The Big 1.7. and a quick recap of the day

 

Alexander turned 17 years old today! My "littles" are growing up. Alex is an incredible help to Michael on projects of all kinds around here. I think he has sonar abilities which let him know when he's needed. He has some goals this year centering around productivity and health. I'm sure he's going to reach them. Alex has a delightful sense of humor, but a person has to really get to know him before he's comfortable enough to show it. 

Stacia made Alex's cookie dough ice cream cake by herself. We are glad to have survived cake week around here....well there IS still our anniversary on the 14th and Jamin's birthday on the 20th...but those aren't all stacked on top of each other. 

Alex received new arrows, a target and a wrist/arm guard. 

Stacia bought him this t-shirt.

All his wood-hauling and projects have resulted in his new Christmas gloves already being worn out. 

Ah, a boot/glove warmer. 

Michael and Stacia delivered a cake to BreZaak's - and stayed to visit a bit. They ran to the store and came home with more produce and birthday goodies.

I got our Permanent Fund Dividend Applications filed and canned 35 pints of turkey broth from yesterday's turkey.  I added 5 pints of veggie soup (used some veggie broth I had on hand to fill the jars) to the canner to fill it up. It feels good to have homemade broth back in the pantry.  I'm nearly out of jars. I would like to get some more chicken on the shelves. I'm also thinking of canning my BBQ sauce.  First, I need to have Michael find more jars on his buy/sell lists. I may end up buying another Presto canner....on days like today it would be nice to be able to have 2 going at the same time, rather than waiting for the one to cool down.

On the garden front - zucchini grew well here. Cucumbers did not. I am wondering if I could make dill pickles with zucchini? I found a bread and butter recipe made with zucchini. Anyone ever done this before? We wanted to make homemade pickles last year and didn't get a single cucumber to maturity.  We also had great plans for Salsa but didn't take into account that peppers, tomatoes and onions wouldn't grow in our plot.

Holy Blog Catch Up Batman

WHUT'S Up?????

I committed to keep the blog current. I didn't blog each day last week.  I have to blog when I have the time. I had pity. There are three posts "saved" and I'll post them when there isn't such a lot to slog through your news feeds.

If I committed to blogging daily - why haven't I?

A new Bible Study started this week and my time in the Word is taking significantly longer than it did when we were going through Jonah.  I usually blog after my quiet time, before breakfast.

The kids and I have started a new Health Initiative. It takes time.  I am now working out, rather than blogging or reading facebook etc.  I'm not sure anyone has noticed I've not been reading feeds for the past few weeks.  I've lost 5 lbs in the past 3 weeks. I think I'll hit 10 lbs by Easter.

And so.....I'm catching time to blog, where it falls.

Sorry for the glut on the "market."

February Birthday Celebrations

Mom would have been 78 today. I'm not the only one who was thinking of her. Michael mentioned it fairly early in the day. Dad and I had a sweet, somewhat sad talk. 

Mom and Dad were in the Philippines when Josiah was born. His birthday is Feb 9th - IN THE STATES; but in the Philippines he was born on the 10th - Mom's birthday. She never let us forget they REALLY shared a birthday.  I'm behind in blogging Nolan and Josiah's birthdays....but today we planned for all to come over and celebrate our February birthdays. Four of our five boys have birthdays in February. Nolan turned 20, Josiah turned 30, Alex will be 17 and Jamin will be 28. Michael added all the years together and came up with 95...so we have 85 + 10 candles on the cheese cake.  There was also a mint ice cream cake and a small dinette cake.  Alex' birthday is tomorrow and I need to get his cake in the freezer tonight. The cheesecake is going home with Josiah and Jamin.

Nolan, Alex, Josiah and Jamin 

The day began shortly after mid-night when I began to prepare today's turkey. I had it in the roaster by 1:30 a.m. - so it would be ready by 2 p.m. I  stayed up for the first hour of high heat and turned it down....then tried to get a few more hours of sleep in the recliner.

By 5:15 a.m. I was up and making salad, peeling potatoes, cooking potatoes, making bread.....and then we headed to church. We had nursery today.  There were 3 lovable kids, a quiet day.

During nursery I read confirmation that BreZaak and the kids' wouldn't make it. They are fighting a bug. Larissa is feeling under the weather and didn't want to risk infecting the babies. Jared is still in Juneau.  Cory is pushing hard with school. We ended up being a small group of 10 - but we had lots of fun anyway. It was good to relax together. Krista called today, too! They've moved into their new place and are busy trying to unpack. 

