Isabelle's Kids Birthday Party - Residence Inn

Muh, muh, Sammy....thanks for coming to my party.
Isabelle opening her gifts

Isabelle received a baby doll from the Bailey family.

Isabelle's Kids Birthday Party - cont'd

Isabelle reading one of her birthday cards (hee).
Wow, I got a pair of pants

Isabelle preparing to blow out her candle.

Family and Friends at Birthday Party

Nicky and her daughter Simone
Sage and Sammy looking at camera while everyone eats pizza and veggies.

Mike, Genie and Charlee

Pool Party

Isabelle swimming before lunch and cake.
Shane and Sammy (Cousin Babs's husband and son)

Maia striking a pose at the pool

Swim Party Fun

Bailey kids - Caleb and Kierann
Ray (Gina's boyfriend, Gina (Maia's Mom) and Michelle (Hannah and Hayden's Mom)

Hayden, Brian (Michelle's husband) and Hannah - FOSS

Swim Party

Lianna and Amariyah
Simone and Nicky
Monique (Nicky's other daughter)

Thanks for the Gifts

Sage and Charlee
Isabelle opening her gifts at her other birthday party with family.

Isabelle received a beautiful hand made hat from her Great Aunt Marlene - THANK YOU!!

Isabelle Birthday

"It's my birthday party and I can cry if I want to, cry if I want to....."
Isabelle watching Sage blow out her candles.

Isabelle attempting to blow out her candles with the help of Sage and Sammy.

Isabelle Second Birthday Party

Mom telling Isabelle, "they are singing for you, yeah you!"
Everyone gathering around the cake to sing to Isabelle.

Isabelle's birthday cake (one of many)

Family Attending Isabelle's Party

Cousin Alyson, Aunt Nita and Sister Cindy
Uncle Ike, Cousin Marisa and James (their Mom is Aunt Clarabelle)

Genie (Mike's Sister) and Friends

(Top pic: Lianna, daughter Amariyah, Genie, Isabelle, Nicky, Simone and Monique)

(Bottom pic: Lianna, Genie and Nicky - BFFF's)

Towarak Siblings (and Family) Singing

On Wednesday, January 21st, we went to visit with our beloved family member, Clarabelle, for the last time. After the viewing, everyone came over to our house for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We ended up eating and visiting all day long. During the day, family gathered around the piano and sang hymns. It was absolutely beautiful!! Clarabelle was smiling down at us with her beautiful smile. We will meet her again in Heaven.

The Towarak Family has lost a beloved family member, Clarabelle. We will miss her attending our celebrations at our home. Mike and I would see her often at the baseball games here in Anchorage since Mike is also a baseball fan. We would talk to her and she spoke to us in her soft-spoken voice telling us about what had been going on her life. My memories of her when I was younger are weak, but I do remember when she had the means to give gifts, she would give me that silver box from Nordstroms every time. I would always be awed at the beautiful thoughtful gifts. We hugged every time we saw each other. We cried when she went thru difficult times and we sure did laugh when we were together. One time she came over to our other house when Cindy was in town and we visited downstairs. We laughed and laughed and laughed....telling stories from the past and the most recent adventures. The last time that I saw her was in August 2008, her and I arrived at the ANMC Hospital at the same time to visit our new addition to the Towarak Family, Ayuu (Tera and Matt's baby). She sat quietly next to Tera's bed, listened to our conversation and eventually held Ayuu in her arms. She was so content and happy to see Ayuu. I'll never forget her and I am thankful for having a wonderful Aunt in my life. She was articulate, beautiful, smart and thoughtful.

Love and miss you Aunt Clarabelle!!

