Dancin_Amber

April and early May were so hectic for our family.  Several times we had to drive to Anchorage. In fact, several trips we made up and back in the same day. That's a 2 1/2 - 3 hour trip each direction!  And while I don't always love the trip, especially under time constraints, there isn't anything that could have stopped me from going for all of the special occasions that we went for.

One such occasion was to see Amber dance. She was a part of New Dances ( which in my language means a 'bit' different) at the college. She did a fabulous job, looked so beautiful and we were all incredibly proud of her.

Barry's girlfriend, Anastasia was also a dancer that night which my girls were also excited about. They really enjoy her and think she is so beautiful!

After the performance the whole group of us (Grandpa and GiGi drove up to Anchorage too) went out to eat.

We were able to finally celebrate Scott's birthday and we all had a fun and silly evening. I actually think he was a little embarrassed. :)

As you can tell from the pictures, it was well worth the trip!

Our School Carnival

I am still playing catch up here. Sorry. :(

A week or two ago our school held the annual school carnival. It's a community thing and also a fundraiser.

We stayed to work for the night. The two big girls enjoyed working booths. Cori and Alli worked the milk toss. Cassi worked the dart game with me. Talk about stressful! With so many little people running around I consider it a true success that no one got stuck nor did anyone have their eye poked out. Whew!


There are always lots of games but the most fun; the pie-in-the-face snowman. It's really a sponge with whip cream on it but you get the idea. This is the first year some of the older kids were allowed to be pied! Cori's boyfriend, was a major player in the game and her Dad wasted no time taking the opportunity at smashing him!It was all in good fun. And he was a good sport!



Cori and her best friend Alli decided to give it a go too. They weren't in the snowman for long and it's probably a good thing. By the end of the night, they were waiting for me in the car and it wasn't good! I guess the smell just about did them in.



They both took LONG showers when we got home and their hair smelled like whip cream for days! They are so sweet! Wink, wink! :)

Making Friends

Last year the girls and I participated in our first ever swap. I thought it would be a nice experience for them, kind of along the lines of a pen pal. I also thought it might be fun for whomever we were matched with since we were from Alaska and I imagined it wasn't everyday people met other people from here.

It turned out so fun. Our first swap was a Christmas book swap. Cali was matched with a little guy from down South. Actually not too far from where our Grandma lives.

After the swap Cali talked often about Sam so a few months later his Mom and I decided we would swap a little package again. And a new friendship was created. Cali still talks about Sam, like she's known him forever!

We decided to do a little book swap again this year. Cali received hers from Sam the other day. She was so excited. I sat her down in front of the tree and she went to town on the package.

It included a book titled Stick Kid and also It's a Wonderful Life for Kids. The Stick Kid book rolls off the tongue so easily and it has instantly become a Cali favorite. I hear it is also one of Sam's favorites and I can see why.

It's a Wonderful Life is my most favorite Christmas movie ever so it was extra special to read the book to Cali.

I am so glad we leaped into doing the book swap last year. I really believe Cali will have a far-away friend for years to come. And what a nice family to befriend!

Annual Autumn Hay Maze

Every year a good friend of mine organizes a trip to the Hay Maze at the local Bible Camp. She invites several friends and we in turn invite a few friends and we end up with a very eclectic group of people. It is always a fun trip catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.

Each year the maze is constructed differently. It is essentially a tunnel made of hay that requires the visitor to maneuver their way through; usually crawling, slithering or pulling yourself up, over or around the entire thing. It typically ends at a fireman's pole. You crawl in,and through, slide down and...

...tumble out! It's GREAT FUN!

Here Cori and Alli were heading in for the first time this year.

This year, the cowboy in charge strummed his guitar at the entrance to comfort leery and weary attendees.
There is always a bonfire in which those who have-had their fill can roast a hot dog or toast a smore.
They even had faux' cattle roping opportunities which Cali thoroughly enjoyed.

Our family actually attended the maze two nights in a row. We also met there on Friday night with our soccer team; it had been a while since everyone had been together and it was nice to catch up with some of the girls we hadn't seen since summer.

Fortunately the weather has been quite cooperative for Alaska norms and it stayed warm enough that no one needed a big poofy winter coat. It made tackling the confines of the maze is little less claustrophobic.

Cassi got there late the first night but still remembered the way so when Grandpa came Saturday night, she led him through.

