Heat Wave In Alaska

Here we are, in Winter Wonderland, experiencing a heat wave as if it were spring. It is currently about 41 degrees outside. The six-or-so inches of snow we had on the ground have mostly all melted away. There are, of course, the larger piles where roads had been plowed and sidewalks shoveled, but for the most part, the snow is melting away. This presents a very treacherous problem. As the roads and walks are wet all day, they freeze again over night. Most of the main roads, which are kept pretty clear are fine, but those side roads (such as what we live down) are sheets of ice in the morning. As much as I would love for the snow to last only a couple months, I look forward to it snowing again to cover the iced asphalt.

Yesterday, the kids made pilgrim hats for a Thanksgiving project. The little boys did not like having them on their heads, and I fought tooth and nail just to get a picture of Dakota and Nick. It would be much quicker, you may think, to have just one picture of all three of them. But don't fool yourself....that is so much more work, trying to get them all to stand still and keep their hats on long enough for one picture. No...it was easier to get individual pictures of each. I also have a picture of "music time" where Maestro Joey is teaching Apprentice Nick how to play a duet. I love that my boys love music.

When I sang in church a week ago, I was there early for worship practice, and Joey walked around the whole time, holding one of the microphones that were not being used, "interviewing" people making his own kind of music. He did not put that mic down until we were all done. We asked Joey if he was going to play an instrument (Nick pushed the piano since we have one of those) and Joey thought through which instrument he would want to play out loud; "How about the trumpet? No. How about the trombone? No. How 'bout I play the saxophone? No. I want to play the guitar."

I just heard the oven chiming that it was hot enough for lunch. I better go get these kids fed. Have a blessed day.

Looking Toward Thanksgiving

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is almost upon us. Thanksgiving and Christmas have always been my favorite holidays. I love gathering together with all the family, sharing stories, games, lots of good food, and making memories. This year will be a little different. This year we will spend alone; that is to say with just the four of us. I think it will be just fine and we will make memories even though we won't be with a big group of people. We will have turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, yams with marshmallows on top, and a homemade Dutch Apple Pie. We tried finding a nice small 10 pound turkey since it would be just the four of us...which is to say about 2.75 eaters, but the only size they had available when we shopped for one is 18 pounds! So we should have tons of leftovers...which suit us fine. My husband is looking forward to turkey sandwiches, and I'm looking forward to turkey noodle soup!

After seeing his brother all bundled up to shovel the walk, Baby Nick decided that he too, needed to get all bundled. The mittens are far too big, and the thumb wouldn't go in the proper place, and he couldn't pick up a thing no matter how hard he tried. But Baby Nick loved having the mittens on. He would pitch such a fit whenever I took the mittens off. I was just trying to give him a chance to play, or pick up his cup for a drink...but he would have none of it. He kept bringing the mittens over to me to put back on.
Here he is "at work". Sitting at the desk....I'm mean, under the desk. Apparently, he feels it is his to empty out the remaining cards in my yellow card box. They are usually found all over the floor under the desk rather than neatly in the box. But he seems very driven to accomplish his given task as often as he can. As long as he has good work ethic, right?
I love this one. Nick was setting up the computer so that he and I could watch a show that was available online. Seeing Daddy leaning on the table figuring something out, Joey had to join in and offer his expertise. A few minutes later, Baby Nick was found leaning on the table as well, even though the other boys had already left. I love seeing them adore their Daddy, wanting to be just like him. Joey keeps talking about how he is growing up a big and strong as his Daddy.

I'm sure I have more to say, but Baby Nick is in need of a fresh diaper (and the rest of us are in need of fresh air, if you know what I mean.) So I will sign off for now and return when I have more to say.

Worshiping With My Bug

This afternoon, I had an opportunity to sit at the piano for a little while. Joey was playing on the computer and Bug was playing on the floor. For once, my piano time (rare that I even get any) didn't turn into a trio.

I was playing out of my Maranatha Praise music, enjoying singing those "oldies" that are hardly sung anymore...you know, the songs I grew up on. So there I was, playing a very reverent song about standing on holy ground, when I hear Bug laughing on the floor.

Bug was playing with a toy we got out of a Happy Meal...a Shrek figure that says three phrases. It's not my favorite toy, nor my favorite character, as one of the "phrases" is actually a burp. What's worse, is that Shrek doesn't even say 'excuse me' afterwards. But Baby Nick is playing with Shrek, and every time Shrek 'burps', Baby Nick laughs. Not just a chuckle, but a full-fledged laugh.

It was so funny....not that I want him to think that I think that him thinking burping is funny, is funny (try to translate that one!), but to listen to him laughing every time; it cracked me up! And then to listen to it in juxtaposition of my worshiping. Something about it struck me as funny. This is a time when God shows his sense of humor.