Obituary from the Anchorage Daily News: Clarabelle Towarak Nance, 51, died Jan. 19, 2009, at Alaska Native Medical Center. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. today (January 22) at the First Covenant Church of Anchorage. Honorary pallbearers will include her brothers, Clarence Jr., Tim, Sam, Ike and Dennis Towarak; and friend, David Parker. Clarabelle "Gungoo" Nance was born Nov. 24, 1957, in Unalakleet to Clarence and Guerie Towarak. Her Inupiaq name is "Panigruaq." She graduated from Covenant High School in 1975. She was active in student council, basketball and cheerleading and was crowned tournament queen her senior year. As a classmate she was a friend to all. She furthered her education at North Park College in Chicago and at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She married Louis Nance on Jan. 21, 1984 in Unalakleet. She was employed by Cook Inlet Tribal Council as a payroll accounting technician. "As a dedicated fan, Clarabelle enjoyed watching her sons play basketball and baseball at East High School," her family wrote. "She was overjoyed to receive flowers from her beloved "Sista Gal," Marisa Nance." Clarabelle excelled in caring for her family. She was a hard worker and always had a good job. Her bright smile and hug brought warmth to not only her children, family and friends but also to her co-workers. Many received notes of kindness and love which exemplified her generous personality. Life will be quieter without her laughter. Peace to her memory." She is survived by her daughter, Marisa Nance; her sons, James and Clarence Nance and Louis Nance IV; and husband Louis Nance III of Anchorage; mother Guerie Towarak; siblings and their spouses, Clarence and Linda, Tim and Rose, Sam and Nita, Ike and Dennis Towarak, all of Unalakleet; Isabelle and Chester Millett of Anchorage, Annabelle and Dave Cunningham, Willa and Gary Eckenweiler of Unalakleet, and Cindy and Tom Massie of Temecula, Calif.; sisters-in-law, Marlene Towarak of Unalakleet and Ivy 'Jewell' Parchman of Indiana; numerous nephews, nieces, friends and family. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Rachelle Lynne Nance; father, Clarence Towarak Sr.; brothers, Ambrose and Matthew Towarak; sister-in-law, Shirlee Towarak; nephew, Gabe Towarak; father- and mother-in-law, Louis Owen and Lydia Savok Nance; and brother-in-law, James Nance.

Fire

Sage enjoying the fire....he liked playing in the backyard that day...we all did! I was cleaning the yard and Mike BBQed some steaks. Mom and Dad Millett came over for the 1st BBQ of the year. We enjoyed the flavor of the rib eye steaks...YUM!!

Fire

Picture of our fire on Saturday, January 17th and a picture of the back yard.

Spring Time in January!

Here is Sage and I enjoying our fire in the backyard on January 17th. The temperature was about 50 degrees and the snow had melted the snow in our yard. We had an enjoyable day after having below temperatures for about 2 weeks.

Isabelle as Spiderman

Isabelle wanted to put the spiderman costume on so I put it on her. We all had a good laugh including Sage (in the background).

Gift from the Robbins Family

Thank you to the Robbins family in Ocala, FL for sending us this beautiful picture frame. It includes pictures of our trip to Disneyworld. Isabelle and Sage loved looking at it because of the memories and seeing pictures of their friends - Emery and Ryli!

OX TAIL - YUM!!!!!

(Photos taken by Sage's Fisher Price camera)

Isabelle chowing down on one of her and her Mom's favorite meals - OX TAIL!! And yes, it's the actual tail of an ox. Mike cooked them in the oven last night with BBQ sauce and it was oooh so yummy. Isabelle and her Mom like it better when it is boiled, but we will take it whatever way Mike cooks it. Isabelle posing for her Daddy, saying, "Yum, thanks Daddy!"

Tootest

Isabelle holding her puppy. Ever since she was a baby, Isabelle has been deathly afraid of dogs. She's finally warming up to them and found this stuffed puppy in her pile of toys. She's been carrying it around with her lately. She looked so cute last night.

Sage and Dude (Zach)

The picture of Isabelle above and this picture was taken by Sage's Fisher Price camera. Sage and Dude (Zach) became best of friends this summer and fall after many trips fishing and hunting. Last night Zach dropped by to check on his beer (yes, our house is once again a processing place....we have had moose, fish and now beer processed in the house) and they were playing with the camera. Every time Zach comes over, Sage says, "Dude is here, he's my friend!" I look forward to Zach taking Sage out on other fishing and hunting trips when he gets older.

Isabelle - Sliding Down, sliding down.....

Wheeeeeeeeeee........!!!!!!!!!

Our Babies Having Fun!!

I just absolutely love this picture....our babies are growing up :( I want them to stay young forever, but that's not going to happen. Isabelle will be 2 on January 26th and Sage will be 4 on March 19th. They are happy playing at Bouncing Bear after being stuck in the house after the cold snap we had here in Anchorage. They were getting cabin fever from being inside for a couple weeks. In this picture, they are smiling at Dad thinking to themselves, "Thanks Dad for taking us to the gym!!"