Party Prep

Stacia loves playing in the kitchen. She does a great job and has become a good baker. This year she's launching into cake decorating. By way of a disclaimer....neither of us have ever worked with fondant. We probably should have played with this earlier in the week. Of course, we'd miss the adrenaline rush of decorating the cake the day of the party if we did it that way. LOL 

I wanted to "help" and we ended up making a good team. Stacia said she was nervous when it came to putting the fondant on the cake. She'd done the research. I provided encouragement, and I actually lifted the green fondant onto the cake... Stacia was off and flying solo. 

 

Aren't these trees darling? 

Arielle picked up some decorations for me earlier in the week. Making a Target run would take more juggling than I could handle this week with Dad's care and therapy appointments. Arielle brought decor by and stayed to help. Krista picked up some great dino things at Walmart for me....I miss running out...but it's all getting done thanks to a wonderful tribe. 

Moving the cake

Benny wanted candles. That's it. We hit on the dino theme and I had Krista pick up sparklers along with a birthday candle. We put sparklers at the top of the volcano and down through the lava. 

Stacia did a great job! I think I'll have her make more birthday cakes....I KNOW the family loves the ice cream cakes, but a variety could be fun. 

Everyone got into the fun of decorating....

We've had these chair covers for 25 years. We  had a wall hanging that lit up, it fell off the wall and broke today. The pig hat is also 25 years old - and if you don't know what the pig hat is - read the coming birthday post. 

It is an amazing blessing to have a built in Great Grandpa to share these moments with us. All those years living as vagabonds, moving every 3 years, we never even dreamed of having all the kids nearby AND Mom or Dad living with us. I thought it was something we gave up when we followed Jesus into the ministry lifestyle we've lived. 

It turns out Josiah and crew can't make it tonight. Livie isn't feeling well and they don't want to share with Dad. BreZaak aren't coming. It's close to baby day and they don't want to take any COVID chances.  Nolan is working. It seemed like a good date when we picked it. LOL We're still going to have fun! 

Dad decided it was time for a rest break. He called Uncle Walt and enjoyed a fun visit...lots of laughter and stories. BTW - those are NOT balloons - they are dinosaur eggs. ::wink::

We decided not to fill this guy with candy as  the other grands weren't coming, and he's too big for one kiddo...He became a welcome dinosaur and went home with Benny at the end of the night.  Maybe we'll fill him and break him open in the spring....

Michael is 20x Benny's age....He'll be the big 6 - 0 on the 17th. I may need to have another party....I guess we'll have to see what happens with the COVID stuff in the next bit of time. Note the photo of 4 year old Michael....He was actually 4 on the day Mom and Dad got married. 

We did it. We were all ready for the party....and realized it was us, CoRielle and Jamin. We put one of the pizzas in the freezer and we'll have cake for a bit of time. LOL 

A New Guest On the Property

 

Millie alerted us to the new guest on the property. He's much younger than the collared bull....but he's certainly not a yearling.  Lying around in the snow isn't how I relax...but it works for this guy. 

The Dinos Are Coming

 Marvilie and Avigail dropped off a load of fondant and dinosaurs a couple of days ago.  Stacia and I began planning the Dino cake for Friday's Family Birthday party this afternoon. Michael and Benny are our November birthdays. We expect both grandsons to be born in November so there will be 4 November birthdays next year!

Stacia is going to decorate the cake....she works two days this week.  

Benny is turning 3...

We discussed ways we could make the cake Arielle and I envisioned....dinosaurs, a volcano and lava. ::snort:: 

Laying it out on pans and trays allowed us to see how many cakes Stacia needed to bake....she baked tonight so she can freeze them and  put a crumb coat on on Wednesday or Thursday. 

The small cake  overflowed its boundaries - much like lava. It collapsed in the oven but didn't go to waste. Well, it DID go to waist! It provided a nice Farkle snack. This is a really moist, yummy cake she makes. 

We have planned an ice cream cake for Michael and a dinosaur cake for Benny. Two desserts aren't too excessive when we all gather. 