Letters From War-Mark Schultz music video

Here is the video of the song I sang on Sunday...and blogged about yesterday. I know half the people who read my blog already know this song and video; please feel free to skip over this post. But for those who haven't seen it, I wanted to share this with you. It is such a moving song and a touching video.

A Bit Scatter-Brained

It has been so long since I blogged last, until today, and I had all sorts of things that I was going blog, but then I went off on a tangent and forgot half the things I was going to say.

I already mentioned that Dakota stayed home from daycare on Friday because he was sick. What I failed to mention, was that Friday night, Joey threw up in our bed again. Then I carried him to the bathroom where he threw up again on me, and a third time in the sink. This time, I did the clean up. I don't know where the strength came from, and even though I was gagging, I made it through. Nick was so proud of me. While the boys and I were at church on Sunday, Nick went through the house and did a thorough cleaning of every hard surface.

Another funny thing that happened while shopping at Costco. We usually get our hamburger at Costco, and get a six-pound (and change, there is never one that is an even poundage.) pack that we freeze in one-pound packages. So Nick picks out the hamburger and says, "Wow! How lucky is that. This one is exactly six...." (At this point, I think he is going to say that it is exactly six pounds.) "point three pounds!" Six point three!?!? Wouldn't that be the same as saying 'exactly six point one-seven, or six point two-four'? Now, I could understand 'exactly six point five' as it is a semi-even weight. But six point three? I laughed so hard. I know he meant that it was as close to an even six pounds as we have seen before, but still, I found how he said it so funny.
It snowed again today, about two inches. So I bundled Joey up and sent him out to shovel the walk with Daddy. He has been waiting all year to be able to help Daddy shovel the walk again. (I must say that I think Joey looks like Jacob in this picture!)
This year, he did a much better job of taking the snow off the walk and throwing it on the side, rather than taking snow from the side and putting it on the walk. He had lots of fun

Well, I better spend some time with the boys before I put them to bed. Then I have got dinner dishes to clean. Have a good night.

Late edit: While I was getting ready for church, I put mousse in my hair and was blow-drying it while hanging my head upside down. As I came back up, my hair looked big and full, as it is supposed to when adding a volumizing mousse. Joey looked at me and said, "You look like a lion!"

Silly Bug

Can you say, "Baby Nick is in the hot seat"? How funny he can be!!
Here is a proud moment.....Baby Nick put this hat on ALL BY HIMSELF!! I love how it is cocked to one side and over one eye. Imagine with me....Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca! (Of course, then it was a fedora.)
And a view from the rear. Makes you wonder if he can really see out from under it! Oh how adorable.

I was just singing to the boys "If All Of The Snowflakes" and it made me remember that as we were shopping on Sunday afternoon, walking through the Costco parking lot while the snow was at a steady fall...I sang that song at the top of my lungs for my kids enjoyment, not caring a lick how crazy I may have looked with my mouth opened wide, tongue hanging out, singing "Aah aah aah aah, aah aah aah, all the time." Reminds me of Josh, Aubrey and I singing that at Dad and Eileen's wedding rehearsal dinner back in '86!

The Snow Has Arrived

Let's see....where did I leave off? Oh yeah. We were all feeling miserably sick and Nick was leaving the next day for Fairbanks. Last Tuesday I woke up feeling a whole lot better and able to handle the next three days without Nick, as long as nobody got sick again. Dakota came back on Wednesday and the boys all seemed to do well. Then Chris called on Thursday night to say the Dakota had gotten the flu and wouldn't be here on Friday.

On Saturday, we got the house ready for an even more thorough cleaning to try and get all the bugs that may be hanging around. Sunday morning, Veteran's Day, the boys and I were at the church early. I was singing for offertory, so I had to be there for worship practice by 8:30am. I sang "Letters From War" by Mark Schultz and had the music video playing along. I love that song, and the video is extremely touching. We have a fairly high percentage of military families in our church as we have two large military bases here in Anchorage. So I was singing this song for those who serve our country and for the families who have loved ones in the military.

If you don't know the song, it is about a mother and son who write letters to each other while the son is "in a war far away." The mother prays every day for her son's safe return, and encourages her son in every letter with how much she believes in him. Then the mother gets a letter from one of her son's comrades who told her that her son had been captured after saving his life and that he promised her son that he would write to her. For two years, this mom prays, believing her son is still alive, but having no proof of it. The third verse is always the hardest to get through, especially while watching the video. Imagine, hanging the wash out outside and watching a military vehicle drive up, with formally dressed officers emerging from the vehicle. Most everybody knows that means you are getting bad news. On the video, you watch the mom fall to the ground, knowing what is coming. Every time I get to this point in the song, I start thinking about my two precious baby boys, and how I would feel if I was waiting from their return from war, and see that dreaded vehicle drive up my driveway. The good news in the song/video, is that one of the officers leaving the vehicle is this woman's son, finally returning safely to her. As I was singing it in church, even though I had practiced it many times without crying, I started crying and couldn't get the words out, letting everybody know that it really was a happy ending.

