The Fruit of Our Labors

More pictures for Ryan..

2011-08-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

Pictures That Melt Hearts...

2011-08-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

Ryan is back on a two week on/two week off schedule and he has requested some pictures. This is a boring shmoring post because i have no "subject" to blog about. I've actually thought of shutting down my blog because I never have anything great to blog about. BUT Ryan wants me to keep it so I can send him pictures. So I will keep it up for him.....update it once a year.........just for him. Please don't feel guilty for deleting me off your blog list. I'd delete myself if I could :)

Shaeli, Kali and baby Grant

2011-04-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

My sister in Law Shaeli had her second child Grant about two weeks ago and so I got my first opportunity to take some newborn pictures. Unfortunately I didn't really plan for it, I just showed up with a camera so I didn't get any great newborn poses. But with a beautiful Mama my job was made easy.

It was so much fun I am looking forward to my next photo shoot, get ready Vanessa cause I am going to shoot you!!!!!

Latest Project...

2011-04-04T21:47:00.001-07:00

We bought a wooden highchair and what good is a wooden highchair without a cute little vintage cushion? This is my latest project, and honestly it took a bit for it to get into the blogger world. But I am super happy it's finished. I am in love with these vintage florals :)

Potty Training at Church?

2011-03-13T23:46:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of chuch that Adelle has been "potty trained". I guess I should give an udpate, potty training is going really really well. At home she initiates pottying all by herself. But when we go out.....thats a much wetter story. She's still scared of big pottys so I usually have to bribe her with chocolate and than sit her on my lap on the toilet. Oh yes, it can be done, NO pictures to follow.

The first time in the bathroom at church she didn't want to sit on my lap on the toilet. I had to coax her with my kind and reasuring words for all in the bathroom to hear:

Me: OK Adelle, come sit on my lap.

Adelle sits on lap willingly

Me: GOOD job Adelle! Now can you go pee pee?

Push, come on, try! Come on Adelle go pee pee, go pee pee go pee pee go pee pee

Adelle: pushing and grunting souds

PAUSE

tinkle tinkle

How can you not scream from the mountain tops for that? She MUST be praised! And then, because I wanted her to do it again and feel that wonderful PRIDE I felt I HAD to sing the "Pee Pee in the Potty" song which we usually do. Of course she sang back.

It's funny because I am sure everyone in the bathroom heard this wonderful process from babe to girl hood. If I been that someone in the bathroom listening to all of this I would have been grinning from ear to ear.

So why do I never get so lucky?

Potty Training DAY 1

2011-03-11T00:28:00.000-08:00

Today was Adelle's first potty training day! This was the method I used, my mother used it on me/us and it worked. I ordered it off of ebay and although I was very excited for it to come in the lady who sold it to me I imagine smoked and blew it all over the doll all day long for laughs and giggles. After complaining she gave me a $10 refund. Who's laughing now???

***

The set came with the necessary pee pee Patty Dolly. She pees, you start the training by training the doll and the child watches and learns from the doll, than the child, undertsanding the process finds her own potty success.

***

The majority of the cost for this kit was for the doll. It's a real bummer too because.....it didn't work. I got the smoke smell out, but when I was playing with the doll it accidentally pee'd on Adelle. She HATED that doll after that. She would yell "No no no no" when she'd see it. Every lesson I tried to "teach" the doll Adelle cried and ran away. Finally I went against the book and set the doll aside.

***
The morning started out rough. Before I fed Adelle I through her in the car with Lydia and dropped Lydia off with my Mom. Adelle didn't want to play with the doll, there was a lot of fighting and crying and I was about to give up then. We waited about....1 hr before Adelle finally had to pee. She'd had a lot to drink, and she peed on the hard wood. THEN we did the potty runs, read the book.

***

After that she went three times in the potty, initiated by herself, yay!!! She had one other accident and we did more potty runs. We did have to go pick up Lydia at dinner and Adelle had an accident then. So she self initianted pee in the potty about 8 times and only had 2 1/2 accidents. Not bad if I do say so myself!!!

It was very funny beacuse when I got out the camera she got all silly acting. I thought maybe she was getting sick, but then I saw that she was shy. When I asked if she was shy I got the affermative on that.

I know this wasn't much detail, again, read the book. Tomorrow will be another fun day, no more chocolate for going potty. One of these days soon we'll have to get the potty out of the living room.

***

But I am SO proud of my big girl! She was proud of herself too, but I did notice with the big change I got some awesome cuddles. The best I've had in a long time. Totally worth it!

My New Toy...

2011-03-06T11:03:00.001-08:00

Yes, I have a new toy. Can you tell? My dear husband bought me what I've been wanting for a year or so, a new camera :). It's a canon Rebel T2i, really what that means is it's a REALLY GOOD CAMERA.

***

I have been wanting to get into photography and thanks to my photographer friend Nickie and my husband for getting my new camera, I am on my way. Of course I am just starting out but I've been learning a lot and really having so much fun in the process. Here's some of my camera fun.

Adelle and her buddy/cousin Darion. Can you tell how much she loves him?

This is at a play date and Adelle really wanted to put on her friends swim trunks.

Lydia is my little miracle. I've never met such a happy baby, and I probably never will.

Billy and Chase, our newest additions.

***

With the days getting brighter my dreams of being outside and starting my garden are getting closer. It has been SO beautiful, it is my happy drug.

***

Stay tuned for "Adelle's Potty Training in One Day" post. I ordered the kit and it should be here any day now. It had really better hurry because she is ready and so am I. She's quickly becoming a nudist. The most popular line around here is "boys, cover your eyes!"

Ariane? Who's That??

2011-02-10T00:51:00.001-08:00

In the words of Arianna, the most tallented cheerleader, "ITS ME, IT'S ME".

I am well aware I've been MIA. Where have I been? In the car, running errands, on my knees scrubbing messes, washing, yelling, teaching, breathing, dragging, pulling.....I'll stop there.

I have a new plan for my blog. Because nothing of fun greatness happens, I am going to blog about all of my boring nothings.

Like this:

Yesterday I took a shower while listening to Beauty and the Beasts "Be our Guest". I sang along, used fun voices and let my conditioner soak for a long long time. It made me happy. So happy that all my daily stresses washed away and I didn't want to get out. I felt like I was 13 again, it was like my own homemade spa day.

And I needed that.

The Miracle of the Green Scarf...

2010-12-26T12:08:00.001-08:00

This was the first Christmas where afterwards I felt like I should have done more. I felt guilty for not teaching my boys more about Christ, for not getting everyone gifts or thoughtful enough gifts. I want to do better next year.

***

But Heavenly Father knew I needed a miracle, so he gave me one. The other day as I was walking in Walmart I ran into Karen, a lady from the ward who was with her daughter. They didn't have a shopping cart so I teased her and asked how she could be in a store right before Christmas and not have a shopping cart. She said they were looking for her daughters missing green scarf, they were sad to lose it but were sure it was gone because they had gone through the whole store. My heart went out to her so I told her I would keep my eyes open.

***

I found my sister Melissa (we were having a girls day and were all shopping together) and asked her if she had seen a scarf. She hadn't, so I told her to keep her eyes open for it. A Walmart employee overheard the converstaion and mentioned to me she had found a scarf and put it in the front enterance. I asked her if it was green and she said no it was pink. :o(

***

I finished my shopping and went to check out when I had the thought to find Melissa and take her broken remote car starter to the jewelry counter and get her a new battery. As I went to the back of the store some lady came out of an isle and said "here you go" and handed me the green scarf. I hadn't seen this woman before and have no clue how she knew I was looking for it.

***

I wrapped it up and left it on their doorstep Christmas Eve to Madison from Santa.

***

I got an email from Karen saying that her daughter was so excited to get her scarf back. She told her Mom that although she hadn't mentioned it before she had prayed twice in Walmart to find her scarf. She wanted to say a prayer with her Mom and she gave the most sincere prayer of thanks.

***

I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves his children so much he found a way to touch so many lives with one green scarf miracle.

Staying Up Late...

2010-12-16T09:30:00.001-08:00

I am learning to make every day count. I am also learning to make everything benifit me.....somehow. I am selfish like that :o)

Last night we had a "game night" at Melissas house. It was mostly an opportunity to let the kids play while us girls talked. It was a school night so normally bedtime is 7:45, but we decided to make an exception last night because us girls wanted to just chill. So if I am going to let the kids stay up till 11 (which NEVER happens), what can I get out of it?

I went upstairs while the boys were playing and asked them if they wanted to go home now or keep playing.

"KEEP PLAYING KEEP PLAYING KEEP PLAYING"

Me: "OK I will make a deal with you. I will let you stay up VERY late tonight if you promise to go to bed an hour earlier tomorrow night WITHOUT complaining'

Boys: "I PROMISE I PROMISE I PROMISE I PROMISE"

So One night I get to just hang out with my wonderful family having fun and the NEXT night I get to send the boys to bed at 6:45.

I am getting SO good at this Mother thing!

(in all fairness to me the boys will need this extra sleep because they get REALLY grumpy otherwise.)

Cleaning a Mirror and Reflecting...

2010-12-13T01:13:00.000-08:00

Tonight one of our boys informed us that he had one less present than his brother.

"do you really?" I inquired.

"yes" I was told.

I did the "good Mom" thing, talking to him about the meaning of Christmas and how it's better to give than to receive and ya da ya da. I even pointed out that of the bazilion gifts I've bough this year I only have ONE under the tree. (and sadly I know what they are, beaded earings Chase made me.) This talk didn't sink in.

I asked if he would rather us spend the same amount on each kid or give each kid the same amount of presents.

THE SAME AMOUNT OF PRESENTS!!! Of course.

Later this night as I was cleaning a mirror I started to plot. First on my to-do list, take away Billys presents under the tree. But until when? What should the proper dicipline be for this, that would instill the true meaning of Christmas while simultaniously not be forcefull and cause more contention.

I cleaned my mirror. I had some great ideas to make him earn them back, most of them went like this: Make him learn the true meaning of Christmas. Make him serve someone everyday till Christmas. Make him teach us a Family Home Evening on Christmas. Unfortunately forcing someone to understand the true meaning of Christmas might be counter productive. So I continued to clean the mirror. I said a silent prayer and thought some more.

This is what I came up with. I will have Billy read 5 Christmas stories in a book we own. Then he will chose his favorite one and read it to the family. THEN he can have his presents back. How can you not be touched by the Spirit when reading Christmas stories?

He'll have to be right?

Answers come when we clean mirrors. This is what I've learned so far from being a Mom.

My Biscuits are Burning!!!!

2010-12-09T21:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was I was rushing out the door to go to a play date I realized Adelle only had one pair of clean jeans, and they were wet. They weren't pee pee wet, but she had spilled my water bottle all over herself earlier that day. We were so late I did my "quick fix" I've done before, but never with jeans. I put them in the microwave. I supervised them for the first 45 seconds with no negative effects, they steamed beautifully. I walked away for the last minute. Bad bad mistake. I came downstairs to smoke. Inside the microwave.....FIRE. Great. Did the smoke alarm go off? No. I threw water on it and put it out. Now I had no jeans for Adelle, a smoke-filled house, and a broken microwave.

Want to know what really erked me?

Read on.

Today I made bacon. After 10 seconds of the bacon frying on the pan, the smoke alarm went off.

It's so reasuring to know that my house is safe from bacon, not fire.

