And So Are the Days of Our Lives...

Finally, Lajes

2012-01-31T09:41:00.005-09:00

Finally for two reasons: one, I am finally posting; and two, finally we are here! This a cow in the field right behind our house. This is the view for the kids as they walk home from school. They don't realize how good they've got it.

We went on a base sponsored tour of the island a few weeks ago. This is a hilltop near the base with Mary watching over. The next picture is the statue of Mary. This island is very Catholic.

This is at the Angra Botanical Gardens.

This is one of the cathedrals on the island. Right in front of it is a waterfall by the stairs.

Another little city we passed through.

A forest towards the middle of the island.

There is farmland everywhere.

Cows use the roads about as much as the cars do.

This is a swimming area on the north side of the island. The rocks are lava from the last eruptions a couple hundred years ago.

Much of the coastline looks like this. There are some beaches in the cities but most everywhere else it is rocky. So far we are loving it here. The temperature is great for winter. It is beautiful everywhere you go. The food is good, and people are friendly. It is hard to believe that we have been here a month. It makes me sad to have it go by so quickly.

2012-01-27T08:49:00.009-09:00

Our Christmas this year was a trip to Disneyland. Caleb's favorite ride, maybe Curtis' too! Fighting Jake's nemesis.

Caleb was so thrilled to be picked to be a jedi. It was his dream come true.

And here is Megan's dream come true.

A reflection of a princess!

And don't forget about the princes.

His dream job!

Nick loved the tower of terror!

Bumper cars

A Bug's Life Show, which traumatized them all!

Maybe they could stay trapped!?!

No explanation necessary.

I guess he didn't eat his Wheaties.

Best job in the world.

Merry Christmas. Especially without the snow!!

Dole Whips

In the Indiana Jones ride. The big rolling ball at the end was a little much for them!

We thought that we left the moose back in Alaska.

No wheaties here either, or else he isn't the chosen one.

Star Tours
the Tower of Terror with friends

The picture of the Tower of Terror that we tricked everyone to go on. They were traumatized. Eventually Nick and Jake braved up enough to try it again and realized that they like it.

We met up with some great friends from Alaska. They are moving to New York so it was great to spend one last time with them.

Utah

2012-01-27T03:04:00.008-09:00

Mid-December we flew to Utah to visit Curtis' family. While there we were able to do many things and see lots of family. We had a chance to show the kids Temple Square at Christmas time. It was chilly but a neat experience.

It was nice to be able to spend Christmas with family. Our Christmas was a trip to Disneyland, but we had a great time with our stockings and most importantly spending the day with so many cousins!

We got a chance to see Tow-Mator. Who would have thought that he would have been hanging around Orem during Christmas time?We went to the BYU museum and saw exhibits on animals, we only had one picture of the day, and it happens to be butterflies all placed together to create a large butterfly.Curtis went with his brother to a gun course in Nevada. They had lots of fun and learned some new skills. The school was in the middle of nowhere. Hence, the next picture. It was necessary to grow crazy man hair while going to a gun course. We also took a day and went ice skating.

We also took lots of time to visit Papa, Curtis' dad who has been in the hospital since November recovering from some strange illness. He is slowly getting stronger each day. These hospital trips reminded us of how precious our time together is. We love you Papa; you are our hero!

Wisconsin

2012-01-25T03:28:00.004-09:00

Our first stop on our move to Lajes was a trip to Wisconsin. We were able to spend Thanksgiving with many of my family. The weather was beautiful, especially considering the cold we left in Alaska. The kids were able to spend some much needed time with their cousins. Here we were stopping in a Krispy Kreme. It was much needed after so long without good doughnuts!

No more snow!!

We visited a children's interactive museum while in Wisconsin. Everyone got to dress up and perform different jobs throughout the communities.

It is a tight squeeze under there.

Visiting the lake front.

Nick added some more adventure to our trip by discovering that he is highly allergic to hazelnuts. After a trip to the ER we can now add that to our list of allergies.

We helped cut down a HUGE tree in front of Grandma and Grandpa's house. It was a lot of work but also fun because it involved driving the four wheeler(all by theirselves!) We had a great time in Wisconsin, and I wish I had taken more pictures to document what we did. After a few weeks there we packed up our bags and headed off to Utah.

Winter Pictures

2011-12-20T15:24:00.005-09:00

Before we left Alaska, we had the opportunity to have our pictures taken in the Alaska snow. It was cold and a bit miserable, but they turned out great. We are really happy with them.

Time To Go

2011-11-20T21:06:00.002-09:00

Thanks Alaska, you have been great, but it is time to GO!!

But not without saying goodbye to Santa! Thanks for all the great memories. Now on to a great many new adventures!

Halloween

2011-11-02T12:19:00.002-08:00

Halloween is always a double-whammy at our house. We get to have two celebrations. Here are the children all ready to go trick-or-treating. It was a pleasantly warm night, only about 15 degrees. Caleb is a ninja, Nick a bum, Jake is Zeus, and Megan is Rapunzel.

Megan's dress was both a birthday present as well as a costume. She loves it. She has a sweater underneath it in the picture, prepping her for cold weather.

We also celebrate her birthday. Our baby is 5. She requested a pink cake. I ran out of frosting before it was all finished but I don't think that she noticed.

More Rapunzel things. She couldn't be happier.

Sisters Trip

2011-10-31T08:11:00.002-08:00

In the beginning of the month I had a great opportunity to meet up with my sisters at Disneyworld. We had an amazing week of relaxation (as much as one can at Disney) and fun. It was great to be able to reconnect with these awesome girls. We were happy to spend some time with Erin McKinnon(hometown friend) and our niece Hannah.

We ran in the half marathon while there. It was a fun time. I love you girls. You are amazing!!

Snow!!

2011-10-22T12:19:00.002-08:00

Earlier this week we got our first snow fall of the season. It was almost 3 weeks later than usual. We were very grateful for the prolonged fall before the winter season began.

All the neighborhood children have been not so patiently waiting for the snow. As soon as it came snow boots, coats, and gloves were found. Sleds were pulled out of their hiding spots.

And the winter fun has begun!