Scott had the pleasure of taking this little guy through. He was so excited he couldn't wait to get started! Believe it or not, Scott and I used to watch this little boy's Dad when he was this young. Talk about time flying!

Cali went through this year which was a first. I was so proud of her. She isn't usually the bravest of girls but she went through, twice! By the second time she was warning me of the lower area where I might hit my head! Sweet girl~

I took my camera in (not always easy when your crawling) the second time. This picture Scott and Cali were lying on his back and I was on the corner. There was a safety guy hiding in another corner in front of us who took the picture.

Here you can see just how little some of the spots you crawl through are. The little kids have the advantage of walking in a crouch often. Lucky! :)


GiGi started in 3 times and on the 3rd time she actually made it through. It is incredibly hard to come back out once you are in and have moved up one level but trust me when I say, if you don't like it, coming back out is faster than going in. There were some people who tried once and never went back to try again. So kudos to everyone who goes! :)

It's always fun to watch as the attendees come out. Especially those who are coming out for the first time!

This little man never went through but he's too cute not to share. :)

Here is Cali's favorite guy. He is the next G.I Joe and went through time and again, practicing his Army crawl. I think this may have been his first year too. Maybe he will lead Cali through next year!

This picture definitely doesn't include everyone but it was late and we were losing folks fast. Misty, who organizes this every year, wondered aloud how long we'd be able to convince the kids to keep coming here with us...I hope it never ends.

Hear the lion...

Our family was the recipient of the most wonderful gift this past weekend. I've mentioned our trip to Anchorage and all the fun we had but we actually had a finale' activity which is what set the weekend into motion.

Holly, Rocky, Barry and Wren gifted our family (Scott got called away to work) with tickets to THE LION KING. And what an amazing gift it was. I have seen many productions on Broadway and locally and this rivaled any that I've seen. (Although I must admit, Peter Pan holds a special place in my heart.)

We arrived at the PAC early as we wanted to get group pictures of the whole lot of us. There is one family of 5 not pictured as they had already went inside. I wish they were in it though as they are certainly every bit part of the big family we've all become.

I also managed to pin my girls down to take a picture for me. The flowers were gorgeous and with a little time to spare, who could blame me for wanting it.

The show was explosive from the moment the curtains were drawn. It was magical, musical, even mesmerizing.

We are all familiar with the story, although I had concerns about Cali. I shouldn't have though because she was enamored with the characters. She was enthralled the entire show and kept an ongoing, quite descriptive and insightful ( for 4 years old) dialog with me throughout the whole thing.

I was surprised Cali was able to follow along being that I didn't remember her ever seeing the movie however I recently learned that Amber (my sister) had watched it with her in preparation. Thank God for sisters. Mine is certainly a blessing.

Inside we giggled and goofed around a bit in anticipation for the darkening hall and the first hum of the orchestra.



We were in the front row of the mezzanine which turned out to be a fabulous place to sit. We were just high enough to see everything on the stage at all times. Often through the show there were many things happening at one time. Being up just a bit allowed the viewer to see everyone and not miss anything that might be hidden behind another large character or animal. I had no problem seeing anything from where I sat.

We practiced a bit with the binoculars before the show started but I must say we hardly used them during the actual show.


After the show we gathered just long enough to stretch our muscles ( or have some one stretch them for us) and give thanks then we motored back to Norworld to have lunch.


It was an spectacular show and we are fortunate to have such good friends who come up with such amazing gifts. Rocky and Holly, thank you from the bottom of our heart!

ROAR!

~laughter~

I really wanted some wonderful title for this post but somtimes simplicity says it best.

We traveled to Anchorage this past weekend to be with friends and family. Some of our closest friends moved to Anchorage last year and although they still have a home here and do come to visit, we aren't able to get together as often as we once did.

We went on Saturday ( many of us) so we would all have time to gather and be together-to celebrate!

We celebrated birthdays! Because we are far apart, meeting for birthdays is often difficult. We got caught up this weekend.

We celebrated with fun! We played charades, our own version, and had a fabulous time.


We celebrated for health, for family, for friendships that stand the test of time, mostly we just celebrated because it felt good and who better to celebrate with than friends and family.




And... we... celebrated...with... laughter...



it's the most wonderful thing...




can you feel it...

I hope you can...
and I wish for you too...laughter.