Gotta Love Santa...

2010-12-04T17:12:00.000-08:00

A picture's worth a thousand words.

To be fair Santa looks just as happy.

First Annual Apron Swap...

2010-11-14T22:00:00.000-08:00

Here we are! Us girls decided to do our first annual apron swap. We drew names and made for aprons for our and then we got together last night and exchanged them. Of course I am the idiot who forgot who my person was and assumed it was Vanessa (when really Mom had Vanessa and I had Mom) so it got a little messed up. Sometimes I am sorry my family has to put up with me. And thanks to my Mom for being inspired and making an extra one for Melissa to chose from.

I made Vanessa's (black and white), Mom made Melissa's (teal and brown) and Vanessa made Mom's (blue and brown) Melissa had me and went ALL out and made little Adelle a matching apron. Is this not the cutest thing ever? Whenever I wear mine, she wants to wear hers. It is most precious!

Oh so cute!

After the swap we all went to Orso's and had some more wonderful. Of course Devin joined us, as he always does for our "girls nights". I've never blogged about our hotel sleepovers, but Devin joins for those too and he makes the perfect girl! (sorry Devin...we know your a man deep deep down...)

When I came home from a long day without my girlies they were so happy to see me. Honestly I think I was more happy to see them. Seriously the best day in a long long time.

I love my family!

So much fun in no particular order.

2010-11-11T14:39:00.000-08:00

I don't blog much anymore because I've been so busy, and I don't feel like anything is exciting enough to blog about. But if I throw it all together it may seem more interesting.

Here was the BEST NIGHT EVER!!!! We (all four of us) went and saw Mama Mia! It was so wonderful, we ate at Orsoes (yum) and then enjoyed Mama Mia which was hilarious and so entertaining. (double yum) It was so great to have a night off.

We had our annual Halloween party at the Campbells as usual. They made a haunted house out of their garage and it was amazing. It was very well done and planned, they could have charged some good money. Ryan, the Elders and some others all did the scaring, and yes it was scary.

Little Red Ridding Hood lost her hood and didn't know where to find it.

It may not be obvious but I was the Count from Sesame street.

I am trying to give Adelle some good potty time.

She stays on the potty with gum and songs. Here she is singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider. There is nothing cuter than seeing a little naked bum sitting on a potty. Adorable!

Little Lydia is about the cutest thing ever. She is the happiest cutest baby, I keep wondering when I am going to find her fault. I know that sounds so high and mighty, but it's true. She's finally eating solids and she's growing like a weed. She also has two bottom teeth.

Today a friend stopped by my house and asked if Lydia was sleeping. I said "ya, she's down" and then she said "Oh there she is!" She was happily playing on her play mat and I totally forgot about her because she had been so quiet for so long.

I am a horrible Mom, but I love them both anyway!!!!

Moments that make you go "Ohhhh"

2010-10-19T12:50:00.001-07:00

Many of you know we got two foster boys about two months ago. Age 9 and 10, brothers. When they came to our home they were Angy and sad, and fought with each other all of the time. They had behavioral problems that were severe, and a history that matched.

Ryan and I have been sharing the Gospel to these boys. They LOVE learning primary songs and singing them non-stop, we try to have Family Home Evenings each week, we read the Book of Mormon each night, the Elders have been teaching them each Sunday and we find as many opportunities to each them about the Gospel as we can.

On Sunday the Elders were over again and one of them noticed writing in B's Book of Mormon. He's the 10 year old. He asked B what was written. Ryan and I hadn't realized he had written anything on the blank page in the front and were initially worried he was graphitiing (sp?) in his scriptures. This is what he wrote:

"This belongs to B.A.O Jr given by the Missionaries Elder Stone and Elder Lowe in the year of 2010 Oct 4 about 7:30 pm 10 years old 5 months at Grandma Francis' house 5:30, Palmer Alaska in the living room by the fire place in a lesson of God and Jesus Christ. I will always remember this time."

It made my heart melt. This from a 10 year old! How wonderful sharing the gospel is. These boys have been happier since living and learning the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they play together so much better and their behavior problems are slowly receding. How rewarding to see the Lords Tender Mercies of our Heavenly Father in our lives.

Marbles and Life...

2010-10-07T23:25:00.000-07:00

Remember those marble towers we played with as kids? You'd build this amazing course for the marbles to travel, and you made it your goal to put marble after marble after marble through the course without skipping a beat. How long could you do this for? Why was this challenge so exhilarating?

We got a marble tower set a week ago and my foster boys did this very thing and it made me reflect on my same actions as a child. Why we as children are attracted to the same monotonous action over and over, with a goal to KEEP IT GOING DON'T LET IT STOP.

Then tonight I was doing dishes. I was doing them at 10:00 at night because I knew if I didn't I would fall behind in the morning and I couldn't let that happen. One marble down the shoot. Pick up the toys before I go to bed....another marble. All of a sudden I realized my life is that tower. I load and unload that dishwasher multiple times a day, I get that feeling of satisfaction yet I didn't do anything different. Just setting up for the next marble so I don't lose my rhythm.

Maybe this is why we are so intrigued by this habitual game as children. Preparing us for the excitement of adulthood.

I have to say I am a little depressed at this thought.

Near Death Experience...

2010-09-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

Here's how it happened. It was a beautiful sunny day and my dear sweet husband and I were outside talking about "to do" stuff. He was working on moving the fence but took a break so we could brain storm together. We talked about the things we needed to do around the house before it snows, and how we needed to save money. Saving money became our biggest priority, and we both felt really good about it as we walked away to do our own things. Ryan got back in the jeep to pull out the fence posts.

A moment later I heard CRACK. Ryan had pulled out a post that went through the back window and up to the front windsheild. See in the picture below where on the front windshield it hit? Right where the passenger sits. My husband, as STUPID as this was was at least smart enought to stick his head out the side window to protect his head in case this happened.

Thats right, my husband almost died! Now I am sure all of you out there are thinking how sad, and lucky I must feel and yada yada, but really, I was mad. After talking about saving money my husband breaks out BOTH windows, costing us over $400. I have good life insurance on Ryan, not so much on the jeep.

So there you have it. My husband almost dies and I am mad he did such a foolish thing almost killing himself, killing the car and costing us more money. I am working really hard on being more grateful for his life, that we were blessed and that he's still with us. I might still go to he__ because I am not there yet.

Gifts...

2010-09-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

Adelle loves to bring Lydia presents. If I leave them together for even a minute I come back to Lydia burried in "gifts". Here we have: 6 books, a telephone, lotion and a speak n say toy.

The good thing is Adelle is getting better at not putting things on Lydia's face, but it still happens. The other day I cam into to find Lydia's face and head completely burried in a firemans hat. She wasn't even upset, probably just trying to figure out why everything went red.

I am happy to say these two are so lucky to have each other :o)

Autumn Awesomeness...

2010-09-16T22:12:00.001-07:00

Here's a picture of Adelle that has nothing to do with Autumn, just very adorable. I thought it would be a good way to start this post :o) Notice the dirt on her face?

So we'll start here. My family and Mom and her foster boy Justin all went on a beautiful sunny fall walk around Kepler Bradely lakes, out here in Palmer. It was the PERFECT fall walk, the weather was perfect, just what my Mom and I needed.

My Mom, bless her heart, was either helping with Adelle or Lydia. She walked with Adelle for awhile because Adelle wanted to walk like everyone else.

We took the bike trailer for a bit of the way but then we had to ditch it because it got too bumpy. This picture cracks me up because Adelle looks like a goof, (not a peice of her outfit matches) and Lydia just looks adorable.

I just wanted to post those pictures because they're so beautiful. And our summer has been nothing but rain so we're FINALLY getting some sun and it has just been heavenly.

Oh My Goodness...

2010-08-27T22:49:00.000-07:00

"Oh My Goodness" is how I am feeling right now. I have been a horrible blogger because I feel like I don't have anything important to say. But then when I do blog I have a lot of catching up to do. So here we go.

Ryan and I got two foster boys 4 days ago. They are brothers, age 8 and 10. They are over-all good boys but it has been an adjustment. AND as always happens Ryan is either not home when I get a placement, or he leaves the next day. The latter happened this time.

So our whole family, Francis', Campbells and Olsens all decided to go to the fair today. It was raining off and on, I had two babies and two older boys and had no husband to help. Very thankfully my WHOLE family helped out, they were pushing my stroller, holding and attending to my children and blessing me with wonderful conversation. I felt like I had 4 kids to take care of and no hands of my own to do it. The whole time I kept thinking how much I loved my family. It was quite comical to me because there were 4 Mom's, 2 Dad's, and 11 kids and we just shared children. We each just kept track of whichever group of kids happened to be right in front of us at the time. Now THATS what I call team parenting.

These pictures are evidence of my inability to focus on one thing more than 2 seconds. They stink. These are the only good pictures I got at the fair.

The Goods:
I got to spend fun time with my family.

I got to see some very cute animals.

I didn't have any major melt downs from the foster boys or Adelle.

I didn't run out of money.

I didn't have to pay for parking (we walked)

The Bads
Adelle's diaper leaked through her pants. (white trash Mom here)

I had to rely on others to help.

My foster boys were'nt as grateful as they should have been.

Lydia was hungry and tired the whole time.

I didn't get to go on rides, eat fair food or buy anything.

I didn't get to enjoy the fair with Adelle.

Really in the end my family outdid the bads so much so that I can say I had a really fun time. AND I get to enjoy the fair fireworks (which just started right now) from the comfort of my own warm/non-rainy home.

Doing The Unthinkable...

2010-08-17T21:05:00.001-07:00

I say unthinkable because I would have NEVER thought I'd be going on a Kayaking trip 3 months after having a baby. Not because I wouldn't want too, but an over nighter with two babies at home? I lucked out, my Mom had this package for a night at Kayakers Cove out of Seward that her and Randy couldn't use. Vanessa volunteered to watch our kids and Ryan and I were given quite a wonderful surprise all planned out. Yippee!!!!!

The trip started out great, we went to Sewards Museum which I could live at because I LOVE history, especially Alaskan history.

This is where our trip got interesting. We had to take a water taxi out to Kayakers Cove, so we booked through Millers Landing. DON'T ever book through them!!!

Yes we look happy.

Really happy. These were taken right before taking off on this open skiff over open water in the rain and hail for an hour. They didn't tell us this and we showed up to our destination sopping wet, as were our clothes bedding and food. Kayakers Cove is a cabin with no electricity so I was wet the whole two days. Everyone slept in the same room and there was no private place except the outhouse. This made pumping VERY awkward! This made me really mad, but there were other good parts.

Keep reading...

Here's some highlights:

Ahh, this was fun. I thought this was a cool long stick floating in the water but when I got to it it was some weird seaweed thingy that was really long and scary. I kept thinking it would come alive when I touched it. I had to carry my treasure back with me.

We got off on Fox island to pee (details sorry). After this picture something GREAT happened! As we were peeing Ryan said "LOOK", and right there by the shore in the water was a sea lion with a halibut in it's mouth, looking for a place to eat it. Unfortunately he saw us and decided to find another place to eat his grub. We got in our kayaks and tried to find him as fast as we could but to no avail. Our friend was gone.

