House Update Photos

Columns were made using half a 55 galon drum. Rebar rods were staked into the drums and down into the ground. Then the barrels were filled with concreat.

Then large steel beams were placed on blocks of wood that were set on top of the barrels.

Then the wood floor was framed on top of the ateel beams.

The next step will be to Tyvec under the framed floor which will require the floor to be lifted temporarily from the beams. Then they will put insulation in the floor, then sheet the floor.

Property

Soon I would like to post my log from the trip but that is going to take alot of typing so I will save it for another day and just try to get a few pictures up of the place here so that everyone can see were we are.

Power House

Out House with tin set up around it in attempt to save it from the fire.

I'll try to take more shots as we build on the house. Right now they are putting down the gravel pad and setting up columns.

The Next Trip

We are in the process of preparing for the next trip North. Ken will be leaving next Monday May 10th. This trip will be the 40' trailer with our personal items, furnature, etc.. We are also prepping for the last trip since as soon as Ken gets home we will be heading out for good. This trip Ken will drive up the MAC and then fly back. I've booked his flight for Monday May 24th he'll get home Tuesday morning. Then we'll get the last few small items mostly kid outside toys and head out. The lasy trip will be Ken pulling the 5th wheel with  the Frieghtliner and I will be pulling a car hauler trailer with my Expedition with the kids play house and the woodstove on it. We should be hitting the road before Memorial Day.

The kids are doing well. Lisa is ready to get moved, she still asks to go to Alaska every day. They are all getting so big and are very active. I wish I had something exciting to report at this time but life is pretty much packing getting prepped to move. Readjusting items in the 5th wheel getting stuff preped for motion.

Stress and Fear

As the health of my family hits a rapid decline I'm filled with stress and fear at the though of being thousands of miles away. My mother has had a heart attack, my step father has a disease that is deteriorating his spine as well as intestinal issues, my grandpa Jack is getting a pace maker on Friday, my step grandma just had a hip replacement, etc....etc....How do I stand to be away from them? Especially my mom whom I am very close to. Every day I want to cry. I'm having trouble doing anything I have no motivation. I'm so full of confusion and of coarse Ken is in Alaska and I can't even call him. As usual when I'm most in need of someone I am all alone. I have been deep in prayer but everyday brings new issues and I just don't know which way to turn. I am sorry to you all that this is such a depressing post. I have just reached my boiling point and I feel that there is less of me to go around with each passing day. If I can just keep my head above the rising water, keep my children on the raft and just keep kicking. Then what?, there is no island in sight only rougher water and a darker sky.

Lord give me strength

Easter

Easter was fun we went to church with my mom and step dad then had a wonderful lunch with Ken's mom, step dad, grandmother and step grandfather. Then the kids enjoyed an Easter Egg huint.

Right now Ken is in Alaska at the property. He will stay there for a few days working on a new driveway and bringing in some gravel. I hope that the trip home will be a quick one. I miss his so very much.

The Next Phase

Well first off I'm giving up on using our middle names, so a warning to stalkers and all around creepy people: My husband and I are both armed I carry 44 hunting revolver and a 9mm glock with a 15 round mag. Dear hubby carries a 45 glock with high round mag. SO don't even think about messin with my cubs!

LOL....on another note :)

Ken is getting ready for the next run to Alaska. This trip will be the backhoe and dumptruck. He should be heading out Monday or Tuesday. Money is getting really tight so we may have to leave some stuff behind and come back for it once we get settled and build up some funds. My dad is on the ferrie right now on his way to Washington for his last trailer and then he will hop right back on the ferrie along with my brother in law Mike who will be driving up dad's Yukon. When the three of them get to the property they are going to spend a few days putting in a second driveway to make it easier to get the big trailers in and out. They will also be brining in gravel to make pads for parking everything. With one load not going up right away that means gthe kids and I should be heading up a little earlier.

A note on my Grandpa, he seems to be looking alot better. He will be having a pace maker put in here in a couple of weeks. He has been staying out here at the house with Grandma alot more wich has been nice.

This Sunday for Easter should be a busy day. I'm taking the kids to my mom's church for service then we are going to Ken's parents for lunch and an easter egg hunt. Ken doesn't want to go so he will be staying home getting the Semi ready for his trip. He will have to take it in Monday to have the windshield repaired. He is washing it with the pressure washer today and then he needs to do some work on the fuel tanks.

Well I was going to write a little more but the natives are not being very cooperative so I'll try again after Easter.

God Bless,

WOW so much to catch up on.

Sorry for the huge lag in posting we had some crazy busy weeks. I'll try to get everyone caught up.

The kids had a great birthday party with a large turn out of friends and family.

On the boys actual birthday 2 days earlier my good friends Peggy and Sue came out and we had a little mini party. It was great to see them, I hadn't seen them in a long time.

The next big event was my little brother comming home on leave. He is in the Navy and stationed on an Island near Iraq on anti-pirate duty. I think he had an ok visit maybe a little boring but he spent time with us and time with our sister. Oh and he decided to grow a beird. I'm so proud of him he has grown into such an awsome young man. I just wish he would take a little better care of his health.

Ray left for Alaska with a load of my dad's stuff on March 11th. Then we (my brother, kids, my mom, step dad, niece, nephew, sister, brother in law, niece2, nephew 2) went to the Arizona Renessaince Festival. We had a fun day especially Louise who was spoiled rotten. On the way home just after pulling out on Highway 60 we were rear ended. At first we thought only the bumper was damaged but it turns out that the frame is bent as well as other damage.

After that we had St. Patty's day dinner at my mom and step dad's. OOH how I love corned beef and cabage. YUM YUM!

OH and I almost forgot the boys got their first haircut. John didn't seem to care but Robert cryed.

My dad is on his way on the ferry back to Washington to pick up his last load and head back to AK then he will be up to stay. We on the other hand still have 4 loads to go and will not be up there to stay until May. The last load went well Ken left 3/11 @ 10am and came home 3/24 @ 2pm. He said there was alot of snow and ice and he had to really take it easy. We're glad to have him home but it wont last he is out loading up the flatbed now with the dump truck and backhoe to get ready to head out again mid week.

Well I hope that helps to get every one up to date and back on track. Hopefully it wont be as long between posts this time. :)

Hugs and Kisses to our family and friends and God Bless.