Our children know that their snow fun is limited because once we get to Lajes, they won't see it again for a couple of years.

Diannah's Visit

2011-10-16T08:18:00.004-08:00

Curtis' sister, Diannah, came to visit us earlier in the month. It is always fun to have people to come to show off where we live. We were able to do lots of fun things.You have to visit the Knotty Shop...for their ice cream!And goof around with your aunt!

And shoot guns at defenseless eggnog cans! Visit Santa's house while he is in the toyshop and sit on his chair!

Eat huge cinnamon rolls made into french toast!

Check out the firestation!

Enjoy the Christmas theme of North Pole, Alaska!

And enjoy the excitement of the abundant wildlife! Thanks for visiting us, Diannah. We love you!

Graduation

2011-10-08T10:04:00.004-08:00

Finally!! After all our hard work, we were so happy to be able to walk for our college graduation. It was inspiring to be an example to our children of the importance of education. I hope they follow our example and finish school, but only while they are much younger!

Curtis and I received our bachelors degrees in Human Services. He received a minor in Fire Science while I minored in History. We are happy, proud, and relieved. And now on to our Masters....

40 Below In September

2011-09-13T15:30:00.002-08:00

I forgot to post this last time with our visitors post. While Dennis and Nick were here, they went into a -40 degree room. Curtis went with them. Megan and I stayed out because I would very much like to never feel that temperature again. EVER.

It was fun to see them when they came out, all red faced and freezing. They gave us a little more sympathy afterwards about how our winters must feel. Sympathy feels good.

Visitors

2011-09-06T15:27:00.003-08:00

Last weekend we were lucky enough to have Curtis' brother, Nick, and cousin, Dennis, come for a quick visit. We had a great time and wish that they could have stayed longer.

While here we took them to Creamer's Field to walk through a boreal forest. It is fall here now in Alaska so the leaves were colored and falling.

Thanks for coming, Nick and Dennis. We had a great time!

Happy 11th Birthday!

2011-08-29T11:40:00.002-08:00

We celebrated Jake's birthday on Saturday. We went to Pioneer Park where they were hosting a Military Appreciation Day. We went on train rides, carousel rides, ate cotton candy and popcorn, were given free lunch and played at the playgrounds. It was warm and beautiful out.

He thought that he was too cool for a ride, but it is always fun!

Then we climbed a nearby rock mountain(?) which is traditionally spray painted. The kids have wanted to go there for the whole time we have been in Alaska.

It is hard to read, but it says Happy Birthday, Jake!

He invited over a friend to beyblade with(beyblading late into the night). We enjoyed cake and ice cream and sang to our new 11 year old.

Back To School

2011-08-20T09:35:00.002-08:00

Oh, it is sweet, heavenly bliss!

Angel Rocks

2011-08-06T14:31:00.004-08:00

We know that our time is running short here is Alaska so we jumped in the car and drove to a popular hiking trail for a quick camping and hiking trip.

Since we are slowly getting darkness back during the night, it was fun to have a campfire (even though it still doesn't get dark til close to midnight!) Campfires are essential because without them you couldn't make....

Smores. Though I don't like marshmallow nor the combination of chocolate and graham crackers. Smores are delicious. Caleb makes them look wonderful.

Down by the Chena River. The day was chilly and rainy.

Climbing the Angel Rocks. They were fun to climb around on. I had to look away a few times so that my mother heart wouldn't panic. I know they are supposed to have fun and be adventurous, but sometimes I have to look away and pretend they are not doing something dangerous!

Hiking with Daddy. He is the best.

Nick enjoyed the climbing and liked the adventure of it. He didn't make me nervous because he was cautious.

Caleb pretended to fall like Indiana Jones would. That boy scares me sometimes. He climbed to some spots that actually started to scare him. Curtis had to climb up and save him. It was too much to watch. He needs to learn some fear!

Jake understands fear and would rather stay on the easier climbs...which is alright by me.

Another great adventure...even if Megan is mad that she had to stand in the cave!

Dipnetting

2011-07-28T20:15:00.003-08:00

This week Curtis went with a friend down to the Copper River to get some salmon. Because the salmon are so plentiful, they used big nets to just scoop them up. Another amazing Alaskan view. It is hard to find a bad view in this state.

They caught 60 between them. (Which is way more than we will go through!!)

Here is a king salmon that Justin caught. They had to release it though because their season was over!

Indie Rides Again

2011-07-23T19:52:00.003-08:00

Every once in a while, Indiana Jones come back out. He has grown out of most of his attire, so he has to make do.

Megan is dressed up as Willie Scott. Quite the outfit, she is just missing the feathered hair!

Brotherly love on the trampoline!

Wow! Isn't she a beauty!?

Caleb's real life Willie Scott. According to the neighborhood, Caleb and Cady have been married three times on the street. Caleb truly believes that when he is older, he will move back to Alaska and marry Cady. He doesn't realize yet that Cady won't be here much longer either!

Seward

2011-07-14T16:43:00.008-08:00

We drove down to Seward. Along the way we stopped at Denali National Park. We have tons of pictures of Mt. McKinley so I suppose we didn't take any this trip. But this is the view from the visitors center.

It was a warm beautiful day and ice cream tastes great on those days.

The boys climbed a cliff during one of our pit stops. Seward is about 10 hours away down on the coast of the Kenai peninsula.

My tough men.

We stopped at a Wildlife Conserve. We were able to get pretty close up to some wildlife.

This is a view of Seward from the boat. We took an ocean wildlife cruise while down in Seward.

An eagle.

It was a bit chilly out in the wind and waves.

Ol' Cal enjoying the view.

A glacier off in the distance.

We stopped for dinner on Fox Island. Yummy food. We had no time to explore the island because the boys kept going back for more prime rib.

Some humpback whales.

Sea lions

A puffin.

Fakers!! They wouldn't be able to sleep at a time like this!

A glacier on the drive back up to Fairbanks. Near Glenallen. It was a gorgeous drive.

Arctic Circle

2011-07-06T21:15:00.001-08:00

We made a trip up to the Arctic Circle. It has been something that I have always wanted to do while we are here in Alaska. It was a long trip but interesting and fun. It has been great to have my parents here so that we can show off a little bit of the amazing things we have around us.

