#ninetysevenhuskies

How can it possibly be time to celebrate 20 years since I graduated high school?  Well, 2017 marked this special occasion!
The Winterset High School Class of 1997 had a fantastic reunion on July 22.

Part of the planning and set up committee.  A HUGE thanks to Jennifer and her husband, Adam, for opening up their beautiful farm to us.
Cheers with Sarah, Jennifer, Abby, and Magen as we set up on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Mom and Katy took Camden, Emma, and Kate to the pool. :)

Not only was it wonderful seeing old friends, it was great to meet some of my classmates' spouses.

Jolynn, Mckenzie, Jen, Abby, and Megan

Nathan, Brian, Luke, and Putz

Megan, Hannah, Jennifer, and Meg

Mary, Magen, and Peter

Rick, Sarah, Brad, Jessie and me

38 years of friendship :)

Jen and me

Senior Class officers in 1997...

and 20 years later

Mary and Jennifer

The class of '97

Sooooo many memories with these ladies!

Mary, Kim, Jennifer, and Sarah

Cheerleaders

Athletes

Seaward Family Time and a Cousins Reunion

We made it to Winterset! 

Nathaniel and Callie came up from Florida for the weekend and we had to take some family pictures

On Friday, Aunt Sue and Uncle Jim hosted a Hill Cousins Reunion at their lake home.  Here are 5/7 of the cousins:

Brent, Nathaniel, me, Amy, and Kim

 Cousins and their spouses

Second cousins meeting for the first time and having a blast swimming!

Emma & Camden testing out the kayaks

The Hill siblings
Mom, Uncle Roger, & Aunt Sue

Back in Winterset, we got to enjoy breakfast and play time at the park with Sarah and Kate

One evening at the aquatics center

A Day In Seattle

We had about 20 hours in Seattle between Alaska and Iowa, so it was the perfect chance to walk around downtown and meet up with some old friends for lunch.

The Starbucks fanatics in front of the original Starbucks

A reunion with the Holloway girls at the Pike Brewing Company

It was so great to spend a few hours with Maggie, Hana, and Lily!

Enjoying Alaska

Not only were we blessed with enjoying Alaska with the Iowa City Kaspareks, but we also got to enjoy Alaska with the Young family!

Roasting marshmallows in the rain at the campground in Seward Friday night

I was so happy to meet Melissa's youngest sister, Nadina!

Chris and Mel staying dry by the camper

Nadina and family were pet sitting for Murphy.
 Emma would have packed this cutie up in her suitcase in a heartbeat!

On Sunday morning we visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center near Girdwood.

Brothers checking out the bears

This is how I like to enjoy bears (behind a fence)

The bears near Girdwood woke up from their winter hibernation HUNGRY and we had been warned to be alert at all times because they were in town quite a bit.  

Chris saw one while running along the main road on Saturday evening and we all saw one as we came out of a restaurant on Sunday evening.

What an incredible trip for the Kasparek cousins!

Sunday afternoon, these adventurous Kaspareks decided to hike the mountain that was the end of the Alaskaman Extreme Triathlon. 

Rock star hikers!

Nature at its best!

They were so excited to see snow!

Way to go!

Tim and Mel at dinner Sunday night.  

These 2 have partaken in some friendly banter on Facebook over the past few years.

Lori hiding in the hammock at our house in Girdwood

King Salmon caught on Friday and grilled for us on Monday.  This was by far the BEST salmon I've ever eaten!

Until next time!

Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality, Young family! :)