Fantastical Friday

I've not been keeping up with the YouTube channel or the blog - so you don't KNOW that BreZaak have been spending every free, waking moment at the new house. They've worked hard to get it ready for their move. Thursday, the new carpet was laid and Izaak put in the new baseboard. Stacia and/or I, have been watching the kids fairy regularly - and enjoying it....Though, I know why God gives toddlers to 20 and 30 yo's and not mid-50 yo's. ::wink::

Izaak planned to move the RV and the family over after work tonight. We knew that would be late - and felt bad we'd be unavailable to help. Michael suggested we move the RV over after his therapy appointment. One thing led to another - they filled the RV basement, Cory was off work and volunteered his truck, then they hooked up the trailer....and WHAMMO, all their things were loaded and ready for the move. We had the kids inside. They were a bit antsy.....especially when sweet Bella saw the RV leave without her. It has been their home for a year.

We distracted her with a baking project. Then we FED her a cookie. Stacia said, "Won't that make her hyper?"

 I replied, "She' get hyper and THEN she'll crash!" ::snort:: 

Arielle said, "Listen to Mom - she knows things." 

Mainly, we simply wanted to keep Bella happy and distracted. 

Dad and I left Stacia with the settled kids, and went to see if we could help at the new house. The guys unloaded and put EVERYTHING IN THE ROOM where it belonged.  I helped organize the kids' room and the living room....Dad and I put their shoe rack together. We have video clips. It took us three tries - but we GOT IT.

Izaak arrived. They came and got the kids and headed "HOME." We were happy they didn't have a night of moving ahead of them.

This is not the best photo of Arielle - but it CAPTURES the moment. Arielle has always loved lady bugs. She was distressed to find them LIVE in a bag at Freddies. I explained they won't survive the winter up here and they are good to have...therefore....

She wasn't having it. She said she was thinking of opening all the bags in the store...instead she bought some and brought them home for our greenhouse and garden.  We captured the great release on video - "coming soon."

Memorial day was our last "Weekly Family Dinner" until after summer. We discerned it would be good for all to have  Sunday free to play and explore without a "family obligation." ::wink:: This has worked well - we miss the times - but winter is coming. We've not seen as much of the Eagle River gang without a scheduled meet up.....but JaRissa and Josiah came out for dinner tonight. It was fun to catch up and laugh together.  Jamin is working days and nights just now.

Jared and Larissa 

 

 The oldest man in my life and the newest man in my life. I love these two! 

Crawling lessons continue

Benny (8 months) and Cory 

Larissa snapped this photo (and the one of me with the guys) 

Arielle, Cory, Benny, Nolan, Dad, Cy, Me, Micahel, Jared, Stacia, Alex 

We ate and then lingered - sitting around the table until 10:30. It was good to catch up.  Our Friday the 13th was fantasical.

Tomorrow - we get the RV ready for our first dip netting outing.....

Sounds of the day

While We Were Away - The Moose Played

You know you live in Alaska - when you find MOOSE PRINTS on your trampoline! This was a hilarious, and a bit alarming, sight to come home to. They ARE moose tracks. We did NOT Photoshop this photo. 

 I was perplexed. I was amused imagining how the moose got up here and what he must have looked like. I was disappointed I wasn't perched on the deck to get a video clip.

How did the moose do this?

Michael solved the riddle. He had the kids turn the trampoline over during the recent wind storm. The moose walked across it. The kids turned it back over.....and I saw the prints.

It was fun imagining the moose playing on the trampoline.

Independence Mine State Historical Park

We are looking for things we can do with little walking/hiking. Our goal is to make Alaska accessible to Dad and to minimize the pain Michael experiences from our outings.

Today, we headed to Independence Mine State Historical Park.  This is a short drive from our town. We've simply been focused on moving in, school, therapy and now summer projects. It was good to take a day to play!!! The goal was to have projects done by July so we could play. They aren't done, but we need to start playing - summer will be over far too soon. This is a spot we'd been to as a family when stationed here - 2002-2005. We FORGET that Alex and Stacia will not remember those spots....we've got to get out and show them Alaska. Stacia thinks Alaska is just about perfect and she's only seen Anchorage and the valley. ::wink::

We stopped to see the Little Su. The water was CLEAR (a lot of our rivers are made up of glacial silt - MUD). The drive was gorgeous. It was rejuvenating to simply be out in nature.

Myself and Dad 

A view of some of the buildings still standing 

We toured the museum and imagined ourselves living in this little community in the 1940's. As Arielle said, "Except for the war - the 40's is our time." The clothes, the values, the simpler life....Stacia was amazed at the player piano. I told her it was pre-programmed keyboard of the 40's. These two were the cutest thing in the museum. 