Yukon River

2011-06-27T15:29:00.002-08:00

Last week we drove up to the Yukon area to do some camping. It is about 3 hours north of us.

The mosquitos were terrible.

We played for a while at the Yukon River. It is the 5th biggest river in North America.

We did some shooting. The boys shot the .22 and BB guns. Megan loved the BB gun also. She was all about taking her turn too.

Midnight Sun Run

2011-06-19T11:04:00.005-08:00

Last night was the Midnight Sun Run in Fairbanks. The race began at 10 pm. It is a big deal here, and I am glad that we had the chance to participate before we left. The run is a 10k. There is a costume contest which is largely participated in. We wish we had dressed up too.

Captain America. He had some red leather boots that he had to run in. It looked like it was miserable.

Where's Waldo?

Some kind of scary superheros.

My favorite--Packman and a Ghost.

Watch out for these guys. They were entertaining.

What a cute couple.

The boys loved the Storm troopers. They looked uncomfortable during the race too.

Yes, that is Jake riding in the stroller!!#1 dad around!

When we finally got home around 1 a.m. it was still very much light out. The sun had gone down below view but it was still very light out. I love summer here. I will miss the midnight sun!

In For Another Four

2011-06-18T14:41:00.003-08:00

On Friday Curtis re-enlisted for another four years. He had to do it early(before his time is actually up) so that he could accept the orders for Portugal. He just hit is 10 year mark. Wow, time has sure gone fast.

And yes, Jake is missing. He was with a friend at the beach.

Denali

2011-06-01T21:29:00.007-08:00

We went on a couples backpacking trip into the mountains at Denali State Park. It was incredible. Once again I have to say that Alaska has some of the most amazing natural beauty on this earth. Curtis "napping" on one of our breaks. The hike was rated moderate to difficult. There were some moderate parts AND SOME DIFFICULT. My body was thrashed after the three days were over. I could hardly climb the stairs to get to my bed.Curtis cooling off with some nice, cold mountain stream water.Yes, still snow at the end of May; at least on the top of a mountain.Thanks Kari and Clayton for the great hike. It will always be remembered as one of the amazing things that we got to do while in Alaska.Have fun (and freezing) around the campfire. We were above the treeline so we had to gather sticks and twigs when we found them. The fire was small but it did the job. We woke up both morning with stunning views of Mt. McKinley. It was spectacular; pictures do no justice.

Saturday

2011-05-23T21:23:00.003-08:00

On Saturday it was Armed Forces Kid's Day. To celebrate, the base held a kid's 5K run. We signed up even though the boys didn't think that it would be a fun way to celebrate. We had a great time. We ran and walk a little and ran some more and finally finished it. It was great, and the boys were very proud of themselves. They were beaming with pride to think that they could do something that they were sure they could not. It was a good life lesson.

Then we drove up to the Yukon River (middle of nowhere) where Curtis and a friend are baiting for bear. The beauty of this states amazes me. I am so grateful that we have been able to be here.

Ode to the Trampoline

2011-05-19T13:43:00.002-08:00

We have missed you, dear trampoline.
It has been a long, hard winter without you.
Thank you for making the children tired at night.
Thank you for taking them away for hours and hours.
Thank you for teaching Megan that bugs are not so scary.
And thank you for no broken bones....yet.

Superstars!

2011-05-02T15:02:00.003-08:00

Megan was groovin' to some jams. She was singing like she owned the stage!

Jake showed us his dance moves.

Caleb puts on his own kind of show.

Today I walked downstairs and saw this big moose right out the window. It was about 18 inches away from the glass.

I think that they are twins born last year. I don't know where mama is though. They do like the green grass in our yard. They were causing quite the scene. Jake got trapped outside until a neighbor drove between the moose and the street so he could cross it the street and get inside. Ahh....Alaska, we love you!

Can I Change My Mind?

2011-04-25T18:56:00.002-08:00

4 sopping wet pairs of jeans covered in mud and dead grass,
4 sopping wet socks that stink like dirty water,
4 pairs of shoes gushing out water (in my entryway and hallway),
mud tracks all the way to Caleb's room so he can find his 5th outfit.

Maybe spring isn't such a good idea?

Will the Snow Ever Go Away?

2011-04-21T11:59:00.002-08:00

It is slowly going away. We may have spring this month after all.I love to see green (or brown.) Caleb lost his second tooth.

And this is what Megan does when she is alone, with her brothers at school. Anything to keep herself busy. She also sings to herself. A LOT!! She often brings me one end of a walkie talkie so we can talk while she is in another room. Poor girl. She needs to go to school!

Lately

2011-04-06T15:52:00.003-08:00

Life doesn't seems as thrilling after a vacation, but I suppose we have to move on and just keep going.... Nick tested and received his green belt for tae kwon do. He is a talented boy!

Jake and Nick also made cars for the Scout's Pinewood Derby. They like using the man-tools! Jake made a bus and Nick made an iCar(like an iPod). I was glad to see them do it themselves. They weren't fast cars, but doing it yourself is a bigger accomplishment than watching dad make it!

Hawaii~Getting There

2011-03-23T09:00:00.008-08:00

On Saturday, Feb. 27th, we drove down to Anchorage to catch a military hop to California. We went got to the terminal we found out that they had cancelled the flight. We hung around Anchorage for a few days (while they cancelled more flights) until Wednesday when we caught a flight to McChord AFB, near Seattle, Washington.Curtis' sister, Amanda and her family live near McChord. It was great to get to see them and stay a couple days. The boys LOVED seeing their cousins again.They loved playing "Ninja Destruction." Caleb got quite into the game.We celebrated Caleb's birthday a little early with a huge milkshake.Yum! Some for everyone! We also went to Chuck E. Cheese. We collected a lot of great cousin memories. Thanks Amanda for letting us crash with you! By Saturday, we were impatient to get over to Hawaii, so we bought one way tickets to Honolulu. The crew spoiled Caleb for his birthday and even announced it to the whole cabin. He was in heaven from all of the attention.

Riding in a "real" airplane is very different from a military one. It was a bit of a pain to have to sit down the whole time!!

