a massive hole down to the skull in the center of his head, just above his eyes, and had scraped off most of the hair and hide on his back. We called the vet...again, and ran over there and met him. We had to anesthetize him...again...and he put about 12 stitches in the front of his head, and I clipped, cleaned and treated his massively scraped up back. Shayne helped the vet with the head, and even got to administer medication via Cojo's jugular...after he was asleep. Cojo was a little easier to work with this time, but it was b/c he was so exhausted from fighting in the chute all night. The poor horse has not had a good week! Needless to say we missed church, but Jared and Kaye were good and went any way.

Monday: Memorial Day. Kaye cut my hair, and then they left shortly after that. Shayne worked around the yard, pruning and cleaning up the raspberry bushes and mowing the yard. It looks so good...he's doing an awesome job! Later that afternoon we went to the Hansen's for a BBQ. The Swanson's, Wilson's, and Anderson's were there. It was pretty darn fun! Shayne then had to go back to work. I went over and doctored Cojo. I have to put some ointment on his back every day for about 2 weeks. He wasn't a huge fan of it tonight, but I did get some on. He's still awfully tender, but at least he's letting put some on.

I also took pictures of my 20 week baby bump. Keep in mind that I had just eaten WAY too much at the BBQ so my stomach is a little bigger than normal. :) I'm actually carrying way low, and most people are surprised to know I'm as far along as I am...if they recognize I'm pregnant at all.

The 20 week baby bump...I think Baby Pond went through a growth spurt the last couple of weeks.

Whew!! So that's been our week! It's been crazy, but that's what Alaska is like in the summer. It's just crazy. We actually have an ultra sound tomorrow, and then I head to Anchorage for a week to take a class for my permanent teaching certificate. Shayne has a basketball clinic this weekend, and then maybe headed to our ward's girls camp for a couple of days to help out as the Priesthood leader.

Gotta love summers in Alaska!! :)

Memorial Day

WELCOME TO SUMMER IN ALASKA!!

Malia being funny w/ Shayne's hat...she is CONSTANTLY on the move! But we love her anyway!!

Here are SOME pics of our visitors over Memorial Day weekend...I can't believe I didn't get any pics of Baby Z, and the rest of the Zollinger clan!! Sorry you guys!! :(

Anyway...It was kind of a crazy weekend, but we loved having all the company. Jared, Kaye and Malia, and Ty, Liz and Zack showed up Thursday night from Anchorage. Haakon, Lyndsay, Corinne, Lauryn, and Torstin showed up Friday night from Anchorage as well. (I'm sure I've spelled names wrong here, if so...I'm really sorry.)

The Johnson Family...minus Lauryn...who is probably...

Yup...here she is, walking into the water to wash the sand off her hands...again. :)

Shayne, Jared, Ty, Haakon, and Gordo (Ty's friend), went fishing on the Ninilchik river Friday night about 11:00 to fish for King's on the "opener", and got home about 6:45 am the following morning. They were crazy! The rest of us hung out at our house, stayed up way too late talking
Friday night, but slept in on Saturday.

Corinne w/ Tipz...isn't this the cutest picture?! She LOVES pets, but only has her beta fish, Mr. Squishy McGregor Johnson, to love. :)

Ty & Liz left Saturday early evening, and the rest of us went to the Kasilof beach to enjoy the sunny weather. The pics are from Kasilof beach. Haakon and Lyndsay and their family left Sunday morning, and Jared and Kaye left Monday afternoon.

The Tuia Family

Shayne did a bunch of yard work Monday, and then we went to a BBQ at the Hansen's w/ the Swanson's, Wilson's, and Anderson's. So, our weekend has been full of friends we've known for a awhile, and friends that we are just getting to know, and are so glad to call them our friends. It's been a good LONG weekend!! :)