Cali has a new 'thing'

She has this new obsession with swimsuits.
We are wearing about 3 a day at the moment. Here is one of her more recent throw-togethers.

Loving it? Yeah, me too!

Annual Memorial Day Camping Trip

Every year we head out of town to the end of the road to camp on Memorial weekend. Years ago, when the big girls were small, we set out to camp one night. Over the years we ended up staying two. So now we leave anticipating two nights and really, I think next year we should shoot for 3. We'll see.

WARNING:Lots of pictures ahead!

Night 1

We arrived at the campground around 6:30. It's a good thing it is light outside 'til about 12:30 or better. Grandpa was hanging out at Michelle and Dusty's site and being the good friends they are, they even served us dinner.

Scott made sure Booger knew everything was all right and camping was a good thing!

Amber took the Cori, Cassi, Alli and Cali down one of the trails to the beach. They loved the mud. Cassi and Cali didn't take their shoes off but Cori, Alli and Amber did.

We played a little poker and Caitie won, go figure. It's been a while since I played and I think Dusty started teaching Cait when she was 3.


After losing my money very quickly we headed down to out campsite to make a fire and hang out for a while. AJ tried calling some friends to come out and visit.

He really wanted them to come- enough to stand on his head to make the phone call. I can't believe he got service!

It was getting later and I figured Cali needed to get to bed however once in her jammies, she decided she was a camper-girl and slid her footie jammies right into her mud boots and back to the fire she came.

Booger found a friend in Dusty.

And when Dusty wasn't around he was in anyone's arms who would hold him. We did learn this weekend that he does not like to lay in the dirt! Not happening!

Of course, before we could head off for bed we had to make s'mores. Alli was enjoying the making process as much as eating them!

Day 1

We had a pretty lazy start to the day. Scott started a fire when he got up.

We had a fairly simple breakfast of danishes. There were a few dishes left from the night before that Cali enjoyed cleaning up for me.

The kids took a walk on one of the trails and rode bikes a bit. We were all kind of low key. I think we were preparing for the all-night drinks and poker ahead of us!

We had a GREAT dinner. There were steaks, burgers, hot dogs, baked potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, baked beans, oh and don't forget the super-sized cheetohs!


Once our bellies were full we moved on to fun and games.


Drinks,desserts and poker. There were a lot of us together for the holiday.

I don't know if you will recognize everyone or not. Michelle and Dusty stayed both nights as did we.

Grandpa and GiGi left their camper the first night for anyone who wanted to use it but had to work on Saturday so they didn't stay. They came back Saturday afternoon and stayed that night. Jack and Sharee came out with their two boys and stayed Saturday night.


Jeff and Karen came out for dinner and poker but weren't interested in staying.

And Veon and Kimberly did the same.

Day 2

Amazingly, there were no injuries and no hangovers although since we didn't get to bed 'til well past 1:00 we were all pretty tired come Sunday morning.

Grandpa got the fire started and we made eggs and crispy pancakes in the cast iron skillet on the fire. YUM!

After breakfast the kids played a little Uno spin then we took another walk down one of the trails to the beach.

The kids did a little rock climbing but we left pretty quickly. The trail took us to a rather windy end of the beach and it was a little chilly.



We made a burger and hot dog lunch which was delicious after our hike. The kids (especially those boys) had fun poking at the fire.

The sun was out bright and warm for a bit so they all played a little more Uno spin in the sunshine.

Once everyone was full and the kids were looking for something different to do we set to packing up. It never goes back in quite as nice as it does when we head out but we all work together and get it done.

As usual Scott was determined to get home (this time he had a 3:00 tee-time) so he left and we took one last trip to the beach. We walked the long road to our normal beach hang-out (Big Momma's house, as my girls have named it) and played restaurant for a bit.




The girls made some pasta.

Michelle was chilled so she made a mini campfire ring.

Isn't it cute?

Booger climbed some rocks.

And everybody looked about as happy and healthy as you could ever want to see them.

We tied it together and ended with just a few more s'mores. Everyone was tired and content, and some were simply tuckered out!


It was a fabulous weekend and a beautiful way to begin summer in Alaska.

I will leave you with some of our usual beach art. Look at this star, do you see it?

I do and I have decided it is a star of hope for me. Hope that I continue to find loveliness... in simple moments-like restaurants at the beach, in good friends-like everyone we were with this weekend, in my faith-because it is being tested lately and in my family-I love each of them with so much passion that my heart could burst and loveliness like that, I simply could not do with out!

Word of the Week

One would think living in Alaska, I would have known this word before today. It is our state bird after all.

The word:

GALLINIPPER

\ˈga-lə-ˌni-pər\

function:
noun

1. a large mosquito (or any various insect such as a crane fly)

The gallinippers have returned with the warmer weather.

Blessings to You on Memorial Day

From the Land of the Midnight Sun.

From our Life to Yours, wishing you peace and contentment, as we all remember and honor those who gave their all for all of us.

Word of the Week

Technically I still have 22 minutes to get this post done on Monday! At least in Alaska I do and for now that is the best I can do. :)

I have seen this word two different places this week and find it funny to say. I don't think I've heard it before but I like it. It goes along with one of my experiences today.

The word:

KERFUFFLE

function:
noun

1.disturbance
2. fuss

And to offer an example of how I'd use it:

I expected more of a kerfuffle during the board meeting this evening however I am grateful there was none.

