April's Birthday Dinner

We have only one "Gherkin" birthday in April - Bella's! It's hard to believe she is two years old. Even harder to believe was looking back to her last birthday. As many as were in the area were at a restaurant in Eugene, OR. She was surrounded by friends and family.....my Mom was there...we were all in the planning stages of moving to Alaska...and here we are! God has been so very faithful!

Izaak brought Bella in around dinner time and she made my day by running to me. She was wearing a flouncy, bouncy princess dress - and was quite adept at strutting it. I introduced her to the Gherkin Pig Hat - worn on every birthday. We used to require it all day, but as they grew into adulthood and hold responsible jobs...traditions change.  Tonight, the pig hat leapt to another generation. 

Bella chose the menu tonight: Pizza and chocolate chip cookies. I did sneak in a salad, BreZaak brought some fruit and CoRielle some yummy garlic bread. The Uncles and Gramps had to move my garden before we could eat. Josiah's pretty good with the Internet. He whipped out his phone and began to look for cheap greenhouses for sale. We found an incredible deal but it turns out he wanted to list it for $1500 and not $500. ::snort:: 

 She seemed taken aback when Gemma brought over a cookie on fire and the table broke into song. 

She wasn't about to blow on the fire. 

"Maybe, I'll finally get to eat this thing!"

Princess Duplos - they've come a long ways! 

Happy Birthday (on the 12th) Bella Boo! We sure love you! I can barely imagine the energy level next year when Gideon and Benny are a year old. 

About that Grandma name....It seems to vary by day. One day I was Wibbly Wobbly...and we like that one fairly well. ::snort::  Michael says she named us both in one fell swoop. I envision it in cast iron at the front of our yard, "Wibbly Wobbly Flats!" LOL

If you'd like to sing along...

Meanwhile.....

Do you catch what is going on? Check out the pick axe.....yep...

They are breaking up ice and directing water run off....

I'd rather play in the dirt....here's a video clip. 

Spring Saturday

Michael and Nolan headed to Josiah and Jamin's apartment after men's ministry. They all drove on to Anchorage and met Jared at the Sportsman Show in the Sullivan Arena.  I worked on a video and a couple of blog posts. 

Stacia made big cookies for April's Birthday Celebration tomorrow night.

The guys brought some fruit home for men's group - already cut. I started the dehydrator. 

 Would you believe Josiah sent me this photo via text message? 

I think my heart actually sank - and then I laughed out loud.  They decided when the time comes, and it's years away, he wants THIS model of wheelchair. It comes loaded with a rifle...and the treads will make it much easier for him to get back to Red Shirt and to  enjoy hiking and hunting again. It's been hard not to be physically up to much hiking this year.   I'm pretty sure the VA will  never pay for something like this, but it's fun to see things like this ARE available. A chair like this would open up all sorts of possibilities. Alright - since I've had comments about our sense of humor...when you are dealing with Parkinsons, you can criticize the way we are dealing with it. Fair enough? 

Stacia and I mixed up more potting soil, transplanted sprouts and planted more seeds.  We are thinking the temps may rise enough in the near future to be able to make some plastic frames to go over raised beds. Michael is pretty hopeful. I'm a bit doubtful as there's still snow covering my garden plot. 🐽😁😵

Eggplant on the left and all sorts of greens in the box on the right 

We filled toilet paper rolls with dirt, planted peppers in them, placed them in a plastic apple container from Costco,  and covered it all with plastic wrap for the greenhouse effect. 

We filled two more storage containers with cabbage and carrots. We can't all eat at the table any longer. Another planter or two and none of us will be eating at the table. I'm thinking of solutions. 

A box of onions and carrots

Transplanted a bunch of tomato plants - not sure how I'll grow them here. 

A few more tomatoes on the windowsill. There are now two sprouts in the pot of mint. I want it for tea! ::snort:: I've not even planted the kitchen herb garden yet....

