End of Summer

Well I know for most of you that summer will last another month and if your lucky two! Here though summer is quickly coming to an end. The annual fair is the official end of summer in the Interior. It usually rains every day of the fair and you just get out and enjoy it or miss it! Luckily this year it wasn't bad. We went on a day where we were able to enjoy the day and it didn't start raining till it was almost time to go. The girls sure did good. Bekah did very well for being in the stroller all day (along with not having much of a nap). Ari obviously loved the animals and seeing all the displays. Ania and David both enjoyed food and displays which hopefully next year we will enter some things. I do miss the State Fair in WA, but there is something to be said for a smaller one. You get to see people you may not the rest of the year. Along with the homey feeling it just seems allot more family friendly. I love the Interior! We were all so exhausted that it has taken about two days to recover! LOL! Still when they all look at you and say thanks mom we had so much fun; it reminds you that it was all worth it!

Silliness

So we were having a silly day and Ari was enjoying the option of two binkies. These pictures are from January and I know it has been a while but it is so darned cute to watch her play with them. Unfortunately she doesn't do this anymore:( She has gotten much to big! Listening to her giggle with them in her mouth is hilarious.


Brent got on the floor one day with Bekah. At this point she loved daddy! Brent gave her his flashlight which she sure enjoyed playing with. Isn't he the handsomest looking man in the world?!? I mean what woman would not enjoy watching him enjoy his kids?








Then the playing got raised to another level. The light was turned on. I had so much fun trying to get a good picture of her with the light on in her mouth. All of us were rolling on the floor laughing. I have to admit Brent's work flashlights sure come in handy!

Multiple Activities

Brent decided one day since the truck had been choking to change the spark plugs. Ania of course was more than willing to be outside at -20 with daddy so she could learn how to change the plugs as well. The pride in her face when she came in from completing the project with dad was amazing! Brent was very proud of his little Grease Monkey!

On one of the last cold days of winter we decided to build a fire. As this would be the first that Ari was participating in we thought it would be a great time! We weren't wrong! Ania taught Ari how to blow on the fire to keep it going. Ari learned how to roast marshmallows for the first time. We had to hide the package of marshmallows cause she got to the point where she wouldn't eat them she just wanted to roast them!

We drove to Tok one day for a day off. The contrast was perfect with the snow on the mountains and we saw many different kinds of wildlife that without that contrast we wouldn't have seen. On the way home we nearly ran into the heard of caribou that we had seen previously in the day. Brent pulled over into the turnout and we got quite a few pictures. Meanwhile, during the picture taking David was nearly in tears because he wanted to hit one so we could take it home since daddy didn't have his gutting gear. "Please daddy can we hit one with car so we can take it home?"

On another day we decided to try to go fishing. We had been told that it would be the perfect week as the ice should be out at the end of the dock on one of the area lakes. After getting everything ready and getting there we still found ice to thick to fish in, but we got to watch others ice fish and we played on the ice as well as walking around and seeing all kinds of nature. Yes the kids are on the ice that is the lake.

At the boat dock the ice had started to go out a little. It was just enough for the kids and Brent to have an ice crystal fight, and for Ari to take a dip and get her feet wet. Mommy's heart didn't take that to well and Ari was mad that mommy pulled her away from her fun in the ice.

We had a week of 70s in April that brought break up quickly and after winter it was a nice break. Ari and mom are out picking up sawdust to spread on the driveway to absorb the mud, as well as getting the ice under the sawdust to melt and dry out in preparation for our wood shed. Ari loved standing there and feeling important at the wheel barrow.

With breakup having come so quickly we ended up with huge ponds in our front yard for a few days. On one of the hot days the kids and Brent had a snow/water fight and got all soaked. Thank goodness for being pregnant cause mommy got out of it! After everyone was done and good and wet they needed showers. Since our bathroom was still out of commission mommy bathed Ari in the kitchen sink. Amazingly enough she seemed to enjoy it!

The kids had a taekwon do tournament recently where they both did extremely well. Here is a group photo of the school. They both had a blast and enjoyed earning medals in patterns and the high kick!

