So Done (New Tools)

 We had a snowstorm when we came back from Hawaii. We shoveled...and shoveled some more. We had it all clear on Sunday and woke up this Monday morning to MORE snow. This was CLEAR on Sunday so Dad could get out of the house. 

I am just done with shoveling. We'd talked in Hawaii if we are to continue to live in a place that requires so much upkeep, we are going to have to either 1. hire help or 2. buy the tools to make the job easier.  We simply are NOT in our 30's any longer and need to quit trying to work like we are. When we woke up this morning and Michael began talking about another day shoveling...I reminded him of our discussion and suggested he go buy a snow blower! 

It hurt to spend the money, but it was WAY easier to deal with all the snow. Yes, we have a lawn tractor, and it has a "snowplow" on it...but y'all that thing is made for Oregon or Texas snow...not Alaska snow. It doesn't do a good job at all.  I can see the advantage to getting a side by side with a snowplow that would make hunting accessible and help with the snow...but that is still way out of our budget. LOL 

Michael got into the spirit of things and also bought a rear rototiller (not pictured here). We'd talked about buying one last year, but they all sold out. They got in a late shipment and had them out now. Michael bought one. We have the garden space and LOTS of woods with Devils' club. We are going to take another shot at killing the stuff this year. 

A man at Lowes was wondering why in the world Michael was buying a rototiller. He came up with a story about the best way to get a clean driveway is to churn up the snow and then blow it. LOL  Alternately, he suggested we were planting snow peas and iceberg lettuce. LOL 

Happy 39th anniversary to us! 

Our First Week Home

We survived our first week home in Alaska. It was a busy week filled with appointments, BIRTHDAYS, lunches, school, starting a new study online, in church and with the girls, life group, egg-selling and caregiving. 

Did I mention birthdays? Nolan turned 24 on Tuesday, Josiah turned 34 on Wednesday (if my math is right), Livie turned 10 on Thursday and Alex turned 21 on Friday.  We have a couple of celebrations in this upcoming week and then Jamin has a birthday on the 20th. 

Jared and Larissa invited everyone to their home to watch the Super Bowl today. It's been years since we've watched the Super Bowl. It would seem no one REALLY liked either team and we simply enjoyed a good game while we wait for the Cowboys or Broncos to make it to the Super Bowl again. LOL  The main attraction for THIS Bachan was cuddling with Noah.  GG didn't want to come, Alex stayed home with him. Nolan was working. BreZaak and CoRielle couldn't make it, but the girls, Michael and I joined everyone else at JaRissa's. 

📷by Larissa 

📷by Larissa 

Papa and Noah

"Turn off the flash, Bachan!"

Previously, Cory, Alex, Krista and Aaron had done the one chip challenge. Larissa had ordered a bottle of the Bomb hotsauce. Yep, this happened. Three brave (or mildly crazy) souls gave it a try. 

This time they prepared by having water, bread, milk and ice cream at hand. 

It was a great afternoon. Enjoying afternoons like this one is certainly one of our favorite things Alaska offers. LOL  

We had a snowy drive back to the Valley and ended the night watching the final episode of season 3 of The Chosen. Now, we wait for Season 4. 

Going Solo

Do you remember your first solo trip with a new baby?

Jared is back at work and Larissa and Noah are going solo. They are doing great. Of course, they aren't TRULY alone, Lassie is on hand to assist as needed....as well as Bleaker, Fenton and Roscoe. 

 

Noah starts tummy time 

Just look at that little man! 

*All photos from Larissa

Be Still My Heart

Oh the delightfulness of these cuties! My heart. What dolls.  Look at the two newest family members - Gherkins. 

Trudy (BreZaak's) is 2 1/2 months old

Noah and Mama at Docs

Trudy and Mama

Yeah, I know, but WE'RE counting it as Noah's first smile! 

Noah (JaRissa's) at 2 weeks old

Hello Sunshine! 

Sisters!

Trudy and Bella

 Jared went back to work Monday. Noah and Larissa are going solo - and they are spectacular. 

All photos were supplied by mamas other than me. 

A LONG, Productive Day

 I did not break ANY eggs this a.m. Unfortunately, I had to collect eggs at 0730 and the hens had only laid 4 eggs. 

This morning's workout is brought to you by all YouTube Kids. The boys are loving the Hulk Chase. 