Afterwards, I had many people come up to me to let me know what a blessing that song was to them and how it touched them. One woman took me aside and told me that her husband, who has only been home from Korea for three weeks, was crying during the song, very touched, and thinking of his fellow soldiers still in Iraq and Korea. The thing is, it doesn't matter what you think of this war we are currently in, whether you agree with what is going on or not. We have men and women in this country who have such an attitude of honor, that they put themselves in harms way for you. The very least we can do, is honor them back, support them, and thank them for everything they do to keep us safe, and to keep our freedoms in tact.

I'm not a very political person, and I don't have an opinion that I share often, so bear with me. It bothers me that Americans, on the whole, are a very two-faced people. We complain every day that if we just stayed out of everybody else's business, there wouldn't be people in the world who want to hurt us and we wouldn't be at war. But then in the very next breath, they ask that we do something to help with the situation in Darfur. So what exactly do we want? Should we "stick our noses" in Darfur to help stop the atrocities that are happening over there, or should we ignore that other people need help, so that we won't have to go to war anywhere? Honestly people...get a heart! (Sorry for my tangent.)

Here's a picture of my two precious cutie-patooties! I love watching them interact, and enjoy each other (for the most part) After all, they are brothers!

Saturday, it snowed some, but it was a very wet, slushy snow. Most of it was melted and slush by the end of the day. Then, of course, it froze to form a solid sheet of ice over the roads. Then it started snowing again throughout the night, and all through the morning, all through church, took a break in the afternoon, then snowed really hard in the evening. All told, we got anywhere from three to six inches on Sunday. I am fortunate that it held off this long. And it really is quite beautiful when it is fresh and covers the world in a pure, clean white.

What precious boys I have. They have discovered the joy of a breakfast tray! They enjoy sitting on the floor with the tray to eat their snack, or occasionally breakfast. It is a fun change from sitting at the table all the time.

Anyway, it is nap time for the little ones. Baby Nick has not handled being awake very well this morning. Let's hope a refreshing nap will help.

P.S. We have baseboard heaters, which Baby Nick has discovered, makes a very good "chair", in case he needs a quick rest on his way around the room. I will post a picture of it later.

Can It Get Any Worse?

Just when I think we are at the tail end of this flu bug, Baby Nick throws up again! I am praying that it was a one time deal. I don't know if I can make it without Nick for three days if we all keep getting sick.

I Wish My Mommy Was Here

As you know, we have been battling the flu around here over the end of last week. Nick brought him home from work, so I am holding him responsible. Baby Nick got it the next day. Over Saturday and Sunday, we had no throwing up, and as Baby Nick worked his way through returning to feel normal, I thought we were over the flu. Joey has only thrown up once in his life, so he hasn't shown the propensity to get sick to his stomach; and although I had been feeling "iffy" I hadn't been queasy. Whenever I am around someone who has been sick to their tummy, it makes me feel "iffy". Am I feeling sick or is it just because someone close to me is? Mind over matter; if I stop thinking I feel sick, then I won't be sick.

The boys went to bed last night and both feel quickly asleep. Then, at about 10:00pm, I heard Joey scream his "scared/hurt" scream. I ran upstairs to see what had happened, and our bed was covered in what had been in his tummy. Both comforters were soaked, the sheet and mattress, and of all things, my pillow and pillowcase. Poor Joey was shaking and screaming and feeling completely rotten. So as I took him into the bathroom to remove his pajamas (which of course means that I got it all over my shirt) and wash him up, Nick came up to change the sheets on the bed. He threw our smaller comforter in the wash, but our large one is too big for the washer and dryer. So we will need to see if a laundromat has larger facilities.

Joey got sick another five times throughout the night, and on the third time, I had to pull the bucket out from under his mouth to use it myself! (Joey was mostly dry-heaving, so I wasn't leaving him in the lurch.) GREAT! This is just what I need. Nick is unable to take any time off because to take care of us, because he HAS to be in Soldotna today to close up that office, and is leaving for Fairbanks tomorrow until Thursday. He felt awful about having to leave me alone to take care of 1 sick kid and 1 kid who had been sick, when I was feeling sick as well.

If my mommy was here, I know she would come over to help take care of me, and help me take care of the boys. I miss my mommy. I have always missed my mommy when I was sick (if she was at work, or after I left the house.)

But I think I have reached a turning point today; although I still have a fever headache, and my whole body hurts, my tummy actually growled when I was making Top Ramen for the boys. I don't feel so sick to my tummy anymore, and may try eating some myself.