Hawaii~First few days

2011-03-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

We didn't waste any time. We got right to the beach. It was wonderful.Our snow white bodies were a little shocked by the warmth and the sun. This is the view from our room. Zoomed a bit. Of course you could see other buildings too, but it was fabulous to sit on the balcony in the mornings. Caleb skipped the cartoons and preferred to sit in the sun. He is my kind of kid! We celebrated my birthday while there. Hawaii was the best present I could have asked for.

Hawaii~the Zoo and Pearl Harbor

2011-03-23T08:58:00.000-08:00

We took a morning to head over to Pearl Harbor.

The boys didn't know much about Pearl Harbor before we got there. But they knew all about it by the time we left. It was a great experience.

Another day we went to the zoo. It was nice to see animals besides moose and caribou.

I couldn't resist.

Most afternoons were spent by the beach or the pool.

Hawaii~Crab Beach and Polynesian Cultural Center

2011-03-23T08:57:00.000-08:00

The Polynesian Cultural Center took all day, but it was well worth the time and money.

There were lots of activities for kids to do. Caleb was proud to be the only one to catch a fish.

We stayed for the luau and the big night show.

Our pork dinner. It was cooked underground and was delicious!

We stopped by the temple. The grounds were beautiful.

They are posing tough with their New Zealand tatoos.

Caleb and I got to dance in one of their performances. We weren't nearly as good as the real dancers.

We stopped at a beach that our children renamed "Crab Beach."

It was beautiful and fun.....until the crabs came out!!

I haven't seen crying and screaming over such little creatures before.

Hawaii~Diamond Head and New Cousins

2011-03-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

We went over to Diamond Head Crater. It was quite a hike to get up to the top of the volcano, but it was an impressive view.We teased Caleb that we were going to push him into the lava, and he was relieved when we couldn't find any lava.

We spent another day with my aunt and uncle and cousins(and their children) who live up at Turtle Bay near the North Shore. We didn't take many pictures but it was the most beautiful part of Hawaii. The kids all enjoyed meeting their new cousins. We had the most amazing snow cones ever!! I wish we had a few more days to spend up on the North Shore. Or maybe I will convince Curtis to let us retire there!

Hawaii~Heading Home

2011-03-23T08:55:00.000-08:00

We got on a military hop on Tues, Mar 15, to head back to Alaska. When we got to Travis AFB, California, we saw that there weren't any flights until the weekend to Alaska. Since Curtis needed to get back to work, we used his airlines miles and got him a ticket home. The rest of us stayed until Saturday. We rented a car and found our way to San Fransisco. Caleb was quite puzzled why it was called the Golden Gate Bridge when it was painted red. I wish I had all the answers.We visited the famous Pier 39. The weather was overcast but still warm(compared to Alaska!)

Alcatraz is right behind us. Too bad they aren't housing prisoners anymore, I have 4 that were interested.

We had to stop at In-And-Out Burger. I have heard so much about it. It was definitely good. Next time we will bring Curtis!!

We had a great trip but are happy to be home again. Snow is melting and summer is on its way. There is nothing more amazing than an Alaskan summer. We can't wait.

Our New Assignment!

2011-02-25T19:39:00.001-09:00

Curtis got notice today of our new assignment to Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal!! We are so excited. We leave here in November. We are excited for our new adventure.

My Earliest Loser Yet!

2011-02-20T09:26:00.002-09:00

Caleb lost his first tooth yesterday. And he was still 6!! A new family record. The other boys were 7 or 8 when they lost their first. Caleb is so proud and informed me that it did not hurt as much as the other boys made it out to hurt. He loves showing off that gap in his mouth and was a little annoyed that the tooth fairy took the tooth. It was his prize possession.

Happy Birthday, Nick!

2011-02-20T09:21:00.003-09:00

Yesterday we celebrated Nick's 9th birthday. He invited some boys over for a party and sleepover. I wondered if I was a little crazy taking on so many boys without Curtis, but I like a little adventure in life. Needless to say, all went well and they had a great time. And the house survived.

Phew...What A Week!

2011-02-12T08:42:00.003-09:00

Wow! What a week. When it rains, it pours(or snows)! Curtis is in Texas for firefighter training. So I was just me and a very full calendar. We've had three soccer games, ballet lessons, soccer practice, piano lessons, a dental appointment, an eye doctor appointment, 3 school finals for me, tae kwon do lessons and testing, scouts, and three parties. I am glad it is over so we can slow down a bit.

Nick tested for his green belt. He really enjoys tae kwon do. He has a natural ability.

LASIK

2011-01-28T14:51:00.004-09:00

Curtis thought that I should name this post "I once was blind, but now I see." On Sunday Curtis and I went down to Anchorage for me to have LASIK and for a mini-vacation.This picture is when the doctor is using the laser to build up my cornea. If you look on the right of the screen, you can see the flap of my cornea turned back. It is a little creepy. The fuzzy areas are what I saw during the procedure, but it was green. This is where the doctor is using some kind of squeegee device to flap my cornea back on. It was wierd to sit there while the doctor is touching my eye(I couldn't feel anything.)

By the afternoon, I was feeling great and seeing great! 20/15! I couldn't be more happy with it. We got to spend the rest of the trip relaxing and spending our time childless. It was great, but it is always great to come back home!

Nothing

2011-01-15T22:09:00.001-09:00

I have nothing new to post...... just Caleb and a moose.

Our Little Ballerina

2011-01-08T22:09:00.002-09:00

Our little Megan enjoys spending many afternoons dressed up for her ballet. She puts on quite a show. She is especially fun to watch when she picks out her own outfits and doesn't have her hair done, and has food all around her face! Someday she is going to hate these pictures!

2011-01-03T13:25:00.002-09:00

This year for New Year's Eve we rented a cabin at a lake about 35 miles south of the base. It is kind of in the middle of nowhere. The cabin had electricity but no heating. We thought it sounded like a fun little adventure. There were some festivities at the main lodge. Sorry it was dark most of the time that we were there(it is Alaska in the winter!) so the pictures aren't great.