 

We moved into their room to play "hot lava." Hot lava involves balls and keep the 2 year olds off the top bunk. LOL 

The boys humored me by making more artwork for my empty gallery. I told them all the Christmas cards were down and I needed MORE drawings. It's fun to watch their imaginations at work. 

Michael hauled in towers of boxes. 

I ran to Carr's to pick up Dad's meds. 

I ran to the library to pick up a book for Stacia (and I found more for myself). 

Michael took Dad to get a paper notarized and to mail said paper to his lawyer. 

I packed up some books of Allie's we needed to return to our charter school. Michael drove them over. 

He stopped and bought another snow shovel...ugh!!! Those things are NOT cheap. The snow doesn't seem to be letting up...so...what you gonna do? 

While Michael was gone I finished packing away CHRISTMAS. Yes, CHRISTMAS. The problem with celebrating on Jan 6th is that the schedule is in full swing and there is no down time to pack things away..... This year it was even more complicated as I lost time due to the concussion.  Last night we took down the tree. Michael helped me string the lights around the windows. 

Last year we had a fall tree, Christmas tree, Valentine's tree, Iditarod tree and Easter tree...in other words it didn't come down until April.  This year we tried moving the tree from the corner to one of the center walls. I NEEDED my living room space back. I didn't love the tree in the middle of the room. I realized the thing I loved about the tree was the lights through the winter...so we kept the lights. LOL 

We couldn't find the tubs to pack away ornaments, but everything else is packed into boxes and things are back in their right places. I'll deal with the ornaments tomorrow. 

Stacia and I made dinner - cauliflower nuggets, ribs, homemade biscuits, and salad. Yum.  She's off to work on her Bible study and I'm about to join Michael and GG in the living room to relax at the end of a long, but productive day. 

Ugh - what a mess

 If a picture is worth 1000 words....This picture should scream volumes! 

Going about my morning chores - jumping back into life... 

...and then! BAM!  I slipped on the ice/snow...and went down. My head landed softer this time...and I just have a minor headache....

I had collected 12 eggs. 

I broke 10 of them. 

You'll be happy to know I made it to the compost box without further incident. 

Since I can't possibly write a post that is focus' only on the boos.....here are some of the Yay's of being back in Alaska. 

1. family

2. tea

3. candles

White Sandy Beaches to White Snowy Mountains

Michael and I transported between white sands and white snow...78 degrees to 6 degrees. 

Bellows Beach 

It snowed while we were gone....

A Moosey Welcoming Committee

It's a very Alaskan thing to plan for a winter getaway to somewhere with sun! and warmth. We participated in this practice for the first time this year. We flew home today from a glorious week in Hawaii. I will spend time in the upcoming week blogging our Hawaiin adventures. 

One thing fellow Alaskans had not warned us about, is the disorientation and SHOCK when one comes back to Alaska from Hawaii, Arizona, or Florida mid-winter.  We found ourselves asking, "Now, WHY did we all migrate to Alaska? What IS it we love about Alaska?"

Josiah was at home watching GG when we arrived. He had shoveled the driveway!  He's done the mid-winter thing every year. Sensing our disorientation, he suggested we take a nap (that red-eye flight is a killer). I had been up for 29 hours at this point and Michael was closing in on 24 hours. 

After our nap we ran out for some dinner supplies and to deliver gifts to BreZaak and CoRielle. The bracing WIND and blowing snow in town made me turn to Michael and ask what we were both thinking, "What do we love about Alaska? Can you remember?"

He promptly replied, "Summer!" ::snort:: 

As we visited with Bre and kids and CoRielle and kids it came back to me....we love Alaska because of all these faces in one place. 

I asked Arielle, "Do you ever wonder why we didn't all migrate to Hawaii instead of Alaska?" ::snort:: 

In all seriousness there were pieces of our family we needed to meet in Alaska, like that little cutie in the middle. And we DO love Alaska. God placed exactly where he wanted us - regardless of the long winters.  We are here because God, and Alaska, called us here. End of story. 

We have decided to save up for an annual getaway. Afterall, "When in Rome, do as the Romans." 

I managed to get our food co-op order submitted while enjoying my first cup of tea in over a week.!

Dad decided to go to bed immediately after dinner. The girls, Michael and I watched episode 7 of Season 3 of The Chosen.  The girls went to bed. It's good to be home. 

BTW if I did it right with the scheduled post over the past week you never guessed we were out of town. Did we manage it? Security and all that....