Joey has bounced back quickly. He keeps asking for "candy, granola bar, or cookie. Those are my choices." I have risked giving him Jell-O and Top Ramen today since he seemed to completely empty his stomach last night, and so far he has held everything down.

He was so sadly sweet last night. Every time he felt he had to throw up again, he would start crying and try to run away from the bucket. I think he thought the bucket caused him to throw up, and that made him wary of it. At one point this morning, he woke up thinking he was going to throw up, but ended up not having anything left. He laid his head down on Daddy's tummy. I had started feeling like I may throw up again as well, and in an effort to keep myself from doing so (I abhor throwing up) I laid my head down on Daddy's tummy as well, so he could stroke my head. Joey then asked me if I would lay back down with him. When I was comfortable, Joey ran his hand along my face and arm for a couple minutes. He was taking care of me even though he felt sick himself. He has such a sweet heart. What would I ever do without him.

I pray the rest of the day keeps looking up. I really don't want Nick to leave for Fairbanks tomorrow if we are still feeling sick. Not that I have a choice, but that would be a very long three days. I think I will try to eat something now...I'm starting to get the stomach pains that say I'm hungry (which make me feel just as sick.)

Walking In The Dark

I have a confession. Since we moved into the "new" house when I was eleven, and my bedroom was upstairs, I have been in the habit of counting stairs. Crazy, I know. But I hate walking up or down stairs in the dark, not knowing how many steps there are, and tripping over the last one, or trying to step on one that isn't there. Either way, there is a good chance I would end up on the floor! And we all know that I am much too graceful for that!

Anyway; so by counting the stairs the first time I climb them, I can confidently walk up the stairs without tripping every time, even in the dark. Now, during summer in Alaska, it doesn't really matter, because it doesn't get dark enough. However, now that the sun doesn't rise until after 8:30am (since we just turned our clocks back) and it sets before 5pm, it is most definitely dark when the lights are out.

Last night, Nick and I were getting to bed a bit too late, although it was much less late when I remembered to set our clocks back. Nick is always the gentleman and waits for me to make it to the the stairs before turning out the light. So I am on my way up, counting stairs as I go, and I get halfway up when I hear Nick bump into the gate at the bottom of the stairs and grunt out his "ouch". I paused to giggle, it was just to funny to let pass. Then ten seconds later, as he gets to the landing, he crashes again, this time into Baby Nick's airplane, and again grunting out his dismay. This time I lost it completely. The late hour had much to do with my incapability of handling the situation with dignity, I'm sure. But I was laughing so hard, standing just two steps from the top, trying to be quiet as to not wake the kids, and I found I had no strength left to stand. I collapsed at the top of the stairs laughing, unable to regain control. Nick is somewhere in the middle of the stairs laughing at my laughing. I asked him to help me up, so I wouldn't get trampled on his attempt to conquer the flight of stairs, but he couldn't see me. So we are both groping around in the dark, afraid to move and get hurt, when we finally made contact. I was still laughing so hard it took a couple attempts for Nick to heft me up off the floor.

When we were finally at the top of the stairs, Nick set me off laughing again when he said with chagrin, "I suppose this makes more good blog material."

Helping Hand

This has been a fabulous weekend, so far. Nick comes home from work sick on Wednesday, so he stays home on Thursday. It was nice to have him home, but too bad that he felt so awful. Because he had the flu, I called Chris to keep Dakota away for the day. She stopped by late that night to drop off the tuition check (very nice of her) and told me that she made arrangements for Dakota to be watched by someone else on Friday as well. Nick was planning on going back to work, so I didn't think that was necessary....but I appreciated it all the same since I was exhausted after being up most of the night with Nick.

It turns out it was a VERY good idea, as Baby Nick spent most of Friday throwing up! (Whoever said 'it's different when it's your own kid' was lying!) Dinner on Friday was a horrible affair, as we weren't feeding Baby Nick since he couldn't keep anything down, and he spent the time running between mommy and daddy crying and holding his hand out for some food. It broke my heart. Thankfully, he didn't throw up at all over night, and he has kept everything down today. (Not that he has eaten much, but it's a start.) I will keep him home from church tomorrow with Daddy, and Joey and I will go by ourselves.

Baby Nick was helping Mommy and Daddy do the dishes....so I had to capture it in picture.
I must admit, it is a bit difficult to load the dishwasher with Baby Nick's idea of "help." But isn't he cute?!?!?! After I got the picture, we spent the majority of the time in the kitchen chasing Baby Nick off the dishwasher so we could finish.