While playing around outside with a bunch of kids, Nick got kicked and lost his very loose tooth. I am glad for the kid that kicked him so that I didn't have to pull it out!

We set off lots of fireworks. The Northern Lights were absolutely amazing that night. I tried and tried to get pictures of them, but I couldn't. It was too dark to see any of the buttons on my camera and too cold to take my gloves off to try to move things around.

Here is our cabin in the daylight. It was a one room place. Curtis and the boys brought in stacks of wood to keep loading into the woodstove. We stayed toasty warm. It was also unseasonably warm outside as well. It was 11 degrees(ABOVE!!!!) at midnight.

Curtis has a stack of sparklers for all of the kids. And adults.

Caleb writing his name.

The boys playing outside. It felt so good out there compared to what it has been lately.

Megan played outside but when the fireworks started she took off to the lodge to get away from the noise.

Our friends brought up some snowmobiles. We had tons of fun riding around on those. There was a lake that we could drive across. The next day Caleb saw that the ground that we had been on was a lake, and he was a bit freaked out that he had been on top of the water. Our weekend was great. It was definitely our favorite Alaskan New Year's Eve.

Ice Skating

2010-12-30T10:14:00.002-09:00

We all went ice scating yesterday at Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks. I don't know why we haven't gone sooner. The boys loved it. Nick didn't like to leave the wall at first, but finally felt confident to let go.

Caleb's skate had two blades so he was skating like a pro from the start. He still liked to hold my hand every other lap or so. It made him go faster!!

My cute boys. They didn't want to leave and begged to come back. We definitely will.

Jake started trying to do tricks. Whoa! What moves!

Tastes Like Heaven

2010-12-24T16:01:00.003-09:00

Today I made some divinity. Caleb tasted it and said, "Mom, is this manna? Cause it tastes like heaven." Agreed.

The REAL Santa

2010-12-24T15:57:00.003-09:00

Yesterday we visited Santa at his home in North Pole. The boys realized that this was the last time that they would see the REAL Santa and not just one of his "helpers!" How amazing it has been to live here in Alaska!

Winter Solstice

2010-12-21T16:05:00.002-09:00

Today is the shortest day of the year, even though on Christmas break, it somewhat feels like the the longest. The sun came up at 10:53 a.m. and went down at 2:41 pm. But it was warmish...only -22. But on short days like this we stay inside and find something to do. Caleb loves to make music on his computer.

Nick likes to build things. He is quite imaginative.

Jake loves to play games and loves to help his sister. They are playing Guess Who? I think that he lets her win just enough so that she will keep playing with him.

Ward Party

2010-12-13T17:16:00.002-09:00

Last Friday we went to our ward Christmas Dinner. Megan and Caleb were very intent on their coloring before dinner.

Megan was down with the junior primary getting ready to sing their Christmas songs.

Nick was Joseph for the Nativity. He would only do it under the condition that he did not have to kiss Mary. We told him that it wasn't that kind of play!

Jake was a shepherd. He loved being in costume.

Getting into the Holiday Spirit

2010-12-10T15:49:00.004-09:00

I am glad the my children like decorating the Christmas tree, because I don't enjoy it much anymore. It seems like a lot of work. Curtis and I spend a whole hour putting up a tree and getting all of its branches out and putting on lights evenly, just so that they can put on ornaments in 3 minutes flat. Where is the justice?They love this nativity, the only one that they can "touch"! It goes right below our Christmas tree, but inevitably I find shepherds in the kitchen, sheep in the bathroom, and Mary under the couch.Decorating for Christmas is like having Christmas twice. We open all these bins of things that we have forgotten about all year long! Jake had his band concert this week. He has been playing trumpet this year. Caleb loving the spotlight. He just had to wear his suit for the program. He is a charmer.Nick also had his concert. He has been working on the recorder. Thankfully for the rest of you, I just have pictures and not sound clips to third graders playing the recorder...

Going to the Ballet

2010-12-05T14:48:00.002-09:00

On Friday Curtis and I surprised Megan with a trip to the Ballet. We watched The Nutcracker.

Megan loved being able to dress up and watch all of the dancers. It was a great time out with our little princess.

Jake Vs. the Sled Hill

2010-11-24T21:51:00.003-09:00

The hill won...

Snowfort

2010-11-21T17:52:00.002-09:00

A week ago we finally got some snow. We were glad to have it. If it is going to be cold, it may as well be snowy and pretty, right?

We got about 8 inches of snow so Curtis took the kids out to build a snow fort. They shovelled it all up into a huge mound.

And dug it out. They loved it and played with it all week.

We have gotten more snow since and it has even warmed up a bit. It is currently 27 degrees right now. Heatwave!!

Megan's 4th Birthday

2010-11-10T07:46:00.003-09:00

Since this was a party year, Megan chose to have a princess party(because what 4 year old isn't obsessed with princesses?) We made princess skirt and crowns, played games, ate cake, and were protected by some little handsome princes. It was a great time. Now we just have to convince ourselves that our baby really is four years old...

He Looks Good in Orange

2010-11-10T07:40:00.002-09:00

Nick received his orange belt last Friday at a Tae Kwon Do party. He is so excited to see the colors getting closer and closer to black! Good job, Nick; we are proud of you!

Finally Snow

2010-10-29T19:44:00.003-08:00

For some crazy reason, we have not had much snow here in Alaska yet even though it is passed time for snow to be on the ground. This morning we finally woke up to snow on the ground. The boys were so excited to go outside and play. It is still snowing now. And the forecast for this winter is not pretty. With the mild autumn that we have had, they are predicting a snowy and COLD winter. Bring on the 70 below!!

Halloween

2010-10-26T20:57:00.004-08:00

Tonight was the church Halloween Trunk-or-treat, or rather inside door to door here in Alaska. It was the first time that the children were able to wear their costumes. Halloween is so fun. It is great to get to dress up as whatever you want to for a day!

Tae Kwon Do

2010-10-18T13:51:00.004-08:00

Nick tested for belt advancement in Tae kwon do on the 16th of the month. He did really well. He is very good at tae kwon do, but is shy and not very vocal. First, he demonstrated his form by himself. Then he had to demonstrate one-steps with an opponent. This Saturday, the 23rd, is a tournament that he can enter. He is not sure that he wants to do it. He just doesn't know what to expect. We will try to convince him to try one out. Hopefully we will be adding that post in a week or so.

