Our CRAZY Kids

We recently purchased a new computer and the kids have been having a blast with iPhoto. I was able to catch Carson doing a little jig without him knowing. I love the booty shake!

One night I was going through the millions of videos and pictures the kid have made and I came across this one. I was in tears laughing! What a crazy girl!

Summer 2009 in Pictures

May: Hawaiian Cruise!

June: We planted grass and Carson turns 3!

July: 4th of July in Seward, Lauren turns 6 and goes SHOPPING!

August: Hats by Heather, Ward Fish-Fry, Hiking Baldie, Lauren's 1st Day of 1st Grade!

September: Labor Day Hike to Thunderbird Falls with Friends!

We had an amazing summer with beautiful weather! I really feel like we've been able to take advantage of each of the never-ending summer days here in Alaska. It's started to get dark again and it's shaping up to be a warm and cozy fall. We are taking mental pictures of green trees and snow-free mountain peaks just hoping those images will help us make it through another winter.

BLAAAAAH-G


It's been what...4 months or more since I've updated what I consider to be a HUGE burden of a blog. I seriously have ranted and raved to Dave about my annoyance with blogging and bragging and keeping up with the Joneses. BUT (number 1) it's SPRING. Need I say more. I'm awakening from a long (and very cold) winter, emerging from hibernation with a renewed sense of...well...you know.

BUT (number 2) Today is my birthday. I'm 29. I'm not 30 yet, thank goodness. I have 1 more year to relish my 20's and that leads me to my BUT number 3.

BUT (number 3) I am motivated to get healthy (and skinny) again. Dave and I joined up with some family members to do a "Biggest Loser" competition and it's WORKING!! We've both lost around 20 lbs and I feel so good again. I still have a ways to go and I'll never win the competition because my brother, Daniel, has been extremely successful, but I'm eating better and exercising daily and it just feels good.

BUT (number 4) I have the cutest kids and I want to blog, brag and let everyone know what geniuses they truly are...so here goes!

Lauren, has lost 2 teeth and another is nearly out. You would think the toothless look is in style at the rate hers are falling out. The night she lost her first tooth I asked her how much she thought the Tooth Fairy would give her and she said "I don't know, but whatever I get, I'm buying HOT LUNCH." My poor deprived, sandwich hater! She recently came home with her 3rd quarter report card and she's basically a straight "P" student (P=Pass). That's the highest grade they give kindergartners. Shes above average for her reading skills and her teacher said she is JOY to have in the classroom. Hmmmm....I wish I could say the same at home! With me she has a serious attitude, refuses to clean her room, and defies me at every turn. She even gives me kisses when I tell her not to!

Carson is the cutest monster you'll ever meet. He's found a voice and vocabulary all his own. He's obstinate, demanding, and did I mention CUTE! The other day he was looking through my purse and when I told him I didn't have any gum in there the said "I'm not looking for gum Mommy, I'm looking for money!" Eesh. I'm in trouble.


So, I can't promise I'll be better about blogging. I really don't need another thing on my plate but I can promise I'll spend and insane amount of time blog stalking and reading all your blogs....so for all you bloggers out there keep blah-ging!!

A True Alaskan Halloween

We joke each Halloween that we should dress our children up as skiers or snowshoers or a kid going sledding because each year we head out to brave the freezing temperatures. This Halloween we had our kids layered with multiple shirts, pants, hats and gloves. Members of our church congregate in the church parking lot for a "trunk or treat" and the kids make out well. Despite our bundling and close proximity to trunks full of candy we still only lasted around 30 minutes and Lauren complained for the last half that she was getting frostbite! She also was so unhappy about having to be a chicken (it is the third time in her short career as a trick-or-treater) that I really don't think she had much fun, but she did enjoy her candy. We promised her next year that she can choose what she wants to be so I guess I'll stop looking for a size 6 chicken costume!

Carson endured for a bit until he started up with his "I hold you mommy, I hold you" while grabbing my legs so I can't walk, bit. Our little chicks will learn to grin and bear it as the years go by. I think I retired my gypsie costume (my mom made me be that every year) by the time I was 13 or something when I realized that there was a bowl full of candy at home and I didn't have to freeze to have my share.

The kids were out of school for Halloween so a friend (and fellow daycare provider) had a party for the kids. We had a good time and it kept the kids busy.

And of course because everyone loves candy so much the school had a carnival the week before Halloween. Carson as Chicken Little and Lauren as an olympian.