At another point again Ryan said "Look" and right behind him was a seal, it's head bobbing in the water. He was following us!!! We saw a few pods of porpoises jumping in the water, puffins flying and floating on the water looking for fish (I want a pet puffin), a sea otter eating it's grub and many many jelly fish. We really lucked out on our wildlife viewing.

Besides the wet clothes and the comunial accomidations it was a very fun trip. Thanks so much to Mom and Vanessa for making it possible! Thanks to Ryan for being a fun husband through the craziness and to Miller's Landing I hope you go under!

Strawberries, Guns, Corn and Sister Love.

2010-07-25T21:17:00.001-07:00

Here's a mash-up of whats been going on around here. (seen Glee? :o))

Lets start with Sister Love.

As I was driving the long ride home from Anchorage, Lydia kept fussing, she couldn't quite fall asleep. It was kinda weird so finally I turned around to see if something was "bugging" her. I am not sure if Adelle was helping or hurting, but she was holding Lydia's hand. She held her hand the whole rest of the car ride home.

On that note, when I was pregnant with Adelle I had a dream that she popped her little hand out of my belly and we held hands all day long. Regardless of how wacko it seems, in my dream it was so touching, I didn't want to let go of her hand to put it back. But I've noticed that Adelle likes to hold hands. Today in church she was persistent on holding a little boys hand, he didn't get what she was trying to do but she kept grabbing it. Very sweet.

I debated putting this picture of Adelle and Lydia up because it is so horrible, I was rushing to take pictures and my camera settings were off, by the time I fixed them Adelle was done. And when she's done shes DONE. I think she was trying to help Lydia talk to her Daddy, like I do to Adelle. I couldn't have asked for a better big sister for Lydia. It also makes me grateful that I have sisters that I love this much.

Adelle learned how to eat corn on the cob. It was hilarious to watch her try to find the kernals and master this art. Just a cute picture.

This has been a great summer for strawberries, we've had SO many! I have discovered a trick. After I pick them from the garden I wash and dry them and then place them in a mason jar in the window. This way they will continue to rippen without the bugs and birds getting them. Not only does it make them ever so tasty, it's quite attractive I think. (I did have to move to a bigger mason jar eventually)

Last of all my Grandpa Best (Ryans Grandpa but I've adopted him) gave me a gun. It's a 22 huntsman. He has so many guns he's been vowing to give them to his grandchildren, but I am one of the few that got lucky enough to actually get one. Isn't that so awesome!? I am a pretty good shot if I do say so myself. (these are the really cool grandparents that have the farm and are teaching me all about farming and provident living)

Ryans going to be on the slope for 3 weeks so I will be posting pictures for him.

Stay tuned sweetie!

The First Harvest...

2010-07-12T15:27:00.000-07:00

Here is our garden, the same as last year but bigger and better. We were smarter on the veggies we planted and how we planted them.

It's amazing how the fruit of our labors are birthed overnight. I came into the garden today and I had two beautiful ripe zuchini's and this juicy strawberry. Yesterday it seemed they were still buds on plants.

I was SO excited to eat this strawberry, and it was GOOOOD! We have two large strawberry patches this year. Enough to eat, freeze and share.

These are two long rows of peas. Peas only, I want to have peas coming out of my ear. Peas peas peas I love peas! Again, enough to eat, freeze and share. Of course they're far from being harvested.

Also far from being harvested is these two wittle apples. There were three but I nipped one to help these two grow. It's amazing to me how many Alaskans are un aware that we can grow apples here. Yes they are a bit smaller (these will grow bigger), but they are tasty. Click HERE to see last years fun with Alaskan Apples!

So a strawberry and a zuchini. Wow I am happy! Ooh ooh, and tonight I am going to learn to milk a goat to help my friend out with her farm while she takes her family camping. Stay tuned for THAT blog!! :o)

Let's Partay...

2010-07-11T22:56:00.000-07:00

She's Growing...

2010-07-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

Lydia had a hard time gaining weight when she was first born, she had bad baby diahrea. Her little gut has figured things out and she's been putting on weight steadily. I thought I'd post an updated picture of her since I have been really bad at that.

Here's Little Lydi at 7 weeks. She's a happy baby and loves to smile and is starting to coo. I will post smiling pictures later.

If you look really close you'll notice her lips are purple. She has thrush poor thing, so the herbal remedy which is called genetian violet is purple, like ink. So she's fine just looks like a little punk rocker.

Muppet Patriotism...

2010-07-05T10:08:00.001-07:00

My Dad sent this to me today. It's a day late, but the Muppets will live forever, and so will America. (But if I had to place bets I'd say the first will out live the second :o))

Campin Crazies!

2010-06-30T21:57:00.000-07:00

The WHOLE family went down to Seward to Primrose campground. We camped for 4 whole days! This was Lydia's first camping experience, of course she's only 7 weeks. Adelle is older now and I have to say a little more difficult. At sleeping that is. We started off having Adelle in the tent with us, but after night #1 she ended up in the back of the jeep. That was the save all for our trip, we all slept so much better. Lydia slept in her blue rubbermade tote. She was a champ.

This is the greatest story! Aidan made a "trap" for the wild animals. A trail of pretzels leading to a trip cord that would send the animal plumeting into the river. Unfortunately it was late at night and he didn't take into account the other "wild" animals in the area, Gracie dog. This was not his intent and he was not happy. Looking back it was mean of me to laugh. Sorry Aidan.

Adelle loves her Daddy no matter how scary he is. (he wasn't trying to be)

Here is Lydia in her tote. She slept so well and was a happy camper.

The crew (and their legs)

One of our favorite places in Seward is Lowell point. We had so much fun sitting on the beach and watching the Campbell kids play in the waves. (The Olsens had gone home by then :o()

Adelle wanted SO bad to play in the water with the cousins, so we thought...why not? We took off her pants and took her to the water

and......

It wasn't as fun as she thought it would be. The water was cold. She kept lifting her feet and gesturing for Daddy to pick her up. But when he did she would want to get back down and play. Eventually she got used to it and was most adorable on the beach.

She just adores Auntie Vanessa.

This is our last morning breakfast. Don't they look so cheery?

My Love.

The last morning I was in the tent feeding Lydia. Adelle was walking around outside as I was talking through the tent to Ryan. She wanted to find me so she walked around the tent babbling for me. I started talking to her and she got so excited "talking" to me through the tent. But where was I. She LOVED when I opened the window. Mystery solved. I love my little girl and I am so glad she loves me.

Lydia did so well I am sure she will be a great camper too. Both of my girls were great, hardly any crying, they just enjoyed themselves. And I am glad that my whole family loves to camp. Did I mention it was cold and rained most of the time? We can have fun in ANY situation. I love my family.

Mmm Corn

2010-06-15T00:04:00.000-07:00

Much Ado About Nothing

2010-06-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

Here is Adelle kissing Lydia...

Here is Adelle playing in the drool she just landed on Lydia.

And here is Lydia wrapped in a sling as we are about to go out and water the yard. Lots has been Ado'ing around here, but nothing so exciting to blog about. The garden is growing, the kids are kidding and I am trying to keep it under control. What's keeping me sane?

Lark Rise to Candleford, the BBC series!

It may actually be making me more insane since I am now an adict and can't get enough, and can no longer distinguish between reality and my desired reality. It is my daily getaway into a world of talking people and fun plots. (Keep in mind my husband is gone and I am taking care of two babes. Need I say more)

Lydia's First Photo Shoot

2010-05-30T13:38:00.001-07:00

My friend Nickie Mullin took these pictures. She's amazing, check out her blog at www.nickiejeanphotography.blogspot.com

Funny...

2010-05-28T22:45:00.001-07:00

I love when something happens that you don't realize is absolutely hilarious till after the fact. Then you look back and can't stop laughing. (I have to first say Ryan told me NOT to post this on the blog, but since he never actually reads my blog, just looks at pictures.....I think he'll skim right past this one.)

Here's the story.

When I was in labor and we had arrived at the birth center, our wonderful Midwife Debbie had us go for a 30 min walk to get things going. We went on a rather humiliating walk in a semi-busy part of town with people walking and driving by, while I was having regular contractions. I could only imagine what people thought. Anyway at one point there was a punk kid on the other-side of the road just behind us. I noticed him briefly and got a "danger" vibe from him, but then a contraction came on and I forgot about him.

That was that. So I thought.

Later that night, after Lydia was born and my Mom and sisters were there visiting us, Ryan gave them the run-down of the night. He mentioned going for a walk and a punk kid who he felt the need to protect me from.

Again, that was that.

Then later as I was writing this whole experience in my journal and I started to write about the kid, I realized I had never asked Ryan what was going through his mind at this point. He was sitting next to me, so I asked him. His response: "I got a bad vibe from him so I looked around on the ground and made sure I could always grab something to throw at him if I needed to." This sunk in. I asked him, "like a rock?" "yes, like a rock". Then suddenly I pictured myself, bent over through a contraction and my husband chucking rocks and sticks across the street at this punk kid who intended us harm. I couldn't stop laughing. He was really thinking this, keeping his eye on the ground every step of the way. Looking for rocks.

My Hero!

The Happenings at the Marley's...

2010-05-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

It has been a bit of a mad-house around here lately. I wonder how other new Mom's do it because I often feel like everything is falling apart faster than I can put it back together. Not in a horrible way, just in a the house gets messy, the kids are both crying, and we have to do this and this and this....all at the same time. Along with having a new baby, which is wonderful, we are also preparing our foster girl to leave for Job Core on Tuesday. So here's a bit of what's been going on.

Adelle meeting her sister for the first time. She was very interested.

Kisses...

and cuddles...

My Mother the life saver. She has been the best Mom/Grandma a person could ask for. She helps and offers to help, and so perfectly holds and gives attention to both babes. It has meant so much to me to share these things with her, and to hear her wisdom. I feel just as young as my kids as I become her "kid" again.

And isn't she beautiful?

Here's babe number 1. She is adjusting well, it's been hard for her to see me sitting so much, nursing, but luckily Daddy has been around to give attention. And she really loves her sister, she is concerned for her when she cries, wants to kiss, hug and pet Lydia. It's adorable to see that maternal side come out of a girl so young.

I think one of the greatest things I have done in life is to give these two girls to each other, best friends for life.

Meet Baby Lydia

2010-05-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

It's been pretty crazy-wonderful around here :o). Here's a last pregnancy shot, me at 39 weeks 2 days. ALMOST done!!!

I went into labor the morning of the 12th, two days before my due date. This was my Grandmother Louine Bromely's birthday, and I was begging her to see that Lydia be born on that day. She came through for me. The contractions took a little time to get going but we went to the Birth Center at 6:30 pm ready to NOT get sent home. (My labor with Adelle totaled 4 days and 4 nights. I was scared to death this would happen again).

The midwife Debbie had us go for a walk to get the contractions stronger since I was only dialated to a 4. When we got back to the center Debbie came into our room with a breast pump (a contracting womans worst enemy. I remember this torture device and wanting to die from it with Adelle) Luckily when she saw my contractions and checked Lydia's heart rate, which was a little high, she decided we needed to give Lydia a break. She let me get in the water. Ahhhhh. My contractions were strong and very effective, so I managed to escape the breast pump torture. Debbie even guessed this baby would be here soon so if I wanted to have my sisters and Mom be here for the birth, or just after, they should be here around 9:30 pm. That was VERY shocking to me as it was only about 8:50 and I had no clue I was moving along that fast. Very exciting.

