It's Been Busy

 We have had a couple of busy weeks. Here are some random shots from the week. I do not have photos of lunch with friends, three haircuts, GG's appointments, GG's times with Arielle and the boys, church, Wholesome Food Co-op,  or MAN CAMP (which plays big in our upcoming week). 

MAN CAMP  - Michael was gone the 10th - 12th. The reports we hear both from Michael and others is that it was a really good time.  The week after Man Camp Michael developed an abscessed tooth. His medical and dental care is all through the VA. This is good and bad. This time it was bad. They set him up to be a WALK IN patient on FRIDAY in Anchorage. He began to feel bad on Wed night. A week after man camp and his throat was raging, he was dizzy, had a headache and the tooth thing. He called the VA. They wanted to rule out strep and have him seen before he visited the dental clinic. They approved a visit to the local urgent care clinic.  What do you know? Michael CAN test positive for Covid.  Yep. They gave him antibiotics to keep the tooth at bay as Michael fights covid. Day 5 for him is Monday. If he is symptom free on Monday, he can be a walk in at the dental clinic on Tuesday.  Michael began isolating Wednesday night. It's odd not to see him when he's HERE all the time.  We've studied the new CDC recommendations and will follow them carefully. I didn't realize how lax those guidelines have gotten, but I am happy not to have to quarantine for 14 days automatically. Fun times? 

Danny is developing a bit of stranger awareness. We weren't sure how he would do with Baachan watching him while Mommy works. He did just fine. 

Usually, about the last hour of the stay, Benny talks me into snuggling on the couch and watching a movie with him. 

What would life be like without apples and peanut butter? The perfect snack...carbs, protein, fiber, fat...

Game Night

Alaskaopoly

The weather has been in the upper 40's...and even got up to mid 50's lately. We've still had a few snow showers, and rain....it's muddy...but oh so exhilarating to go on walks again. 

Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza

I took one of Benny's favorite games from my house to his one of the times I watched the boys. He loves this flying banana game. LOL 

We also played operation. Benny was surprised I knew how to play it. That's a game that's been around a lot of years. LOL 

Allie continues to work on application essays, scholarship essays and here she and Michael discuss the difference between an opinion paper and a research paper. She turned in her final research paper for ASL this week! Way to go, Allie! 

Stacia tried her hand with a new recipe. 

The girls keep Michal busy editing papers.

At this point, we thought we'd be having the family over to celebrate March birthdays on Saturday, the 19th. Stacia baked a quick cake. We also had plans with a couple of families from church for the 20th. 

Stacia enlisted Allie's help decorating this little cake. I think Allie saw she could do more than she thought she could.  

The girls weren't entirely sure about the green potatoes....Stacia was pretty impressed I got such a dark green color. 

Our plan for the 18th was to drive into town and help CyRi move to their new home as soon as Alex was off work and Stacia was done with Japanese.   Michael wasn't feeling well and needed to go to the urgent care. This meant I needed to stay home with GG. Allie had received word she needed to redo a video she had completed earlier in the week...and it needed to be in Friday.  

Cory swung by and picked up Stacia and Alex. They moved all the big things from Anchorage to Eagle River.  

We are so excited for CyRi. Stacia says the home is gorgeous. Um...and WHY can't they get Cy's head in the shot? 

Meanwhile, we received word from Michael that he had covid. Since all of them have had covid within the past 90 days or are vaccinated, and since Alex and Stacia hadn't been around Michael at all....they went ahead and finished helping. In fact, Stacia stayed in town with Luke and Krista. She spent Saturday out in the wild with them before coming home - to stay home. Our 5 days since seeing Michael will be up Monday....and we are supposed to wear masks for another 5 days if we go about. 

Stacia and Krista

Luke and Kyle

It's been a busy couple of weeks! 

GG Turns 81

We always thought STACIA had quite a count-down to her birthday, but that is nothing compared to GG. He has been talking about his birthday for months.  

It finally arrived. Grandpa is 81 years old today. We went treated him to dinner out. We had cake, presents and there will be more at our family celebration.  

 Sadly, Saturday was to be the extended family celebration for both Cory and Dad and we've had to postpone due to Michael being ill. 

Glacier Date

 March 14th and the sun is shining. We still have lots of snow, but Michael and I decided to drive up the highway during respite care today. The drive was beautiful and provided uninterrupted time for talking. We once again found the house we'd looked at online...the one I fell in love with...in Chickaloon...and realized it was quite a bit further than I thought from Anchorage. I'm glad we ended up where we did. 

Matsu Glacier

We arrived at the parking lot where we intended to tramp around a bit and view the glacier. It turns out the parking lot is closed in the winter - though this is spring. Next year we must remember to bring snowshoes or at least snow boots and poles. 

That is the glacier behind us

Though the parking lot was closed there was an open outhouse - score.  We laughed to see a favorite camping spot in the winter. 

This was fun for a spur of the moment outing. Next time...snow gear and a picnic lunch. LOL 

SAT - CHECK!

 Around our home we celebrate big and small achievements. Many prefer the celebrations include ice-cream.  And so, tonight, we gathered in the kitchen with mugs of ice-cream and milk (AKA Gherkin shakes) to celebrate Allie and Stacia. 