Busy, busy, BUSY

First off, a shout out to LAUREN for enjoying her first 2 weeks of school. I have to admit I didn't even almost cry when I dropped her off, it all happened so fast, she was SO ready and I had to head home to watch a bunch of kiddo's. It's been amazing to see how Lauren has become so independent (and spunky). Dave drops her off at school in the morning and she walks home with a friend in the afternoon. One day I decided I'd walk down to the school to pick her up and she wasn't as excited about it as I was. She wanted to walk home with her friends...duh mom...right. The second she walks in the door she wants to head out to play with friends. We have a lot of cute kids in the neighborhood and they have a little gang now. Remember the good old days....

I have to say I am SO greatful for good friends. Gail invited us to her cabin in Petersville and we had a blast. It was great to relax, go 4-wheeling and see Mt. McKinley in all it's glory. The kids LOVED playing outside sleeping in the loft.

Before we spent labor day at the cabin we went to a high school football game. It's all Carson can talk about now. He watched the mascot (a mustang) the whole time and would mimik it's every move. As soon as we walked in the door he found his little football and had to sleep with it and take it to the cabin. His favorite phrase now is "Gail says, "GO NICK."" Nick is Gail's son, whose a senior on the football team. Carson now really wants to play football, I wonder though, if he might end up as the mascot, he seems to have those moves down!

Our FIRST Real Adventure!

Okay, so if anyone knows us at all they know that we are probably the LEAST adventurous people in Alaska, so the fact that we attended the ward fish fry/campout, used our tent for the first time, camped just a few miles from the comfort of our own home and enjoyed ourselves is a HUGE adventure for us. Actually we had a blast and I think we'll actually do it again. The kids loved the idea of sleeping in the tent and they did famously. Carson kept saying he wanted a "Ubrella" too, meaning he wanted to play in the tent. Lauren got into a brawl with a mosquito and I think the mosquito won. She was really self conscious and for good reason. Anyone who looked at her gasped and exclaimed "What happened?" It took about 2 days for it to subside.

As summer starts to wind down for us we've been trying to get as much in as possible. We had our house painted, yippee!! And then we took a kid day and went to the zoo, lunch and the park. Lauren has learned to ride a two wheeler in a matter of days and she can cruise around like crazy! Carson learned to actually pedal his tricycle insteadof pushing it with his feet.



I know that the pics are the fun part of blogs but my computer is a real dinosaur now and I can't get anything to upload. So, for now I'll just write and I'll keep trying. Ugh.

Being Spontaneous, Turning 2, Family Traditions



Okay, I realize I have a LOT of catching up so I'll just hit some of the highlights, as usual.

First off, Dave was lucky enough that his amazing wife allowed him to go on a spur of the moment trip to Europe with his brother Scott! Actually I suggested that he take advantage of the opportunity so he headed off to Paris and Italy for 10 days. After arriving in Paris Dave and Scott headed to Normandy with Uncle Ron and cousin Ronnie. Then they saw the sights in Paris. After just a few short days in France they headed to a small town, Spelleto, Italy. Most of the time was spent there but they took a few day trips, one to Rome. It was the trip of a lifetime. Thanks to Scott for the buddy pass and all the planning.



While Dave was on his jaunt to Europe Carson turned 2! I didn't have my camera but we had a little party with all the daycare kids and because I was so unprepared I took him to Fred Meyer and he picked out his birthday presents! Actually, it worked out so well I might have to do it in the future. He loved his foam rocket and played with it faithfully for a month before he ripped the nose off the rocket.



Lastly, we spent another great Fourth of July in my favorite town, Seward. My whole family came again (including most of the extended family) and we walked up and down 4th avenue about a million times, stopping to rest at Grandma Frances' house in between each trip.
Right as the parade was starting we had a bunch of the little cousins lined up on the side of the street and within seconds Carson had disappeared. I got a little frantic but within a few minutes my dad had found him by a house standing in front of a chained up pitbull, crying, and with a dirty diaper. I am thinking he went to find a private spot to do his thing and ended up a little lost. SCARY!! I crazy thing was I was standing directly behind him with tons of my family around and somehow he snuck through the cracks.
Lauren took part in the mini-Mt-Marathon race and took third place in the 4 yr old girls age group, she was quite proud and so were we!

We had an especially fun time because Gail, our great family friend, took us down in her motor home and we got to stay with her. Truly a motorhome is the ONLY way to camp, and that's coming from a true Alaskan!
I have a bunch of pics I want to add but it's just not working right now. I'll keep trying, so check back!