I couldn't upload the second video of the one-steps. Sorry.

School Pictures

2010-10-05T19:39:00.002-08:00

It seems like we just had them taken, but I suppose that it is time again.I sometimes wonder what is going on to make these children make these faces!But it is a great part of growing up; looking back at your school pictures and seeing how you have changed.Even Megan got hers taken. Photography studios are few and far between up here so we jump on it when an opportunity comes up.

Valdez

2010-09-14T17:24:00.004-08:00

Last weekend we took a trip down to Valdez.
Valdez is a little fishing community down on the coast.

We liked the pirate ship.

She just couldn't stay awake!

The Alaskan Range on the drive down.

In the background is Mt. Wrangell.

What a pose!

We stopped at Worthington Glacier.We decided to hike up to it so that the kids could touch it. The hike was one of the highlights of our trip. It made Caleb feel very "Indiana Jones-ish!"

Bridal Veil Falls

Riverboat

2010-09-08T15:15:00.002-08:00

On Monday I went with some friends on the Riverboat Discovery. It was just a touristy trip up the river a few miles. It was beautiful weather and nice scenery. The leaves are already half turned here so fall is officially here.

Our little boat

My moose friend...I know all you hunters are jealous!

He's Back......

2010-08-31T18:21:00.002-08:00

Curtis is home. We are all glad especially Megan (who cried for an hour while Curtis left to take Nick to Tae Kwon Do). She has resumed her position in his arms, or on his lap, or on his shoulders, or wherever else as long as it is nearby Curtis.

First Day of School

2010-08-22T19:47:00.002-08:00

On Wednesday, the boys got ready to head back to school. They were all excited and so far, have great teachers. They are in 5th, 3rd, and 1st grade. They look so big to me. I am a mom in denial. They can't really grow up, right?

This is just a side note. Nick got crafty one afternoon in the kitchen and made this up for dessert. It was tasty. He'd better watch out before he has a permament job in my kitchen.

Caleb's Wild Summer, Part II

2010-08-16T16:54:00.002-08:00

While dancing in the kitchen to the Beach Boys, Caleb decided to get a little wild. He climbed onto the countertop and began to run around it. Well.....common sense tells us that that is not a good idea. And Caleb proved it for us. He landed hard on his chin and split it open good. I wish the pictures did better justice to it; a video camera would have captured it better. His skin was flipped inside out and you could see his fat layer. When he moved his mouth to talk, you could see deep inside of it. It was amazing. The cut was at least a 1/2" deep. Since it wasn't too long since his last round at the ER, he knew exactly what was coming. In fact some of the same people were working there again, and they recognized him and knew that a fight was on their hands.

They wrapped his body like a mummy, and I layed on top of him. The med tech held his head(the same one that held him down for the staples). The doc worked quick with stitch inside and then some on the outside. Caleb was mad at everyone and kept yelling for at the tech to "stop murdering him". The doctor had to cut away some of his fat that would not fit nicely back into the cut. He got a nice little chin tuck. When we were all through and the med tech was leaving, he told us thanks for the work out, now he didn't have to go to the gym that day. It was all a great adventure, but I think that we are done with that kind of excitement for the summer....please, Caleb.

Half-Marathon

2010-08-12T08:22:00.002-08:00

This is before our half-marathon. We are nervous and filled with adrenaline. We are also foolish!

It was incredibly hard. I hit a wall around mile 5 but felt good and pushed through. By mile 8 my knees started ache. By mile 10 they hurt more than I knew body parts could hurt. My great friend, Kari, helped me push through even though I wanted to quit many times.It felt soooo good to cross that finish line. It was a huge sense of accomplishment and relief! By the way, the clock is wrong, so don't pay attention to that.This was taken after the race. Secretly we are all leaning on each other for support!!! Thanks guys, it was great!

Jam and Honey

2010-08-06T18:02:00.002-08:00

This week I have been making jams, syrups, and honey. It has been fun to get together with other girls and hang out in the kitchen making these great creations. There is (L to R) pineapple-mango jam, blueberry syrup, strawberry jam, strawberry-kiwi honey, blueberry honey, clover honey, and strawberry-mango honey. They are all so tasty! And Caleb wanted me to add in that he had his staples taken out, and he is all better. I know that no one can see his scar is his big mop of hair but he wanted to prove to everyone that he was back to normal. Plus his little profile is just kind of cute!

Caleb's Staples

2010-07-30T18:34:00.003-08:00

While out berry picking with some friends, Caleb got hit with a rock on his head. We all know how head wounds bleed...tons! When we took a closer look, we saw that it was gapped open a bit and wound need some stitches to close it. After a trip to the ER, Caleb came home with 3 staples. It was quite the adventure considering Caleb's Hulk strength when he sees someone coming at him with anything sharp! It is healing beautifully. Soon we have to go get the staples out, and then we will have to call in reinforcements to hold him down!

NCO of the Wing

2010-07-24T18:39:00.003-08:00

That's my man, the NCO of the Wing! Congrats, Curtis. We are proud of you. You deserve it!

Baseball

2010-07-24T18:04:00.003-08:00

We got back in time to play in their very last baseball game of the season. Jake and Nick were on the same team. They both did great, but I didn't get any pictures of the actual game.

Caleb was up to bat, and surprisingly he hit it! It is sad but I don't expect great things from him physically. He is just not competitive.

But he loves to play with his friends and be part of the group! He thinks that the C on his jersey is for him, and we will let him believe it!

Stuck in California...and loving It!

2010-07-14T20:46:00.003-08:00

We found a military flight from Milwaukee to Travis AFB, California(about 40 miles outside San Fransisco.) We had no trouble getting on and made it in plenty of time to catch the flight to Alaska. We got our tickets and loaded the luggage, waited on the bus only to have them cancel the flight. They ended up cancelling the flight 3 times.
But since we were stuck in California, we thought that we had better make the best of it. We found palm trees...

and played at the park....

went to the air and flight museum...

drank milkshakes at Jack in the Box...

swam in the pool....

soaked in the beautiful sunshine....went bowling and sat in the bus shelter for the heck of it...and jumped and danced on the beds. It was a wonderful way to be stranded. We might just have to get stranded again. We were there three days and had a great time. Monday we caught a new airplane home. We drove back up to Eielson. On the way we say a huge puffy cloud only to see later that it was a forest fire. It was an amazing sight. We love Alaska and are happy to be home!