Please pray that I get some good sleep tonight, and that my slightly icky tummy doesn't turn into anything more! Have a good weekend.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! We are not doing anything for Halloween this year. I am not really into Halloween, but I have good memories of Halloween when I was a kid (before things got really creepy) and I don't want my kids to miss out on some of those same memories.

So this year, we didn't even get a costume for Joey, but he still fits his "Bob the Builder" costume from last year, so for the sake of the picture, I dressed him up. Baby Nick is wearing Joey's old pumpkin costume, and looking adorable...even though it is a size to big. Dakota arrived this morning in his dinosaur costume, looking cute. So I quickly dressed the boys so I could get a picture of the three of them.

I made Jack-O-Lantern cookies on Monday. I sent a few home with Dakota, and we are selfishly keeping the rest for ourselves. They won't last the week! Last year we didn't pass out any candy, but this year we have some candy available to be passed out. But I don't think there are too many kids who go trick or treating door to door around here; one, because it is so cold, and two, because they have the indoor trick or treating event the weekend before Halloween. But we will be available for anybody who braves the weather.
Here are the boys all dressed up. Dakota the Dinosaur, Nick the Punkin', and Joey the "Builder Bob". I couldn't find his foam tool belt, so the costume looks incomplete, but since we are just wearing it around the house, it will be okay.

Hope you have a great day. Stay safe on this night.

Late edit: Here is another picture of my Punkin' "Cheesecake"! Ha Ha (Because he's such a cheese ball!) Anyway....cute cute cute!

Joey is so precious; he says about Baby Nick, "He's so much cute." or "He's so much soft."

Okay...I know it's gross, but I have to tell you this. Nick came home from work feeling very sick. He just went into the bathroom and started throwing up. Baby Nick stood outside the door listening, and every time Nick retched, Baby Nick started laughing hysterically. I feel bad for Nick, but I couldn't help cracking up at Baby Nick!

Cutest Boys I Know

I just wanted to quickly show some cute pictures of my cute boys.
First, you will see Baby Nick "talking" on the phone. He will pick up the phone, hold it up to his ear (or cheek) and start grunting his greetings. It's so cute. I remember Joey doing that also. Nick will also use the remote as a phone, as Joey once did, if the phone is out of reach. Notice the mark under his eye. I felt so bad...yes, I did it. My fingernail and his face met in the same place at the same time. I still feel awful, every time I see it.
Bubba is getting so big, growing up so smart. I haven't taken a picture of him for no reason in a long time, so I thought I would show him off a bit. Doesn't he look angelic? Don't let your eyes deceive you! He may be sweet, but he has a sour side as well.
We had Aunt Bonnie's tonight for dinner. As you can see, Baby Nick thoroughly enjoyed his dinner. It was a good thing we dunked in the tub right afterward. We should have put him in fully clothed, with as much food ended up down his front.
But don't forget how much food landed on top as well. It is harder to see, but the right side of the top of his head (left side of the picture) is bathed in goop. He also loves to stick his tongue out. He walks around with his tongue hanging out. He now can stand up from the floor without pulling himself up on something. He has been able to do that for the last two or three days. His fourth molar came in about a week ago. Just four more teeth until he has his complete baby set. And those teeth aren't too far away!

We have an appointment scheduled for Christmas pictures. This year we are only going to have the kids photoed. I bought them matching shirts (a solid green, nothing dorky) and they will both wear jeans and brown shoes. They will be so cute. I decided, since it is close enough, that I will send out Baby Nick's one year pictures with the Christmas cards. I haven't forgotten, I just thought that I could cut down on postage cost, as well as not having to spend loads of money on greeting cards.

Joey and I spent some time together. We went to the library and then got his hair cut. He did very well. It also gave Nick some time alone with Baby Nick. All in all, it was a good day. Tomorrow, we should really be getting going on the kids Christmas program, since it's only seven weeks away. It is a cute program and will be fun to see come together.

