Catchin' Up, the easy way!

Here's the last two weeks in a nutshell! Not necessarily in that order though, LOL!

A fast update!

Recent days have been too busy to get caught up on anything. I was supposed to get this all caught up with summer camp photos yesterday, but instead was tending to a very sad looking son. As some of you already know, DS#2 was bit in the face by a dog while on a camping trip with Dad and Uncle. One day lost to dealing with a child several hours drive away in a hospital getting stitches. One day lost to making sure he was comfortable and calm. (OK, so he was calmer than I was and happy to couch potato and watch TV, but Mom really didn't want to stray too far, if you know what I mean.) And to top it all off, last evening while cleaning up from all the camping gear and sand that was dragged in as the rest arrived home, we discovered shrew (like a mouse) droppings under the kitchen sink. This ended in that and the corner cupboard (the only one that holds food) being emptied, bleached, and much moved or thrown away and a call to the landlord. I knew this would happen eventually as I had seen a shrew in the yard the year we moved in. We even have traps in the crawl space, but have never captured one. Of course we haven't, they live in the walls and where food is.

So, with mounds of laundry being slowly gone through, a kitchen that is nearly worthless with the loss of one whole cupboard and most of a second, a child that still needs frequent medical care with the special meds and cleanings that go with this type of injury, I sit here pouring my heart out to you all and beg your forgiveness for the lack of fun photos and upbeat stories of life with 3 kids in Alaska.

Busy as a bee!

As if I didn't already have enough on my plate, last week I took on a rather large sewing project. It was a last minute decision because I realized with the kids in camp (more on that later this week) I could put the machine on the table and leave it there until dinner. As a matter of fact, there were a couple nights I just moved the machine aside enough for the kids while DH and I sat on the couch. But I got the project done in the 5 days allotted and was able to use it on Saturday (the goal). 

Products for this page can be found at DigitalScrapbookPlace.com

The bag is a prototype for something I am considering selling. I learned a lot: like it takes a full week to make just one, the top closure does not support the wheel good enough and needs modification, the strap will have to be sturdier and again, where it meets the top needs additional reinforcement, and the inside pockets are actually too deep. But I love how it looks and it did work, so my next one (and yes, I will make at least one more) will include some changes. Hopefully I can get a working model worth the price I will need to charge. Then maybe I can justify a small sewing table that will fit in my bedroom so I don't have conflicts with school and eating.

Have you seen an ad for Madagascar lately?

If not, you might want to keep an eye out. Now, I have no idea if the movie is any good. In truth, it's not a series of movies we have really watched. But the kids have latched onto the ad like white on rice. (Hope that's not politically incorrect to use!) And to add to that, a couple nights ago, they got to playing with their version of the dance from the ad and DH captured it on video. The sound was bad as he had used his phone, so the next morning I convinced all three of the kids to give me a little performance. It was a tough sell, DD was most definitely not in the mood to be captured on film once again. But for your viewing pleasure, I present: The Kids in "Move It".

Summer Fun!

I do this every year. I think: OK, summer vacation, time to relax, to catch up, just to have fun. Then it actually arrives and I realize I still have to plan for the following school year, keep the kids busy and entertained, and in general do almost everything I do during the school year and some times even more. Why do we hold on to that myth from childhood that summer is all about play time and there are no worries or cares. LOL

So, to list just a few things that we are going to do:
The kids will be spending one week in Summer Camp this year. I found this great place, very close to home called The Learning Farm. They will spend from 9 AM to 1PM each day the week of June 11th visiting the farm, learning about the care of farm animals and the science of a farm. They are all very excited. I am also thrilled that we can do this with our school budget.

July is Tour de Fleece. This is a once a year spinning challenge that coincides with Tour de France. If I'm lucky I might spin the entire 24 ounces I have planned and I could even win a prize or two.

We are also trying to find a good weekend to visit my BIL/SIL's cabin. It's lots of fun there, not too far of a drive, and will be a great way for DH to simply relax and spend quality time with his sibling.