Great Gpa Paul and Benny (Bennett)

Stacia and Me 

Dad and Michael were interested in the machinery and engines. 

It was getting cold and so Arielle took Benny into the little gift shop. I ventured in and discovered hot drinks for a donation. I promptly made a donation and we enjoyed some hot drinks.

Stacia, Arielle/Benny, Gpa Paul, Alex 

Oh my heart! Benny is warming up to Gpa Paul. 

We didn't hike everywhere, but we saw a lot and enjoyed the drive. We'll be back and hike up to this cabin, explore the trails and Summit Lake....when we can take the RV and do it at a pace that works for us.

Our little town through the pass

Note - there will be a video with more shots and details.

Dad came home and slept the rest of the day - right through Life Group.

Michael told his therapist on Friday his pain level was 4...she wanted to do what he'd done. Her response, "Good for you." Yes, it was good for all of us to make a fun family memory.

The Price of Employment

Nolan was told he could have no facial hair with his new job at McDonalds. WHUT?  It's been years since I've seen Nolan's nekkid face.  I knew this was a possibility, but didn't realize it was a reality. Michael told him, "Mom will want photos." Yes. Mom would have liked video clips too - however - Mom is thankful Arielle and he thought to get a shot before he shaved his beard.  There was debate if "facial hair" meant he should shave the eyebrows too. ::snort::

He does look quite a bit older with the beard. I see why the boss wasn't going to hire him when she thought it was 29 - first job, just finishing high school....now he looks more like a 19 yo.

Handsome either way. He began growing out the beard as he would get a terrible, TERRIBLE red, bumpy rash each time he shaved. Anyone have ideas to help with that?

The other cost of this job, is Nolan will miss our family's first dip-netting trip next week. We were counting on that net in the water. LOL

Odd Chicken Behavior

Welp. 

I'm going to assume this is normal chicken behavior. It's not even hot any more. 

Both got up and are fine....though we wondered for a bit. Chickens have incredibly flexible necks.

Dad is Visiting

I'm skipping around, but this is exciting news! Dad arrived on the 10th for a two week visit! We're having a bit of car trouble, and Michael doesn't want to have all our weight in the car...and I don't want to drive it on the freeway. Michael went and picked dad up. He and the Eagle River Gherkins who work in Anchorage met up for lunch.

The excitement at home built. Then this happened. Benny Bear met his great grandpa. 

Benny, Arielle and Dad 

Dad commented, "Oh, your Mom would have loved this."  It's true. In the midst of having a great time with Dad, we are newly aware that Mom is not with him. From the time they were in college, they ministered together.

Arielle Benny and Dad

We've moved a lot. Each home feels truly like "HOME," once the adult kids and Mom and Dad visit.  The realization hit tonight that Mom will never see this home.  It's a sad ache, in the middle of the fun and joy having Dad here.

I know he was thinking the same thing. We've shared comments about Mom and it's good....and we all miss her terribly, but we are so very thankful she is safe with Jesus and not experiencing any more horrendous cancer pain.

Dad, Nolan, Alex, Michael and Stacia

We missed her when we played Farkle. Grandpa promised to whoop Alex.....Alex won both games. 

We look forward to visiting with grandpa, the kids connecting with him again, him getting to spend time with the great grands, showing him a bit of this great state and playing many games of Farkle together in the next 2 weeks.

Dad is a much better visitor than the moose - though we'd like them to put in an appearance for him while he is here.

Note - there will be videos uploaded when I have time to edit.

Pets or Livestock

During our discussions about how to be as sustainable as possible....meat chickens and rabbits were mentioned. I KNOW I cannot kill them. I'm not even sure how I'll do slamming salmon. I have son in laws  and sons who said they could handle that part. I'm not 100% sure raising meat is in our future.  But rabbits were an animal I'd like to add - for the pet value....

Cory was offered a deal. He could buy 7 rabbits and cages for a steal. This is perfect. We have the joy of having rabbits on the place....and we don't have to do the work or pay to winter them. We can observe how much care they take and we can see if they actually become a meat source or sale item.  Being nutritarian (vegan) I will never eat one...I'm not sure the others will be able to either. 

Stacia's wanted bunnies for a long time

 This is Sunny. He's used to running with the chickens - so we may let him give that a try when we get a bigger run built. He's the father of the other 6. The other six are from the same kit. The plan is for 4 to become breeders and the other 3 to be sold or...... ugh.

I had seen a gal on YouTube who raises rabbits in a colony. That appealed to me....Cory got right to work and built a nice hutch for the rabbits. They'll be much safer than they were in the cages that came with them.

Here is the clip of them coming home.

Of course, we keep singing, "The Bunny, the bunny...I ate the bunny...." ala Veggie Tales.