Soon after this she broke my water, and then after that Debbie informed us that I had an anterior lip. Basically a part of the cervix was not dialating as it should making the baby unable to pass through it. Not that you have this option, but this is something you DON'T want in natural childbirth. This slowed the process down quite a bit, when I should have been pushing I had to wait through the pain hoping that changing positions would move it naturally. After that didn't work Debbie suggested holding it back while I pushed Lydia past this. This was the most painful part of the whole birth, but luckily it worked.

Baby Lydia came out after 10 minutes of pushing and was born at 10:40 weighing 7 lbs 4 oz at 20". She looked up at me the moment she came to my chest and just stared at me.

My Mom said this baby had more vernix on her that she had ever seen any baby have. I totally agree.

The moment she was born we called in the "Female Support Team"and it was SO wonderful for me to have them there. Not only were they so supportive and excited they did all the baby holding while the other stuff went on. Having them there was something that lifted my already high spirits, it was so much fun to hear them talk to each other about anything and everything. Getting stitched up was made pleasant as I was distracted by all the talk about Lost.

My sisters Vanessa and Melissa, and My Mom Pauline, whom Lydia Pauline is named for.

Ryan was the best coach I could have ever asked for. I squeezed his hands and arms and put him through the ringer. That is the closest he will ever come to the pain of childbirth.

I am glad I married this man.

My Mother said she looks like me as an infant and I agree. She also weighed exactly what I did. Pretty niffty.

She has been the best baby so far. Easy to comfort, hardly cries and sleeps a LOT. We love her to death and are so excited for her and Adelle to meet later tonight.

And that is our new family addition. Keep checking in on us as she gets cuter and cuter :o)

Billy Curringtong Baby!!!!!

2010-04-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

THIS is Billy Currington. He's a country singer who came up to Anchorage on Tuesday and Dad, Vanessa, Devin and I went to see him in concert. But before I talk about the concert I want to give you some back ground.

THIS is my husband. Ryan. See the resemblance? When Ryan and I were dating we broke up a "few" times. The last time we broke up he broke my heart, that was when I realized I really loved him and was ready commit. Go figure. Anyway it was at this same time Billy Currington became more well known and started coming out with music vidoes that would steam up your bathroom mirrors. Or bedroom mirrors, eh hem. Since I already missed Ryan it made watching these vidoes even more painful and I developed a crush on Billy. But Billy never called, and eventually Ryan did, so I said "why not" to Ryan and "your on your own" to Billy. I was very happy to have my sweetheart back.

But still deep down I have a little crush on Billy, which I don't feel too bad admitting because it's because to me he looks like Ryan. So when we went to the concert I couldn't help but drool a little. (Ryan was on the slope so I've been without a man for a long long long long long long time)

There is my confession. Here is the fun we had.

Before the concert we went to Sacks Cafe for dinner and that was wonderful Here's us Waiting for it to start. The room was like 100 degrees, and it wasn't just me in my pregnant body, EVERYone there was hot and sweaty. Accept for that it was a great concert.

As we were driving everyone back to their cars we came upon these freaky masks in the dark. Well you can't pass something like this and NOT take a picture right? We had no clue what they were for, but they were spooky spooky.

Here's us acting dead.

Here's us acting spooky. My spooky and dead rendition may look very similar, but really.......they are. I just couldn't stop laughing.

It was a GREAT night!!!!!

Trying Pig Tails...

2010-04-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

It's hard trying trying to think of new ways to "style" Adelle's hair. This one's pretty cute :o) Any other ideas?

The Hormone Surge...

2010-04-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I have days that my hormones can't handle. Being almost 9 months pregnant these days are getting more and more frequent. And I am noticing them more with this second pregnancy. Probably just because there's more on my plate.

Story #1. I go to church usually alone since Ryan is always on the slope. So that means me, in heals and a skirt, with baby #1 in my arms, baby #2 in my belly, one diaper bag and my purse. Fun. Today as I got out of the car and collected this pack mule's load, the wonderful Palmer wind decided to blow up my skirt. Sky high so the lovely MODEST couple walking into the church to partake of the sacrament and feel the spirit could get a lovely shot of me in my glory. What can I do, I have no hands? And no shame anymore. I am sure they have no question as to my un-married looking appearance.

Story #2. To regain my composure and put my clothes back on I made my first stop at the bathroom, a pregnant woman's best friend. I left Adelle to toddle in the entry way, so when I was done I picked up the bags and just as I bent down to pick up Adelle, she fell. My Mama instincts kicked in and as I reached down fast as lightning to pick her up, the two bags on my one shoulder flew down too, knocking Adelle in the head. Sorry baby. I managed to get myself and my valuables into the chapel, just in time to sit down, sing the opening song and fight back the tears. I managed to keep it together, just barely.

Story #3. Feeding Adelle her lunch in the Mother's lounge. Just as I gave her a spoonful of yummy applesauce, she sneezed. All over me. Do I care anymore? Off to Young Women's feeling totally confident in myself. Applesauce splattered all over my shirt. If only that couple I flashed earlier could see me now. I will be the cheapest birth control they've ever used.

Story #4. I actually made it through church. A miracle. I left and walked out to my car, trying to keep my pained body in some sort of normal form as I walked. I will not wobble, I refuse! Then I got to my jeep. Some lovely person decided to park 2 feet away from the side of the jeep with the car seat. I couldn't have fit in that space to put Adelle in without my huge belly let alone with it. Again, lovely. I wobbled my way to the otherside of the jeep, set Adelle in the back seat with the bags, backed the jeep out, just to get Adelle and put her in her car seat.

I left that guy a very nice note, on the back of a Carl's Jr receipt.

Sometimes I wonder why I even bother going to church. I think we talked about Temples, but it could have been the second coming.

I am ready for my day of rest now.

Pick up the egg? I don't get it.

2010-04-08T11:46:00.001-07:00

This wasn't Adelle's first Easter, but last year she was only4 months and the only thing she cared about was Easter candy through Mamas milk. So this year we tried the whole Easter egg hunt thing. She is walking really well so that helped the "hunt", but she just didn't get it. Why do we want her to pick up the egg? I don't care, I want to keep on walking. When we showed her how to open the egg and the goodies inside THEN she became a little more interested in picking them up. She had the patience for 3 whole eggs! :o)

But we had fun. It's so fun now that she's walking. Ryan was home for one whole week after the three he was gone and we had so much fun just watching and laughing at her. I think Easter is the one holiday he was actually home for.

Now we're getting creative...

2010-03-31T12:30:00.001-07:00

I'll bet you can guess this nap didn't last very long.

Oh the Distruction!

2010-03-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

Adelle had some funky naps today. She woke up from her first nap early and REALLY fussy, so she went down for her second nap early. Even then she cried in her crib much much longer than she normally does. I was really worried she wouldn't go to bed and it would just be a miserably long day.

Finally when it got quiet I went and checked on her just to make sure I hadn't gone deaf. Then I noticed some clues as to the continued crying.

Exhibit A. Porcelain doll knocked over, favorite bunny on floor. This was a first, how is Adelle baby to sleep without her bunny?

Exhibit B. Sleeping in a PILE of tissues pulled out by a naughty baby. I guess her bed isn't fluffy enough. More evidence that Adelle has learned she can stand up in the crib. She's never cared to before, but it's pretty clear what was going on while Mom wasn't looking.

The fusser finally woke up, on a cloud of tissues. So on a bed of fluff, why the sad face?

MY BUNNY!!!!!

Baby Pictures for Daddy

2010-03-28T22:13:00.000-07:00

Ryan asked for more pictures on the blog (when I was bragging how much fun Adelle and I have been having), so these are for him. He's been on the slope now for 2 1/2 weeks and doesn't come home until Thursday. So he's been away from her for awhile, not easy on a daddy. Random bits of fun.

The Campbell boys came over to play a few days ago and Adelle just adores them! Here they are watching The Never Ending Story. (see the video clip below for more cousin love)

And a few days ago it was absolutely beautiful, sunny and probably around 50 degrees, so we decided to go outside and "play".

Fun and Random

2010-03-19T12:39:00.001-07:00

It's been awhile since I've posted pictures and my posts have been pretty impersonal lately. So I thought I'd do a quick mix of pics before Adelle two one and Lydia turns one.

Baby Dell sleeping. Look at those rosies!

This was most precious, I walked over to find Adelle petting Toby's head through the gate and Toby just loving it. She loves him, and he's starting to not run from her.

Adelle and I were playing chase around the kitchen. She always gets so excited that she laughs so hard she gets the hiccups. Happens every time!

Me at 31 weeks, like I said I am trying to get better at taking belly pics.

Here Adelle CANT take her eyes of The Sound of Music. I took about 10 pictures and each one looks just like this. How do you solve a problem like Adelle?

Finally it's Happening!!!!

2010-03-15T22:37:00.000-07:00

We know that our child is delayed in the crawling area. Her chiropractor suggested that since she had a kinked back as a newborn it created the habit of not wanting to round her back, as is needed to crawl. He said she would never crawl, so we gave up hoping. (this sounds like a paralysis/car accident miracle, I guess thats how proud we are)

In Adelle's defense she is actually walking better than she is crawling. As long as you walk beside, in front or behind her she can go around the room, turn, and change directions. So even though walking is her preferred mode of transportation, I've really been working with her to crawl. By working I mean bribing her with thin mints. It was the only thing that worked, she LOVES those things!

Anyway, enjoy the very short clip. After taping this she learned to sit, then crawl, then sit, and got a lot better. Stay tuned and I'll get some more crawling clips up, and some walking ones as well. I haven't been able to get clips onto the blog before now, thats why your just now seeing them.

Childhood Song FOUND AT LAST!!!

2010-03-09T18:51:00.001-08:00

I know this is silly, but this is a song I've been looking for and missing for about 15 years now. I remember being a young-in and this song coming on in the car and getting SO excited! I've searched and searched and asked people and people just look at me like I am crazy. Has no one heard of this song??? It's called Ponderous, or This is Ponderous.

Anyway I though I would share it, it makes me happy, maybe it will make you happy. Listening to it is as if not a day has gone by that I haven't been without my "friend".

Enjoy! (and know that this guy in the video is just that, some guy. Did a pretty good job lip singing though)

Around the Room in 5 min...

2010-02-12T11:13:00.000-08:00

I've noticed that our days are starting to look much the same. Adelle's interest in her toys is waning, and being that I am pregnant I get exhausted of bending over 50 times a day to re-direct her interest, get her new toys, pick up the old ones, etc etc. She is ALWAYS happy if you just take her to the wall. Or her walking toy or the table or the fridge or wherever. She will spend hours walking in circles around our main level. She's really good and she's getting really fast, lately she has been galloping along the longer walls. So here she is, on her daily adventure around the room. (which she repeats over and over and over)

Starting point: the couch, my purse and the lap top. And usually me.

She's so fast I couldn't get her cruising along all her walking toys. Here we enter the kitchen.

She reminds me of a rock climber. When she first started out she would go along a long wall, then look back and realize how far she'd come and get a little scared.

She loves getting over to the slidding door, because thats usually where Nelly dog is outside waiting for Adelle to play through the window. And they have fun "playing".

And on to round 6. Thanks for taking this journey with us!

I am Grumpy...

