Simpsonized

I "simpsonized" Seth and Sydney. See what you look like as a cartoon.

Running with the Reindeer '08

The inaugural running of the reindeer. I think they need about 10 more reindeer to catch up to the Running of the Bulls in Spain, but something tells me this is not the last running. The things we Alaskans do to keep entertained at the end of winter. Rondy on.

Come out, Sydney!

How do you deal with a situation like this:

Sydney is in the bathroom and she will shut the door, but then she cries with her "I'm scared" cry. The lights are off because that is normally how I get her out of the bathroom. From previous experience, I know the bathroom will be decorated with Charmin toilet paper or the toilet water will provide a splashy entertainment so its best not to leave her alone for long. I open the door to let her out, but she pushes it shut and cries again. I leave the bathroom thinking she will follow me. OH No, she wants to stay in, but she keeps closing the door.

This cycle goes on for awhile while I am standing in the hallway coaxing her to come out (trying not to laugh) then big brother comes over, sees what is going on and says "oh, Sydney get out of there" which is what I was saying as well, but she comes out for Seth and is all giggly.

I think there is an alliance forming

Rescued Moose

This moose breaks through the Chilkat river ice and cannot get out, one of these men are driving by and sees her so he calls the Fish and Wildlife and asks if they will do anything. 45 minutes pass and no one responds, so he decides to do something. A call goes out and 2 other men stop by to help. The moose had stuggled to stay afloat and went under twice, once she calmed down she realized the men were there to help her and even let them pet her. Eventually, they got a rope under the belly and she was able to get out. After resting a bit on her side she walked away. The men did not know this at the time, but the moose was a pregnant cow. Full Story

Me Draw

Sydney has figured out how to hold a pencil and likes to make squiggles. We find evidence of this on the tiles and the wood floors so I had to introduce paper. We also dragged out brothers doodleboard and she was very excited to see her screen go blank for a new "masterpiece".

Dive into your 30's

My lil sis turns the big 3 ohhhhh today. When she was born I remember thinking "what is she going to grow up to be like?" and of course she knocked me off of 'the baby of the family' status and turned me into the 'middle one'(many a psychology paper written on that). She often hangs out with the family, but around 10pm (when about all of us are ready to call it a night) her phone starts ringing and off she goes to her social life "the night is just beginning" she will say. She turned out to be an artsy fartsy graphic designer, jewelry maker, and all around great aunt.

Happy Birthday Aunt Beff - from the kids

Gorgeous Surprise

Sometimes you just need to stop and smell the roses. Or in Sydneys case - grab one and squeeze.

Be Mine

I wrote your name in the sand
but the waves washed it away.
Then I wrote it in the sky
but the wind blew it away.
So I wrote it in my heart and
and thats where it will stay.
--Unknown

What my heart values most are the moments we share
together and the memories we make as a family.

For everything you are,
for everything you do,
For everything we share,
Now and Forever
I am yours
Happy Valentines Day

Is it DNA or our Chromosomes?

Before Seth leaves for school he has something for breakfast - it might be served in a bowl or on a napkin. This one morning he had toast so it was on a napkin and to be honest I am just happy he gets up in time to eat something and head off to the bus on time, so I can deal with picking up after him. I got back from the bus and Sydney had woken up so I got her out and we headed to the living room. If there is food leftover and left out she will help herself to it, but that day Seth finished his toast and the napkin remained. I watched in awe what happened next. Sydney got the napkin and started her walk to the kitchen, directly to the trashcan and stood there - gabbing the whole time. I walked over to her, pressed the foot pedal to open the trash can top and she dropped the napkin in, smiled at me and continued to gab as she walked towards Blues Clues. Now if I can just get my boys to do the same, but I might be fighting the X Chromosome and I am sure if we could break the toddler gab it would sound something like "why can't brother throw out his own trash?, what a mess he makes, good thing mom and I are here to keep this place clutter free."

My Centenarian

This is Norman Vaughan
I knew of him before I met him and so it was a great privilege to work with Norm in our Stroke Fitness class at the club. Its a pool class for those who have had a stroke, trouble with balance or just need to move in a safe environment. Norman was 96 when we first started working together and he would be doing laps around those who were "tired". As he passed them he would say - "come on, I am 40 years older then you, get working". I would say "you better listen to the colonel". He was a regular, coming 3 days a week as he was getting in shape to climb Mt. Vaughan on his 100th birthday. It would take him about 45 minutes to go from the curb to the pool so usually he was exhausted, but after a few minutes of rest he would be ready and when he hit the water he would rarely rest. His nickname for me was "ten more" because that's what I always told the class. Oftentimes, it was just me and him in class so I got to ask questions and once I asked if he had any pets. He said that he gave all his Iditarod dogs to other mushers and when I asked if he had cats his reply was "oh, no we shoot them". It was a very immediate response so I can see him sitting on his back porch with a rifle.

