Ice Fishing 2008

In 1988, a man named Dick Freisinger put together some community ice fishing fun for all-to include the disabled-and named it the Ice Fishing Jamboree. SarahBeth's class fished Jewel Lake a couple of winters ago, so I thought it would be a great chance for all to experience the fun together. They drill the holes, provide the poles and bait AND fire barrels and hot cocoa...we just showed up.

At the risk of sounding ridiculously obvious, it was really REALLY cold on the lake this year. Seriously. We spent more time trying to find Jewel Lake than we spent "fishing". The running joke was "what are you catching?"..."A COLD" None the less, we can now say we've been there, done that!

Lovely Locks

SarahBeth has been growing her hair out for over a year to be able to donate her hair to Locks of Love-an organization that uses donated hair to make wigs for children dealing with long term hair loss due to any medial issues.

Today, while on Spring Break, SarahBeth chopped 10 1/2 inches of her hair to send off to Florida.

Pictures Galore...

Sooo...I might be snapping the pictures like crazy, but failing to post them. Here's some pictures from MLK weekend. The girls and I ran to catch an early movie and in a remote parking lot nearby there was something dead and more eagles than we could count. I wanted to get close but it was rather Hitchcock-esque and I was very intimidated by the huge birds. There are several ravens in the pictures too.

Money well spent...

I don't know if I told ya, but I got a new, wonderful, fancy, expensive zoom lens for my camera. In an effort to take pictures worthy of the money spent, I have taken over 450 since January 1st!!! So, here's a few.

Jamison, New Year's Day, hungover.


Sledding in Seward on New Year's Day.




An iced over waterfall off the highway...and a handsome family...

Christmas Morn

While it means showing the random junk lying around the house, I'm thrilled to show you the first Christmas morning pics of the kids. By the way, Jamison had a...(shhh)...accident...hence in the mismatched p.j.'s.




And then the girls reaction to knowing somehow, someway they might shoot an eye out...


but the most important gift to any good Santa....


(that would be Starbucks for anyone wearing glasses...)

Then ME getting wonderful hand painted pottery from each child-and my hubby!



There were presents with a lot of heart....


...and far searched gifts too!



Then the special suprises of Christmas morn...

'lest we forget in all the hoopla...

Happy Birthday Baby boy! You have helped make this year bearable and exhausting all at once...but without a doubt, I'm so glad we planned you!!!!!

All is well

D@mn computer...

First, laptop having issues....and...so is the home PC. Therefore, no pictures, but...if somehow, you are the only person I haven't called, emailed or screamed from the top of the mountain to....

Tim made it home safe and sound Sunday evening. I can't begin to tell you the emotion that wells up inside of you as you see not only your loved one, but the husbands and wives of all your friends parading in. Knowing that the worst is over...that they made it home safe and sound...that "life" can begin again...it's too overwhelming to describe.

None the less, our Christmas is beyond blessed this year, and we will never forget those that paid the ultimate sacrifice...

More proof of the cheezzzzzzzeeeee monster

The older they get....

the harder it is to get a picture.

So, yeah, this is my only Halloween night picture. That night my brother was here, SarahBeth went with her friend(and mom) to trick or treat in another neighborhood, LeighAnne went with a friend AND NO PARENTS half way down the street and Jamison had 5 other friends meet up here to trick or treat with. I put a bowl of candy out and headed on with the younger crowd. None the less, lots and lots of candy accompanied our snowy Halloween. The temps were in the low 30's...which, ya'll know, is a downright heatwave for us.

The little girl in the picture is Brooke-my "if" I had baby #4. She's a darling devilish angel...and cured any lingering baby lust. She also has an amazing ability to hop in front of a camera and yell "CHEESE" at the last moment.

Anyhoo, Jamison went as Thomas to Preschool but decided on being a buh-noo(blue) Power Ranger for Halloween night.

SarahBeth went as Aries, "GOD OF WAR". Yeah, I know. It was a school project that easily(and wonderfully) moved into a Halloween costume.

