A Grand Girls' Sleepover!!!!

This was fantastically fun! The grands are getting old enough for SLEEPOVERS! Bella got the ball rolling by asking Stacia and Allie what they would think....and Bre and Izaak were o.k. with their girls spending the night. I contacted Carrie and Luke to check on plans for Livie and Kaelyn to join us. Trudy, Josi and Ellie are still a bit young - but I'm dreaming of the fun we can have in a few years! Kaelyn was unable to join us, but Olivia, Bella, and Annie came and spent an evening with us! Yes, a grand bly sleepover is in the works - Papa and I are planning. 

While I baked pizza's the girls arranged their beds in Allie and Stacia's room. 

Liv, Millie and Stacia, Annie and Bella 

We had everyone's favorite types of pizzas. We let GG join us for dinner. Allie slid in as soon as she was off work. 

Stacia, Bella, Olivia, Me, GG and Annie

I sent the girls off to get their swimsuits on while I cleaned up and then we hit the hot tub. Allie brought her Bluetooth speaker out and we had fun summer tunes while we soaked. Annie does not understand the concept of "relaxing in a hot tub," and kept swimming underwater from one spot to the next. LOL 

Bella - 9 (BreZaak's daughter)

Olivia - 12 (CyRi's daughter)

Annie - 6 (I think - BreZaak's daughter)

I got out first, took a quick shower and set out the snack buffet...it was nearly 8:30 and I knew they'd need renewed energy to "stay up all night." I also suspected most wouldn't stay up all night. LOL 

A word about snacks - I had texted mom's for the favorite snacks of each girl and had them on hand. Here Stacia shows the girls the wonder of chopsticks for communal snacking...and just keeping one's fingers clean while snacking. 

We had an amazing selection of SNACKS.

Everyone got washed off, into PJ's, grabbed some snacks and we met in the living room for a Frozen marathon. Meanwhile it was 9 pm and GG had gone to bed so the sweet snacks weren't cruel. 

I finally had to gently limit Annie. LOL 

We decided one movie was all we were going to make it through. Next up was "masks at midnight." 

I swear Annie and I felt like we were smearing guacamole on our faces!

Honey mask. 

It peels! 

Twinkle lights and Hank the Cowdog were up next as everyone "settled down." 

Don't be fooled! 

I don't think anyone was up ALL night, but I also don't think ANY of us got much sleep. ::snort:: Stacia discovered she cannot sleep with twinkly lights and Hank the Cowdog on repeat. LOL 

It was no surprise to me Annie was the first one up! I knew if she didn't need me to call her Mom before the night was up, she would be the most excited in the morning. She was. She didn't want to go home! ::snort:: 

Everyone else started stumbling out. We decided to do our nails. 

Frozen 2 and popcorn was next on the agenda. 

While the others talked inside Annie and I went outside for a bit. 

I was aware all evening of the wonderful memories we were making. The girls are all at such fun ages! We didn't get our bracelets or suncatchers made - I guess we'll need another sleepover this summer. 

Note: Michael and Krista made it back to the valley this evening. It was great to catch up with them and their adventures in the hot tub. 

May's Tidbits

 The one where we capture various tidbits from May which I was too lazy to blog...but want to remember...

Stacia has been counting down the days to Thunderbolts - a new Marvel movie. At the first opportunity she convinced a variety of siblings to meet her at the theater! A great time was reported. 

Jamin, Stacia, Arielle, Jared, Allie
Luke & Nolan in the back 📷by Jamin

Millie loves all the sun these days. 

Everyone is out enjoying the beautiful, early spring. 

Noah - 📷by Larissa

Hitting the trails - 📷by Arielle

Ellie - 📷by Arielle

Stella seems to be taking her job as a doorman quite seriously!

May9th Alaska Bible College hosted a BBQ for students and families of students. This is the last day of classes of the year. Next week is finals and then Stacia will be a Junior. She invited us all to join her. I dropped by and Bre and Arielle both stopped by with their tribes. The cousins had fun checking out Auntie Stacia's college. 

Benny & Gideon 📷by BreAnne

Danny and Jojo📷by BreAnne

We love it when Nolan drops by to visit or play games. I believe they are enjoying random reels and memes. 

Stacia, Millie & Nolan

Joseph has been such a great influence on both the girls. Allie enjoyed a spring hike with his family. 

Ellie is certainly a day brightener! 

Trudy has a unique make up style all her own. 

Bre has a cold room. In this room she stores school supplies, gifts and all the fun snacks - under lock. Trudy was discovered in the cold room....amidst the sprinkles (check out the carpet). 

Bre reports vacuuming up a pound of sprinkles is actually pretty fun. 

