Daredevil

On our July 4th campout at Quartz Creek we did a daytrip to Seward - a day before the crazy Mt. Marathon event (pictures later). The town was amping up for the big day and the crowds were not quite there yet so we meandered around. Seth saw this and had to try it and then he would not stop talking about how "totally awesome he was at it"

A wee bit nervous - not sure what he has gotten himself into.
Did not want to go too high

After a few jumps into the air was talked into doing a flip

I think he shocked himself.

baseball - 2010

Seth is in the last year of coach pitch. Next season he actually gets to be pitched at. How it works here is each batter gets 5 pitches from a mechanical arm that is supposed to provide a consistent pitch. If the batter does not hit the ball then the coach does a short pitch for them to hit at. Seth never gets to the short pitch. He swings and is making some great contacts. The only problem is he tends to overrun the teammate ahead of him. Guess we will learn base running next season.

Meanwhile, sister just likes to run around in the sun and scream.

Memorial Day - 2010

Glen made the reservations for this spot about 6 months ago - gone are the days of heading out on a Friday night and finding a spot anywhere on the Kenai Peninsula or even up north. We pulled the trailer out of storage, took inventory of what we had - I'm sure we could live off the s'mores ingredients alone. We figured out our meals made a stop off at the grocery store and headed south. It was a bit eery, but there was absolutely no traffic holding us up and we made great time.

The kids are at that special age when its really easy to make friends and I think it only took them about 30 seconds to meet the campsite neighbors and off they went exploring in the woods.

The fishing was closed on the Russian River - it actually opened up today at 12:01am and I am sure there were fisherpeople tipping their fishing rods in the river at that precise time.

We took a hike up to Russian River Falls, there was some complaining but the weather was warm with a slight breeze and of course we had snacks to keep their energies up.



Next time up we plan to take the bikes and reach the lake.



but for now, the falls were perfect - total hike 5 miles. Sydney took a nap for about 3 hours when we got back and Seth about fell asleep before he hit the pillow and since we live in Alaska where the sun is still out at 11pm, Glen and I got to sit by the roaring fire.

Alaska evening Sky

We had some incredible sunsets back in April.

syd elton

Its about time for an update on Sydney.

She is becoming quite the fun little punk. Her favorite shoes are these very red sparkly slip-ons and she has no idea about The Wizard of Oz. When jumping into bed she requests "sories" and her favorite series is Olivia. In the car, she can sing along to Lady GaGa, Black Eyed Peas, and still belts out Abba tunes - her highly requested one is walerloo.

When at home or the daycare at the club Sydney will put on her dress-up shoes that have a bit of a heel and she walks in them better then I do whenever I wear heels - sometimes she even runs. I invision a twisted ankle as I see her run down the hallway - but she makes it. Favorite color is still pink and will never turn down a cookie. Swimming lessons have started and I introduced her to the art of relaxing in the hot tub afterwards. When asked if she is ready to get out, her response is "no, relax mama" only I am about to pass out.

We got her a bike for christmas and will be putting it in the camper this weekend to toodle around the campground. Lots of adventures ahead with this one.

Oh, and she drives her brother crazy.

2010 Gold Nugget Triathlon

So April 1st comes around the corner and its in me to sign up for the Gold Nugget Triathlon. This would be my 5th one and the 5th different course and distances - so have I improved, who knows. I just have to remind myself that finishing it is the goal. All those good intentions and then life gets in the way and you think I have a month I better start training. Then the day comes and its sorta like doing your college finals - you've prepared as best you can with the time you have now just do it. So I do. This year I had several friends do it for the first time - we call them newbies and they were not alone - there were 547 of them!!!!

The Sea of Bikes

I remember my first triathlon, they had all the bikes stored in the tennis court and locked them up - that was when there were only 700 people, this year there were over 1500 and the bikes went on forever. I got to watch the first lady in and the last lady and each gave me goosebumps.

The swim was long and the arms were noodles, the bike had a head wind one way and a cross wind the other (thats no fun) and the run was difficult to do because my feet were numb and my legs felt like redwood tree trunks till about 1.5 miles into it.

and next year I will do it all over again.

Raw Video: Dog Leads Police to Fire

Dogs are amazing. The story behind this is that the Police officer's GPS system in his car did not have the location of the rural home. He was driving and seaching for the fire - aimlessly and then saw Buddy who led him to the home. The owner only received minor burns. The troopers are giving Buddy special recognition for saving his owners life.

Bring in the New Year

Who can resist a stop off at Gorilla Fireworks on New Years Eve - even when it is -7 outside your nice car with heated seats? We could not.

We headed to Willow Lake where our friends the Knights have a cabin or you could call it a condo in the woods. Cabins around the lake were setting off fireworks under a full moon that was almost like a spotlight. Amazing!

