Kodiak Koehler's

Ok, so to tide you all over while you await our birthday girl pictures, here are the family pictures we had made last week. We used Carol Scott again, the same one who did Donavyn's birth pictures. She didn't take time to crop/edit/touch up since she doesn't know which we'll want to order. Each pose ordered includes one hour of touch up time, so she can make my fly-aways go away (why can't she just follow me around and do this all the time?). Anyway, j ust click on Beth Koehler under "recent photos" and the password is beth (note that is all lowercase). Man, do we have our work cut out for us on finding our favorites to order!

Ok, so here's August for you. Not a lot went on really, so I didn't get many pictures. The first week, Zach was still in Cordova. Here is a pic of a view that he gets when flying there. Pretty, huh? This is the Valdez oil terminal. The big Alaskan oil pipeline that runs from the North Slope of Alaska all the way to Valdez ends right here. This is where they pump it on to big oil tankers to be shipped out. This is the high speed ferry. If we get to stay here for another tour the kids and I will go over to Cordova at the end of one of Zach's deployments, then we will take the ferry over to Seward to see what's there. The most important thing of August....we celebrated our 6 year anniversary. It's funny because we are always amazed that it has been that long, but yet it feels like we have always been together. Zach likes to say that he has forgotten what life without me was like and that he hopes he never has to remember. (Cue "aww") He asked what I wanted ...

Here is something you can do for kids with brain tumors (like Hadley ). It takes a moment of your time and doesn't cost you a dime. You do have to be an American Express cardholder to vote...but, even if you aren't you can help out by spreading the word. Thank you SO much. Project Brain Child is an iniative of the Pediatric Low Grade Glioma Association. Members Project is a program sponsored by American Express where cardmembers submit innovative ideas for projects that make a difference. Cardmembers vote on the projects, and the winning 5 projects will receive up to $1.5 million in funding from American Express, awarded as follows: $1,500,000 for the winning project $500,000 for the 2nd place project $300,000 for the 3rd place project $100,000 each for the two remaining finalist projects The Pediatric Low Grade Glioma Association (PLGA) submitted their project idea to American Express in August. They will use the funds to conduct a feasibility study to create a National Pediat...

Hey everyone...it's my turn to update the blog, yes it's me Zach, and yes I do know how to type and use a computator. It's just been extremely busy at the Airsta but that's a different post. I was told by my lovely wife that I was to share our experience in Cordova. Well it all started off with me having to fly the helo to Cordova and she had to ride the Herc with 2 kids. Ok...totally do-able. That is until we both get diverted to a SAR (Search & Rescue) case up in the Cook Inlet. So Beth gets to ride in the Herc as it yanks and banks and makes all the passengers airsick and I get to conduct a 6 hour search. We never found anything. I'm not totally convinced anything was there to begin with but I just get paid to drive. So long story short I finally make it to Cordova and meet up with Beth. She has already gotten the rental car and checked into our lodging. The Bear Country Lodges are by far the best place to stay in Cordova. Follow the link to check...

Ok, so since I have a lot of catching up to do, I'm going to break them up into 3 separate posts. I don't have time to do them all at once, so it may be a day or two between them. That will give you all ample time to check out my cuties without having to read several posts at once. We spent mid-July just hanging out mostly. We went to Baranof Park to play with the MOPS group one day and they have sawdust in their playground. I thought it was brilliant! The kids loved it and I was amazed they didn't eat too much of it. Ok, so Donavyn didn't get any I don't think (maybe a tiny bit) and Gabriel got a bit more than she did, but hey, it's just more fiber, right? That's what I'm telling myself anyway. The rest of the time we were pretty much just here and there until it was time to leave for Cordova - which will be the next post. I have way too many pictures to share from that to deal with right this minute, so it will be a day or so. Deal. Pbbth. *Yes, I'...

Shocker, I know. It's only been 10 days since my last post! Whatever are we going to do? I know....enjoy pictures! I'm pretty sure Gabriel was long overdue for a haircut. He was looking a little wild. I think it was driving him crazy too; he would pull at his hair a lot. He doesn't any more. I took him to my hairdresser, Alex. She is the only one I will trust with my hair. Her partner, Dana, is also very good to my friends, but Alex is my girl. Her son is a few months older than Gabriel, so she had some of his toys in her salon. Gabriel saw the car and was done for. He was SUCH a good boy. He just sat there and let her go at it. He wiggled a little, but not much. I was so proud of him. Donavyn just sat and played on the floor like a good girl so I could take pictures since Zach couldn't be there. Here is our big boy all cleaned up! We had her give him a faux-hawk. It's short on the sides and longer in the center so we can stick his hair up. He's so funny. When...

Ok, once again, I'm a lazy bum and didn't get to this sooner. I blame the kids and the constant whirlwind they cause around here. There is always something going on, especially since it's summer in Kodiak, which calls for a LOT of being outdoors and not so much being inside on the computer. YAY! May 28 Gabriel likes to sit on the porch to eat his afternoon snack. What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis? Went to Griffin's for a fire pit and my boys jumped on the trampoline. Gabriel was a tired boy, but he loves to swing. His first smore Snugglin' with momma May 29 Peek a boo, I see you! June 4 Playing in the cabinet Cheesy pose with momma I'll let you out, Snowflake! June 6 I think we have one like this from when G was just 3 1/2 months old. Eat my finger, Daddy! June 7: National Trails Day Just one of the reasons I love it here. There is water on the opposite side of those trees as well, you just can't see it very well in the picture. Don't the kids l...