2010-02-10T20:23:00.000-08:00

Yes, thats right. I am blogging because I am grumpy. The kind of grumpy that makes you feel like a little kid, the kind where you want to lay on the floor on your back and kick and scream to make the problem go away. Funny because I don't ever remember throwing fits like that when I was little. I am sure I never did. But it's in my blood now.

Adelle and Lydia's bumpber that I made, the one a few posts down, has to be taken apart and re-batted. (is that the word?) The batting I used was too thin so it flops over. So I spent hours adding boning through-out to help it stand up. It looks good in theory, but once Adelle gets to it it looks like an embarrassing mess. I can't take it anymore, I have to re-do it. And that means pretty much re-doing the whole thing. Plus I don't even know how to get the thickest batting into a long skinny bumper. Any suggestions?

Anyway, I am grumpy. Mad grumpy. I keep telling myself once I am done with it I will be glad I put forth the effort. Thats what I told myself before the boning idea. So here I go, on to plan F.

Until then I will search for a lesson I can take from this STUPID BUMPER PROJECT!

25 weeks and HUGE!!!

2010-01-31T13:17:00.000-08:00

I have to start by saying I am quite the hypocrite. I LOVE when my pregnant friends post pregnant pictures of themselves on their blogs or facebook or just email them to me :o). I am always asking for more, yet I hardly ever even take pictures of myself when I am pregnant let alone post them for others to see. Plus I am so much bigger this time around than I was with Adelle. I think I was about this big when I had her. Anyway I decided I needed to repent, if even just a little.

This is my sister-in-law Andrea who's 36 weeks, isn't she adorable? I am so happy that we are finally pregnant at the same time, I knew if I didn't get a picture of it I would regret it forever. Those are the things you can't take back. And I am glad I did.

On a side note, today, Sunday, we are having Adelle's birthday party. So keep posted on some fun pictures!!!

Getting Things Done...

2010-01-29T15:22:00.000-08:00

I've been busy getting some projects finished. As projects for me tend to go, they always take a lot longer and have much more backtracking than I anticipate. So here are two projects that I finally finished at about the same time.

Ryan painted this $35 crib, it was a lot of work for him but I really love it. I love it's vintage look. My contribution was the bumper. There were 3 different patterns that I went through before deciding on this one. I did a LOT of unstitching and starting over. I thought it would be much like a long skinny quilt, but I found it more difficult for many reasons. But it's finished and I am pleased with it.

Next I will be making a matching quilt for baby Lydia. That should be much easier and I am excited to get started on that. (well excited now that all my other hair pulling projects are finished)

This antique rocking chair was a craigslist find that we got for $75. I painted it white and then re-upholstered it. Its not the best baby-rocking chair, so I've matched it to go in the living room. I know the white on white makes it different to see the detail, but it has some beautiful engraving that I love.

Photo Shoot....Kinda

2010-01-24T17:04:00.000-08:00

As I was getting some things done in Adelle's room, I put her in her crib to "play". This is the first time she's been in her crib standing, and not sleeping. (we just barely set up her room about a week ago. She's been in a small bassinet till now) I told her she could jump on her mattress, and one she tried it she couldn't stop. This crib was quite the toy, and she had a blast jumping and laughing with me.

The lighting was good so I thought I'd give my camera another shot, since I've kinda been on picture strike. I can't figure out how to get my pictures just right. I think these turned out pretty great, considering it was completely impromptu.

Enjoy.

I told her to kiss her bunny.

I don't want to make this a Birthday post because I am not sure what I want to do yet. Adelle turns ONE tomorrow (Monday). I am quite excited, even if Dad isn't here. We're celebrating her birthday party on Thursday. So check back with us soon!

Nephews...

2010-01-16T18:35:00.001-08:00

I am watching Vanessa's boys, my nephews. I am thinking they like me and everything is going great. Darion is playing with a toy phone and I over hear him say:

"I just missed the sound of your voice"

"Oh" I say, "Why don't you ever say that to me?"

Darion: "Because your voice never goes away."

Gee Thanks.

Here They Come...

2010-01-09T22:56:00.000-08:00

Many annoying Motherhood blogs. I can tell I am about to become one of those annoying bloggers that blog about every "cute" thing their kids do. I don't know any of those bloggers but I am sure you do. Put me on that list.

Today I took Adelle's clothes off getting ready to put her in the bath. She sat next to her dirty pile of clothes, grabbed her dirty sock, and put it on her foot. I couldn't believe my eyes. As a nanny I always LOVED that stage when the kids learned the basic idea of where clothes go and try to put it on themselves. Put the hat or the shirt on their head. The rest should fall into place right? I've always wondered when Adelle would get to that point cognitively. I never imaginied it would happen this soon.

After I made a big deal about that, I took the sock away and then asked her to do it again. She did, two more times. It wasn't a fluke, my babies trying to dress herself. Ahhh yippee, this is so much fun!

Change is Good.....Right?

2010-01-09T11:49:00.000-08:00

Ryan and I are preparing for some big changes in our lives. We've been cleaning out our house, taking stuff to Salvation Army, giving stuff away, selling stuff on Craigslist and giving stuff to friends. We've been moving furniture, painting furniture and re-painting furniture. It has been very busy here, but we have gotten a lot accomplished. Why all this moving and choas?

Most of you know Ryan and I will be having a little Lydia baby in May. She will be in our room and we're making preparations for Adelle's room downstairs. Ryan and I have also decided to do foster care. We are in the licensing process with Denali Family Services and we have a lot of training and home requirements we have to meet. Our social worker has told us there are two brothers, ages 7 and 8, who will most likely be needing a foster home by the end of the month. Normally it can take months to get licensed but she has put us on the fast track and we're going to be busting our booties to get it all done in time.

I have also made another decision, almost. I have wanted to be a midwife for awhile now but never knew how to become one up here in Alaska. Some wonderful midwives have put me in contact with an online school called The Aviva Institute. I am really interested in the program, it's 3 years, after all of the online schooling you mentor with a local midwife to finish your training. One of the main reasons for Ryan and I doing foster care is to use the money to get out of debt and then pay for both of our schooling. This is our plan as of now.

One thing I have a lot to be thankful for, besides a very helpful husband and family, is my nesting instincts. It gives me the drive to get a lot done, even when I don't have the energy. Got to have a fluffy feathered nest for all the little chicks we'll be having in it.

Stinky Boots...

2010-01-04T23:12:00.000-08:00

Today I had a moment of pure joy! It goes like this:

Yesterday as I was putting a new pair of boots on Adelle and I started playing a game with her I'll call "stinky boots". I would smell the inside of the boot, sniff loudly so she could hear what I was doing, and then offer it to her. (They're not really stinky.) At first she thought I was trying to feed it to her (she's only 11 months), but after a bit she let me put it over her nose, and sometimes she would make sniffing sounds too. More like she was laughing/sniffing, but I am sure thats what she thought I was doing. I hammed it up! Dramatizing every sniff, every sniff of hers, STINKY STINKY! It was a fun game.

Today I got her ready to go out, put her boots on and sat her on the couch while I got some things done. A few minutes later I looked in on her. She had taken off her boot and was holding it over her nose, ALL on her own. She remembered this game after a whole day! When I laughed at her and asked her if she was playing "Stinky Boots" she laughed like she knew what I was talking about. How brilliant is this little thing?

THIS is what being a parent is all about! Teaching your kids and watching them learn. (maybe I should start with something more intellectual? Nah.)

This Year I WILL Do It...

2010-01-02T16:50:00.000-08:00

New Years resolutions are one of those things I think about for a few minutes, pick one, and say I will try. I put as much effort into trying as I did choosing that challenge. In fact I think many years my goals were "be a better person". Of course I ALWAYS accomplished that :o).

So THIS year I have 2 resolutions. I can do that right? Just two.

#1
Visit the Temple once a month.

#2
Pay tithing with EVERY check we get. Not monthly, not when I feel like it or we have the money. With every paycheck, put it in the mail.

I can do this, and I want you all to keep me to my word. Bug me about it. Ask how I am doing. Tell me you don't think I can so I can PROVE YOU WRONG!

Wish me luck!

What My Sister Did....

2009-12-25T13:50:00.000-08:00

This is an odd Christmas for Ryan and I because he is working on the slope and won't be home till Tuesday. Adelle and I are patiently waiting to celebrate our Christmas when Ryan gets home. It has been hard, but I know it will be worth it.

In our family my parents started a tradition where each child picked out a cushion on Christmas eve and draped their stocking over it. Christmas morning we would go to our individual cushions and see what Santa left out on them. They would usually be smaller gifts like soda, munchies, a few pieces of clothes and a toy or two. This made it easier for Santa, not having to wrap so much. As kids it was so magical to see how Santa had decorated our cushion.

As we've grown up and matured to our glorious selves, we've tried to keep this tradition going. In the past we've drawn names for "cushions", and had fun decorating them as siblings. This year it got a bit confusing as were not all together Christmas morning.

This morning I was welcomed by a rather shocking cushion display on my front porch, Santa'd by my dear sister Vanessa. She left me ALL sorts of goodies, knowing that I had no husband to do cushions with. This was a Christmas present x 10! She wanted to make my Non-Christmas still Christmasy. How sweet is that? Even sweeter, she sent Ryan up to the slope with a stash of wrapped goodies for him to open Christmas morning.

Could I have asked for a more thoughtful Sister? NOW it feels like Christmas!

Ernie & Berterific! (Mom you can read this!)

2009-12-20T00:50:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9AAJvQnUTQ

I was just having my nightly chat with my hubby, when I remembered this clip (which I haven't seen in a whole month), and realized I needed my fix.

If I am ever having a down day, this will pick me RIGHT up! How can you not walk away from it with a big smile?

Mom's Gift....DON'T PEEK MOM!!!!!

2009-12-19T13:30:00.000-08:00

This is a day to celebrate! I have been working on these two little Raggedy's for quite awhile, and I am just ecstatic that I was able to finish them before Christmas. They are for my Mom in Arizona, because her original dolls that her Mom made her got eaten by mice while in storage. I have told her not to look :o).

I just had to post it because my excitement is through the roof, when your excitement gets that high, well you MUST blog about it! :o)

Is everyone else ready for Christmas???

How Beautiful is McDonalds...

2009-12-18T21:17:00.000-08:00

These two beautiful trees are what greeted Ryan and I in the McDonald's drive through. I felt funny wanting to take a picture, but then I thought, why not! It has snowed up here between 1 1/2 and 2 feet, and it has been beautiful!

My favorite thing about driving around in the winter is seeing all the beautiful Ravens that scavage the city. They add such character to Alaska, I can't help but laugh at them. This tree with the ravens in it was especially funny to me because through all the black and white there was an orange/red spot. Look closely and you could see a McDonald's to-go back they had brought up there. (probably won't see it in this picture) Bad Ravens!

For Christmas, which we gave Adelle early because she really needed it, we got her A little push/activity cart. She LOVES it! She has learned how to pull herself up on it, which is really funny because she can't even crawl yet. But she's quite good at standing! She stands up and plays with the blocks and the weight. (which is there to keep the cart from tumbling on her). Then today I noticed she is now moving around the cart. Very exciting considering she's still not crawling.

She's getting a lot more brave at exploring her surroundings, and has also tried a few times to pick up stuff she's dropped on the ground.

She has also started clapping, which I don't have a picture of yet but I will. So keep in touch.

It's A.....