Cousins Everywhere

2010-07-14T20:12:00.000-08:00

One of nights of the reunion, we put all the grandkids in their shirts that they made, and took their picture. We were missing 3 from my brother who was unable to make it. Who knows....next reunion in three years we might have to add another row to this picture, right Tina?

Happy 4th

2010-07-14T19:58:00.002-08:00

Every year my brothers put on a big fireworks show. But before the show the children got a turn to play.
Sparklers are always fun!

Two hands!!

These pictures are deceiving. It wasn't cold, I made them take their baths and put on long pants and sleeves so the bugs didn't eat them up. We didn't want to use bug spray since we had church in the morning.

Family Reunion Fun

2010-07-14T15:53:00.002-08:00

While we were in Wisconsin my family held a reunion. Most of us were there. It was great for the kids to see their cousins(and meet some of them) and get to know each other.
There was plenty of time to just hand around and talk.

Uncles are so much more fun than Moms. They let you light things on fire!

There were plenty of games and crafts to do.

And who can pass up posting a picture like this!?

The Day with Old Friends

2010-06-30T06:37:00.004-08:00

We went to the Kenosha Beach on Lake Michigan to meet up from friends from Whiteman AFB. Our friends, the Dempsey's, have 5 little girls similar in age to our children.

Caleb loved the "ocean". He hasn't stopped asking to go back but with our swim suits next time.

Ahh...the wonderment of the big blue water!

We vistited a light house. Unfortunately it was locked and we couldn't take them up it.

We also went to the Jelly Belly Factory. It is always wonderful to be at a place where candy is made!! Jake tricked my into eating a Moldy Cheese Jelly Belly. It was terrible. He had better watch his back....I know where he sleeps!

Four Wheeler Fun

2010-06-27T11:11:00.004-08:00

Uncle Rob got a four wheeler for Father's Day, and we have been benefiting from the fun.

Jake and Nick have enjoyed learning how to drive!

I even go to enjoy some of the fun!
Megan enjoying the swimming pool.
Caleb has been obsessed with his green pants. Even when it is unbearably hot, Caleb loves to wear his green pants.

Roosevelt Park

2010-06-21T07:18:00.002-08:00

We went to a great park nearby my parent's house.

It had lots of fun adventures for the kids to try.

And music to be made.

And for climbing to the top of the world.

And for spending time together!

Creepy?

2010-06-17T15:45:00.001-08:00

Megan must be starving for fatherly love and attention.

Farm Day

2010-06-11T15:37:00.004-08:00

Today we went to a family in our ward's little farm. The kids liked to be able to pet and hold the animals. They were all quite taken with the horse. They all want one now!

Nick, our part monkey child.

Watch out for this one! Stay off the road!

Caleb loved the baby animals. He wasn't shy about holding them or evening trying to milk a goat!

The Zoo

2010-06-10T15:45:00.005-08:00

We went to the zoo today. It was nice to go to a zoo that had more than moose, caribou, or polar bears. But they had all of those here too. At least we got to see tigers and lion and giraffes. We enjoyed a train ride around the park. It was good to sit after hours of walking around.
Megan was enjoying all the animals in the Australia area.
Nick was taking a break in the fish house.
Caleb smiling for a picture for Daddy.
My little monkeys at the zoo!

Quick Trip to Wisconsin

2010-06-07T16:53:00.006-08:00

We have been planning on coming down to the Lower 48 while Curtis was gone. I happened to call the Elmendorf Terminal (located in Anchorage) last Friday morning. On their recording it said that there was a flight directly to General Mitchell, Wisconsin. WoW! It couldn't have been more perfect. I wouldn't have to buy 5 tickets to get where I needed to go.
So we packed our bag in a few hours and hit the road down to Anchorage (about 6 hours south.) We got a hotel room and had to be at the terminal at 6 to sign up for the flight. Of course, I could hardly sleep because I was so worried that we wouldn't get on the flight.
We were the first ones on thanks to Curtis' deployed status. So we made the 6 hour flight right to Milwaukee on a KC 135. It was a fun experience. And it was FREE!!Since we have been home it has been mostly playing outside. The trampoline is always a hit, especially since ours has still not been set up because of the new grass that hopefully grows while I am gone.
Boys and their tricks!Caleb and his Indiana Jones swing.
And there is nothing like playing with your cousins!

Cub Scout Camp

2010-05-31T14:11:00.003-08:00

Over the weekend we went to Delta Junction to camp with the Midnight Sun Scout Council. It was about an hour south of us. There was no running water or facilites, just port-o-potties. It was meant for scouts, not moms.

They had lots of activities set up to pass off requirements. Here is Megan practicing her Indiana Jones' moves.

My two scouts--aren't they adorable!

They had to work together to balance to get across the boards. Nick says that it was fun.

Jake on another balance game.

Nick was swinging across the "water". He is part monkey.

This girl got dirty. With no running water to clean it, we just had to pretend that it was ok. Even baby wipes wouldn't get to her skin. They all had a continual layer of dirt on them.

Caleb got his finger slammed into the door of the camper. He needed to rest for a few hours to recooperate. He needed a good nap though. Since night never really comes here, it is hard to get them to bed at a reasonable hour.

It was fun but we missed Curtis. It would have been better with him. Moms aren't as much fun as Dads are.

Backyard View

2010-05-27T22:52:00.002-08:00

Our back view from our new house is amazing. I can sit and watch the ducks and birds in the mornings or evenings(since it is hardly getting dark again!) It is peaceful. It is another reason that I love being in Alaska.

Life This Week

2010-05-22T17:21:00.004-08:00

Megan decided that she was hurt, found the band-aid box and took care of it...and all the band-aids!Our friend, Garry, got a bear and brought it over so everyone could see it! Yum, guts! Megan fell asleep in the computer chair. Summer is hard on little girls.