Today the SLT and the PT both came to see Dad. It was a full day. 

2019 Annual Gherkins Gingerbread Competition

 Gingerbread competition in November? No, we are NOT starting Christmas celebrations too early - we're actually extremely late!  I haven't blogged our last New Year's Eve celebration. ::snort::  My family thought it was unbelievable when I didn't post until April last year. I've topped myself this year.  I promised to have it done before certain parties go into labor....seems Mr. Gingerbread may get to attend a labor if the vote is right. LOL 

Many of you know we do our gift exchange on NYE.  We had youngish children when we started this, and in order to stay up until midnight, we announced a new activity each hour.  The year Bre brought Izaak home, we added a gingerbread competition. It seemed a fun way for all to bond. Before we could blink our eyes it had turned into a competition between the men and the women....a tradition was born.  Each year we post photos and blog readers vote on the best Gingerbread creation. That team hosts Mr. Gingerbread for the year. 

Over the years we've noted more participation if the vote is held on Facebook. SO....feel free to comment below, but go to our Facebook Page - Courageous Joy - to vote. The poll is pinned to the top of the page; voting ends Friday, 5 Nov at noon AKST. 

It should be noted each team is given the same gingerbread house kit and a few extra items that can be added to each team's creation (Krispy treats and gumballs this year). They are also given a unique challenge item that must be added. Each team has the same amount of money to buy a few extras. 

TEAM A  presents Dip Netting - An Alaskan Theme....This team presents a realistic gingerbread rendition of our family's annual dip-netting fish camp from the cleaning station, to the  salmon-littered beach, fishermen in the water, sea gulls feasting on salmon, and a brilliant sunset. 

Feeding frenzy

Fish cleaning station 

Outhouse

Note the white coolers! 

Dip Netters

TEAM B presents An Alaskan Dream - a winter Get-away to a Deserted Island. This creation features a shipwreck near a sandy beach with brilliant blue waters with a couple of sharks to make life interesting. The gingerbread castaways can be seen looking out across the waters with the Sun setting behind their lean-to.

Tropical Island

Ship in shark infested waters

Castaways

White caps! 

IF YOU AREN'T SICK OF VOTING - VOTE NOW! Voting ends at NOON on Nov 6th....just in time for Mr. Gingerbread to be awarded to the winners at our birthday celebration for Benny and Michael. 

Interested in a trip down memory lane? It was fun to see dear faces from past year's  competitions and winners:

2013 Competition - Men won with their Town square complete with a clock tower.

2014 Competition - Women won with their sweet Chapel; Men's Night Before Christmas disqualified them according to judge Michael. ::snort:: 

2015 Competition - Women won with Mad Hatter's Tea Party over the Men's rendition of Santa's Village.

2016  Competition - Women won with their  "Portrait of  2016." 

2017 Competition - Men won with "An Alaskan Getaway," over the women's offering of "Snowman's Lodge." 

2018 Competition - Men won with "An Iditarod Checkpoint." I must admit even some of our men voted for the women's "Family Oasis," and we were rather surprised the men won. 

* And now - since I finally have the "Gingerbread post" finished, I can blog last year's Christmas on New Year's Celebration BEFORE this year's Christmas season commences. ::snort:: 

There's a Monkey in Your House!

  "Baachan!" 

"There's a monkey in your house!" 

The door is always open (or nearly always open) which makes for some fun and unexpected announcements. "Baachan, I'm Heeeeeeeere!"

"Howdy, howdy." 

I must say, "There's a monkey in your house," is one of the most unexpected announcements we've received. To be fair, it's not the FIRST time I've had a monkey in the house. I did grow up in Liberia and the Philippines, BUT it is unexpected in Alaska. 

Sunday afternoons are usually lazy....various family members drop by....Josiah, Carrie and Livie...Arielle and Benny fill Cory's work hours with us from time to time....today Jamin stopped by too. Millie goes  berzerk when Benny and Arielle stop by. She's pretty good with everyone else...but she is beside herself with excitement when she sees them. 