One of his many stories was when he gave Pope John Paul a ride on his dogsled when the Pope was visiting Fairbanks (he was there to meet President Reagan). The Pope asked what the lead dog's name was and Norman did not want to lie to the Pope so he told him that the dog's name was Satan. The Pope replied that it was a good thing we have the reins.

He attributed his long life to have an adventerous spirit and a zest for life. I love his motto "dream big and dare to fail".

He left this world for his next adventure at the age of 100 and 4 days. He promised his mother that he would have his first taste of alcohol on his 100th birthday and so he celebrated with champagne.

Beware of Zorgons

Seth gets these spelling lists and we practice most nights. I try and make it fun so I come up with sentences like for feet I say "Dad's FEET stink". Seth likes to test my spelling first and then we switch -so last night when he was testing me we had the word Meat and he used it in a sentence "Zorgons eat MEAT" I asked what a Zorgon was and he said "monsters up in space that eat humans, humans are MEAT". I asked "do they eat chicken?" and he said "no mom, they eat you and me because we are MEAT".

Brrrrrrrrrrr

The weather forecast for the next 5 days has either one digit or a negative in front of the temperature. It is sunny, which is nice, but there is no warmth with it. The small breeze makes the cold go all the way to the bones and when you breathe it hurts the lungs. February is a big test for anyone who is making it through the winter because this is when we typically get these cold snaps - Fairbanks is down to -40s. Its mother natures way of saying I get one more chance to be winter before things start melting in March (wishful thinking).

Cold days like today, I like to go back and visit pictures of our last Mexico trip. The turtle came onto the beach and buried eggs while about 50 people stood and watched. There is a turtle sanctuary down the beach so the eggs were dug up and taken there. My sister and family are heading there next week, and I have already put in an order for real vanilla - I have sold enough sombreos in garage sales. This summer it will be a mission to get our passports so we can head south next year and get our own vanilla.

Superbowl Sunday

Superbowl Sunday was spent over at Mike and Michelles. They were prepared as usual - Big projector screen near the warm fireplace, one flat screen in front of the couch and just so you did not miss any action while getting a second or third helping of Chilli - a tv near the table of plenty. Logan (Eric and Sheri Benders son) and Sydney got in on the activities as well - had no idea that taking beer bottles in and out of the carrying container was so entertaining. It did not take me long to figure out that the house was full of Giant fans, so me being the lone Patriot fan kept a bit quiet - I was secretly hoping for the undefeated season. Actually, I was pretty much there for the commercials - which I think the Beyonce and little lizards gets the best vote.

Wire Trees by Steve Panarelli

" Little One"
may find its way to my house. It is the smaller one, the green one is called "Full Son" and the taller one is called "Straight up".

On the first friday of each month galleries, coffee shops, boutiques and novelty shops downtown organize and promote an artist of their choosing. It's a great opportunity to meet the artists. This past friday our gallery presented Steve Panarelli, an artist from Homer who loved to maintain Bonsai trees, but with all his travels he was neglecting them so he decided to make trees out of wire. The grand tree is the Copper King and he used up to 850 feet of copper wire. Over time it will change its patina, much like the Statue of Liberty. Wish I could bring this gem home, but it costs $6200. Any takers?

The Other Potato

This could be another indulgence. Finally the sweet potato gets the respect of becoming a chip. Fries at The Peanut Farm are not so bad either. Lip smacking, finger lickin good.

Conversations Continued

This conversation was awhile ago and comes up every so often:

Seth: Jails are for bad people right?
Mom: Yes, when you break the law you will be sent to jail (no need to go into bail, probation, parole at this point)
Seth: Jail is a bad place because the food is bad.
Mom: Well, its not like Dads cooking.
Seth: People who shoot guns go to jail.
Mom: That is right, if you shoot guns at people you will go to jail. That is why you never aim a gun at a person.
Seth: Uncle Tim shoots his gun at the cabin and he might go to jail
Mom: Uncle Tim like to hunt animals - he does not hunt people, he only shoots at animals.
Seth: Uh mom, Uncle Tim and Dad shoot at cans too, and those are not animals. Is Dad going to jail with Uncle Tim?
Mom: No Seth, its okay to shot at cans because they are practicing so they can kill the animal quickly with a good shot and the animal does not have to suffer.
Seth: You can also go to jail for stealing, right?
Mom: Yes, so don't steal anything.
Seth: Okay, I won't - just make sure you have money in your wallet.

********* Last night
Dad: Seth, do you want a bigger bedroom?
Seth: Yes, and stairs.
Dad: Well, you will have a big bedroom.
Seth: That means I need to get more toys.