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!!!!

French Bread Day!!!

Last Friday was the funnest day ever! A couple days prior at Park Day we asked Jodi to teach us how to make her famous french bread. It's ooooo so good! So every body came over and we kicked the kids outside to play with marshmellow guns and bikes and made bread! I wish I would of taken some pictures of the finished product. I'll make a deal--if you want to see it come visit me and I'll make you some famous french bread!

Jack hung out at the counter and watched us all morning.

Theatre Camp

Caleb shocked Aaron and I and asked if he could go to theatre camp this summer. It was for two weeks from 9-4pm everyday. It was a nice little break for him and he loved meeting new people and gaining new skills. Their play that they performed was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Caleb has a couple of different roles and one of them was a dwarf- who was also a gambling horse jokey.

Caleb as a guard to the evil queen.

They also did some other little warm up plays.

Caleb and his camp partner acted out some miming to music. Very cute!

O' yeah. Just look at these faces. I didn't get to see much of the plays because Jackson was beyond tired and cranky so I sat out in the hall with him.

Big Boy Bed

We've done some changing in the house -and I dreaded doing it- but Jackson is now in a twin bed. Actually it's the trundle that was under the girls bed. i figured when he could learn to sleep in the bed and now fall out I would set the twin bed back up for him. This way he's sleeping much closer to the ground. I was so nervous that nap time would vanish but luckily it hasn't. Just lay that boy down with his doggy blanket and he's out like trout. I have found out that going to bed at night requires that Jackson lays in the room for about 20 minutes before Caleb can come in or else he thinks it's play time. It cracks me up how he sleeps in a tiny little corner.