Week In Review

I'm so thankful it is Friday. What makes it even better is that Nick gets a three day weekend! His personal time has racked back up to near forty hours (and since he can't accrue any more than 40 hrs, he has to use it or lose it.) So, since he got caught up on some of his work, he is going to take Monday off.
We had a fairly uneventful week. It's just normal day to day things around here. But the kids keep me laughing, especially Joey. The other day, I went upstairs to change the sheets on the bed, and I asked Joey to stay downstairs so he wouldn't be underfoot. As I am clearing the bed, I hear Joey slowly make his way up the stairs. I was in NO mood for disobedience, so I called down to him, "You better stay down stairs like I told you." A couple minutes later, he poked his head up at the top of the stairs again. I issued another warning. Then, a minute later, I hear him at the top of the stairs say, "See, I'm such a big helper. I brought this up for you. I'm a helper boy." How can I punish him for being helpful? Not to mention that it made me smile. So I say, "Thank you, Joey. Now please go back downstairs." Once more, he shows up at the top of the stairs...this time with a smile and a blown kiss! I figured it was useless to ask him to stay downstairs, so I put him to work holding the top sheet while I put the fitted sheet on the bed.
Baby Nick is also very "helpful". Here is a picture of him sweeping the floor for me. What would I do without him? He also likes to unload the dishwasher. However, that is more work for me, not less. He will start the dishwasher when there are clean dishes in there, or he will speed the cycle along to skip all the washing part. Oh well, gotta love him. He is so cute. He has such an exuberant laugh, when you can get him laughing. He laughs the most for Joey and his Daddy.
I love watching the boys together. Baby Nick adores his big brother, and the feeling is mutual. Just tonight, when B.J. came to pick Dakota up, Joey says, "This is my friend brother, Baby Nick. He's so cute. He's such a happy baby." Joey is always quick to comfort Nick when he's upset.
This is Nick's new "personal space." He loves to crawl under the table and play. He has to be careful not to bump his head when he comes out, but that doesn't stop him. He really enjoys it when Bubba looks down on him from the glass top. He really isn't supposed to be under there, but he is so head strong, I can't keep him out. But he sure is cute!!

Well, it is very late, and I am having a difficult time spelling and concentrating. So I will call it a night. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Stinky Winky Little Bitty Booty Boy

Try saying that five times fast! This is what Nick started calling Baby Nick when changing a potent diaper. It's quite catching when you get the cadence down.

Baby Nick is learning to blow on things when they are hot. He usually blows on his milk soaked Cheerios, and more often than not, will blow on his food after it is already in his mouth. That makes a pretty mess! But he is very sweet to blow on my food for me...expecting to be rewarded with the bite. I tell ya, this kid can eat! He eats more than Joey does. He will eat his dinner, beg to get down, and then walk around to each of us who still have food on our plates, anxiously reminding us that we are supposed to share.

I know I have informed you that Baby Nick knows what a dog says...but when asked what Mommy and Daddy say, his answer is the same. Oh well...someday he will learn. I'm just afraid that his answer will be the same as Jesse's was, so long ago, "Mommy says 'no'."

We had Randy and Cheryl over for dinner last night. We haven't seen them since we went camping with them at the end of June. I made my homemade cream of chicken noodle "stewp", salad, and potato-rosemary bread. Nick bought a carmel-apple pie for dessert. The soup was a big hit, and tasted so good now that the weather is turning colder. It was nice to see them again. The brought Cheryl's granddaughter, May. She is almost ten months old and still has to grow into her big blue eyes. She is such a mix of her mother and father. Many babies favor one parent or the other, but in May, you can see an equal (sometimes odd) mix of both. She sure is a cutie, and got upset when we took our boys up to bed.

We had quite a treat last night; we were able to get Joey to sleep in his own bed for most of the night! Unfortunately, since both the boys have colds, they took turns waking each other up. Finally, Baby Nick woke up about ten to four in the morning. When I peeked my head in the door, Joey was not in his bed. He was draped over the mounds of blankets on the floor. I still don't know if he fell out, or if he got out and fell back asleep before he could make it to our room. Anyway, since Nick woke up, so did Joey and neither of them would lay back down in their own beds. So I brought Joey into our bed, and laid down with Nick on my chest for about half an hour. Then I took Nick back to his crib (and since he wakes right back up) made him cry himself back to sleep. But Joey wouldn't budge. Unfortunately, Joey wouldn't hear of sleeping in his own bed tonight, so it was a short-lived victory. Hopefully, we can wean him out of our bed soon.

Nick has to go down to Soldotna tomorrow. They are closing that branch down and have some final things to take care of. He will have to stay overnight since they waste half a day traveling. He and Cliff will only stay one night...but he will still be gone. It will be a long, lonely night tomorrow. I hope the time will go quickly.

My brain is about fried. i can think of nothing else I may have wanted to say. Have a good week, and I will check back in Tuesday night.

Wow...It's Been Awhile

I'm sorry it has been so long since I have blogged. It's so hard to blog during the day...I don't have a second to myself except during nap time; but that is the only time I have to rest for a minute. By the time the boys go to bed at night, Nick is usually on the computer until late; and if I am still up, I am beyond the point of concentration. Even now, after getting very little sleep last night, it is too late for me to be able to be clever; but since it has been so long, I wanted to at least let everyone know I am still here.

Baby Nick loves to walk; as I knew he would. He walks all over all day long. When he runs out of floor in one direction, he turns around and walks the other way. He is getting much closer to being able to stand on his own (without using something to pull up on). He will bend over to pick up a toy and be able to stand back up without falling over. Just in the last two days, he has started being much more vocal. He still doesn't say any words, but he is making more sounds and will carry on entire conversations with whomever (or whatever) is near enough to listen. He is so precious.