Sparklers are always a hit.

And what do Alaskans do with their beach chairs at -9 degrees in the middle of winter - use them!!

Winter Fun

Christmas day and the kids had to burn off energy (sugar induced maybe) so we hit the sledding hill in downtown Eagle River. The following pictures are a montage of Sydney's ordeal as it was her first sledding outing.

So it all started with getting all our warm gear on, packing in the sleds and taking off - all smiles and full of excitement.
Then we get to the hill and Sydney's attitude is a 180 degree turn for the worse. She is not liking the outing much anymore.
So, with full refusal to go down the small hill she walks away dejected and sniffles just loud enough for me to hear a few feet away.
Then brother starts to have fun.

Then Dani starts to have fun and you hear them laughing and you look back at Sydney and she is looking over her shoulder at what is going on.


Even Aunt Andi gets in on the fun.
So then we start thinking of making snow angels - close to the sledding hill where all the fun is.

....and maybe its time to try going down.
and when all is said and done, she cries because we are now leaving.
but not before the little punks turn into monkeys
Then it was time to go home and do this.

Conversations with Seth

Mom: Hey, I need you to make a Christmas wish list.
Seth: I would like 3 things: a DSi, santa buddies dvd and moon shoes.
Mom: (ugh, he still wants the moon shoes)
Seth: I have asked for moon shoes from Santa since I was 6 and then 7 and again this year. I dont understand why I have not gotten them.
Mom: Well, maybe they dont make them anymore?
Seth: (in utter shock and dismay) Moooommmmm, Santa can make anything in his workshop.
Mom: Oh, thats right, what was I thinking those elves CAN make anything.

Citizens Academy

I got accepted into the Anchorage Police Department Citizens Academy - no, its not the academy where you can become a police officer, but is a place where citizens can get an up close look into what goes on in the departments and what the officers have to deal with. One night a week for 3 hours we listened to presentations on counterfeiting, gangs, domestic violence, patrol, accident investigations, K-9, crime scene investigations, homicides, cybercrime, drugs, personal safety, and maybe the most fun - we got to shoot some guns that SWAT get to use. Let me just tell you I now would like to have a fully automatic rifle and a taser.

So now what - well, I joined the Alumni group and plan on helping where I can. They use this group at large events like the Governors BBQ, AFN, and random places that need extra eyes. I will be volunteering for the disaster drill held at the airport each year and get to go on two ride alongs and if they ever get a new officer academy going I will just have to volunteer to get drunk and have them practice their DUI protocols.

I did not get a t-shirt after all of this, but did get an incredible opportunity to see the human side of our police force. Oh, but I did get this cool mug from my detective friend - thanks Sherlock!

A Very Snowy Christmas

The fluffy snow has been falling non-stop for almost 3 days. Its time to think about sleds, handwarmers, hot chocolate, and rosey cheeks.



We have watched these 3 trees grow through the seasons and had the intentions on stringing lights on them, but I am not sure I want to knock off the snow.





On the agenda this weekend - COOKIES!!!!!

Been Neglectful

Hi Folks

Okay, I have not forgotten that I have this blog. I just sorta went on a sabbatical from it for awhile. As the holidays approach I will get back into this and makes some posts. We have been a bit busy and I will admit a bit lazy. Had a wonderful visit up north for Thanksgiving, spending time with family and of course eating some good food. Now we are pulling out the holiday decor, attending christmas parties, anticipating a fun alumni volleyball tournament (can already feel the pain), and discussing Christmas dinner - Glen and my sister are already in the talks and I think its gonna be something grand.

Conversations with Seth

Well, these seems to just keep coming

Seth: Mom, can I have a phone?
Mom: you dont need a phone, do you know how to dial a phone?
Seth: no
Mom: Do you know any of your friends phone numbers?
Seth: no
Mom: who would you call?
Seth: girls, girlfriends
Mom: oh, and what would you say?
Seth: I would say - and by the way he is using texting fingers - Hi, this is your boyfriend Seth.
Mom: nice, what if it was your wife?
Seth: well, I would say hi wife this is your husband and I am in jail.
Mom: What did you do to go to jail?
Seth: I did drugs.
Mom: yes, you would be in jail for that. Don't do it. Now eat your dinner.

Conversations with Seth

Mom: Seth wanna go to the movies?
Seth: Yes, awesome.
Mom: okay, its a date.
Seth: Mom, you are too old for me, I mean I am too young for you for a date.
Mom: (now thinking I am raiding his piggy bank to bank roll this outing)

Few minutes later:
Mom: we are going to stop by the store and get treats, kay
Seth: I am getting gum.
Mom: okay, and then we are going to sneak our treats into the movie, kay
Seth: no real response, but he goes with it.