So there ya go. Halloween in a nut shell.

The yin and yang of SarahBeth

SarahBeth's class had to do a mask that best represented themselves. Funny how a parents vision of a project versus a kids can be so different. I guess, if you will, the yin and yang of parenthood. None the less, when I asked SarahBeth what she wanted to do-how she wanted to represent herself; she talked about her good vs. evil, grumpy vs. happy, mean vs. sweet...."ya know moma, like the yin and yang of myself"....

Of course, my sweet baby bear....of course.....

Thomas

Have I mentioned that I'm can no longer fight the battle of cutting J's hair and have decided to save that excitement for his daddy? None the less, here's my little train boy

To bring you up to date...

alright. Since the beginning of September, I have:

*had 2 SLUMBER birthday parties

*started my littlest in preschool

*passed the 365 day mark

*watched a 20 month old starting at 6 AM(!!!) every morning while her parents were in between babysitters

*hosted a few meetings and a couple of non-kid parties

*made an Ares(greek god of war) costume

*found, bought, and accepted into my home-AND priced over 12(BIG)boxes of
"merchandise" for the Spouses Club

*ordered yet another set of flowers for a young boy's funeral

*bought(and returned) a new kitchen table

*killed and jump started batteries in 2 different vehicles (in the same day mind you)

*drove-in blinding snow-in OCTOBER to get a "playdate"

*spent more money than any normal person should on food from Costco-with 4 kids in tow

not to mention taking out the trash, laundry, dishes, bills, homework, cleaning toilets and scooping poop(my personal favorite!)

I don't make many statements like this, but...if anyone asks your opinion-ever...
15 months is damn near intolerable...12 is ok, but 12 1/2 starts to get under your skin...

Looks like it will be by Jamison b-day...barely...but the good news is, I got the kiddos to agree-pizza and ice cream for Thanksgiving dinner...no 3 days of thawing out a 20 pound turkey for the masses this year!!!!!

Yeah, I know...boo hoo me...my family is healthy and safe and my home isn't in danger of catching on fire anytime soon...

Gotta keep a little perspective, huh?

:)

First Day of Puh-rees-koooh

Alright, after a bit of wait listing and dragging of feet, Jamison began his first day of preschool today. He goes Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-12. Living in our small community he already knows many of his classmates from the neighborhood or from my gym. He even invited two new friends to his "birfday pawty".

Your turn Tinkerbell-

Happy Belated Birthday, baby girl...


I'm so glad I chose to have you!!!

Happy Birthday, Baby Bear

I'm so glad I had you!

Sighhhhhh

I can't wait for Tim to get home.....

First Day (again)

Without much fanfare the girls started a new year of school on August 22nd. LeighAnne has a couple good friends in her new class. SarahBeth came home her first day in her new school and proclaimed she could have her birthday party as scheduled because she has at least two new friends she can invite. Overall, no complaints...which means a happy moma!

I measured....

And this Momma moose and her 2 babies are just over 12 feet from my back door. I took this picture safely behind closed doors....'round here, momma moose and her babies are more dangerous than a random curious bear.

It's moments like these that I can forgive the NEGATIVE TWENTY DEGREES!!!!!

No Soccer Mom Jokes...Please...

I wish I had more to tell you, but so far, the last few weeks have been the usual busy, but blissfully quiet...if you don't count the seemingly non-stop construction going on around us. We did do a tiny bit of early school shopping today and I got to pick up some shorts and swimsuits on clearance in preparation for our (hopefully) winter Hawaiian vacation.

The girls even finished up their soccer season. While one practice and one game a week (AND NO WEEKENDS) was nice, when you double that, there were a few scheduling conflicts that made Tuesdays a little rough. Over all, the girls found a new sport they enjoy and I learned the ins and outs of being a team mom...plus Jamison learned some foot work for his soccer debut next year.

Here's SB enjoying some last game treats and LA with her hard earned medal.