Joey keeps me laughing half the day (and pulling my hair out the other half.) A few nights ago, Nick and I got to bed very late...2:00am. We were trying to be very quiet so Joey wouldn't wake up. I had to sneeze real bad, but I tried to stifle it. It ended up coming out in some strange squeaky snort-like sound out my nose! Well, for those who know me well, there is not much that can get me to stop laughing once I get started. Trying to stay quiet, I just laid there laughing...shaking the bed (as if that wouldn't wake Joey up). Everytime I opened my mouth trying to explain to Nick why I allowed such a sound to escape my nose, I started laughing harder. Finally, Joey woke up and said, "Kiss Daddy, Mommy." "You want me to kiss Daddy?" So I leaned over and gave Nick a kiss. Then Joey says, "How 'bout I get to have kisses?" So Nick gave Joey a kiss. And then Joey says, "Sanks, Daddy. That makes my heart happy." And he laid his head back down and went back to sleep.

Then last night, Nick and I went to bed and Joey was asleep, so we wanted to be quiet again. This time, I was quite cruel to Nick. I started tickling him mercilessly. Knowing that he had to keep quiet or wake Joey up, there was not much he could do. He couldn't yell at me to stop, and he couldn't thrash around to try to get away from me. Every time he vehemently whispered for me to stop, I just redoubled my efforts. Joey woke up, looked at Nick, and whispered, "Go to sleep!" I couldn't stop laughing. We are usually the ones who are telling Joey to go to sleep. Which is what I was doing between 4am and 6am!

Joey likes to tell me what to do. My least favorites are; "Leave me alone", "Don't talk to me that way.", and "Keep your hands to yourself" (after he has just been swatted or flicked!) But the one that is becoming a favorite is when he is asking if he can do something. "Can I watch a movie. You can say, 'Yes you may.'"

It is way too late for me to stay up. I am taking twice as long to write this blog because I am pausing every couple words trying to remember how to make my fingers move. Hope everyone has a wonderful week and weekend.

Funny And Amazing

Here are a couple pictures to show what the boys are up to. Baby Nick is walking all over the place now, and he can make the sound of a dog (it's more like a grunt...but at least it is something.)
Here; Baby Nick is "riding" the "iron" horse. That is to say, that he has started straddling the leg of the ironing board and bouncing on it as if riding a horse. (That's the 'funny' in the title.)
Now for the 'amazing.' This is a picture showing that Joey now knows how to write his name all by himself! I am so proud of him. I suppose he could get his own library card now, if he wanted one. I can't believe how fast he is growing up and how quickly (and often) he learns new things.

We are still trying to get over our colds. The colds are progressing normally (moving from sinuses into the chest) so at least I am not walking around in a fog. I look forward to the day that the colds are gone completely....from all of us. The kids are currently running circles around the dining room table, making me dizzy just watching. I will get them lunch soon and put them down for an early nap, since the little ones didn't get a morning nap.

Have a blessed day.

Catching Up

It has been awhile since I've blogged (besides the quick post yesterday)...and I'm sorry. After Nick came home Friday night, I have had writer's block. Now, of course, we are all sick with nasty colds and I have no strength to concentrate. So if I sound disjointed, you will understand why.
I'll start with a few pictures. Here is Baby Nick, growing up so quickly, eating Rice A Roni, and apparently, enjoying stuffing his face. This kid could eat all the food in the house if I didn't stop him. He is so active that he burns so many calories and doesn't gain much weight.
Of course, seeing the camera come out made him smile as big as he could so I would take a picture of him! What a goofy boy.
Joey is wearing Daddy's socks; on the outside of his pajama pants. He looked so funny. Nick thinks he looks like he is wearing a speedo with really pale legs. I said he looks like a trapeze acrobat at the circus with his tights and leotard on! You can see how Baby Nick, again, noticed the camera come out and gave a big cheesey grin for the occasion.
Nick and I were puttering around the house, both ending up in the kitchen, when we heard something scooting across the floor. This is not so unusual, as Baby Nick will scoot anything that can scoot so that he can "walk". But when we discovered the object that was being scooted, we couldn't believe it! Baby Nick had gotten up on the bucket of blocks, sat down, and scooted his way across the floor! I had to get a picture of it, so of course, once again, Baby Nick sat there with his cheesiest grin until the picture was taken.

Just over this past week, Baby Nick has decided to start walking more. He will walk around for a bit after being placed on his feet, or if he is already in a standing position (for example; trying to reach something on the couch, or getting into his toy box) he will walk to his next destination. He still isn't walking as his main mode of transportation, but he is walking more often. I have also discovered that he "talks" in his sleep. I heard him the other day through the monitor, and I went up to check on him, thinking that he was awake and playing in his crib. When I opened his door, there he was laying with his arms tucked under him and his little booty up in the air, still asleep, "talking." It is so cute!