If all goes well we might even take a break and visit Sitka this year. We have really wanted to share DH's home town with the kids and since he has to go there for work, we are thinking we might swing a few days with the whole family. Of course, budget may not allow, so we aren't sure about this one.

I'm planning on replacing the kids computer this summer. The graciously donated older PC they have been using is showing signs of severe deterioration. The video card may or may not work on any given day. So, with school funds helping we are going to replace my Mac with a newer model and give the kids my old one. This may be the number one reason for not making the trip to Sitka. We'll see.

And here is one thing that has been on my plate of many tasks over the last few months. So thrilled to have it done:
(see it larger here)
Just barely over 1 pound of wool now made into a lovely 2-ply lace to fingering weight yarn. Now to knit it into a lace shawl.

An outing with Daddy!

We recently got to visit a project site that Daddy has worked very hard on, the new Crime Lab. It was a private viewing of the new building and most of what it contains. Since it opens within the next 2 weeks, we didn't see much in the way of people, but we did see lots of space, some lovely art, and even a few interesting machines. I, of course, scrapped the adventure.

The journaling reads:
Daddy has worked for nearly 2 years planning the computer systems in the new Crime Lab and we finally got to go see all his hard work. We toured nearly the entire building. We couldn’t go into the science lab because that is severely restricted, but we saw the computer rooms where most of Daddy’s work is and all the offices. The best part may have been the shooting range and wearing hard hats.

May Happenings!

OK, to be totally truthful, at least part of this happened in late April. But can we just pretend I'm keeping up with the world out there!

April 25, 2012
The boys and I got to take a guided tour of the zoo. They restricted the age so DD got a play date instead. We all had a really grand time. Seeing the tigers, wolves and polar bears from "behind the scenes" only added to the excitement. This was a school trip and as it turned out, DD really could have come, but she had fun and got to spend her afternoon on a trampoline. She felt that was brag worthy when the boys bubbled on about seeing the entire zoo, not just a few of the animals. 

Click to see larger image!

May 13, 2012
What a glorious Mother's Day. DD was in her second ballet recital of the year. She was extra nervous before hand because it was on a real stage and she missed her final rehearsal as she had a fever, but she did so well. I couldn't have been more proud. My only complaint is that for some odd reason the teacher insists on placing the smaller students in the back line. I think this has to do with placing the "older", more coordinated students to the front, but this theory ignores the fact that DD is actually one of the oldest in the class. We have one final class and I do intend to ask the instructor about this.

Click to see larger image!

After the recital we had been invited for Cake and Ice Cream at DBIL/DSIL's home. We ate cheese sandwiches, cake pops (cake on a stick), and peanut butter pie. I think we totally forgot the ice cream. It was short and sweet, but we all had fun. It really topped the Mother's Day off just right.

And the moral is.............

I've been busy! I teach, I spin, I knit, I dye, I scrap. There's more, but this is the fun stuff.

Well, I lucked into seven pounds of soft, fluffy, natural colored spinning fiber. It was said to be Australian, but unknown breed. It feels soft enough to be Merino, but that is unconfirmed. Well, I have spent much of April dying lots of 4 to 8 ounces. I've used Kool Aid, food coloring and Easter Egg dyes. I recently saw a method that uses the dyes frozen and the sun to heat and set them. So, I decided to give it a try. I made my "dye popsicles" last week and since there is some sun, decided to try them outdoors today (although, my recent check shows they aren't going to melt so I'll have to bring them in and use the microwave). I'm having lots of fun!

However, there is a moral here. It's one small step that I know to follow, everyone does. But I was in a hurry and missed this one small detail. I thought, "It just can't be that bad", so I did it! I didn't put on my rubber gloves. Just look at the result. Now I'm wondering how long before my fingers are a reasonably normal color again.

Oh, and the other hand has some too, just not as bad.

So, the moral of the story is.....
Remember to use ALL the steps and you might just have normal colored fingers!

What keeps me busy!

Besides the kids, home schooling and daily chores that is.....

The batt (at top) weighed just over 1 pound. The skein at the bottom weighs 3 oz. (so lots more fiber to spin) and is approximately 256 yards. I still have enough for a second skein spun and have to get it plyed and off the bobbin before my class next week.

