Alaskan Vacation

HI ALL!  I know it has been a long time, but I thought that since I have a little time on my hands I would try to Blog a bit. 

So, in June Brian's mom and dad, and sisters, Regina and Brenda came up and over (in Brenda's case) to Afognak for a visit.  We had so much fun.  They were our first official guest to the island.  We only had two days with them here, but here are few pics from our Stay-cation.

 This is the "Crew" Landing in Danger Bay.  It was everyone's first float plane ride.

 Notice they are all wearing hip-waders or rubber boots...The plane can only make so far into shore.

This is Regina looking like a pro.

 Granny Jolene making the big step.

Grandpa Kent had to take the big leap...he didn't wear his boots.

 Granny Jolene was exhausted from her late night flight, but Sawyer couldn't resist the opportunity to snuggle with her.  He loves he sooooo much.

 On the second day of their visit we hiked into Portage Falls.  The Salmon are just beginning to swim back to the fresh water, so we saw all sorts of Salmon jumping up the falls.  Unfortunately, I wasn't a quick enough shot to capture and actual jump.  Oh well.



After that we all packed up, hopped another float plane, headed to town, and then flew to Anchorage to visit Brenda's stomping ground.  Sawyer had an Opthomologist appointment the first day we were there, so we really didn't do too much that day.  But the next day we all boarded a passenger train and headed towards to coastal town of Seward.  I hadn't been on a train since the Heber Creeper in the 4th grade.  This was so much better.  The trip there was 3 hours, and the entire length of the trip was narrated, so we learned a lot about the beautiful state we are calling home.

 We had to be at the Train Depot at 6 o'clock in the blessed a.m., but it was totally worth it just to see how excited Sawyer was about the train.  (Luckily about a half hour into the journey he crashed)

 Chuga-chuga-choo-choo!

The tracks pretty much followed the coast line the entire way.  I think this is called the Turn Around, because back in the day a large ship tried to float in, but hit bottom.  Now a days you can see all kinds of animal life there like Beluga Whales.  We never got to see one though.

 On the other side of the tracks were cliffs that are the home for Dawl Sheep.  These little guys are climbers!  I wish I could have taken a better picture of how steep the cliffs were and how hight up these sheep were.

This Winnie, stuck with the train for about the first hour of the trip.  The driver kept waving at us, so we lovingly named him Bob. :)

it worked!

Congratulations to me!!! I finally got a picture to post on our blog. 4 months of living in AK and now I have finally done it!

From Idaho to Alaska- Home is Where the Heart IS!

Well, it has definitely been a long time since I last posted. I know, I know...But life catches up with you eventually, and then you finally get some time to blog. Well, these days I have quite a bit of time on my hands, so I am promising to be a better BLOGGER (if the Internet connection will allow).
So, if you are interested in following me back in time I would love to catch you all up on what the Rupps have been up to.
Let's start with last spring...
Brian spent all winter "temping" while searching for a permanent position, which he finally found in March. He ended up taking a job with Hinnricks Trading Company in Pullman. (They specialize in agricultural trading, particularly Garbanzo Beans, or better know as Chick Peas.) So we packed up our belonging and moved to Moscow, ID. (Brian didn't want to loose his Idaho residency.) We spent most of the Spring and all of the Summer there in Moscow, and we really thought it was the perfect place for us. Brian was enjoying his job, I was networking with other moms, and we both loved our new ward.....But Heavenly Father always has other plans than the ones we intend for ourselves.
That other plan would be called ALASKA. That is right. After only living in Moscow for approximately four months, Brian was offered a job in Alaska. For those wondering how we got this random job offer here's a little info...Remember how I said at the beging of my post that Brian had spent a good chunk of the Winter searching for permanent employment? Well, six months after contacting a timber company in Alaska, a position opened, so they gave him a call to see if he was still interested. The job was more directely related to Brian's degree, and the pay was definitely more than what he was making in Pullman. There was a catch however. The job was located on a remote Alaskan island called Afognak. And when I say remote, I mean no stores, our groceries and supplies would be flown in, and the island is only accessable by boat or plane. So after a lot of deliberation and even more praying, we made the HUGE decision to pack up Sawyer, and very few of our belongings, and make the move.
So HERE WE ARE. Danger Bay, Afognak Island, Alaska.
Brian arrived here on Afognak about a month ago, August 20th. He was immediatly submerged in his new job, and he has started out with a bang. We decided that Grizz, our dog, needed to come with us on this adventure, so since day one Brian and Grizz have been scoping the forest of Afognak, side by side. Sawyer and I arrived here ten days after Brian. So this marks the end of week three for me, or the beginning of week four if you like to look at that way. I have been busy settling in our little trailor. That is right I said trailor....let me explain our living situation.
There are approximately a hundred people here in Danger Bay. All of them either work for Evergreen Timber, Trans Pac Fiber, or Concord, or they are the spouses or children of said company employees. Our "Camp", the Evergreen Timber Camp, has about twelve families living here, and two full bunk houses of single men. All of the families live in 1970-1980's-ish model trailor houses. So we are our own little Trailor park. I must say, a trailor is not my ideal place to live, but it will do for now....someday, we will have our own dream home.
There are enough kids in camp to warrent public school funding. In fact, when Brian first accepted the job, he told the company that I was a teacher. They told him that if needed, they might put me to work in the one room school house. Fortunately, the school district had already found a more experienced teaching team to take care of the kids. I am definitely breathing a sigh of relief. I don't think I was ready to play Laura Ingles, Little House on The Prarie, one room school marme.
Okay...Now for the area. Afognak is located just north of Kodiak Island, inside the Alaskan Gulf. So, we are on the ocean, but NOT "On" the ocean, if you know what I mean. The island is beautiful beyond description. I am hoping to upload some pictures, but the internet here isn't quite up to snuff. Some of the indiginous creatures to the area are the Sitka Black-tailed Deer, Roosevelt Elk, Foxes, Seals, Puffins, an array of fish (salmon, halibut, etc.) and of course Kodiak Bears. Brian has been fishing only once, but caught four Silver Salmon in a matter of 20 minutes or so. We've seen plenty of bear....NOT IN CAMP! Most of the bear stear clear of humans, most are a few miles away from camp. But man, are they cool to watch. It is completely different from the Bear Cages at WSU.
About a quarter of a mile from camp there is a black sand beach. It is so neat, but because of the bear we have to take precautions when we go down there.
The weather has been really beautiful since I have been here. Mostly in the sixties, and sunny. I know that it will change soon, so we have been living it up. As for the sun light, right now the sun in coming up around 7:30 a.m. and going down around 8:00 p.m. The "locals" say that in the winter the sun usually comes up around 9:00a.m. and down by about 5:00ish. Not too terrible. You have to remember that we are in Souther Alaska, and our weather in more like what you would experience on the pennisula of Washington State.
As for life here on the island, I have a lot of time on my hands. I am planning on "remodeling", or as Brian calls it "bringing it up to Camille standards", our little home. We have a little play ground just across from our house, and there are two other little guys that are close to Sawyer's age here for him to play with. Our groceries are flown in 3 times a week. I email my list to Safeway in Kodiak, and they fill the order and send it out on the next plane. Which is a Float Plane by the way. I have to say, speaking or the float plane, that it was so cool to fly in on. A bit freaky for some, but still really cool.
We obviously don't have an LDS church building here in Afognak, but there is a ward on Kodiak. We are hoping that once we get everthing settled we will be able to fly over once a month for church. As for now, we put on our Sunday attire, and listen to confernce sessions online. During the week we do a nursery lesson for Sawyer, and are wanting to add the Relief Society and Preisthood lesson into our weekly routine. OH, FYI, we have made contact and met with the Bishop of our ward. No worries, they know we are here.
Well, I guess this was more information that most of you may have wanted, but I felt obligated to fill you all in. Keep checking on us for more updates and hopefully pictures.
Lots of Love!
Camille, Brian, and Sawyer

Playing Catch-up

I have been terrible, but I am trying to make up for it now. So here are some of the things we have been up to in the last few months.

Halloween


For Halloween I couldn't resist this costume. If you couldn't tell, He was a Porcupine. It was a bit more than I planned to spend on a costume he wore for a total fo 45 minutes, but it was so stinking cute and the hit of the party. I promised Brian that each Rupp child will wear the costume to make up for over-spending. He didn't care...He loved it!


A view from the rear...watch out...those spikes will get ya!


I was in charge of the ward Halloween Party, so our friend Tiffany took Sawyer Trick-or-Treating.


Sawyer and His favorite person...Grandma Jolene!


The little Lamb is our friend Marley...Isn't she so cute! They really liked each other's costumes. It was so funny.

Thanksgiving....coming soon to a post near you!

Yes, We are still alive!

Wow! It has been a really long time since I last posted anything here. I blame it mostly on the fact that I now have a SIX MONTH old, and a husband who is now at home...I will explain. Since the beginning of the summer until now, we have been GO, GO, GO. Now that Christmas is upon us, I thought I would stop for a moment and ponder all of the great things that have been happening in our lives.

So, when I left you last, Sawyer had just turned three months old. That was August. Over Labor Day weekend we moved out of Brian's parents home (Who we are so grateful to)to the nearby town of Kooskia (Pronounced Koo-ski). We totally scored when my sister-in-law's, Michelle, in-laws needed someone to stay at their newly remodelled home while the went on their mission to the Canary Islands. The house is so nice, and we love the fact that it is just US.

