Lee's Stolen Luggage

Here's another story for you...

Mike and I flew from Portland to Anchorage, Alaska in June of 2004, arriving at 1am on a Saturday morning. Of course, being near the solstice in Alaska, it was still very light outside. Our friends, the bride and groom-to-be, greeted us at baggage claim as we waited for our 4 bags to arrive. We picked up 3 of our bags -- the 4th Mike thought he saw but then someone else picked it up. There was another bag going around and around on the baggage conveyor belt, and each time it passed I took a close look at it because it looked so similar to mine (you can see where this is going, can't you?). Finally, we gave up waiting and reported the bag lost and left contact information. Went to our hotel to sleep for a few hours. The next day, I waited for word of my bag, which had all my cosmetics as well as a tent, sleeping bag, and other things. We were planning to leave Anchorage on Monday and drive 5 hours south to Homer and camp there.

After hearing nothing from the airport all day Saturday, we went back to the airport at 11pm. They still didn't have my bag, but they let us go into the baggage storage room to look at bags people left behind. Again, I saw the bag that looked so similar to mine that had been going around and around on the conveyor belt, and I pointed it out to the airline personnel and told her the story. The airline personnel decided to call the person whose name was on that bag. The person on the other end of the phone went to look at the bag that they had picked up, that was still sitting in the truck after they left the airport (!), and confirmed that the tag, in fact, had my name on it. They had picked up my bag by mistake. (The really weird thing about that was that the bag that was theirs, that they had left behind, was so light, it felt like there was almost nothing packed in there. Whereas mine, of course, including a tent and all, was HEAVY. How they had not noticed that obvious difference, I will never understand.) The person on the phone said they would have to ask someone about the bag, and would call back in 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes went by, then 20. The airline personnel called them again, and got their answering machine and left a very strongly worded message. I was very happy to have located my bag, but now worried about getting it back (I was not liking the prospect of going 7 days, including through a wedding, without my cosmetics bag). I told the airline personnel that I really needed the bag back as soon as possible since I was in the area on vacation and did not live there and was leaving on Monday for Homer. I said I'd even go to the person's house to pick it up! The airline personnel then decided to look up the person's address and discovered that the person lived a 4 hour drive north of Anchorage. My jaw just about fell off my face. Okay, no way was I going to go pick it up.

The person who had my bag finally called back. He didn't want to return the bag until later in the week, didn't have transportation. The airline personnel stated that he was required to bring the bag back as soon as possible and that the owner of the bag was in town on vacation and needed the bag. This went on for about 10 minutes until the person was finally told that if he didn't return the bag by the next morning, the airline would call the police and report the bag stolen. I left the airport not knowing if I would get my bag.

Thankfully the airport delivered my bag the next morning at 11am. Everything was in there. I was so glad to have it back, and in time before we headed south. Too bad for the person who had to make an 8 hour round trip to return the bag, but that only emphasizes the importance of checking bag tags to make sure you have the right one!! We proceeded to have an amazing time and loved being at our friend's wedding.

Weekend Photos

This outfit was so cute I had to capture it on camera.
It was 100 degrees F in Portland! Thank goodness for kiddie swimming pools.
It was hot enough to wear his summer pajamas...
And go to bed with no comforter on it!

Swimming and Ponies

For 4 days this week, Monday through Thursday, Jake and I have been getting in the car at 9am and jumping into a swimming pool at 9:30 for his first round of swimming lessons. He did so well -- learned the 'reach and pull' stroke, kicking while both on his back and his stomach, floating on his back (with his head on my shoulder and my hand holding him up), dipping underwater (not a favorite), and jumping into the pool (also not a favorite because of going under before coming back up). He did, though, learn a ton and has a lot more confidence in the pool. We're going to do the swim lessons again for 4 days in July and in August. During the class we also sang a lot of songs that involved swishing in the water and jumping up and down. It was a really fun 30 minute class and Jake napped immediately after each class. Here's a picture of his swim suit, so cute. No pictures of him IN it since I didn't bring the camera to the pool.
The other day he pulled out a bag of Aunt Amy's My Little Ponies and lined them up in front of the computer. Even as I type, I have ponies surrounding me. Ha.

Jake - Then and Now

Just a few days old, having his first bath.
At one year.

Today - two years old.

Jake's Birthday Party

Today we had a birthday party for Jake!

Jake's friend Wydeko came over to help celebrate.
There were balloons and laughter.

And party hats.
And trains (it was a train-themed party).
And a yummy carrot cake with vanilla frosting made by Mama.

(Back row) Grandma, Shelley, Joe, Corky, Frank, Daddy (Front) Wydeko, Jake, Sara, Mama
Now with Papa in the picture!
Eating birthday cake.
Presents -- putting on his new blue crocs from Sara and Corky! Papa called him a blue-footed booby. Funny.
The boy with the blue shoes went to get the blue balloon.
And tried to pop it.
More presents!
A cool pull along wooden snail.
The snail is also from Sara and Corky.
A Rody horse!
He loves these. Thank you Shelley and Joe.
A new bike from Papa and Grandma!
He can't quite pedal it yet, but he loves bikes and will learn.
The birthday boy with his Mama.
And Daddy.
And Papa!
Yay!

Jake Turns TWO!

Grandma and I helped Jake celebrate this morning by taking Jake to the zoo. We had a fantastic time! We went through the African exhibits this time and saw so many animals -- bats, giraffe, gazelles, zebras, hippos, elephants, monkeys, fish, snakes, and birds. Really wonderful.
At the elephant exhibit.
Kissing the goat!
'Petting' the baby goat, with Grandma holding him up.
Jake Carl is such a wonderful sweet boy. He amazes us every day. His communication right now is astounding, and there is very little we don't understand. He can make himself understood in sign language, and most of the time says the corresponding words in English as well. Most of what he says now consists of 2 words, and on occasion, 3 words put together. I love it when he tells me something that he remembers happened in the past -- he still talks about how we buzzed Wydeko's hair "Wydeko buzz" and likes to say "Papa working" and "Daddy working". Too cute. Today he marked turning two with the longest temper tantrum I have ever seen him have, LOL!
At least it wasn't because I couldn't understand him, rather it was because instead of going outside to play, we had to get ready to leave the house.

He still sleeps with us, and while the bed feels crowded sometimes, I am cherishing it because it won't be long at all before he is in his own bed and not snuggling against one of us. I feel the same way about nursing -- two years feels like a long time yet it is hard to imagine not having him nurse -- his body snuggling into mine and those beautiful brown eyes looking up at me while he points to say "milk, I'm having milk!". He seems to be interested in potty learning so we could be done with the diapers a lot sooner than we thought, which would be awesome. Currently he measures 34.5" tall and weighs 26lbs. In terms of height, it looks like he could be taller than either his Daddy or Mama!!!

We are so glad that he is our child and we love him so, so much.

Jake's Birthday Part 1

We gave Jake his birthday present this morning, and he loved it! More birthday pictures and comments to come later...

Random Pictures

Some cute pictures from the last week...

Father's Day Hike

A hike on the Latuorell Falls 2.3 mile loop with 600 feet elevation gain.
We stopped for lunch at this little spot off the trail.
The hummus was really good :)





Snack break. Note the very cool tree.