Birthday Adventure!

Well, DD turned 6 years old! What a marvel. She has a loose tooth (been that way a couple weeks but she is more interested in it being loose that it being out). She has grown enough that a dress given to here last year will finally stay on with grow room to spare. And she is learning at the speed of light.

We had not really planned a big tadoo as she had a good sized party for her 5th, but the day before I discovered some very fun family things to do. So, shortly after lunch we headed out on the town. We visited a local mall where there was a wood carving exhibition. There was a gentleman there who would wander around playing his hand made violin. I only wish I could have captured the sound as it was extraordinary. He also played a Chinese Gezheng (not sure I'm spelling it correctly, sorry) that his granddaughter made with his help. There were many wonderful items to admire and even a few for sale.

Also stationed at the mall, were my friends from the Anchorage Spinners and Weavers Guild. This turned into a fabulous adventure when one of them offered to teach the children to weave on a small table loom. All three were fascinated and we spent over an hour letting them "play". Hmmm.... I smell a school project for next year as we spend time calculating the yarn requirements for a project and then execute the final pattern. (I can rent the loom for $20 per month from the guild.)

Finally, a trip to the local Pizza Hut for dinner. Usually a reward for completing their reading projects, this time we only let it be a birthday trip. The kids had all earned to right, so I didn't feel bad about using the coupons this way. And then home for cupcakes and presents.

What a big day!!!!!

Oh, and a final note, we had such wonderful sunshine I was able to snap a shot of our local snow mountain. For those unaware, Anchorage is fast approaching record snowfalls for the winter. It's so bad that the plows no longer have a place to put the snow and many parking lots now have corners devoted to the stacking of the unwanted white stuff. Not far from our home, is one of the many snow dump sites that has been used up until just recently. Believe me, it's a mountains worth.

Here's Christmas! Hope yours was as good as ours!

Here It Is!!!

Here's the video from DD's ballet recital. Turn on your volume, and prepare to smile. DD is in the back row, right.

A Successful Weekend

Well, it was busy but I do think we accomplished our list. The final presents have been purchased (still need to start wrapping). We have a tree to place the gifts under (needs decorating). Met with friends, saw family, and fit in DD's dance recital.

If you want to talk cute, let's discuss the recital. The kids were just adorable, most of them under 7 or 8 I think. I haven't had a chance to look through the video and a friend took photos that I haven't seen yet, but here's a couple of my pictures.After the recital was when we went to look for the tree as well as rewarding our dancer with a vase of pink roses and dinner at Pizza Hut.

We did that in quite the snow storm. All told we got at least 6 inches. But during our dinner the temps rose 14 degrees and by the time we got home there was a record wind storm. Our cable kept going off and power flickered for at least an hour, probably more, then it stopped as fast as it started. Roads were a total mess this morning and will be worse tomorrow as temps drop again turning wet snow and slush to ice. They even closed school here in town. Well, you can't let the rest of the kids have a snow day and not offer the same to the home schooler, we we took the day off too. They are off building snow men as I type.

And now I'm back to trying to complete tasks that just seem to pile up. Hope all are well out there!

She Did It!!!

DD passed the Level 1 Math Skills test at 95% (without the extra credit)! That means she is basically advanced at the 1st grade level. She adds and subtracts and handles all the basic geometry and algebra with ease. The only areas she needs more practice is Time and Money, which we really have only glossed over to this point any way. I was pleased that she got 3 of the 4 coins correct and even the basic o'clock time.

To say I'm proud is an understatement. I only gave it to her to see just what she had retained after completing the "kindergarten" math book I had purchased for her this year. She still has to do the "1st" grade book and I doubt she will be ready for the Level 2 test before next year, but hey, she's not yet 6 years old!

Fun! Fun! Fun!

The holidays have creeped up on us as usual. It's not like we don't know they are coming, it's just they seem to be on the way one day and here the next. As is becoming the tradition, we spent Thanksgiving with my DBIL and DSIL. The dinner was fabulous and now we need to cook our own turkey so we have some additional left overs. What we came home with were gone before the weekend was over.