Brian continued to work for Northwest Management, a company based in Moscow, ID, through the rest of the summer and fall. The job was good in that he got a lot of great experience cruising timber, but he was gone during the week. So this is why I now say my husband is at home. He would get up at 4:30ish on Monday morning, drive about 2 hours to Moscow, get his weekly assignment, and then drive to where ever he was needed for that week. He spent a lot of time in Montana and Northern Idaho. Most of his days were spent either hiking through the woods measuring trees and working on prescribed fires, or driving. He would usually make it home in the later evening on Fridays. Saturdays were usually a blurr, and then Sunday was usually a race to get packed after church, and make it to bed by 11:00.
As of the week before Thanksgiving he has been Laid Off. Which was totally expected. So for now he is working at his uncles tire store "Busting Tire", and is happily home every night. I have to admit that having him home has been a bit of an adjustment. For most of the fall I had resorted back to college instincts of eating cereal for dinner, running the dishwasher once a week, and staying up late watching my girly movies. Now, I run a full load of dishes almost daily. Dinner takes a little more planning and preparation. And he is a bit on the messy side. BUT I love having him home. SO does Sawyer. It is so nice to know that I don't have to go to bed in an empty house, wake up in an empty house, eat meals alone, and pretty much be alone 24/7. WE just love being together again.
As for me, I have taken on a part time receptionist job at the local cedar mill. Our friends own it, so I can come and go pretty much as I please, and even take Sawyer to work with me. He is a really good baby, so it makes it easy to do that. WE are so grateful to our friends for allowing me to work for them. I have also taken on another side job of Clerking for another friend's auction company. It is really fun, especially since I was raised browsing in antique shops, second hand stores, and flea markets. I have a lot of fun, and I try my darnedest not to spend the money I am earning.
Now, on to Sawyer. What can I say...He is the light of our lives. I know I am so cheesy, but I think everyday either Brian or I comment on how much we love our CUTE little boy. He started rolling over in September...the way we found this out was when we left him on a bed and then came back to find him on the floor. This little incident led to a visit to the ER...just to make sure he was okay. (We might be a little overprotective). He loves to play with his toys and watch Baby Einstein or Elmo, while I take a few moments to shower and get ready for the day. He loves to smile and giggle and kick and flap his arms. And just recently he started eating baby food. He is really moving up in the world. He loves his Grandma Jolene. He gets so excited when she comes to visit. And he loves other kids. He could watch other kids play for hours.
Anyways, That is just a summary of what we have been up to. I promise to post later about all of the fun things we have been doing and have done.
As for now Adios!

Sawyer is 3 MONTHS Old! My, how time flies!

I know I am a terrible blogger. I say it every time I make a post. But I knew that I had to post something today because my little Sawyer Boy is turning 3 months old. CRAZY! I know most of you, my pals, already have older kids, so 3 months is no biggie, but I can't believe how fast they grow up.


I took Sawyer out in the yard today for a little photo shoot. I know they're not the greatest, but it is the best I could do with my little pink camera.
Sawyer has grown so much in the past few weeks.

- He thinks the sound of his own voice is Hillarious and would rather talk than eat.

- He loved meeting new people, and tends to carry on long drawn out conversations with them. (Now where did he get that from)

- He now weighs 15+ pounds (I know! But he is solid, not too chubby. Just long)And loves to Kick, Kick, Kick when he is naked.

- He can hold his head up really well, and likes to do what I call "Standies".

- He has discovered that his toes can be inserted into his mouth.

- He has learned that stiffening his body into a ridgid ironing board makes it more difficult for Mom and Dad to put him in his car seat. But he also his pretty happy once he is in the car seat because he get to talk to his to best friends, Larry the Lion and Berty the Butterfly.

- Sawyer loves it when his daddy comes home from his 10 day rotations at work. He absolutely loves to fall asleep on Brian's chest. Isn't that cute.

- Sawyer loves it when Grizz gives him kisses on his toes, and hands, and sometimes face.

- And to make-up for the fact that he is not a very good napper, he sleeps pretty darn good at night, and always greets Mom with a smile when she comes to get him out of bed.

- He now rides face forward in the stroller, which makes working-out with Mom a lot more fun. Plus his buddy Monty the Monkey is there too. (Aunt Brenda named all of his toys)

- I am usually the photographer, so today I had to take a few pics of me and the boy. Plus he was wearing my favorite shirt (Thanks Leslie), so we had to do some mommy and me photos.




This is Grizz's attempt at being part of the photo shoot. He did a pretty good job, wouldn't ya say?



Over the past few months we have been busy running Hither and Thither.
We went to the Rupp Family Reunion in June at Dworsak Reseviour (where he took a bath in metal pot), had our first family picture taken, and then ended the weekend by having Sawyer blessed by his daddy, grandpas, uncles, and close friends.








Then Sawyer and I drove 14 hours to visit Grandma Lynn and Papa Tom in Utah for three weeks in July. While there he played with cousins, went to his first rodeo, and got to take his first plane ride home.










We spent most of July hanging out at Grandma Jolene's and are now making plans to move to Kooskia in September. For those of you that are not familiar the area we live, Kooskia is 7 miles South East of Kamiah...basically, somewhere in the mountains near the Clearwater River.
Well, Sawyer is getting hungry, so I better sign off. Hope you enjoyed this random, yet informative post.