Josiah vies for favorite uncle status by letting
 Benny play with his phone

Benny was gently rubbing Stacia's hair.  We  watched him process, and then reach out for Jamin's head. I captured the moment. 

Jamin, Benny, Arielle and Stacia

He's perplexed! ::snort:: 

 After cake came gifts....they all got a gift card to Sportsman's Warehouse. Jamin got a GIANT flashlight. I mean HORRIFICALLY BRIGHT. It may come in handy in some of the neighborhoods he's been in with his real estate business.

Alex also got some fishing tools. He'll get more gifts from us 4 tomorrow. 

Nolan got a mug and we signed over the Jeep Liberty to him. 

Josiah got fishing lures. 

Cory broke away from school for a visit....most are playing Snow Board kids. 

CoRielle have gone home (downstairs) and Benny is getting a bath. Nolan is on his way to bed (he works at 0500), I've got turkey broth simmering....

I should stay up and push through to the end of 1 John 2....but I'm tired.  1 John is an amazing book. I AM  finding it challenging to feel like I've studied it as well as I'd like.

Josiah is 30 - more Celebrations

Josiah turns thirty today. He planned to spend the day on the ice.  This is a  proper place to reflect on one's twenties.  Josiah has been tempered - those traits we saw in him in the 20's are shining pure gold. He has goals and takes positive steps to reach them. He's kind. He's giving. He's compassionate. God has seen him through some windy paths...and he's running straight on this side.

Nolan has to work today. We'll have everyone over tomorrow to celebrate. Michael and Alex have men's breakfast and Stacia is visiting Bre and the kidlets. 

After breakfast, Michael and Alex joined Josiah at the local lake. It was a good time. No one should spend their entire birthday alone. Good call, Michael.  I have not one picture (is this a blogging family or WHAT). They caught 15 fish and took them to BreZaak.

This evening we decided to remedy a few elements in Nolan's birthday celebration. We got home from Eagle River late enough that he opted for bed rather than cake. 0430 comes early.  We pulled out the cake Michael and Stacia had made....and no Gherkin birthday is complete without the pig hat.

Putting this photo first so it shows in the preview 

Bennett and Arielle joined us.

 As is often the case, we didn't have the right number of candles on hand....Michael is great at improvising.

Ye' old Party Animal Hat - Pig Hat

Nolan is 20!

Just like that Nolan is 20!  He has opted for us not to give him gifts,  per se. He will take the money the four of us would have spent on gifts,  and we'll all catch a couple of movies in the upcoming season.

He and Alex (birthday on Monday) both like Panda. We decided to head into Eagle River to Panda Express. We texted the crew to see if they would like to join us. They did.

Jamin, Michael, Stacia, Alex, Josiah, Nolan, Me

 This is a milestone year for both these Gherkins. Nolan turns 20 today; Josiah turns 30 tomorrow.  We'll celebrate all the February birthdays on Sunday.

Blurry phone camera - but I refuse to miss the shot

Larissa arrived bearing  awesome yumminess! Panda allowed us to bring it in for dessert. 

It always does my heart good to catch up with Larissa! 

Larissa, Me, Stacia

We are thrilled as we get to know the man of God, Nolan has become. He's kind and considerate. He's fun to be around. He is thinker. He doesn't jump into things willy-nilly. He's about to be promoted at his first job (in the process of all the tests and background checks). He's evaluating college options.

Early Spring? Hmmm.

I'm hearing talk of "early spring" from friends outside,  (as in the outside of Alaska). This makes me evaluate. I used to LOVE spring...the trees budding, tulips starting to pop out of the ground, warmer days, greening grass - early signs of spring.

Around here....the sun is rising earlier and setting later.  A quick look out the window, however, tells one it will be quite a bit longer before spring truly arrives this far north. There are no buds....and nothing green to be seen for miles. I need to learn new observation skills to detect springs arrival up here.

Last year I started seeds in February. I have no clue when I will start them this year - but NOT in February. I was done with them before it was time to plant to garden! LOL

Playing Catch with Grandpa

Benny talked Arielle into coming up so he could visit "his people." He brought his green tennis ball for a game of catch Grandpa/Papa. 

Want me to throw it? 

Ok- Catch! 

He catches with a "bit" of help from his mama!