Then DD and I may just have started a new tradition. I felt that since she is doing so well with her ballet class that she deserved to see a real live ballet. Every year the Eugene Ballet Company comes to Anchorage and performs the Nutcracker over the long weekend. They include many local performers, especially children. It's a wonderful way to kick off the season. DD had a wonderful time and I'm sure her cheeks must have hurt by the time it was over. I had almost as much fun watching her as I did the ballet. I think we may just have to do it again in the future.

Brrrrr...!!!!!!!

It's been mighty cold out there this week. Temperatures actually dropped below zero Fahrenheit. No more snow, but it's only because it's just too cold. They are predicting more snow by Sunday and then right back into these frigid temps.

Oh well, just means more time curled up with knitting on my lap and with all the holiday projects on the list that isn't a totally bad thing.

Look what DD did!

OK, so I can't say that I'm at all surprised. She asked for this the last time she had a hair cut, but the gal who did it didn't really listen. And it's not like she complained when it wasn't exactly right. But recently, she had started asking for another hair cut. It was getting very long again, so with Daddy having the day off for Veterans day, I said, "Why not!" So, first thing this morning we were off and the salon was our first stop. It is awful cute, but what a shock when the women took it to just below her shoulder and DD softly asked to go even shorter. She was thrilled and the first comment from DD was, "Now it won't get in the way when I put my seat belt on."

It sure doesn't.

Fa la la la!

Yep! That's what I'm hearing around the house these days. Sunday we woke to a lovely covering of snow. About an inch. And the cold winter weather was upon us that fast. The days preceding were cool, highs in the 40s. But now we are lucky to see the top side of the 30s. And yesterday.....well, we got even more of the white stuff. If it weren't for the kids and their snow fort, I would most likely be cleaning an accumulated 3 - 4 inches off the drive. As it is, they have worked every spare minute building a fort with all that snow. As we don't have a lot, they have been robbing from the unoccupied home next door. (TeeHee) The fort is mostly a foundation for now, but I think by the end of winter they should have a respectable room.

Not a good week!

This has been the weirdest week. Stressful and yet some things went so much smoother than I thought they would. First, DH was in an accident early in the week. He stopped a little hard when a light turned yellow and the gal behind him thought he would just blow through it. (So many here think yellow means to speed up. Arrrgh!) The rear of his car is crunched just enough to need fixed, but amazingly, the tail lights still work. After some brief concern about possible whiplash, DH seems to be fine though.

The story doesn't end there though. You see, the other driver left the scene, called the police and reported she had been in an accident and that supposedly DH left the scene, and is uninsured. Well, thankfully there were witnesses that gave the police her plate number as being the runner in the Hit and Run, plus DH waited until the officer arrived proving he hadn't fled. And to top it all off, she works for the Department of Public Safety (State Troopers) just like DH. All in all, that girl is in a world of hurt as she was arrested (but not held) and could still end up loosing her job.

After all that excitement, DH had to take a work trip to Juneau. This is where life was good. The kids were well behaved and the days flew by. We had school and Aikido to keep us busy. I sure wish I could get some photos of the boys at Aikido to share.

Then yesterday, the landlord replaced our furnace. It took 12 hours with no heat and limited hot water after they had to disconnect the water heater too. I was pleased the house didn't drop too low, but it was cold even as the kids went to bed. At least we came out the other end with a safe furnace that will hopefully be a little more fuel efficient.

Another Field Trip

We are having field trips galore this month. Our latest was a trip to the Alaska Native Heritage Center. This is a wonderful place with lots of fun things to do, and going as a school group really makes it worthwhile. We had the center to ourselves and they provided wonderful activities. We watched a movie about Raven the Creator, danced and made bead necklaces. Then we had a quick tour of the houses that our native ancestors lived in. (Personally, I wish we had spent more time on that part of the tour, but it was lunch time by then.) Although the picture is not great, you can see some of the dancing. The first dance is "Build an Igloo" and the second is "Raven the Protector". Enjoy the video and don't forget to turn on your sound: