More Alaska

We had a great time in Alaska with Erik & Brittany. Here are some photos of all the great things that we did. We took a road trip down to Homer where Mike and Erik went halibut fishing. I'll have to get some of those pictures off the other camera, but they had a great time and we were able to bring home over 20 pounds of halibut. We've already had two halibut dinners. Yummy!

In Homer by a wooden fisherman and his halibut.

Britt & Erik in a crab cage. This is from Time Bandit, one of the boats on "Deadliest Catch."

Me and Brittany

The scenery was amazing.

We drove from Homer to Seward and were able to go on a six hour wildlife and glacier boat cruise. The ride started out really rough...we thought Erik was going to have to use the vomit bag, but he survived. The waters eventually calmed and we were able to see some amazing things. We stopped to see this glacier. It was 300 feet tall and half a mile wide. It was "calving" so we could hear the glacier moaning and popping and then chunks would fall off the front into the water. It was amazing.

I really wanted to see some whales. Toward the end of our tour, we came across a family of Orca "Killer" whales. It was incredible. It was really hard to get good pictures, so I mostly took video, but here's one photo to show you we actually saw them.

Our spot inside the boat. It was nice to have a table. The boys & Brittany played several games of Backgammon. We would run outside whenever they announced that there was something good to see.

Britt and me again. It was so much fun to experience Alaska with them.

One day we went to a shooting range. Mike has never shot a gun and he really wanted to. It wasn't too thrilling for me, but I gave it a try. Is shooting a recommended activity for a pregnant woman? Mike likes this shot because you can see the shell coming out of the gun.

I think I usually had my eyes closed. Oops!

Check out the target.

Nice form Britt! She was a really good shot.

After shooting, the boys went into this pond to collect disc golf discs that had gone astray into the water. The water was really cold, but they walked around in the muck feeling for discs with their feet. It was always a celebration when a disc was found. The third guy in the picture is Tim, one of E & B's friends.

In the end, they came up with 27 discs.

Then they had to divide up the discs. Each one taking his turn.

Another fun thing was that we were able to spend an evening with Suzanne's parents. They cooked us a delicious dinner and a tour of their amazing house. There were actually two tours...a girls tour which looked at all the rooms of the house and a boys tour that talked about all the construction aspects of the house. Their tour was about four times as long as ours. Thanks so much for a great night.

Erik & Brittany, thank you for a great trip. Start planning for next summer!

alaska

Mike and I have been looking forward to going to see Erik & Brittany in Alaska for a couple months now. This past week before leaving was especially crazy, so we were looking forward to it even more. We had a 6pm flight out of Chicago on Saturday, but at 5:30am that morning, Mike woke up with excruciating pain in his left knee. I couldn't believe how much pain Mike was in. He could barely walk and he said he felt like he was going to throw up it hurt so bad. We packed up and headed to the U of C. We didn't really talk about, but I kept thinking, "There is no way we are going to Alaska tonight." I just kept praying that Mike would be healed and that we would get out of there in enough time to pack up the rest of our stuff and make our flight. I knew that trips to the U of C ER were not normally short trips. We called the doctor while we were on our way and were pleased to find out that they had an urgent care clinic from 8am-11am. That was a better option than going to the ER. After being evaluted by the resident and the attending physician, Mike was diagnosed with "atraumatic effusion," also known as "roofer's knee." He had been doing a lot of kneeling work this week, so it was an understandable diagnosis. The treatment is ibuprofen around the clock. It seemed so simple...like we could have done that from home...but I was so happy that we were leaving there at 9:30am and that we were free to go to Alaska. It's amazing how God works. Just a reminder that we are grateful for this chance to get away. Mike's knee improved dramatically throughout the day and he said it didn't bother him at all during the flight. God is so good.

So, now we are here enjoying Alaska with Erik & Brittany. It was so good to see them and they were so excited to have us here. They both took the week off work. This is vacation for them too. We are going to do some things that they've never done either.

It's so beautiful here. I know Mike would move here in a second.

It was kind of hard to time when to jump since the camera was on self-timer.
I did actually jump off the ground.



At Beluga Point.
It was so windy.

paul & megan's wedding july 18, 2009

Mike's brother Paul married Megan on Saturday, July 18th.

It was a beautiful day and a lot of fun.

Look at that handsome best man.

First married kiss.

So many Rummelhoff boys.

Mike's parents with the bride and groom.

The new Rummelhoffs.

Pregnant! That dress was so comfortable.

I think Rachel looks so pretty in this picture.

I think I look gross. Oh well.

Silly! Mike's idea, of course.

the condaps are in town

erin, Kira and Jenna came to Chicago while Mike was away. That was a nice distraction. It was so much fun to have them here.

On a VERY hot day, Kira and Olivia eat frozen Gatorade and play in the sprinkler.

Relaxing and talking like two grown ups.

Hairwear! So cute.

We took a trip to Mario's. Yummy!

Gramma & Poppa with all the kids.


Everyone picked out their own flavor. I thought there was no way that Jackson was going to be able to finish his, but he was the first one done.



Happy eating italian ice!

fourth of july

Mike was on a missions trip with the youth group July 2-13. Olivia kept me company for awhile and on the 4th of July we were in a parade in Glenview. We were on the Chicago 2016 float. Caleb and Jackson were in the bike parade.

22 weeks

I know it's been a long time. Our laptop at home hasn't been connecting to the internet. Annoying. These pictures were taken on June 29th when I was 22 weeks. I think they look pretty much the same as the almost 20 weeks pictures, but I figured I'd post them anyway.

Dan & Meredith's Wedding

My cousin Dan got married this weekend. It was a really beautiful wedding and reception. It was a whopping 98 degrees that day. Yikes. Sisters! Jenny did actually have a dress on, though it doesn't look like it from this picture. And look how skinny she is!

These pictures posted in the opposite order I wanted them in. Oh well. You'll figure it out.

Dan & Meredith's first dance.

Colby the stellar scripture reader.

The bride's arrival.

me at 20 weeks

Just a few photos of me at almost 20 weeks. I asked Mike tonight if he thinks people who don't know me look at me and know that I'm pregnant or just think I have a big belly. I guess I'm still at that stage. But I do feel movement everyday now. Mike's even been able to feel it. How fun.