Brian's homemade pizza

We have had friends over for Brian's homemade pizza the past couple weekends.  The man makes a darn good crust and his pizzas are always crowd-pleasers.  Maude agrees!

My favorite hike in Juneau

Mt. Jumbo is my favorite hike in Juneau, and we got to do it for the second time a couple weekends ago with some friends.  It was a rare sunny weekend, and we took full advantage!

The beginning of the hike is through muskeg

a beautiful view looking down on Juneau, from the Douglas side of the Gastineau Channel

Jason, Inari and their little girl Saana + us

At the top, after about four hours of hiking

At 3 years old, Saana already has lots of hikes under her belt!

I especially love that last photo of Jason & Saana, because I think it captures the kind of dad he is.  He was offered a premiere job at Univ of Washington this summer, and decided to turn it down because he said he thought he could be a better dad to Saana in Juneau rather than Seattle.  They go on lots of hikes together and can do so within minutes of their front door.  People thought he was crazy to turn down a top job in his field (he's a glaciologist), but the easy access to outdoors and the close-knit community in Juneau kept him here.  They live in our neighborhood, and we are happy they decided to stay!

100th birthday celebration in Michigan

Brian and I joined the rest of the Vander Naald clan for Grandma Billie's 100th birthday celebration in Kalamazoo, Michigan the end of June.  Here are just a few photos from the party:

Grandma loves her hymns and played a lot that day, both at the party and at her house afterwards!

Val snuck in some time with baby Philip

Grandma Billie in between the two "maroon boys," Eric & Brian

 It was a fun time to celebrate this amazing woman and her love of life, and to re-connect with family.

Guess who is turning 1

August 11th is Maude's 1st birthday!  

She is such a blessing and brings a lot of joy to our world.  

It's like there was a Maude-sized hole in our family and she filled it perfectly.  :)

Splints Reflections

Dear Family,

My parents took me to get this hard plastic thing put on my entire leg.  I hear them say I have a broken toe, but I really don't feel any pain so I'm a little confused.  I really don't like this splint thing.  I have tried to chew it off a couple times now, and each attempt has been thwarted.  First, my mom wrapped me up in duck tape and then signed it like a cast.  She was smiling during this, along with my shorter friend, Cole, but I was not too enthused.

I did not like the duck tape.  In fact, I chewed it all off the night after she did this.  Little did I know what this would lead to…my first experience with the cone of shame.  I've heard my doggie friends whisper about this, but had no idea what it really meant.

Well now I know.  This thing sucks!  When they slide it on over my head, my heart just sinks and I become very sad.

I am so unhappy about this cone of shame, I can't even look at the camera.  I'm sorry, I know I'm usually a more cheerful part of the family.  But right now, I'm not feeling very cheerful.

On the bright side, though, I am getting a whole lot more peanut butter in my diet!  I love peanut butter, just like my mom.  I think I could eat entire jars of it in one sitting.  They limit me to just one kong a day, though.  I think they're watching my figure, since I'm not getting any exercise these days.  

Hopefully my broken toe will be fixed soon.  I love you, and thanks for listening.  Please remember me in your doggie prayers!

Love,

Maudie

Splint Day!

Maude got her splint put on a couple days ago, and the poor thing is essentially a peg leg now.  We have considered getting her an eye patch just to complete the pirate look.  Instead, however, her Auntie Caroline sent her a box of goodies that happened to arrive on Splint Day!  Perfect timing, Auntie, thank you so much!  As you can see Maude is donning her flower power, and enjoying some new toys to distract her from chewing her leg :)  

She's still such a gorgeous gimp, isn't she?  :)

When we take her outside, we put an IV bag over her foot to keep it dry.  Keeping this thing dry for 4 weeks will be no small feat in a rainforest!

Maude: fractured and hairy!

Maude is still processing the news she just heard from the vet: A splint.  For four weeks.  Poor girl has a fractured toe.

Time for the summer shed!