Spring has Sprung

Spring is finally here! I can hear the water running from the roof and am starting to see the snow recede. I am hopeful that breakup will go smoothly this year and there will be no ice jamming on the Tanana. I am so excited on one hand and yet on the other this is the perfect time of year as the mosquitoes aren't able to survive yet. On the other hand I can't wait to start being able to go to the river and doing some fishing!

We are anxiously awaiting our fourth as June is fast approaching. I am so thankful that the school year is almost over. The kids and I both are so in need of a break. I am working at getting as many projects done before the baby as I can, as I know that the next year will be tough with school and two under 3yrs old. I am excited as Brent's dad will be here to help get the summer projects done with him as I am not able to help as much as I would like this summer. The wood shed, tree clearing, and log rot will be a welcome relief to have done. Neither of us liked digging through the snow to get wood out these last two winters.

For those of you who don't know we are remodeling our bathroom. This was not planned for another couple of years, but God has once again provided and made it possible. We started with a leaky toilet that we hoped we could fix by replacing the wax ring one more time. Well, it became a much more in depth project that we weren't quite ready for. One of the guys from church who does this work and is wonderful at using his God given talent came over to look at it for us. We discovered that the floor was rotted out under the toilet, tub, and 1/2 the rest of the floor. Since we were having to replace the sewer line and take out the tub to address the floor we decided to pull everything up and do it right this time. Which was good as there were three (yes I said three) layers of flooring that had been put over rot that the previous homeowner had layed to cover it up! Talk about mad! So instead of having to replace the floor yet again when we redid it the Lord provided a way for us to just redo the whole thing. I can't wait to see what it looks like when it is done, or to have a shower back!

The kids and Brent got to go the circus when they were in town. Ari and I napped in the car. The kids had a blast for which I was very thankful. I heard though from some other moms that the focus on selling things and the overt sexuality was more than they had wanted for their kids to experience. At least the kids were young enough that the sexuality did not become an issue for them and that we were able to reinforce the thankfulness of having the opportunity to even be able to go to the circus. We also got to do some sledding with the kids while he was home this last time. Ari was so adorable walking around in her little snow pants screaming at the kids. She wasn't quite ready for sledding this year, so maybe next year. It was sure fun to watch the kids and Brent try to slide down those hills. David loves to go fast and Ania wipes out very well!

A Day in the Life

I was baking cinnamon rolls awhile back and Ari decided to explore the flour bucket. One of the most enjoyable things of watching my kids grow is getting to experience the small everyday things. This was definitely one of them!

So Ari turned one at the end of July.
She got to enjoy a piece of cake with frosting. As I only had time for a quick cake she got a yellow cake for her first piece. She enjoyed crumbling it to pieces!

One of my least favorite chores growing up was crushing cans. It must be evil to enjoy passing that one on!

So one of our many projects to finish this summer was to permachink the house. Well I have it almost finished. Only a couple more seams and the outside is all done. Thank God it is only a one time application. My hands still hurt! I have noticed a big difference in the house though, which has been sure great.

Brent and the kids gave me one of the greatest birthday presents I have had in a very long time. We went to a Roadhouse down the road that I have been longing to get too. While there David decided to take a picture of Dad and Ania. Isn't he adorable? After we were done at the roadhouse we went for a nice long drive. I needed to get away from the house for awhile. I have been so busy and stressing over getting the house things done while Brent has been having to work extended time that he came home like a prince on a white charger and whisked me away. What a wonderful area that we got to see. I am truly amazed by God's work. Rainbow Ridge is amazing. We got to see a moose eating in a pond. Brent got some great pics of that. Too bad he didn't have a tag and rifle with us at that time.

The one thing I asked for was a t-bone dinner. As you can tell the kids truly enjoyed my birthday dinner!

David being a Starcommand soldier.

With all the flooding we had the mosquitoes have bred like rabbits and trying to sleep is awful. I finally bit the bullet and went out and bought mosquito nets to cover the beds. I sure hope guests don't mind the walls in the bathroom until I can get them cleaned, they are covered in blood spatter and look like a crime scene.

Air Show 2008

David in the co pilots seat of a C130.

Ania in the co pilots seat of a C130.

The sight of freedom!

2008 Air Force Thunderbirds

Truly a sight to see! I have to say it was way better than the Blue Angels! You were right there.

My next truck! I am in love!