2009-12-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

...and we are SO excited! It was funny because I have felt like this baby is an "it", with really no gender. It has been weird for me to picture this baby as one or the other, so when the lady said it was a girl so matter of factly, I just started laughing. I don't know why, I guess it was funny that we were having another girl, funny that this whole time it has been a girl. And funny that I could hear Ryan's thoughts that second...."oh great". It was very much a shock, but it would have been either way. (Ryan has accepted it and is determined to prove that he has a male sperm in him somewhere.)

We are going to call her Lydia, but we are still discussing middle names. Actually we haven't even discussed it yet. I was sick all day yesterday (which is why there was no post) so I barely had time to celebrate the gender. Today I am feeling better and getting really exited.

Thanks for all your support!

Gingerbread Houses

2009-12-07T12:55:00.001-08:00

This is going to be an interesting post because it is in NO way in order. We jump around a lot, so please stay with me on this journey.

Ever since my family was young it was a tradition to do family gingerbread houses with the WHOLE Alaskan family. Since growing up we've continued this tradition, and this year we even had Wayne and Peggy drive out for the occasion. Just like old times.

The grand finalee of the night was a great game of Mafia. THAT was fun! Again, completely out of order.

After the houses were done we cleaned up and watched Shrek the Halls, which everyone seems to love. (I am not a Shrek fan)

This is my simple house. Ryan and I didn't have the greatest crops this year so the small amount of money we did have has gone to pay the mortgage. And the Campbell's home had a leaky roof so they stayed with us for a few months. Our little home will have to wait till next year to be more splenderiffic.

This post is also a bit late, we did gingerbread houses over a week ago. But even though life has been crazy I still feel it deserved a post. It was a pretty great event.

Finally Proffesional Pictures

2009-12-03T13:03:00.000-08:00

My friend Nicki Mullin, who did Ryan and I's wonderful engagement and wedding pictures offered to take some pictures of Adelle and I yesterday. She is an amazing photographer who is self-taught.

Adelle and I have no real nice photos of us, nor of us as a family. I've been wanting to get some before baby #2 comes along and we miss our chance. She did an AMAZING job!

CLICK HERE to see some!

(You'd never guess that Adelle was sick with a bad cold)

The Verdict will be in on...

2009-11-30T10:27:00.000-08:00

December 11th, less than two weeks!!!! So hopefully we have a baby with no shame that opens their legs wide letting us see the gender. After that we'll teach them modesty :o) Feel free to vote on what YOU think the gender will be. ----> What do I think? Honestly I have no clue. I am getting no gender vibes and honestly I really don't care. I am a LOT more nervous to have a boy, but I want it to happen at some point so why not now. But I really am on the fence. This pregnancy has been so different than the first. With Adelle I knew she was a girl, knew it from the moment I was 12, that my first would be a girl. If the technician had told me it was a boy I wouldn't have believed them and would have waited for them to see their mistake. With this one I am so up in the air I am actually more excited because I feel like either way it's going to be a total surprise. And its just around the corner! OK...so vote!

Giving Thanks

2009-11-26T00:37:00.000-08:00

I know I've had three posts in the last three days. But tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I really wanted to be true to this season by sharing my gratitude with those I love. The reality of my life is that I have too much to be thankful for. It scares me sometimes. When I go to bed and say my prayers I feel like any minute Heavenly Fathers going to look down on me and go "Oh crud-I forgot about Ariane." and ZAP----a new trial.

Every day that I end and give thanks, I am able to look back and see that no major trial has reared it's ugly head. I was blessed to marry my best friend Ryan, in the Temple. We are stuck together forever, and I wouldn't have it any other way. After all the years and trials we've been through I can honestly say I love him more than ever. And I am so grateful for this. We were blessed with wonderful family that lives near. We were blessed with a home that has: heat, running water, a roof overhead and a garage along with many other things. We were also blessed with fertility, and with that came the most precious little girl a couple could have asked for. Little Adelle has been my pride and joy, and I can honestly say barely even a trial. Taking care of her is so easy it should be illegal. Now we have another little one coming into our family, and I have been blessed with yet another easy pregnancy.

We have pets, food, Ryan is employed, good health. We know why were on this earth. We are surrounded by wonderful and inspiring people. We live in this great state of Alaska, in a great country.

When I look at the little things that get me down, I have to just laugh at myself and be grateful I have yet to suffer the death of a child or the loss of a major limb. How blessed am I?

Please Heavenly Father, keep forgetting about me. I am loving my life right now.

Loving Yourself is Grand...

2009-11-25T11:34:00.001-08:00

Today is Adelle's 10 month birthday, and she started her morning by kissing herself happy birthday! This is her new trick, giving kisses. But this is her first kiss to the birthday girl. It was very cute. Now were working on giving hugs on command. This little girl WILL love us dang it!

It appears she's even got the pucker. Stay away you little boys!

I can see my Mama loves me!

Whats Happinin at the Marley's

2009-11-24T22:35:00.001-08:00

A LOT of things have been going on here at the Marley home. It's been so hectic I can barely enjoy the good parts. But here are some happy highlights.

One very exciting event was decorating for Christmas before Ryan left. Adelle was our support team.

For Ryan's birthday I was able to find the perfect deal on a husky puppy. Something we've both wanted, but him more than me. ( I am the one who's pregnant and home ALL the time cleaning up the dog discharge. He's conveniently on the slope a lot :o))

It has been very stressful trying to potty train a puppy and take care of Adelle. Plus all the other daily stuff that goes on. One obstacle is how to get anything done with Nelly attacking Adelle. Nothing a little rope can't handle.
Here is Nelly howling in agony to get off the cord and play with Adelle and I. Sometimes Adelle needs some "not get jumped by the puppy" time. Sometimes we all do.

It looks like Nelly is biting Adelle but really she's gently mouthing her. She has actually tried to really hard to control her little doggy self around her. She knows I am very protective so she is hesitant when trying to play with Adelle. And Adelle loves her! They also share toys very nicely! (Good job kiddos. Make Mama proud!)

The bad things this dog does. These WERE my chicken wings. Along with poop and pee, I get to clean up red chicken wing sauce from the carpet. Fun.

One thing thats cute but also annoying is she likes to follow me around and lay at my feet. It becomes a challenge for her because when I am in the kitchen (where she's tied up at times) I am busy busy busy. Walking from here to there she ends up standing and laying every 30 seconds, only to have to get up and follow me again. This picture was taken after sleeping at my feet, and then being so out of it she wasn't awake to follow me. Pretty cute I think. (but annoying when your constantly tripping over the cord)

Today was Issiac, Darion and Marks birthday. To celebrate the twins birthday Melissa, Aidan, Adelle and I and Vanessa the twins went to H2Oasis water park. Adelle first time swimming!
Love this Aidan look. "What did I do?"

Birthday Boys. They're 5 now. Wow!

Adelle was as happy as a clam watching her cousins splash and swim. She was grinning from ear to ear the whole hour. Had a LOT to say to them too as they swam by.

We ended our day by teaching Adelle to play on her haunches. She had a lot of fun grabbing all the balls and just switching the toys back and forth. One more manipulative step by Mom to get her to crawl.

(The real question is where's Nelly during the 5 seconds it took me to take this picture?)

Happy Birthday!

2009-11-19T23:52:00.001-08:00

Crawl Baby Crawl!

2009-11-17T11:46:00.001-08:00

Adelle is 9 1/2 months, and still not crawling. She will play on her tummy and roll around, but won't get into crawling stance. So Ryan and I have figured out a trick. If we get her into position, she will STAY in position if she is being bribed with sweets. Not the healthiest bribe I know, but it works. Here we are feeding her a chocolate cheesecake (and who wouldn't do anything for that), and she's staying in good form :o). Another time we used chocolate chip cookies. It worked.

Just one more obstacle we parents must hurdle. I think "what would motivate me to do something I don't want to do? CHOCOLATE!"

I Must be Getting Old...

2009-11-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

So I went to Forever 21 the other day, because the first time I went there I found a really cute shirt that I wanted. I was hoping they still had it, and of course they didn't. I was very disappointed to find the very strong 80's trend has come back FULL FORCE! I knew it had reared it's ugly head to some degree but I had no clue it was this bad. I walked through that story laughing and mocking the clothes that were being sold. And then I came upon THIS. This mannequin, hideous as ever and yet honestly believing she is the ultimate trend setter in fashion. Is this really hip now? It looks like some Halloween joke!

I walked out of that store shaking my head, realizing that my sense of style is now "old". I feel like one of those "old" people that are completely out of style but also so old they just don't get it. You feel sorry for them. The lady who's sense of smell has died and who truly believes the 2 cups of perfume she bathed in smell great. The guy who thinks the comb-over makes him look young and hip.

I looked at my clothes and wondered if it was time to conform. If I needed to get with this new acquired taste and get with the groove. After walking the mall and seeing all the little young-ins in their cross dressing/funktified clothes, I decided against it.

I may be un-hip to the world but I am the COOLEST Mama in my house!

And I like it that way.

Reader Discression Advised...

2009-11-05T21:53:00.001-08:00

This is a story for people who know and love me and KNOW my sick potty humor. It gets sick, so this story is intended for mature audiences only. (Or immature audiences..)

My Pee Pee Story

So I had my first Pregnancy/going to explode/I have to pee so bad experience today that I have to just laugh at myself for. I love to hear other peoples stories like this so I thought I might share mine.

It goes like this.

I went out to lunch with a friend and had a nice big cup of herbal tea. Like 16 oz. Then the tea made me REALLY hot and I was wanting something cool to drink. So for $1 I found satisfaction in a 32 oz cup of ice water. Drank it all. It was gooood. I knew it would run through me, but I thought I had some time. (NEVER think this when your pregnant)

After walking around the mall for awhile with my friend I left her to go pick up Ryan from the airport. I felt fine in the car, so I wasn't worried. After picking up Ryan we decided where we were going to go eat (I swear I don't spend all day eating), and we headed to the restaurant. Then it started to hit, and then it hit hard. I became really grumpy really fast, and my sweet husband, who was so happy to see me and wanting to pepper me with kisses was a little bummed that I kept pushing him away. I was getting grumpy. Then the place HE recommended that I swore would have a long wait DID have a long wait. I told you so!

We changed plans and headed further down the road. At this point I was leering at each gas station we passed, each fast food restaurant that I knew I could sneak in and pee. I was even looking for empty fields to empty my "field" in. "No" I kept telling myself, I am a strong and prideful woman and I can wait 5 minutes till I get out OUR restaurant.

I was ready to kill my husband for every kiss and mention of his boring job, and finally I gave in. Literally 4 blocks from our restaurant I pulled into McDonald's parking lot. The first thing I saw when I walked in the door was the ladies restroom beckoning. The angels sang. I pee'd. I sang. It was sadly the most satisfying experience I've had since....I don't remember when.

When I got back out to the car, my dear Ryan was the most handsome and sweet husband a girl could have ever asked for. I kissed him, and smiled at him. I welcomed him home. I was going to be OK.

So, the moral of the story is there's NO happy drug like an empty bladder. Remember this when life gets hard, and you can't think clearly. Fighting with your spouse? Go to the bathroom! Life is always better on the other side of the stall.

Our Halloween Partay!

2009-11-01T17:31:00.000-08:00

My family LOVES Halloween! Can you tell? The Campbell's, and the Olsens and Dad and Devin showed up for the Halloween party. The moment I walked in the house it was full on laughter at the costumes everyone had come up with.