There is a low section in our side yard that is slushy, we even have grass in some spots. This is the strawberry bed up front. I was hoping and praying the leaves were enough to protect them....and look....we have green strawberry plants poking through the leaves. It's still cold enough I think I should just leave them covered....though I really know nothing about it all. LOL

The Week in Review

Parkinsons Update

We visited the neurologist in Anchorage again this week. He is continuing to lower Michael off the med we really dislike. The hope is  he'll have less waves of sleep attacks as he goes off this....and that he will be able to sleep at night. He added an element to the Sinemet which will hopefully help with the extreme dizziness and nausea Michael experiences on some days. Michael has been unhappy with his gait. The doc suggested a referral to see a physical therapist who specializes in parkies (PD patients). He also put in a referral for a neurological/cognitive evaluation.   On the one hand it is discouraging to think our schedule is NOT going to slow up with new evaluations and therapies. On the other hand, it is wonderful if the VA will approve some of these therapies. It's all about quality of life, and slowing down the progression of the disease. We honestly believe he had this years before it was diagnosed; thus the seemingly frequent new symptoms. I think we're leveling off now.  Michael is experiencing some involuntary muscle movements - and we don't like it at all, though we have kept our sense of humor.  We continue to pray for healing, and yet, we feel we've left it in His hands, "Your will be done."  We seek to move ahead with courage and joy. 

Gather 

We kicked off our ladies Bible study at our local church. I'm excited to see what God will do in our midst as we gather together in His presence.....I'm expecting great things. 

Projects

Michael has been building a shelf for the downstairs office. Now that his office is no longer housed at a chapel - we need to do something MAJOR to make everything for school, women's ministry and Michael's studies fit into the house. LOL  These shelves will go a long way towards organization.

I took advantage of a day without appointments to make ham stock and then to can ham/potato/corn/bean soup. It was yummy. Yes, I DID decide to have a bowl. 

I wish I'd been thinking when asparagus was on sale last week. The produce man told me it wouldn't be good frozen....so I raw packed what I had left over. I like it best lightly steamed or roasted....but this will be better than nothing in the winter. 

The kids are pushing hard to finish up our school year by 1 May. Alex seems to enjoy biology. 

I continue to fuss with seeds. Do you see the ONE sprout of mint in this pot? One!!!!

Right edge - middle

Family

We've enjoyed walks, games, watching movies, eating together. Family is a good thing. 

Michael rolled 6 5s in Farkle - can you spot them all? 

Alaska
We continue to enjoy this beautiful state and the change of the season. The photo below was taken in our yard at 8:50 PM.

We found the band of clouds interesting on the mountain. It seemed to be right where we live. 

It's been a really busy week.  Not only have we done the above, but we've made quite  a bit of admin progress in a variety of areas. Today, Stacia and I are hanging out at home and taking care of projects around here.  Michael and the boys started the day with men's group. Alex, went for a nice long walk. Nolan and Michael met at Josiah and Jamin's apartment and went to Anchorage for a sportsman fair or some such thing. 

Easter 2018

We began the day with breakfast at our church. The service was meaningful, encouraging and challenging. After church the kids had an Easter Egg hunt. I copied this photo from Facebook. I can't resist showing you what an Easter Egg Hunt in our part of Alaska looks like. 

Things were set and ready at home for the kids to arrive back from their churches and from Eagle River. 

Yuuki very carefully guarded the ham while we were gone and through the afternoon.

Jamin and Josiah moved to their own apartment this weekend. They came out early to play some games and visit. The three "at home Gherkins," love Sunday afternoon games with the older ones. It is worth noting that Josiah won this game of Duopoly. 

Eventually, it was FINALLY time for dinner... the food was good, the fellowship sweet. I didn't take photos. Bre and Izaak opted to hide eggs in our home, instead of outside. The first egg Bella picked up got dye all over her hands. She wasn't so sure about the activity after that, but with a little encouragement she gave it another try.  We did find an errant egg under the couch on Wednesday....well....o.k. Yuuki found it. ::snort::

If you'd like to watch Bella's first Egg Hunt  check out this video on our YouTube channel.

The End of a Full Week

I spent the second of half of this week working on "admin" stuff. 

I worked on nailing down details for April and May's Homestead Club meetings for IDEA. It took longer than  expected. I'm not done. I'm looking for a beekeeper. 

Stacia and I decided we would visit Krista in May. She and Maria sent the money for Stacia to visit. She was a bit nervous about an 18 hour trip alone. We were a bit nervous about it too. We decided I could break away for a week - so that's what we're doing.  It was a bit wild getting the connections worked out. LOL  We're looking forward to it.  It will be the same week the boys are on their Epic Hike....good timing. Michael and Arielle will keep the chicks and sprouts healthy. 

We cooked and baked....because I like to feed my family as often as possible. 😉 I may need to buy a tofu press eventually????? No, THEY don't eat tofu. I made Sweet and Sour (meatballs for them and tofu for me). 

