Christmas in Ice...and lights!

Christmas is always a popular time for the obvious reason, Lights! I had my two helpers this year, they were very excited because the temperature was in the 30's even up to 41 degrees! So we had lots of time to climb the ladder and discuss where the lights should go. I wanted to go big this year decided on just the eves, but we did upgrade to LEDs, trying to go green to balance all the wood we burn. But I was thinking of ways to keep the kids outdoors when it is dark. We get like 4 hours of light and by the time we are home from work it's dark. So I ran my longest extension cords together and we lit the fort and the swings! Instant ecstatic kids. So now we have been enjoying lots of sledding and sliding before dinner.

Gingerbread craze

The Catholic Church on the Chena River

Our choir of angels

Santa, his sleigh and his dog team heading on to the Chena

Top view of the log cabin that currently houses the Yukon Quest HQ

Two weeks worth of work for the first place spot in our division (group all ages) at the Fairbanks Newsminer Gingerbread House competition.  The only non-edible part was the tin-foil used to surround the jello river.  Pretty proud of my girlfriends and delighted to say that we are all friends at the end of the process :)

Jade and Santa

Santa - "Don't you look like a little princess! What do you want for Christmas?"
Jade - "I want a candy cane."
Santa - "Well you can have two little princess."
Jade - "I don't want to be a princess, I want to be a butterfly."
Santa - "Well isn't that just wonderful, much better than a princess."
Jade - "Yes it is.  Nank you for the candy cane."

Yeah for butterflies!  I love to hear her little thoughts and the shock on people's face when she has so much to say about the world.

Had a wonderful afternoon at Christmas In Ice, the Santa Clause House and dinner at the "submarine" store.  Pictures will be uploaded in the near future.

The Hand

A little trip and a brief press to the glass of the woodstove, a moment none of us will forget.

First and second degree burns across the pads under his fingers and on the side of his hand.

Marriage already???

Scene:  The car ride home from school

The Actors:  My friend and her 5 and 7 year old daughters (E - 5 and J- 7)

 Discussion: Appropriate age to get married at

E - Yuck, there are only 3 boys I would ever marry anyway
J- Who would you marry?
E- Tristan, Tommy or Slater    (what???)
J - E, Slater is way to young for you!

Another recent scene: The living room after first aid had been administered

The Actors: Mom, Dad and Slater

Discussion:  Hand burnt on the wood stove

Mom - Slater how is your hand feeling?
Slater - It hurts, it hurts.
Dad - What would make it feel better?
Mom - What can we do?
Slater - Angelina is going to be so sad, she is going to be so sad about my hand
Mom - Angelina?
Slater - I need to call Angelina, she is going to be so sad

AND so it begins, Mom and Dad need to step aside for a girl???

He wants to make crisis phone calls to one and another one considers him choice #3 if she ever decides to get married.

Halloween a month later ...

Heading down the road for tricks or treats

Our sweet little Panda Bear at the carnival

Jade's favorite booth at the carnival - the petting zoo.  The FFA kids were so patient showing her all of the animals and answering all of her questions.  Their sponsor tried to convince me that Jade should get a guinea pig for Christmas.

Suited up and ready to get candy!!!

Pretty toes

She is such a girl!  Where did that come from?

Donuts for Dinner

The Robot Club ordered Krispy Kreme Donuts as a fundraiser, after many frustrations and mis-communications they finally arrive (12 hours late) at the airport!!  After picking up the 100 boxes of donuts and delivering them to school Wade arrived home with 4 boxes :)

When I picked up the kids by myself they were expecting to go back to the high school and get their dad.  I explained that he had gone to the airport to get donuts, for this they were willing to wait!  When he walked in the front door I yelled - "Dad's home."  The usual thudding of feet could be hear and then ...

Slater - "Dad did you go to the airport and get those donuts?" 
Dad - "Yup and I dropped them off at school"
Slater spotted the boxes  - "Are those presents for us?"
Dad - "I guess they are."
Slater - "Ooohhh, that is just great! Can I open it now?"
Dad - "I guess"
Both kids - "Ooohhh, they are donuts, can we have one?"
Dad being the strong parent - "Well you can only have one before dinner."
Slater and Jade - "Ooohhh, that is just great!"


Later - the small ones try to steal the boxes for their grandpa and uncle.  After Dad reclaimed the donuts they took action and armed themselves with blasters, then made a sneak attack on the new donut location.  In stealth mode (yelling and crawling on their bellies) they stormed the gates, while unsuccessful they seemed undaunted and we are sure they are plotting a second attempt :)

Play? No really a play :)

A Midsummer Night's Dream - for the love of Shakespeare!  People are still entertained by his plays after all this time, a four year old finds humor and drama in the same scene as a 65 year old.  We have wanted to take the kids to a couple of the Shakespeare in the Park products here, but were not sure if they would handle that length of time in a seat or a blanket on the lawn. 

But last night Slater soaked it all in.  He sat on the edge of his seat as soon as the lights dimmed.  Quietly whispering questions about the music, the lights, the fog machine, and the actors on the stage.  Who were the kids up there?  Can I wear flowers in my hair?  Can I have that stick?  Look he is a wall! He is silly!  My arm was used as a shield to ward off Oberon and I had to pull him back (several times) from heading up the aisle to join the cast, but what a wonderful evening. 