They've been working hard to prep for the SAT.  This is Allie's Senior year. We tried to juggle letting her get as much prep done as possible before the last SAT of this school year with the need to have a practice run at the test. A practice run is always wise, for homeschoolers it is especially needful. This allows them to get used to the testing site, 25 other students, and the whole "thing."  Ideally, Allie would have taken a test last spring and again this spring. We had too much on our plate last spring to think about the SAT.  

I had the girls at the site at 0700.  I commented on how gracious God was to provide each girl with a friend with which to walk through the day. None of our others have had that advantage.  

GG and I went to pick them up...and we waited...and waited. A full  hour after they were to be done we began to see students leaving the building.  It turns out a proctor didn't show up for one group - so the test started late. 

AND there was a 5.1 earthquake in the middle of the test. Stacia still gets rattled with "big" quakes.  She knew just what to do...pulled her thoughts up short and addressed the shaking...."Not NOW - I'm taking the SAT." ::snort:: 

Both girls felt the math was tricky and that they did well in the reading and writing. This is what we'd expect. They also both felt the time they've spent in College Prep Genius was very beneficial. They plan to continue working through that material before taking it again in May. 

Neither a missing proctor, nor a 5.1 quake could deter the girls from their stated goal. They conquered the SAT. We met Alex and Nolan at McDonald's and celebrated with lunch.....and then Michael came home from Man Camp and we celebrated with ice-cream. 

A Compendious Account of Monday

 A compendious account of the day is the Scriptural admonition to love others deeply, from the heart. 

Michael and I have been taking Mondays for 3 hours of respite.  

Michael and Alex have been meeting on Fridays for one-on-one study. Alex's work schedule has changed. Arielle can't come over on another afternoon. 

Arielle and the boys haven't been over for nearly a month....Grandpa was sick, they were sick...he was eager to see the boys today. They showed up and I hugged their necks before I left. 

Michael and Alex left for study. I assured Michael I could put 3 hours to good use. Two friends met me at a new-to-me lunch spot. The 3 hours FLEW. It was wonderful.  (I didn't take a photo). 

I got home and had one hour before I needed to head out again.  I was blessed to spend another 3 hours socializing.  Even got in a game of laser tag where I was NOT the worst. ::snort:: 

Some days one needs to be alone in order to refresh. Some days spending six hours with friends is exactly what one needs.  I am blessed God has provided both for me recently. 

There was a whole lot of loving well today. Arielle and the boys loved Michael and I and Grandpa well. Michael loved Alex well. Michael also loved me well by taking care of Grandpa and dinner. My friends loved me well - changing their Monday plans to spend 3 hours together.  And tonight - what's not to love about spending time with friends in the center of fun for the valley? 

Note: Today's word is compendious. 

Festering Winter Mileu

 I admit my hatred of winter festered through last spring and summer. Those feelings threatened to overcome my love of fall replacing it with a dread of a fast-approaching winter. One morning it appeared to me Alaska provides the perfect milieu to learn the truths of embracing the long, hard, challenge. I chose to embrace fall. We loved fall for fall. I chose to embrace winter.  And we have found the joy in winter.  Just this week, with temperatures rising to 40, we all began to realize our thoughts are askew. In fact, while we dream of spring walks, summer gardens and fall colors, we do NOT want to get outside to the garden, the yard, house staining or storm repair.  It may be nice to extend winter by a few more weeks.  And so - we WELCOME a Saturday in which it snowed all day long....

It snowed all day long. We were snug and content inside the house with most the adult Gherkins showing up at one time or another during the day. 

Jared and Jamin showed up first, followed by CoRielle, and then Cy dropped in on his way back from Men's retreat at Victory Bible Camp, and finally Carrie and Livie arrived from visiting a friend in the next town over.  It was FUN to see Livie's excitement to see Josiah back from retreat.  Danny is ALL over the house and was full of smiles. One highlight of the day came when Danny grabbed the inside snowballs and ran into the kitchen to throw them at Benny and Cory. He's evidently been observing Benny's fun and waiting for the chance to join it. 

Danny & Cory

Stacia and Jamin played Head Bandz with Livie and Benny. I was thrilled the kids were enjoying the game. I've been checking out thrift stores for games the kids will enjoy. 

Auntie Stacia and Livie

Benny and Uncle Jamin 

Jared and Benny connected over Calvin and Hobbes...a Gherkin favorite.

Benny was THRILLED to see this Uncle

Jamin brought out the VR headset and showed the kids our New Year's fireworks and rivers and such. 

Vying for favorite uncle

There were lots of hot drinks.

If winter hadn't come back for a second glance, we couldn't have had this REAL snowball fight! 

Nothing brings the feeling of contentment as much as enjoying a leisurely day with family while it snows outside. It continued to snow all night. 

Resulting in 6 inches of snow on the deck this morning.  It was BARE. 

This led to extra Sunday morning prep....I fed animals, then shoveled the ramp....

Our snow mess was complicated by snow falling OFF the roof in big chunks as the temps were warmer than they've been.  We now have 6 inches of fresh snow on top of our ice rink. LOL 

We made it to church at our regular time. Lunch was a quiet affair, and then there are more hot drinks, and Sunday naps and evening visits. 

And always TP shenanigans. Always. 

Note - 3 words of the day used in this post: fester, milieu, askew. Double points for using one or two in the title. ::snort::