The kids were playing peekaboo around the corner of the hallway.
Ania loves reading to Ari. Sometimes she even gets to the end of the book before Ari gets bored.
I finally got Ari to keep this headband on for more than a few seconds!
Ania in a blackhawk helicopter!
David in a blackhawk!

Summer Life

While Brent was available I said that I have to get this done. Of course it took me longer than I thought it would as I lost a safety pin inside somewheres. Ari loves it! It is taking me some getting used to and I wish I would have done it sooner. I can carry her on my front or back and she is close and happy. Best yet it only cost me a couple of bucks instead of the $45 that I have seen them for!

Brent and I decided that it was time for Ania to

start helping even more with food prep. She did great with

this chef's knife!

David loves playing with Kiska. Poor dog! She has been doing great with all three of the kids. She just kind of ignores baby still, but she is getting better!

Ania loves to scratch Kiska's tummy! The feeling is mutual. I thought this was great. She enjoyed it so much that she completely relaxed.

Brent thought this was the cutest thing! She crawled around the house with this in her mouth and a big smile around it!

Ari is still enjoying the feel and texture of whatever she puts in her mouth!

Daddy is trying to teach her how to walk?!? Go figure! After he complains about her being able to get up and move.

She sure loves her daddy!

We went to another open house for the fire department. This time the kids were able to go for a fire engine ride around the block, which was even better than the last time!

Spring and Time

Well, it is almost the end of May already. Where does time go? Ari is crawling now and has decided to start trying to pull herself up! We have recently got quite a few things done inside the house. We found a new chandelier for the dining room that was a third of the price it had originally been marked at. Replaced the dishwasher with a newer model that we got for free! Brent replaced some of the old fluorescent lights inside the house with newer updated fixtures that use less electric and look nicer. Got a lot cleaned out of the yard.

Wow! Was it a pigsty when we moved in. We found things and are still finding things hidden in weeds and dirt. We are putting in a fire pit, which I am really looking forward too. I want to do some hot dog roasts and marshmallows. I have been busy getting the garden ready to plant and am going to rearrange raspberries. Next year I want to put in a raised garden bed which will help with soil temperature up here. I am hoping that the greenhouse will help this year and next year the garden will be bigger and yield more.

Gas prices have gone above $4 a gallon as of the middle of this month. Since our gas budget is not that big it means we will not be going places very much this summer. That's okay, who says I wanted to drive anywhere anyway!?!&#@*

Brent's parents came up and left a week ago this last Tuesday. We had a great time. I really enjoyed having someone to play cards with. With Brent's rotation and still networking friends haven't had much opportunity. I sure hope they come back, even though when they left the mosquitoes had a powwow and planned for next time!;0

I am really glad that they got to see some of what we do. Although I slept for two days after they left!

Baby Goats

The new friends and farm that we visited was an experience. We got to see newborn baby goats. The kids got to touch and feed them. What an adventure! Every time we now drive by they ask if we can stop.

Ari just kind of looked at it and reached out. The goat then started nibbling on her fingers!

Ice Park 2008

So we went to the Ice Park while our guests were here. As you walk into the park there is a enter at your own risk sign which I find ironic. It says you are entering an Ice Park and that it is slippery and you need to be careful. Go figure! I am truly glad that we went early this year even though we didn't get to see the multi block sculptures. The weather warmed up so significantly (40s) that they were having to extend the contest and go to ultimate measures to save the sculptures from thawing.


This walrus greeted us as we walked into the park. He had already lost one of his tusks, but he was still beautiful!







We had to stop at the hardware store and get sleds for the slides before we went into the park. While the kids were in the octopus tunnel we put Ari in the sled and dragged her around. She loved it for awhile, then she started to realize that she wasn't being held. I am so proud of my little Alaskan, she didn't complain about being in the cold and handled it very well.




This was the biggest slide that was sculpted. You are sure taking your life in your hands as you climb these ice covered stairs! We had a blast going down it. The slide end is pretty long compared to the others so it feels like you go on forever.




Brent got such a kick out of this phone booth!

Ari and I watched and played as the kids (Ben and Brent too) went down the slides in the kids park.

On the drive home Ben spotted a fox on the Tanana River. At first we thought it was a wolf, but upon closer inspection and seeing him catch a mouse we came to the conclusion that it was a fox. Good eyes Ben!