Now do you think you will use this anytime soon?

Life begins at...

...well, I think I get it. I've heard many cliche's and I think I understand most of them. Here is mine-
Life begins at 20, as a young adult afraid of nothing.
Life begins again at 30, and you recognize all the possibilities.
Life really begins at 40, when you finally realize what it is all worth!

*This was a combination gift- from my Mom. She sent me money for my 40th birthday (40 $1.00 bills) which I saved, wanting to do something with it that I would remember or could save.
Then she sent me money for mother's day (at almost 42 years of age) and I decided to put the two together to buy this pond swing. Because I now (think) I know the value of taking a few minutes out of my day to simply enjoy a peaceful moment with my family, How great is that! I'd like to attach a small quote on my swing. I may even have Scott burn it into the wood. I have some ideas but if you can think of any I'd love to hear them.

Oh, and Mom, Thanks!

Here's wishing you all a moment of peace in every one of your days too!

Mother's Day Bliss

I am LOVED!

Word of the Week

OK, so I am not doing so well at getting these posted. I'm trying however it is a really busy time at our school and I am there a lot! So, that means late "Word of the Week" posts. :(

Either way, I find this weeks word funny to look at. When i saw it I did a double take. The meaning has no significance at this time but looking at it still makes me smile!


Here goes:

LICKERISH

\LIK-uh-rish\

function:

adjective

1. greedy, desirous

2: lecherous

And here is my attempt to use it-

I found her lickerish behavior appalling and disappointing.

Now, do you think you could use this word on a daily basis without giggling?

Happy Mother's Day

The sweetest sounds to mortals given
Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.
~William Goldsmith Brown

I love you Mom.

I hear my Mother has chosen Italian as her choice for dinner today.
In honor of that, I say "Felice festa della mamma!"

In honor of my Irish Grandma and all of my Aunts ( her daughter's) I say "Lá na Máithre sona duit"

And for ALL of the beautiful and amazing women in my life I Love You.
Happy Mother's Day!



My mom is a never ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. ~Graycie Harmon

Word of the Week

Hopefully my schedule is back on track and I will regularly post the word of the week from now on.

Here is what I've chosen for this week.

HACKNEYED


function:
adjective

1.lacking in freshness or originality

Here is my first use for it-

My goal is to keep my blogging from getting hackneyed by finding a new word to add to my vocabulary each week.

YUM!

Trust me that you should try this recipe. I guarantee you will enjoy it and it is healthy too! It's a can't lose situation. Holly, our long time family friend passed this recipe on to me. Evidently her sister and nephew came up with this after eating something like it at a restaurant a year or so ago. I have changed it up a bit to suit us and everyone that has ever tried it, LOVE'S IT!

I call it FIESTA SALSA DIP because of the colorful look to it.
My kids are somewhat picky eaters when it comes to vegetables however they too love this dip.

Here goes:

1 green bell pepper

1 orange bell pepper

1 yellow bell pepper

1 red bell pepper

1 onion (I use red)

1 bag of coleslaw mix with carrots

1 bunch cilantro

I lemon

sliced jalapenos in juice

olive oil

red wine vinegar

Use a food chopper or your blender to shred each bell pepper, the onion and I also run the bag of cabbage through . Some people I know leave the cabbage mix like it comes but I like the consistency smaller and more uniform.

Pull all the leaves off the cilantro stems and shred those as well. Combine all of those in a large bowl.

Cut your lemon in half, remove seeds and squeeze well over all of the vegetables.

Add approximately 3 tablespoons of Olive oil and 1 tablespoon of vinegar; mix well. This part is mostly to your own taste. I like the dip to be a wetter consistency; you may like it drier. After I add the Olive oil and vinegar I add about 2 tablespoons of chopped jalapenos and a little of the juice from the jar. Add this part slowly. If you add too much it takes away from the dip. By the same token, don't leave them out. They add something that is missed when you leave them out. All you need is a little.

Lastly I add the smallest bit of garlic salt.

Serve with dip chips.

(I had a friend take some leftovers I had and she added them to her eggs too. She said it was awesome.)

Scott's Birthday

We didn't get to do much on Scott's birthday. He and the girls went out to dinner but otherwise it was a little disappointing. :(

The highlight of the day was Cali's most special gift, which she picked out ALL BY HERSELF!

Cali is Playing Soccer- And it is a VERY Different Game

Cali started soccer this year. Since her birthday is late in the year, she started later than many of her fellow teammates. Now that I have seen her play, I realize it may have been a good thing!

Here's why,

When her practices started Scott was out of town. After her first one, I had to call him and explain that soccer for Cali was going to be a different game than it was for Cori and Cassi. She wanted to wear a dress to soccer that day. I explained that we don't wear dresses in soccer. Cali said " Well I do!" And she did. :)

One day, during a game I was watching her run down the court (indoor soccer) and all of a sudden I couldn't see her. I stood up and started looking thinking I really had to pay more attention. Asking all around me if anyone knew where Cali was, I was told she had climbed into the bleachers and off the court to chat with some friends she hadn't seen in a while.

And one day I had to miss a game. I called Scott to ask how she had done and he said she did great. She spent one quarter making pretend snow angels (while she was playing defense) with one of her best buds Cavin. I was also told the next day, by her one of her coaches, she wouldn't be playing defense with Cavin anymore!

Definitely NOT THE SAME GAME!