Bubba is so sweet. Everywhere we go, he introduces us as, "my friend." So, to Joey, I am, "My friend Mommy." Or, "This is my friend Baby Nick." As we were getting the boys dressed for church, Joey took my face between his hands, and said to Nick, "Hey Big Guy, this is my pretty little Mommy friend." Oh he makes my heart happy. And he reminds me of that, too. "I make your heart happy, Mommy." Of course you do, Joey. I couldn't be happier to have you for my son.

Baby Nick just woke up from a nap (since he got up at 6:15am this morning.) So I better go get him up and let him play any energy out so he takes a good nap this afternoon!

For You, Mom

Especially for your birthday, Mom, God gave you snow! Okay, so it's not a lot, and it's 2700 miles away.....but there is snow for your birthday!
I was hoping beyond all measure, that the snow would hold off for awhile. Granted, it might still be a couple weeks before we see the real stuff come down, but I was shocked to hear Nick tell me that it had snowed. I was up with the boys before Nick, but I didn't look outside (I wasn't expecting to have a reason to.) After we gave the boys their baths, Nick took Baby Nick downstairs while I combed Joey's hair. There is a window at the bottom of the stairs, that is at the level of the top of the stairs. That was when Nick saw the snow. (It was still dark when I got up with the boys.) I almost thought he was trying to get a rise out of me...but sadly, it was true.
You can see that it really isn't a lot of snow, which is good. Last year, the first day it snowed was also a Sunday. There was a couple inches on the ground, but it snowed heavily all through church, and by the time we got out, there was another five or six inches on the ground. Hopefully, that won't be the case today. I think the snow has taken everybody by surprise. We haven't heard of any chance of snow in the forecast.

Well, it is time to leave for church, so I better go. Happy birthday, Mom. I love you and miss you so much.

Five Years At Apria

Today, my husband "celebrated" his fifth anniversary of working at Apria Healthcare. I am very proud of his dedication and commitment to his work. He works so hard, every day, because he loves us enough to provide for us in the best way he knows how.

Unfortunately, he is "rewarded" with a trip to Fairbanks.....but when he gets back, he will have a plaque and three weeks vacation, instead of two!

His five year anniversary at Apria comes just twelve days before our five year wedding anniversary! Sometimes it seems like no time at all has past since we got married. But when I look back on everything we have packed into these first five years, it doesn't seem possible that only five years have come and gone. (I wonder how much more we can pack in the next five?!)

Baby Nick can recognize and point out mommy's nose (which anyone can point out from quite a distance...so I guess that is not that impressive); he knows where his tongue is and can stick it out on command. He knows how to communicate what he wants, although he still uses no words. he is also getting better at not putting everything in his mouth, or if he does, and finds that the object doesn't seem right, he will take it out and give it to mommy. He is very good at obeying me when I ask him to give me something he shouldn't have, and will usually do so with a smile. Now, if only he would listen and obey so well in all other areas!

Joey is learning a lot about the rules of the road. He knows we have to stop at red lights and go at green lights. He knows that a yellow light means we should get ready to stop. A few weeks ago, I was driving through an intersection when the light turned yellow, and Joey said, "Mom, we should be stopping; the light is yellow." Since I was already halfway through the intersection, I explained that you only had to stop for a yellow light if you had enough time to safely do so. He almost always asks why I have stopped, even if he can see the red light. And he is the first to tell me when the light turns green and I can drive again. He is extremely observant and has a memory that astounds me. He is so precious. Lately, I find myself looking over at him and finding tears in my eyes at how fast he is growing up. I feel like I don't have much time left with him. I'm sure that in another ten years, I will be begging for the time to speed up....but for now, I wish time could move forward at a snail's pace, giving me more time with my sons.

I don't like when Nick takes the computer to Fairbanks, because I feel so disconnected and out of touch with everybody at home. But I also feel bad that the only "company" Nick has when he's staying at the office is the computer. I will miss having the computer this week, try to remember those things I should blog about later, and will catch up on all I've missed as soon as I can.

Saturday morning will be another Ladies Brunch at the church, and Tina and I should be able to finally get together and discuss the children's musical. Hopefully, we will be able to get a schedule in place and get started on rehearsals soon. I know that it is only the beginning of October (since it is now after midnight), and sometimes it is hard to feel "Christmassy" this early (for those Scrooges out there, anyway) but putting on a production takes a lot of work. It is important to give the kids enough time to learn the play without over-stressing them with everything else they have on their plates. I am excited to get started.

May God bless you and keep you. Have a wonderful week...and I will be back next weekend.