Bre implemented a new security system. The hopes is this will keep Trudy out until Izaak is home to come up with something better. 

Noah! 

Exercises are a part of the military experience. I am not talking about fun runs or cardio. Think war games. A team thinks of scenarios which allows all to practice their responses before arriving in a war theater. Chaplains don't carry guns. This exercise required others to protect her, alas, the system failed, and she was a fairly early casualty. NOW they had to carry her out of the brush, trees and over hills. I don't think this exercise built confidence in the system for the chaplains. 

May 20th found Bre and kids around town celebrating Gideon's birthday. They stopped by the Big Foot Gallery and Big Dipper Ice cream and sent along some photos to share. 

May 21st brought the end of the school year. Charles excelled with the routine of school. He receives a cornucopia of therapies and such as well. The summer will be a challenge for him, prayers for their little family and for his continued improvement in all of his challenging areas are appreciated. He is a doll. 

May brought the embarrassment of public recognition to Livie for being the most improved in the 6th grade band. 

Trudy & Annie

When there are only two princess costumes! 

Trudy, Annie and Bella

Willow & Josi 

Olivia's pets? LOL 

Corn starts - for SALE. I've never seen this before. 

Everyone has caught the gardening bug this week! 

Such a sweet bond - Liv and Josi

A Fantastic Friday

I didn't have any garden time yesterday. The sun comes up early and I was determined to at least have a few minutes to soak in the peace in the garden this morning. 

My phone has not been giving me text notifications. But.it.did! Friends who are moving from Nikolai to Dillingham were in town! I was able to zip out and meet them for breakfast while Dad slept. It did my soul good to visit with Nora. 

I was able to pick up 3 family pizzas on my way home. Tonight, we are having company. This afternoon some of my favorite people dropped by...Carrie and the girls. 

And, yes, we kept Livie overnight. 

Errand Day

I knew it would be a rushed morning. Sadly, no time for tea in the garden. I needed to have Millie at the groomer by 0900.   This doesn't mean I went without my chai. 

Have tea - will travel. 

Luke heard us discussing how I could set out cereal for Dad and rush Millie to the groomer and maybe be back before Dad woke up....and I needed to run a bunch of errands as I'd not been able to leave the house with Michael gone and the girls' work schedules. I actually had forgotten he was here and it was such a relieve when he volunteered to just come up and sit with Dad. Perfect. 

I ran to the groomer, the pharmacy, the library and then the grocery store, taking my tea with me all along the way. LOL Just check out the small mountain views around here. I love living in Alaska. 

I had a mission at the store - purchase all the grand girls' favorite snack foods. I succeeded. 

I looked the biggest junk food addict in the state - and I felt the judgement! But I didn't care. I had a purpose for the snacks. 

I zipped home and Luke headed out for the rest of his day.  I asked Dad if he'd come with me to the cemetery. He was agreeable. The groomers called and we went to pick up Millie. Dad was happy for the outings. She is sitting and staying so pretty here even though Stacia has just driven up and she wants to go so badly. Good girl. 

Another Day in the Garden

What a treat it is to have a morning cup of tea outside!!!! We LOVE being OUTSIDE in the sun during this season. 

Today's mug was a gift from Mona and Kari - Luke's Mom and Sister so practically family as Luke married Krista.  I spent an hour outside and then came in and got things settled for the day inside the house. I got Dad breakfast, started sourdough, unloaded the dishwasher, loaded the dishwasher, got laundry going, and put dinner in the crockpot. Michael is gone and both girls are working. It's been quiet around here. Dad must feel it too as he asks me at least once a day, "When will Mike be home?" 

This is the bed I tackled today. Once every bed is weeded and planted, I will put them on a rotation so that each bed is done once a week - or so. 

I forgot to get a good after shot before I covered the bed with plastic. These are past greenhouse walls - from our first try at a greenhouse. I find laying them over planted seeds is helpful. I'm not sure it warms the soil but it DOES keep the birds and winds from blowing the seeds away. LOL I planted sweet peas down the middle. I experimented with planting other things at the edges of the bed last year and it worked well. This year I planted carrots in two of the quadrants, radishes in one quadrant and more lettuce in the last quadrant. 

I've been getting a lot of sun this week so I grabbed the "garden hat" Vonda gave me last year. 

I spent all afternoon puttering around outside. The weather has been in the mid to upper 60's - a heatwave for us. LOL  I'm still pushing spinach as I need the space to plant some beans, but I don't want to give the chickens the spinach. I picked more...

I came back in to stretch and fold sourdough and to get dinner on the table. Luke joined us and it was nice to catch up with him and talk about their upcoming adventures. 

I took full advantage of the hot tub after a long day of gardening and weed eating.