When the play was over he walked around giving all the beautiful "butterflies" / fairies hugs.  He braved going up to a couple of Oberon's followers, but still didn't want anything to do with Oberon himself.  Spotting the fools he covered his mouth and giggled out-loud, then ran over to take a closer look at "the wall".   At one point he even tried to get into a cast photo, or maybe he just wanted a closer look at Bottom's sword :)

Can't wait for the next production!

Snow that stays!

Working on her first snowman

A little more on the top

My snow angel! - You can link to the one from last year!

Completed!!

Two little pumpkins ...

Slater did the one on the left and jade picked out the cat design on the right

It was so much easier to get a shot of the pumpkins

I love my sister!!

Caught in the act

Mom is in the other room ...

If I am really quick ...

I can be up and down before she knows it ... she did not count on digital evidence

In case anyone is wondering - I would NOT allow her to climb up there for the sake of a picture, big brother had the camera and took these shots. 

Old friends, the kind we will never forget and don't remember meeting

This morning started early ... 6am early.  For some of you this may not seem early and after a child who regularly arose at 5:30am I am not sure why this is early to me, but it shows that the mommy brain forgets the bad and remembers the cute, silly and fun.

Back to this morning, Slater had a nightmare, he was crying and thrashing.  Holding and rocking him helped, but he was scared and worried.  He kept saying "I can't find her, I lost her."  Since I still believed that I am always the person he is looking for, I said "I'm here sweetie."  He just kept crying, then he said, "I can't find my Evelyn."  Sweetness - he was looking for his friend, a child whose friendship goes so far back he will never remember meeting her.  I hope in twenty or thirty years they are still friends.

Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker!

There is so much joy in childhood

Laughing it up at the antics of big brother

Moments I will hold in my heart forever - I hope they will always be this happy.

Summer two in the fort

Silly smile

Big girl on the slide!

Last summer we built this fort and it has seen playtime, been a fortress, a picnic site, a toy box and a site for 20 kids to climb during the pig roast.  This is one of those place where I want to get a picture each year and enjoy all the little changes that happen with my babies.

Happy Birthday Grandma!!

So the grandkids L.O.V.E. calling G-ma on the phone, love it!!  Jade appears with phone in hand chattering away and telling g-ma all about her day.  Sometimes there are small and fierce battles for the first turn. 

So today when I saw Jade tip-toeing about with the phone pressed to her ear and I could hear "Grandma..." I just assumed that she wanted to call her, but as I got closer I realized that she was quoting lines from Charlie Brown.  "Hey Grandma, this is Chuck ... uh I mean Charlie Brown."  PAUSE "I have a little problem, we are going to be late to Thanksgiving dinner ... you see I invited some friends over and they are still here."  (OK the second sentence wasn't quite that perfect, but she amazes me!!)  She can quote whole pages out of books that she loves and copies voice inflections and mannerisms.  Cracks me up!!

Hope you enjoy this story for your birthday Grandma!!  We love you and can't wait to make you dinner for your birthday :)  Jade and Slater

Who needs a 6' clawfooted tub?

When we (my brother and I) were little our house had no running water, so bathing in the sink was one of the few ways to get a bath.  Our grown-up house has a claw-footed bath tub and a shower, but the sink is still the most popular bathing site!  When Jade sees me doing the dishes she comes running - "Ooooo Mommy, you are running me a bath?"  Even Slater (who has to fold himself into a pretzel) loves his "tub" time.

Slater's photography

Taken while spinning circles on the front lawn

The mid-morning light pouring through our home

How the world looks lying flat on the lawn enjoying the sunshine

A beautiful (and warm) August day at the Botanical Gardens

Favorite Froggie

All the pretty ladies sunbathing and playing in the stream

Dad and Jade take a ride on the frog

Tough feet playing in the pond.  Slater has always been a water lover and the Botanical Gardens offer a variety of places to play in the water including a sluice box, faucets, waterfall, pond, streams and fish pond.

Wipeout on the track!

Winnie the Pooh makes everything better

Knees meet track at the football game

Slater's 4th birthday - better late than never :)

Cool new sweater from cousin Jeanne

The light saber cake, snacks, table setting and blaster

Yoda Soda was a HUGE hit!!  Lemonade, sprite and lime sherbet!

Each Padawan received a name tag with four labeled corners, they had to go out and run through 4 Jedi trials to earn stickers for their name tag (the maze, the balance beam, the ball toss and the Sand Pit rescue).  After completing their trials they could then build their own light saber to take home.

Blowing out the Darth Vader candle on his light saber!

This is the perfect look for the birthday boy - grinning with cake on his face!

A plug and a gun - what more could a girl want!

One day while walking in the woods.....

Shark Attack! Slater has chosen his Halloween costume and spent the afternoon getting people. Jade was content with her Panda shirt and being her cute self.

My little talker at 25 months...

"Mom - the sun went behind a cloud, now it is dark in here. Can you turn on the light?" - Jade at the dinner table.

"Me and Slater want to watch 'It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown' on the big TV. Is that OK?" - Jade's never ending request for Charlie Brown.

"Mommy, I thought I lost you, I felt sad." - Jade's thoughts on the day that Daddy picked her up from daycare and then came back to pick-up Mommy.

"Daddy, we need to go to the library and visit the turtles and the fish." - Jade loves the library and would read books forever.

"I didn't like that shirt. I took it off. Now I am naked." - Jade favorite state **sigh**

a beetle paddle battle in a puddle ...