New Blog

I love this blog, but it is time to move on.  Visit me at my new blog:  64* North.

It's a Love/Hate Relationship

I love my blog. 

I love looking back over it, that is.

I love looking at the pictures of my kids, and reminiscing about days gone by.  

I am a bit of a perfectionist though.  You wouldn't know it by looking at my house or my life, but if I can't do something as well as I would like to do it, then I give up. 

  With my blog I get frustrated that my pictures aren't as good as so and so's, or that I don't write as clever and witty as someone else, or even as well as I would like.  I also, get frustrated that I don't have enough time to devote to it as I would like.  I set standards for myself that I can't keep. 

Then I get frustrated and give up on it for a time.  I go completely cold turkey.  I think that is part of my perfectionism.  I'm either all in, or all out.  I can't find a balance.  

So then I hate my blog.  

Until...

I begin to miss it. Then, I look back through it, and I remember that it isn't about being perfect or as good as so and so, it's about telling my story, our story. 

My blog is my journal and it's about recording our memories and having a story of our family.

My kids are growing up way too fast.  .  

I always think I will remember the cute things they said and did, and the funny faces they made and the little things that are part of our lives for a time, but I don't. 

Not unless I write it down.

Sunday afternoon treat, compliments of Tabetha

When I am blogging, I make a conscious effort to take note, write down and document those little things that I would not normally take the time to record.  

And, life is just a little sweeter when I am looking for and taking time to recognize those special little moments that are part of our family's story.  

Small fire that occurred while making above treat

So, all this to say I want to start blogging again.  I know I do this all the time, start, stop, and start and stop again.  I won't promise it won't happen again.  It might, but at least I will have recorded a few more memories in the process.  

Wish me luck.  And check back again.  

Only 14 days until this baby is here, and 

I know he is going to be adorable.

Stay tuned for pictures!  

A Weekend Away

My sweetie took me away for the weekend, and when I say away I mean like away, with no kids away.  Oh, we had a great time. (sigh)  It was nice to just be together and enjoy each others company.  

I sure love this guy!

We need to go away more often I think.    

My Baby is 4 years Old!

 Favorite Color:  Red & Blue

Favorite Foods: Apples, Carrots and Moose

Favorite Primary Song or Hymn: I Love to See the Temple

What do you want to be when you grow up:  A Mom

Favorite Game:  Go Fish

Best Friends:  Piper, Kieran, Adeliah, Shepherd 

Favorite Book:  Dinosaur Book 

Favorite Movie:  Spirit

Favorite Scripture Story: Nephi Builds a Boat

Favorite Soda:  Sprite

Favorite Candy Bar:  Chocolate

Favorite Family Activity:  Ride Mudpie

Favorite Animal:  Horses

What Makes You Happy?  Horses

What Makes You Sad?  Somebody hurting me 

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?  The woods

Happy Birthday Mya Gracie Pooh!  I love you so!  

Please stop growing up so fast.  

Who Knew?

Who knew that Bendaroos and a bucket could provide hours of fun for a five year old?

Well, I know now!

It's A Blessing and A Curse

Look what Miss Katie can do.

And, she loves doing it all day every day, from sun up to sun down (which in Alaska you know is a very long time), back and forth, up and down the street, and even to her friend's house,

sometimes without asking.  

And, then her mom has to come and look for her and take her home to put her nose on the wall.

But, even then she's still a cutie.  

CrEePY

Okay, so it's Tabetha's job to do the dishes after dinner and when I came into the kitchen the other night after she had gone to bed this is what I found.  At first, I was quite happy that she had taken that much pride in her job to make sure she had gone above and beyond what was expected to make it look so nice and orderly.  (Which isn't always the case.)  But, the more I looked at it the creepier I thought it was.  To me it looks like a surgery tray.  I was a bit worried she might be preparing for a late night surgery and that I might not wake up with both of my kidneys.
Maybe this is her subliminal way of getting out of doing the dishes.  Have I mentioned before that this girl is smart.  Maybe too smart.

Chocolate Cake in a Cup

This is the perfect recipe for anyone who a) likes chocolate, b) likes cake, and c) likes chocolate cake.  I will confess that this is Tabetha's recipe.  I found out that she acquired the recipe while online one day and then was making these for herself when she was  home alone.  That girl is smart I tell you.  It's like a mini little party by yourself with very little evidence left behind for others to notice.  She also makes these for the kids she babysits.  Is it a bribe to get them to want her to babysit again?  Could be.  Smart remember.  She finally made one for me the other day and mmmmmmm was it good.
You want me to just get to the recipe already.  Okay, here it is:

Chocolate Cake in a Cup

1 T. + 2 t. cocoa powder

3 T. flour

dash of salt

1T. + 2t. sugar

1/4 t. baking powder

1T. oil

3 T. milk

1/4 t. vanilla

Mix all ingredients in a mug.  Then sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Cook in the microwave for 30 seconds.  Voila!  It's done, and it's so quick and easy.   Tabetha says it won't look cooked from the top but it is.  Enjoy!

Taming the Wilderness

If you haven't heard the news by now, we bought a horse. (Yes, we are crazy, I freely admit it.)  In order to make room for a barn and a corral we first had to clear the brush and the trees on our property.  I told Shawn I was a bit traumatized when I came outside and saw what he had done.  This whole area used to be trees, and I liked my small bit of untamed wilderness.  

To get rid of the big pile of brush and dirt at the back of the property and to even out the ground, Shawn dug a huge hole with this monster and buried all the brush.

After he dug the hole for the brush we ended up with a massive dirt pile the kids had so much fun playing on.

Once the trees were in the hole, he buried it all, and then smoothed it out.  

 The pile is gone and our yard looks like this....

...a giant mud pit.

Now on to building the corral and the barn.

Do You Think There Could Be a Problem

Do you think there could be a problem when your 3 year old's pillow and stuffed animal have taken up permanent residence on your bed?