Little bags

I find these every where in our house. Why??? Bc Madeline lives to go
outside and catch bugs. Then she sneaks inside and gets little lunch
bags and puts them in there. When I finally realized who was behind
this I asked her. "I just want my little buggies to live with me." she
caught a fly on day and when I told her that it probably missed it's
family I noticed that she had found another fly and put it in the bag
with it. I asked her why and she said, "it's her mom.". She's so
funny. I guess I should be glad we don't have snakes in Alaska.

Memories

It was fun watching the kids make a house out of blankets and the
dining room chairs this morning. It brings back good memories of when
I was a kid.

It's working!!!

Ever seen that infomercial selling upside down tomatoe planters? I
decided to make my own. Some doubted but....

Today's tender mercy

I realize that my Father had a plan before I even had the thought
about Alaska. With that plan he placed us in a neighborhood filled
with children for our kids to play with

Raspberry Panthers Party

Kali had her team party tonight. After practice we all just headed
over to Carl's Jr and everybody just ordered food for their own
families. Then coach Jason handed out trophies. They are dog tags
with a soccer ball on one side and their name and team name on the
other side. It's cute for the girls. Kali had so much fun this season
and I'm sure she'll play again.

It's fun to have girls!

The girls decided to do my hair. It was crazy, knotted, and sticky! I
had to put some limits down when Kali grabbed the Lusters. I knew I
would never get that stuff out.

Honorable Mention

Aaron told me the other day that I was getting something special in the mail. On Monday I can home to find a package by the garage door. I opened it up to find these two boxes from Zales and a little leather bag. It also had a special card but I'll keep that special part private.

I opened it up to find that he bought me a pink and white pearl necklace. (The boxes reminded me of Pretty Woman)

And these little leather bag contained white pearls to match the necklace. They are huge too! It makes my 1.25 solitaire look small.

Last month I got another huge package in the mail. Aaron had surprised me with the new Bosh bread mixer. Well it does more than bread but that's what I'm primarily using it for. It will make around 4 loaves at one time! Woo Hoo!

And to go with it I got the Nutrimill to grind my own wheat. I've totally ran out of wheat so I'm so excited to go to the cannery tomorrow and get some more. Thank so much honey!

Yes I know, my husband spoils me!

Caleb

Here are some recent conversations that I've had within the last week with Caleb. One is just brilliant and one was...well the opposite.

The other day we went for a family treat to McDonalds for ice cream cones. I was sitting there eating my ice cream cone when the following conversation took place:

Caleb: Mom, you can't eat ice cream you're trying to lose weight!

Mom: Well Caleb, I'm pregnant so I'm going to gain weight.

Caleb: (looking at me but I can tell he's thinking...) Mom this one time I had a video game that I got a lot of points. It took me a long time to get all these points. Then one day I turned it on and the points where gone. Kali erased them. (Kali in the background "not true"). It was bad because I had to start all over and get all those points again.

I just looked at him in amazement that he could relate weight gain to a video game. He made it that simple. I just laughed and gave him a hug.



Before the 4th of July parade started I was trying to distract the kids. They had been playing on the playground but the street was getting crowded and I thought it would be a good time for us to go back to our blanket set up on the curb. By this time people had settled all around us and we were packed in. So I started up a game of Eye Spy. Side note: There were these great commercials about 4 years ago. It all had to do with kids saying things, innocently, to embarrass their parents. My favorite one was this family is at a wedding and the mom is congratulating the bride. The little girl next to her says, "My mom says she can't believe that you're wearing white." And then it shows the mom's face. The whole commercial was don't you wish they were eating a granola bar right then. The following conversation would be how I would make my version of this commercial...

Mom: Alright guys, can you spot someone wearing red shoes?

Kids: Yeah right there

Mom: Can you spot someone wearing a striped shirt?

kids: That lady

Caleb: Mom I want a turn

Mom: Okay Caleb you're turn

Caleb: (in a loud voice and really excited about this one) Can you guys spot the guy with no legs?

Mom: (in total shock I put my hand over my face and lean over and quietly say) noooooooooooo Caleb

Caleb: (thinking that I said no because I didn't know where the guys was. He stretches out his hand and points) He's right there!!!!!

I thought I was going to die! The man was sitting directly across the street from us. And I know everybody heard Caleb.

4th of July

Our 4th of July started a couple of days early with a package arriving in the mail. Inside wrapped in red, white, and blue tulle was outfits for all the kids and some 4th of July treats. Grandma Nettie never forgets. (Which is good because I NEVER remember to buy outfits for my kids for the 4th. I'm more into the bbqs and fireworks).

Early on Saturday morning (which was too early considering we were at the firework show past midnight the night before) the kids woke me up to remind me about the big parade in Anchorage. We all got up and were out the door by 9:50 to stake out our portion of the sidewalk. The girls reminded everyone to bring a plastic bag to fill with candy but all Maddy filled hers with was a weed which got a couple of laughs from some homeless people who watched her pick it because she pulled the whole garganious thing out of the roots then carried it.