Michael has continued to work in the workshop. The kids are pushing through the  school year. We'd like to be done by May 1st.  Nolan's grades must be in by then. One more month and he will be FINISHED.

Arielle and Benny came up to watch a movie with us last night. Some things hardly change at all. She was tired with school and being a new mama....she snoozed during the movie and Nolan and Benny enjoyed some male bonding. 

It would appear I may need to move furniture out, so I can move planters IN.....I need to transplant more sprouts and start some more seeds.....and then figure out the light and space for them. BUT soon it will be warm enough to put some plastic hoops up around beds and move them outside....right?

Look at this!!!! Taken at 8:45 p.m. All of a sudden we have 13.5 hours of sunlight. It wasn't very long ago we had 5 - 6 hours......summer is on it's way.....

I'm considering change curriculum for Alex's final two years and Stacia's high school year. I'm thinking of going back to Sonlight, a program we first used 20 years ago. We were guinea pigs for some of their early years. LOL  It is more concretely laid out than our current curriculum (which we DO love).  I think a concrete plan, rather than so many options, would help us have realistic goals. I tend to think we are always under-achieving....until the kids graduate college cum laude.

Wonderful Wednesday

Here's a YouTube of the start of the day. 

The morning revealed another spring snow storm. 

Michael had two appointments, (one in Anchorage), and a lunch date with Jared. I was supposed to go along, but we decided it would be fine if I stayed home today. I had things to get done: 

• Wrangle some Homestead Club details for April's meeting
• Finish some insurance appeal stuff
• Make dental appointments for the kids and I
• Clean the bathroom - possibly dust and mop too! 
• Scoop Yuuki dookie from the yard
• Get the blog  caught up
• Renew our ministerial licenses
• Pay our taxes 
• Call Dad
• Read a mystery 

None of these are BIG items; but together they add up to impossible if one is NOT HOME. 😀In any event, I could use a day at home and Michael felt my record keeping abilities weren't needed at either appointment.

The snow made it much more urgent that I move Yuuki Dookie to the top of the list before it was all buried again.....She was content to watch from her front row seat INSIDE....the WARM house.

 Bre asked us to watch Gideon while she and Bella Showered. He has a new trick - scooting. In times past, I could sit him on the counter and eat...he was content to sit and watch. Today, he scooted away to Auntie Stacia. Note Jenny's fish casserole on Stacia's plate. It's a hit. No, she didn't give the baby any.

It became apparent, if I was going to do anything, I'd have to strap on Gideon. He seemed a bit perplexed...but was happy to ride along as I dusted.

This is what happens when it melts, freezes, melts, freezes....

We expected Michael home from Anchorage at 4:00 or 4:30. At 5:00, I began calling him. No answer.  We were having friends for dinner at 6:00 p.m.  The kids were to take the Jeep and drive to youth group at 6:15 p.m.  5:45 p.m. and Elaine arrived, Michael was still not home. 6:00 p.m. and Dale arrived, still no Michael. His phone went directly to voice. Jared confirmed he'd left Michael at 1 p.m. and he didn't know of any errands Michael was running.

My mind began to run wild.....the kids would never forgive me (and I'd not forgive myself) if I stayed home and Michael  had a sleep attack and wrecked on the Glenn. 6:30 p.m. and I was discussing when I should call the troopers. I wasn't sure if he was on the Old Glenn or the Glenn. Yes, in the future, we'll be sure those at home know which route we're taking.😏 He was 2 hours later than I expected him, he knew we had company coming over, he knew the kids needed the car......and then about 6:40 he walked in the door. Safe!   Shew....yes, he DID stop at Lowe's, but the traffic was also bad AND he had to stop when he realized the gas gauge isn't always reliable and he thought it was low. Sure enough - it took 19 gals in our 20 gal tank. He could have been much later. His phone is notorious for dying, but the charger in the car wasn't working.

Dale and Elaine brought pizza. 🍕🍓🍎I made salad and fruit salad. We kept the focus on getting to know each other - and it was a great night.  The kids made it to youth group late, but stayed late to make up for it. 😀🐽😁 We visited so long  poor Elaine and Dale were surely later than they expected getting home. (Still not up to the my old photo taking capabilities - ah well, eventually you'll see photos and know we really ARE meeting real people and making honest-to-goodness friends in the community). 

I turned the night light on for the table garden and headed to blog one last entry before calling it a day. The rest of those items can wait for tomorrow.

That stop at Lowe's? He got me more dirt, perlite and peat moss....and containers to plant some tomatoes and more.