Michael calms Millie

A theme this week has been "friendship." Dear friends are walking through hard paths and are nearly continuously in our prayers and thoughts, friends have stopped by to offer help, texted, marco polo'd...and we got TWO boxes of pecans from Florida! Thank you Steve and Ranaee. 

Jamin, Michael and Stacia

It's been a busy week and my free time has been divided between time with Jesus, naps, party prep and/or working out...never all in any one day...but I'm trying to take a big picture view of life while we establish new routines. I haven't had minutes to blog. HOWEVER, loading photos reminds me of the highlights of the week and I'll post-date some blogs from the week on this lazy Sunday afternoon and in the next few days.

Hair, Costumes, and Winter

 Every morning Dad wakes up and asks, "Has the young man come yet?" 

YOU may wonder WHAT young man - but I know. Some days he asks for Aaron, some days it's the contractor, or the carpenter, but always Dad wonders if the ramp is done when he gets up. 

I've been listening and the two things he keeps mentioning is needing to get a haircut and needing to go to church.  He'd been on the list at the facility twice to get his hair cut, but it had never happened. It dawned on me this morning. *I* can CUT his hair and he'd not want to go out to church until it was normal looking again. ::snort:: Two birds with one stone. 

Dad was bored and tired enough of the "shaggy" look, that he AGREED.....I think I did a pretty good job. 

Michael suggested I pick Alex up at work. This got me "out of the house." I made an event of the opportunity. I stopped for some tea and brought a book along.  This photo is to show how quickly one acclimates. It's 5* and I don't have a hat, coat, or gloves on. It also shows the frost guard on the van - which I love....AND I have finally accepted....it is winter! The temps contributed to my acceptance, but the big factor is the fact that the potholes on our road are now smooth and even. They filled with melted snow, froze, and are now iced over  - it's officially winter. 

I had forgotten it was October 31st and Alex wore a costume to work at the request of his boss. 

Stacia was sad her hair looked normal and didn't look "big" enough. Ah, no worries. I reminded her the 80's are MINE and I KNEW how to get big hair...a can of spray and a bit of teasing and she was good to go with the "just out of bed" look she desired. 

Millie doesn't seem thrilled with the matching costumes. The gals in llama pajamas! 

Stacia and Krista had a youth event. Nolan had work. It was a quiet night at home. We set and visited - and waited on the three groups of kids which showed up at our home. We have way too much candy left again...the year I DON'T buy candy we'll have lots of kids....

"You've Got a Good Heart, GG!"

 Benny watched me check Dad's oxygen and pulse. Then he asked to do it. He put the pulse/ox on Dad's finger and then seriously pronounced, "You've got a good heart, GG." 

I agree, Benny, I agree. Before Benny arrived, there were waffles for breakfast, a bit of exercise, and a nap. There was also a Japanese lesson - the sun no longer shines at 0800. 

Love ya, Kim. 

Michael spent the day playing taxi driver. He took Alex to work at 0445. He took Stacia to work at noon. He picked Alex up at 2 and Stacia at 3. 

Back at home...Benny and Arielle came to visit. Nolan was home and was talked into a bit of "winter" play. 

Me thinks it works better the other way around, Benny. 

Benny and Arielle brought their lunch. I woke up GG and he, Mike and I joined Benny and Arielle  for lunch. Benny was impressed with the snowman in the paper....

 

Though I think our little guy has much more character. 

Dad had both physical and occupational therapy today. We may have figured out why he collapses in the bathroom.... He always takes the oxygen off before going in there. We will play with it a bit and see if that takes care of the problem.  Dad wasn't totally happy to have therapists this afternoon - but the hard work will pay off. 

Stacia got home and Millie had EXCESS energy to burn...wow that pup can RUN. She wasn't sure she WANTED to come back inside, but Stacia finally got her back inside by picking up a big snowball to throw. Millie came to tackle her, Stacia grabbed the leash, and the rest is history. 

Queen of the Yard

One lone sugar cookie left....and there is nothing healthy-ish about it at all. ::snort::