This is my beautiful niece Cora.

The cousins, we have in order: The Phantom, a Mummy, Corps Bride, Elephant, a Vampire, a Pirate, Snow White and Batman.

Nathan...the Mr. Clown

Vanessa. Mrs. Clown

The adults. It was a FUN night, just watching people talk was so humerus, it's so fun to dress up and get dirty!

The great thing is I already have next years costume planned out. Ryan and I both. It will be SO great!

Halloweens Getting Political...

2009-10-30T16:43:00.000-07:00

So I don't think I have any major Democratic friends that would be offended by this. So if your offended....I am not sorry. This is freaking hilarious!

Happy Haunting To All

Repentance Is Grand...

2009-10-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

So I've heard it tell that every home has a junk room. So if you don't have a junk room you may not be normal. Grantid it may not be as bad as this, you know you've got one. THIS is mine. It is the: cat litter, sewing and crafts, present wrapping, camping gear, ironing, useless decorations and a partridge in a pear tree room. I even found Ryans tools in here. Honey...the garage.

Anyway this has been my eye sore of the house since we've moved in and it just keeps getting worse. So much so I can't even do any sewing. Well with Christmas around the corner I already have 4 sewing projects on my to-do list, so I figured it was time to repent of my chaotic room and have a clean slate.

After much time cleaning and listening to Trans Siberian Christmas albums to keep up the cheer, here is my clean slate. It's still not pretty, this is going to be Adelle's room in a week or so. So it will go through yet another transformation, but its a start, and I can use it until then. I have already started on my first creation. It's SO much easier to be inspired in a clean room. Don't you agree?

Eh-Ehm....We Did it Again.

2009-10-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

OK OK, so this picture has NOTHING to do with my post. Really actually it's the exact opposite. But I thought it was rather funny, and even kinda clean, in a spermy kinda way :o).

So the REAL reason for this post is the announcement that Ryan and I are back in the "9 Months of Waiting and Pain" club. If it was a club, I should start one if it isn't. It appears fertility is not our trial in this life, and yet at the same time...it is! But seriously, we are very excited. It looks like the little thing will be here around May 14th, so Adelle and "IT" will be approx. 15 1/2 months apart. So I am currently 11 weeks, almost 3 months, ALMOST done with my first trimester, YAY! That's pretty good right? They'll be close siblings? That was what I always wanted. It does feel very weird to be doing it all over again. I went to my first apt. at our Birthing Center out here in Wasilla and it felt SO weird to be back on that examination table again, feels like it was just yesterday I was being measured and prodded and all that fun stuff. It goes by SO fast!!!!

The good thing about the waiting game is Ryan and I have more time to argue about names, boys and girls. We agree on nothing accept the last name (this is a good thing I know), but first names are....not so easy. (My feelings are if the Dad gets to pick ALL the last names that should leave the Mom with the majority vote on the first names. Don't you agree?)

Do You See What I See?

2009-10-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

So it appears for Christmas Adelle has asked for her two front teeth. Thanks Santa for getting this done so promptly! (Somethings have to be given by Santa because they're out of a parents reach). So she's having fun with these new "tools", hasn't bitten me yet but is enjoying bumping her teeth together.

Thank You Santa!

Happy Halloweeny!

2009-10-08T01:12:00.001-07:00

Thanks Kate for the inspiration. It must be in the blood because I too find these ridiculously entertaining! Looking forward to many more years of JibJab fun!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Fall Festival Fun....

2009-09-20T22:46:00.001-07:00

Ryan, Adelle and I went to our first Fall Festival in Palmer out at the U-Pick farm. The U-pick farm is just that, you pick your own veggies. It's owned by members and has been for 30 years and used to be the welfare farm. Since then it has become a community farm as well. Its a beautiful place to either pick veggies or just bask in the experience.

They had this little pumpkin set which was $5 for them to take a family picture and then print it off for you, but they'd ran out of ink, so we paid the lady to take tons of pictures with our camera. This is our FIRST family picture so we were really excited! (We had not dressed for pictures, so we look pretty unorganized.) Unfortunately we weren't anticipating the beautiful sun right in our eyes, so it was pretty hard keeping them open for a picture. This was the best we could come up with and it's not so good.
Oh Well.

We met up with the Olsen's there. These were the wagon rides. Emma held Adelle as they went for a ride. Adelle is so lucky to have such great little cousins!

I also brought along my neighbor, little Kambree. She's my good little buddy who comes over everyday to brush my hair and help me around the house. I love her dearly. She made imidiate friends with Emma.

The.....

Hay....

Rides....

We found a little pumpkin patch, I am not sure what it was for, but we saw it as a wonderful photo opportunity. Again Adelle is not dressed for this.

She was OUT after nursing, more asleep than Ryan and I have seen her in a LONG time. You couldn't wake her, it was quite adorable. It was a long and glorious day! I love living in Palmer!

Learning to Can Can...

2009-09-12T23:59:00.001-07:00

Ryan's grandparents, the Bests, have a garden and an orchard. They are my hero's. I look up to them because they are the definition of Provident living. There is nothing they can't do for themselves. They are willing to teach me all that I want to know about gardening and such, so I visit them often and am fed with knowledge. I told them when they were ready to harvest their apples they HAD to call me so I could help. They did, and Adelle and I went over and spent almost 8 hours picking, preparing and canning. On the second day Ryan had come home, so he helped with the picking, then helped grandpa do some rototilling and guy stuff.

There were quite a few yellow jackets eating the rotting apples, so we had to pick around them. This one posed very nicely.

Adelle was a big help. She had fun chewing on apples with her two
little teeth, and then sucking out the juice.

We canned apple sauce and apples in a pie filling. (That one wasn't my favorite.) The apples were small so that made a lot of peeling and cutting work. But I got to learn more about Ryan's family history, and about gardening life. These cans are just a drop in the bucket. Then grandma gave me my own large bucket of apples, so Ryan and I came home and canned those as well. *Whewf*

It was worth it!

4-Wheelin...

2009-09-12T23:26:00.001-07:00

While Ryan was on the slope Adelle and I got to do something he would have loved to have been there for. We went 4-wheeling, my first time! We went with my dear friends Rayna and Joe (who subsequently are my OLD friends whom I set up and they finally got married after years of urging :o)). We went up to Sutton which is where I want to live eventually. Its 15 miles north of Palmer and just over an hour north of Anchorage. It's a beautiful small town in the mountains!

We strapped Adelle and her car seat to the 4-wheeler....

...and after two minutes of ridding she was out. Through all the bumps and craziness, I was shocked.

It was really funny because before I put my helmet on she laughed and talked to me, but once I put this on I noticed an immidiate difference. She looked at me like Where is this space creature taking me? Can you blame her? Once I took it off she immediately smiled at me, glad to have her Mom back.

I love Alaska in the fall, this is my favorite time of year. And I had SO much fun 4-wheeling, and afterwards we had dinner at the towns little cafe. I am glad Ryan's not too mad at me :o)

Adelle's New Baby Cousin...

2009-09-06T22:12:00.000-07:00

Before going over to see her new cousin, we played outside in the sun. She munched on the pea pods after I shucked them, and she drank orange juice from her sippy cup and LOVED it! She's getting so adventurous.

Adelle and Grandma Marley at the hospital. She held Adelle so I could hold Kalissa. Doing what Grandma's do best.

This is Kalissa Mae Beeson, Ryan's sister Shaeli's first daughter. She was born yesterday, on the Beeson's anniversary. Thunder stealer! She was awake when I first held her, then fell asleep immediately. She was happy and content the whole time I was there. Precious!

Mama and baby. This relationship is such a special one, I am so excited for the Beesons and their new little family!

Adelle and Kalissa. This is her closest cousin in age and gender, I really hope they will grow up to be the best of buddies. See, Adelle is already interested in her! (as a toy really, she loves the bracelet, but you take what you can get)

Odds and Ends For Daddy...

2009-09-01T23:36:00.001-07:00

Behind this is the makings of her Halloween costume. Luckily I am pretty sure it's still a secret as these scraps don't make it too clear. (For everyone else, I know Ryan knows).

"HI DADDY"

Here is us celebrating with the Campbell's on the purchase and sell of our home. FINALLY!!!
The Campbells treated Adelle and I out to Chilles, it was a lot of fun! This was Adelle's first time in a restaurant highchair, she really liked it and I loved how she looked in it. She ate lots of french fries, mashed potatoes and chocolate molten cake. (I am a good Mom I know :o)

Adelle's been playing with a sippy cup of water, I am hoping she'll start drinking the water on purpose and not just on accident.

Ryan forgot his sleeping bag while we were camping with the family at Finger Lakes two weeks ago When I woke up this is how I found him. Trying to stay warm in a polar fleece layering bag, all night long he was Freezing and pushing up against me trying to keep warm. My tough Alaskan Man! (You don't care that I post this do you honey? You look cute in it)

Just so tastey I couldn't resist!

Single Mom = Boring Post

2009-08-31T22:49:00.000-07:00

So when Ryan's on the slope, we hit certain stumbling blocks that are much easier to accomplish when we live under the same roof. Remember when I posted awhile ago that Ryan can't receive pics via email, and I cant receive them via phone? The only way I can send him a picture is through this blog.

Hence this picture. Why do I want him to see these bolt cutters? The reason is SO stupid I'll let your imagination come up with a better explanation. Feel free to share!

Cant Stop Laughing...

2009-08-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

One of the most fun things about being a parent is laughing at your kids. This picture of Aiden is a new "Watson" classic, taken at the Knik River, Mom, Melissa Vanessa and I laughed good and hard at the beauty that are these goggles. So much so that Melissa and Chris decided to share the joy and gifted them to us. Originally they were meant to add to Ryan's Sex apeal. Once that was done, we found other ways to use them.

Exibit A

Exibit B

I think we've made good use of these. Who wants them next? Campbells??

Teefers..

2009-08-24T11:57:00.001-07:00

We are VERY excited here at the Marley home, because Adelle has birthed her first two teeth! I am sure the picture is not too clear, trying to take a picture of the inside of a baby's gums is a challenge for many reasons. Put a camera in a babies view and the hands immediately make your job impossible. But here it is, the best picture I could get. If you look REAL close, you'll see a small break in the skin. I took a metal spoon and tapped lightly against the gums and heard a *clink clink*

WOOOO HOOOO!!!!!!

Sittin Around..

2009-08-17T17:23:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of my little thing! It seems in just one day she has learned how to sit all by herself. Of course this isn't true, she has been wobbling about for weeks now and she still needs help, but look at that! She can sit by herself and balance this way and that for a bit without help. I am SO excited to be able to set her down and she can just grab at toys and turn this way and that. She's so close!

Koo Koo Ka Choo Choo

2009-08-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

So Grandpa Watson organized this fun day on "The Train Rides" by the Aviation Museum in Wasilla. He payed for everyone, cousins and old fogies. We met at Vanessa's house to have a blueberry pancake and fancy eggs breakfast and then were on our way.

Golly gee oh what do they see?

This is inside the mini Train garage, whatever its called that all the trains are stored in.

READY FOR TAKE OFF

I know this is a blurry picture, I think one of the cousins took it. (I won't name names) But all along the way there were hidden "treats" and towns to find, the kids had a BLAST pointing them all out.

