Sunday, December 19, 2010

December 2010

We are enjoying perfect winter weather here in Juneau.  We have about 6 inches of snow in the front yard and the weather has been clear and cold.  Everything is covered with snow and frozen hard.  It is just beautiful.  Great weather and snow conditions for cross country skiing or just walking.

Jesse took these pictures when we ran into him at the glacier parking lot the other day.  Brian, Neka, and I were on our way to a walk out to Nugget Creek.
 
 Here are the pictures from the walk.  We headed from the Glacier Visitor Center out toward Mendenhall Glacier.  This is Nugget Creek and used to be under the glacier way back when.  The glacier has receded alot since I first moved to Juneau in 1982.  From this picture, the glacier is off to the right.
 
 Neka and I in front of Nugget Creek.
  Looking back over Mendenhall Lake at the sunset.  
The visitor center is off to the right and the glacier is now on our left.
 Icebergs in the frozen Mendenhall Lake.
 Another of the sunset.
For those who are interested, here is the web address for the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.  http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/ 

After a great walk in the snow... Here is how we relax!  
 Happy Holidays from the Budke Family!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Moose, rabbits, dragons and more.....

Amy started Halloween with her class party. Both Savanna and I were there to help celebrate. Don't you like my moose hat? One of my old friends gave that to me as a joke, but I have worn it a couple of times for an easy costume. Very fetching, don't you think...(tee hee hee).
Amy was "Astrid" from the movie "How To Train Your Dragon."
Ms. Becker (Amy's teacher) had lots of food, games and prizes for the kids. She really did a great job.
The kids had fun decorating their own cookies.
Savanna and Amy with their cookie.
Party pictures... kids playing games for the prizes.
Ms. Becker is the one in pink handing Amy the plate...Amy and Ms. Becker.
One of the games was to see who could find the piece of bubble gum in the pile of whipped cream. You place a piece of gum on a plate, cover with mounds of whip cream and the person has to eat their way to the gum without using their hands. The first one to find the gum is the winner. It was hilarious to watch.



Amy handing out her treats to classmates.
For Trick or Treating, Amy dressed up like a bunny rabbit. Here she is just before she left. She does like to pose for the camera!
A dragon came Trick or Treating and of course we had to ask it in.... I found this costume a few months ago. Kylie looked so cute in it!

Kylie and her Papa.
Jesse, Karla, and Kylie.
Papa and Kylie reading a book.
Amy giving her sister a few more ears.
Man, look at all that candy; what a haul! Of course, you have to dump it all on the living room floor and sort it to see exactly what you got. Some things never change.....
How about this next costume!!! I bet it looks very familiar to some folks. The skeleton costume is one that my mom made for my little brother when he was younger. Last time I was in Seattle, I was able to bring it home with me. It fit Amy perfectly, but she had picked out a bunny rabbit for Trick or Treating months ago.