At the ticket counter:
Mom: 2 tickets to G-Force
Seth: we only need tickets and no food because we brought our own.
Mom: uh,uh,uh. nudge seth with elbow while noticing the manager 3 ft away.
Theatre manager: I did not hear that, I did not hear that.
Seth: (repeats alittle louder and alittle slower at the manager) I said we only need tickets because we have our own food.
Mom: ugh.

Conversations with Seth

Seth loves ice cream and he is starting to help himself in the kitchen. Last night, before brushing his teeth and bed, he reminded me that I said he could have ice cream. Granted I had told him that about 5 hours prior - the boy has a memory!!!! especially when it comes to ice cream. He will even say, "mom, remember you said I could have ice cream yesterday and I never got any?" oops.

So he helped himself with a bowl last night and the talk went like this:

Seth: where is that big scooper?
Mom: in the green crock by the coffee maker.
Seth: yes, thats the big one.
Mom: you want me to do it?
Seth: no, I can do it. {gets scooper} boy, this ice cream is tough, but I am tougher.
Mom: Let it stand and melt some, it will be easier to scoop.
Seth: Mom, I am stronger then the ice cream.
Mom: fine, don't eat the whole carton.

few minutes later:
Seth: mom, I finished with the scooper and put it back.
Mom: back where? (no, he could not have)
Seth: back where I got it.
Mom: (walking to the crock, yes he did) Did you wash it before putting it back?
Seth: Oh, darn it, no.
Mom: Good grief child!!

Sydney Update

1

This is how Sydney likes to watch her morning shows. She is curled up in Seths blanket only because Seth has left for school. Here she was watching Bambi (her new favorite movie)and I think the scene where the mom was telling Bambi to run. Sydney likes to yell at the screen Rum, Rum (of course that could be Glens influence as well, I dont drink the stuff).

Here are just some fun things that Sydney is up to:
* we are bribing with beads (M & Ms) to try potty training - its a slow process.
* we like to wake mom and dad up at 7:30am on weekends.
* we do a shakey, shakey dance when we mix our chocolate milk in the am (ovaltine)
* we dont go anywhere without baby (yes, the one she is holding in the picture).
* we yell at the top of our voice "Dah" when mom walks in the door - we are working on parental identity
* when we are done eating everything is "Yuck"
* When we get the chance we love to pound the computer keyboard and open mysterious pages and somehow change the color of the keyboard lights. Today we are back to red.
* when asked what color is this? the answer is always PINK - I am in trouble.
* we like to only let the daycare lady do braids and ponytails - that I am ok with.
* we do not understand the meaning of stop - especially when pestering brother.
* we still love to take naps - thats how I know she is mine.
* we can put our crocs on "all myself, I do it"
* we are afraid of cars in the parking lot "scary me, yikes"

Russian River 09

We packed up the camper and headed south last weekend. To increase the excitement of getting out of town we also brought along Emma, Dani, Beth, and Andrea.





We got into Russian River campsite around 8:30 and the kids were already exploring the grounds on their bikes. Meanwhile, the chilled beers were brought out, grilled cheese sandwhiches were made and the fire got rolling.

Beth was the firemaster as she was able to start the fire by using the coals left by the previous campers. She is now reffered to as Beth Fireball Bennett.

Andrea working the grill


After a lazy morning that ran into the afternoon (1 early morning Aasland riser has no chance against 3 late riser Bennett girls)- we headed to the river - no one was there because no fish were there. 5am is better fishing, but I offered to stay back in the camper if Glen wanted to go and that just never happened (he is learning the ways). The fishing gang did go out at 10pm (another decent time to fish) but when they saw the grizzly fishing in the river - and he actually did get a fish - they decided to come back to the campsite.

The weekend went by fast but we were able to sit around the fire, make smores, relax, chat and spend time together. All in all a great time.

We hope to get out at least 2 more times to catch the fall colors

Siding Be Gone

In our short summer season we try to jam in yardwork, camping, sports, relaxing, bbqs, birthdays, and of course outside home improvement. This summer is continued work on the deck with the start of the outdoor kitchen and deck railing. We also upgraded our windows in the back and while we are doing that we might as well take down the siding and replace it (hopefully before it snows). Glen started the demo and had a little cheerleader yelling "Go Daddy Go"

Conversations with Seth

Mom: see that car over there - that is an unmarked police car and the guy driving it is a detective.
Seth: what is a detective?
Mom: a police officer who does not have to wear a police uniform.
Seth: What does he do?
Mom: He investigates and solves crimes.
Seth: ohhhhh, like Scooby-do, they solve mysteries
Mom: Exactly.