The kids had so much fun that Grandpa took us on a second ride. I couldn't see anything accept for all the lovely salmon berries, high bush cranberries and rose hips. I just wanted to jump off and do some more berry picking.

Tuckered out

Thank You Grandpa and Family! I am SO glad you haven't moved to Bermuda!

BLUEBERRIES!!!!!

2009-08-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

Blueberry Picking 09-The fun begins!

How many blueberries do you see? This is what we called a "Jackpot". Aidan asked Melissa "Mom, when you find a jackpot can you show me so I know what it looks like?" So cute. Makes you wonder what he was picturing.

Vanessa and Darion a pickin.

Melissa a Pickin

Adelle and me a pickin. She did really well for the first hour and a half but then I think she got tired and a little cold (her hands). So while Mama held her Daddy picked for the both of us.

The view from the top. We hiked up a trail, and then bush-whacked our own trail. We found the blueberries because we went where no man went before, and lived. We ended up on huge rocks that were atop caves and holes just waiting to eat small children.

The end result? About 3 1/2 gallons of perfectly ripe beautiful blueberries. After bringing them home, washing, de-steming and picking out the weak ones from the heard, we enjoyed our spoils by making this delicious blueberry pie with the worlds greatest crust. Bon-Apetite! We actually had so much fun we're planning on going back this week.

Then we'll have a "jam"min party!

Fun With the McKerrows...

2009-08-08T16:47:00.000-07:00

I was very blessed to Nanny a wonderful family the Mckerrow's MANY years ago. I was with them for three years and learned and loved so much. I started once they'd come home from the hospital. (They were preemies.) They came up to Alaska for a visit recently, and I- lucky as I am got to see them twice! They first came to my home up in Palmer, we ate hamburgers and chatted. How honored I feel for such a house call! I got to see the twins, all grown up and oh so different, and enjoyed seeing where their little personalities have taken them.

This is Sydney and Lucas. Here they are, and their almost 8!

Justin, Amy, Lucas Sydney and Me. (My necklace and earrings were a gift from them)

Sydney really bonded with Adelle, she played and entertained her. Little Mommy in the making.

Two weeks later, the day before they left they called invited me to go on a short hike up by Independence Mine to Gold Cord Lake. Again-so honored! They even provided lunch.

Here's Adelle and I, this is her first real hike.

This is the last remaining structure of the Boom Town, just up the hill from the Mine. I found it interesting that the insulation was the sod-grass and soil. How crafty people are!

Can you see this is the lake? It's so clear that it's almost not recognizable in the picture.

Isn't that color amazing? Can it get anymore beautiful?

Poor floppy Adelle. She was so tired, I feel bad that she had no comfortable position to sleep in. But she was a champ, only cried the last 10 minutes when she was wanting to get out of the wrap. I am very proud of her.

We finally started back down the hill when a wedding party arrived and disturbed the peace. But they went on a perfect day, it was beautiful.

The WHOLE trip was fun! Perfect way to spend a Saturday morning, with people I love. I am still glowing from it! Next plan is to take all my family up there so we can go swimming!!! Who's with me??

Lovin The Food...

2009-08-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

Yes I gave her fruit roll-up......up her noes it goes!

Still working on the aiming thing.

What Happens When Dad Feeds Her...

2009-07-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

And Randy Joins the Herd...

2009-07-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

So here it is, in RANDOM order, our day in Seward and then our camping trip at Hidden lakes!

At the horrible Pizza place in Seward. DONT go there!!

In Seward the kids played at the park, and so did we.

Walking on the dock in Seward. Outside of the picture there are three nice Coast Guard men waiting for us crazies to take the picture so they can pass. They were even nice enough to suggest we ask for a tour of the Coast Guard ship which was three ships down. (We think they were playing a joke on their buddies.)

See whats in that blue tub? Remember from my earlier blog? Adelle's little head poking out of her "bed", and a bunch of curious little boys wanting to play with her.

The Man Randy makes his first Alaskan FIRE!

Randy's first born grandchild in he and Mom's marriage. A special moment, but I think Adelle's more interested in the squirrel. Sorry Randy, deep down she loves you.

I think this is camping bowling....uphill. I don't get it either.

Adelle put her feet in a lake for the first time. Mama LOVED sharing this with her. Her, not so much.

The moment Adelle heard the peaceful water she fell immediately to sleep in my arms. The poor little thing was sick with the piggy flu the whole time.

Everyone but Mom Randy and Chris went swimming and we had a GREAT time!

Then I figured "Hey, we're already wet, might as well get clean while were in here. ("Lake" clean is better than NO clean)

*Sniff Sniff* We miss you Mom and Randy. Coming home to my empty home was very sad, and unpacking all the food you bought for us.

Because I didn't want to post everything at once, I figured I'd save some for later. So stay tuned for the wonderful and exciting "Adventure of the chocoholic Squirrel".

Just Us Girls....(kinda)

2009-07-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

Another fun day at the Knik River. (Except poor Mom has the Piggy Flu). All the kids swam while the grown-ups were "entertained" by them. Good Times.

Girdwood Forest Fair

2009-07-05T01:14:00.001-07:00

So me mama got into town friday night, late. Devin, Vanessa and her brood and Adelle and I all met her at the airport and then took her out to Denny's. Fun fun night! The next morning we went to the Girdwood forest fair.

Adelle did not sleep more than maybe 20 minutes the whole day. That little thing was pooped! It was pretty sad for me, she got fussy and beside herself towards the end. But we distracted her with some pretty flowers at the Bake Shop! Growing up one of our family traditions was driving down to Girdwood and going to the Bake Shop for one of their delicious Cinnamon rolls. They are truly the best!

More adventures with Mama and the family to come!

The Cure for Tummy Time Blues...

2009-06-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

Bring along a friend

Over Night Camping...FINALLY!

2009-06-23T23:47:00.000-07:00

I apologize ahead of time, this is going to be a long post. But I am SO excited about going camping for the first time this year, AND with Adelle. And I am so happy about it because we had so much fun, and Adelle did so good. She was happy and content most of the time, even when her ears and hands were cold, she smiled through the whole thing. Camping means so much to me and I am glad to know we can do it without a crying miserable baby.

Ryan took us to Jim Creek in Palmer, which is a big camping hot spot but I had never been there. It was so much more beautiful than I had thought. There was so much to see, and so many FREE places to camp. It was right alongside Jim Creek, but which is really more like a river, it was very big.

This is the perfect place to go biking or 4-wheeling, there were trails going in every direction.

It was very very windy. Ryan said it was the worst he'd ever seen it. The sand was blowing everywhere, I kept expecting to see a horse skeleton coming out of the sand, like in the desert.
It didn't feel like Alaska, but it was beautiful.

This is part of the dried up river. It was silt for miles and miles.

Ryan had to wade across a part of the river to feel how soft the silt was beneath to make sure the jeep wouldn't sink in it. We got across safely, many times.

Trying to get set up for camp, we set Adelle on a camping chair. It was shocking how incredibly happy she was there. Just watching the world go by, she was such a champ!

For dinner, ribs! And LOTS of them :o) And we use Chris' favorite Bar-B-Que sauce, "Sweet Baby Ray's". It was Heavenly!

Can you guess what this is? Your right! It's Adelle's make-shift bed! Works perfectly, keeps out the bugs and the sun, and keeps in the warmth. It's rather crafty if I may say so myself. (All you baby rights crazy people out there....I don't want to hear it. The only way this will effect her when she's older is her using this on her own kids. And yes it has holes for air)

Good night us.

Good night Little Thing.

Good Morning Mom! As Ryan got up and started the fire, I fed Adelle. She took over Dad's warm sleeping bag.

I decided to give Adelle a taster of my hot chocolate. (Warm chocolate) She was IN LOVE with it! When I took it away she followed it devoutly with her eyes.

This is what happens when you say "no more hot chocolate little thing."

As we were walking along the river bed I stumbled on this LOVEly rock....

and then Ryan found one of his own. It was a very fun camp out. Now the question is where should we go next, and who will come with us?

Getting So Coordinated!!!

2009-06-20T01:26:00.000-07:00

Two hands, two feet. Makes sense :o) In the last 3 days she has mastered the art of seeing something, grabbing it with her hands and bringing it to her mouth. It's so fun to watch her hit this mile stone. Mama's so proud!

A Day at the Knik River..

2009-06-15T00:55:00.001-07:00

Today after church we had an impromtu get together at the Knik River in Palmer. It was a beautiful location!. All kids went swimming (sorry no pics), and they had a blast digging a whole. What was the hole for you say? To hide in, while playing hide and go seek. Needless to say the kids never got that far. The hole digging was much more fun than hiding in it.

Melissa has a new little baby Ida that she's fostering, she's adorable. Melissa hit a delema when she realized she had no way to heat a bottle and a baby who wouldn't drink cold milk. So I got creative. I heated the milk up in a glass, then put it in the bottle. So much fun making do with what you have.

We spent a little over 4 hourse there, and the WHOLE time Melissa and Vanessa smelled different candle scents and placed Scentsy orders. 4 hours, really!

When Adelle got tired I wrapped her up and put her in Rayna and Joe's car. She went right to sleep. It was fun watching her through the window, like watching a cool fish in a tank.

And thats all folks! I am really loving this fun summer of the wonderful campfire smell!!!

FINALLY I Don't Think Mom's Trying To Kill Me!!

2009-06-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

I don't know why this has been so hard for Adelle, but tummy time is my time to torture her, or so she thinks. But she's getting better. She seems to like tummy time on her dresser a bit better (as you can see by her smiles). Makes Mama happy, she might crawl after all! And her many therapy sessions in the future might be cut back.

And Time Goes On..

2009-06-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

Adelle met her Great Granddad Watson today for the first time. (It's been REALLY hard getting there at the same time Adelle is awake AND happy.) It was very precious! In my baby book my Mother wrote that when I was born and Grandpa came to visit me at the hospital, he didn't want to put me down. That was always very sweet to me, so I was very excited to have him meet Adelle. This is her last surviving Great-Grandparent on my side, and he's doing so well. (He informed me today he was almost to the 90 mark!)

We also saw that Grandpa had his own little one. He and Kathleen got a little new babydoll kitten a few weeks ago, they named her peaches. I could tell Grandpa was awestruck by her, he's missed his previous cat Kawn. So we shared "baby" stories and admired each others. It was a sweet visit.

We love you Grandpa! (Oops, sorry I didn't get a picture of your baby.)

Puzzle Pieces...

2009-06-06T14:55:00.000-07:00

Ryan went back on the slope Thursday and he's been having problems downloading Adelle pictures through email on his phone. So today he called and asked that I put up some pictures of Adelle on the blog, since he can access that just fine.

My struggle is that just posting random pieces of Adelle with no real reason seems way too disorganized for me, plus I feel like people would be in Adelle overload. (Can that really happen? Its not like you can hear her crying..). But whatever. Ryan needs to see his daughter so I apologize in advance for the random puzzle pieces that make up our life. I'll be doing these montages more often. I hope you enjoy, this means many more posts. (But I'll give you a two weak break when Ryan's back.)

"I think I can get a third hand in...."

Adelle decided she likes to suck on string cheese. She was really motivated to hold on to it and not lose it. She's still working on the coordination :o)

We went camping for the day at my Dad's property, I love the way her face looks while sitting in her bumbo!

First cereal!

K, that was a lot! Stay tuned....