We had to problem finding a parking space in a field (which was miraculous because I swear the whole city was driving trying to find a spot) and when we came to Delaney Park Strip we just happened to find a part of the sidewalk in front of this playground. SCORE! The kids were able to play for 30 minutes until the parade started. Huge blessing for me!!! (Side note: make sure when your kids play eye spy that they know not to use people...especially when you're in a crowd. Awkward!)

Kali looking like the 4th of July!

Yes...they might be crazy but they're mine! (I can't believe we're having another!!!!)

Caleb proudly sporting his new shirt.

After the parade we walked down to the festival. It was so much fun!!! Maddy and Jack wanted to go in the bounce house. They had so much fun and so did I because you paid for your kids to go in but they didn't have a time limit. I hate paying $5 for 3 minutes and most of the time your time is cut short because of the huge lines. This was so nice to just watch them play.

About the only time Jackson actually held still for me to take a picture.

I don't know who this kid is but I had to take a picture of the Bucking Salmon- only in Alaska so you find a Bucking Salmon.

Caleb decided that he wanted to climb the rock wall.

Here's his two cheerleaders cheering him on

And he made it to the top to ring the alarm!

His proud decent down.

Next after some activities and showing out mouths full of delicious food was face painting.

I had to hurry and take Maddy's picture asap because within 20 minutes it didn't look like a butterfly anymore but a smear of color

No this is not Caleb but Michael Angelo!

After face painting we sat in the lawn watching these acrobats and listening to the AF Band. I decided to let the dancing machine out of his stroller and boy did myself and everyone around us get a laugh at Jack. There was this homeless man laying in the grass enjoying the music and for some reason Jackson was so atracted to him. He kept on running up to him and dancing for a while and running back to me. Then he's run back and dance and run back. I think the man was tickled that Jackson was paying attention to him.

By 5pm we finally headed home. It had been a long day in the sun and walking around. It was fun but didn't seem quite fulfilling without Aaron.

Fireworks at midnight

Tradition in Eagle River is to have the firework show at midnight on the 3rd. It doesn't really get dark so if you have it on the 4th it's really the 5th. I wanted to mingle with all my other friends who I saw down at the festival but when I went to get the kids ready Maddy wasn't feeling well and asked if she could go to bed...in her clothes. That's super strange for Maddy to want to go to sleep when she knows we can go outside and play with all her friends. So I decided I'd let Maddy and Jack sleep until 11:45pm and wake them up then to watch the fireworks. We found this little grassy hill in our neighborhood. At first I thought that no body was there because it was a bad spot but when the fireworks started it turned out to be the perfect spot. It was just our little family watching fireworks at midnight. It was great! We sat there and ate popcorn and enjoyed the moment together. (Kali and Maddy look unhappy in the picture because by this time each had to use the bathroom really bad!)

Field of Daisies

I found this really cool field of daisies the other day and couldn't pass up the chance to attempt to get a group picture of the kids. The girls loved it and would of rather of picked flowers that said cheese.

Of course you can't forget the flower in your hair....

A kiss for you dad!

These are the best group photos out of 60! that I took.....

It totally didn't help that the F-22s were out flying around and the kids wanted to watch them

.

Raspberry Panthers

Kali is playing soccer this summer and loving it! Their team name is the Raspberry Panthers. The girls couldn't decided on the Raspberries or the Panthers so we just combined the two. I'm actually the team mom- which I didn't sign up to be but somehow ended up being so.

Their coach is the nicest guy you'll ever meet! He's so patient with 8 little girls! The first game Kali and Alexa ran around at the beginning holding hands and giggling. They seemed a little disappointed when he told them they had to let go. And all too often you'll hear squeals break out. It's been so much fun. Especially since 6 out of the 8 girls are in our ward. It's pretty much like a mini ward party every game. I hope she decides to play again next summer.

Summer time beauty!

The sun has been shining and we've been taking advantage of it! One perk that I love about Alaska is you pay a flat rate for water. Use either 500 gallons or 1 gallon and it's always going to be $64/month.

The other day I turned on the hose and handed it to Jack and it turned into a neighborhood water fight.

With an occasional drink of water.

All the kids laid out just soaking up the long needed sun.

A couple of days later a bunch of us moms met over and the other's house and just let the kids go at it again with the water. I think in all there was 13 kids with 4 moms. Doesn't Jack look so cute?!

Kali laying out.

We had a little BBQ and the kids just loved it. Here's some of them. They ended up making this huge mud hole in the use-to-be garden.

Maddy in the car heading home.

Yesterday between doctor appointment we went to Burger King of base and walked over to the park to eat. It was so nice outside! Kali loves loves loves the monkey bars and was showing off how she can go backwards.

Jack not sure what really to do. Caleb decided to carry him up and dropped him, on accident, into one of the tubes. It was kinda funny.

This is HALF of the play ground. It's huge!

I had to capture this moment- the Larsen kids were getting along!!!!