New Mouth

2010-05-20T10:58:00.004-08:00

Yesterday we went to go get some of Jake's teeth pulled. He had gone to the orthodontist, and he had said that he had several teeth trying to come in but they baby ones were not gone yet. The adult teeth are already coming in crooked so we needed to get his baby teeth out in hopes that the others will straighten out.Now his mouth is a little crazy looking until his other teeth come down. Loosing teeth is such an akward stage! Megan had to get her picture taken too. She couldn't let anyone else be the spotlight. Our little diva!

Megan's Ballet Recital

2010-05-08T15:18:00.003-08:00

Megan is on the far left.

Ballet Pictures

2010-05-08T14:27:00.001-08:00

2010-05-03T18:42:00.003-08:00

The boys all had their spring concerts last week.
They were great little performers.

Indiana Jones and Willy Scott Get Married

2010-05-03T18:34:00.002-08:00

Caleb and Megan still enjoy playing Indiana Jones. Megan has taken on the part of Willy Scott from The Temple of Doom.

Today they got married. Aren't they a beautiful couple?

Stranded Again

2010-04-27T14:40:00.004-08:00

Curtis' flight finally left for Oman on Saturday. They stopped in Spain and then on to Italy. While landing in Sicily, Italy, a part on the airplane broke. They stayed there for 2 days while the plane was being fixed. They got a nice hotel on the beach while they waited. (I wish that I got stranded on the beach in Sicily!) They flew on to Oman on Monday. They are building the base so he doesn't know when he will be able call or email. I will let you know when I hear from him.

Stranded

2010-04-20T15:07:00.004-08:00

Curtis left for Oman last Friday. He made it as far as Virginia before he got stranded. The volcano cloud over Europe stopped his flight on through. They hope to be on their way by this weekend. Until then, he has gone down to North Carolina to spend a few days with his brother and his family.

Pinewood Derby

2010-04-20T14:54:00.004-08:00

>The Pinewood Derby was a few weeks ago. I am slow getting this on....life has been a bit busy! The boys worked with their dad on their cars. They designed them and sanded and painted. I am glad that Curtis was there to help. Car-making is not one of my specialties.

Nick came in 4th place, Jake came in 10th. They were both happy and that is what counts!

Nick's Baptism

2010-04-16T20:25:00.003-08:00

On Easter Sunday, Nick was baptized. Curtis' parents were able to fly up and attend his baptism. It was a beautiful day, and we were happy to enjoy it with friends and family. A friend of ours made this cake for Nick. It was amazing and it was delicious. We enjoyed "feasting" on the word!

New House

2010-03-29T20:09:00.002-08:00

Here is a video made for the base about the new housing.

The house shown is our ACTUAL house (minus the furnishings and extra people). We get the key on Wednesday.

Ice Art 2010

2010-03-21T17:34:00.004-08:00

On Friday we went to the Ice Art Exhibit. It was a warm day, around 37'. It was warm enough that they thought that they didn't need to wear coats.

Riding a snowmobile!

He was serious about it!

There were two boys who lived in a shoe...

Jake as the Thinker.

Oman

2010-03-18T21:28:00.002-08:00

Curtis was just tasked with a deployment to Oman. He leaves around the 12th of April and will be gone for 4 months. It is sad that he will miss the best time in Alaska to go to the desert!

Soccer is over and we are taking a much welcomed break from sports(Nick is still in Tae Kwon Do). We are looking forward to spending as much time as possible together before Curtis leaves.

Happy Birthday, Caleb!

2010-03-12T09:30:00.003-09:00

On March 5th, Caleb turned 6 years old. He requested a vanilla cake with Indiana Jones on it.
His favorite gift was his Lego Indiana Jones Temple of Doom. It was on our kitchen table for many days. We learned to eat around it!
Here he is sporting his new Indiana Jones coat, which is better than his first one because it doesn't have a white inside. Picky picky!

Exciting month for Nick

2010-02-26T20:04:00.003-09:00

Nick has had a pretty exciting month. He turned 8 on the 18th. It is hard to believe that he can be that old. He has decided to wait until the first part of June to get baptized so family can come, so if you want to join us, you are more than welcome. Nick wanted a Mario Bros cake. Since Curtis was at work, I attempted it. Not too bad if I say so myself.
Nick also won 3rd place for his class in the school's science fair. We are proud of him. He did the traditional volcano but it was a success. He got very involved in it!

And lastly, he received his yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do. He does well at it and is enjoying it. The movie is a bit long but it is the only thing I have since I haven't taken any pictures of him in his yellow belt.

Now we are ready for March!

Nick's Tae Kwon Do

2010-02-11T14:28:00.003-09:00

Well, I get some serious Mom points today! I deleted Nick's tae kwon do video that I just made of him testing for his next belt!! Oops. Oh well. There is nothing that I can do about it now.

But he did great. He did it perfectly(at least to my untrained eye!) He will receive word next week to know if he passed and will get his next belt.

I will try to be a good mom and take a picture that I don't delete!

Oh...Coconut Cake

2010-01-29T12:34:00.002-09:00

Curtis' birthday was last week. He requested a coconut cake like he always does. This year he wanted the "Ultimate Coconut Cake". We saw it on a Bobby Flay Throwdown show.
To order the cake it cost $100 plus $113 shipping. Obviously that wasn't going to happen. So I decided to make it. It was 6 cake layers and weighed over 10 pounds. It had over 2 1/2 pounds of butter, 6 cups of cream, and 11 cups of coconut. You could only eat a sliver at a time.
But it truly is the ultimate coconut cake. Everyone that we shared it with (cause you would NEVER be able to eat it on your own) loved it. It truly is amazing. And by the way, Happy Birthday, Curtis!!

First haircut

2010-01-22T16:07:00.003-09:00

Well, Megan is three years old. She has never had her hair cut. It was getting long, uneven, and ends were splitting. This is what it looked like before we took her to get her first cut.

We asked her if she wanted it cut and showed her some pictures online of what it would look like. She was so excited.

Here is the outcome. She absolutely loves it!