Summer Boy

Project Learning Tree

Thought I'd share a couple video clips from our recent two-day field trip. We learned about uses for and parts of trees, and also tapped a birch tree and collected/measured 24-hour sap output. We finished the experience off with birch syrup on icecream--YUM. > My Recent Shots






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Spoiled!

My chivalrous 4-year-old came running to me with this bouquet after soccer practice last week. "Me and Daddy together picked 'em out!", he informed me. What a good daddy...teaching his sons the art of surprising women with roses...

Disarray

Here are a few of the latest ways we've found Spunky during our nightly check-ins with him before we ourselves retire...

Memories

My husband and boys bought me an early Mother's Day present this year--I spied this cactus one day a few weeks ago and was instantly charmed. It had only one blossom at the time, but many buds. My Grandma Emma used to grow and tend cactuses. As a child, I marveled at their different shapes, sizes, and textures, and how they had the capacity to yield such beauty. It never occurred to me, until recently, that my recent affinity toward succulents is that I just--plain--miss her.

Resurrection Bay

One of the great things about living in Alaska is the opportunity for adventure. We're blessed to be just a short drive away from some pretty amazing experiences. Take this past Sunday, for example, we drove down to Seward and took a Gray Whale Watch tour. Though the great mammals eluded us this time, we saw the most variety of any boating tour we've taken--Stellar Sea Lions, California Sea Lion, Harbor Seals, Sea Otters (one of which was dining on an octopus,) Dall Porpoises, Mountain Goats, millions of various sea birds and a Black Bear all made their appearances. We enjoyed sun, salty sea air, and the peace which accompanies little boys being cared for by grandparents.

The Winning Ticket

Yesterday was a rather exciting day in the life of our 4-year-old. He received a call from Wasilla Waste Management (Ooooo...ahhhhh....are you getting excited?!) to inform him that he held the winning ticket from their recent give-away. We had gone to the Mat-Su Home Show last weekend, and all the boys signed up for this particular drawing. Eaglet had stared wide-eyed at this truck, clearly dreaming about what it would be like to own such a treasure. Some dreams come true!

Easter Joy

Of Boys,Trees, and Snowboards

As one can easily see, we're still in the throes of winter. It's continued to be well-below-zero for days and days (-10 this morning) but at least we've got sunshine...and boys with smiles.

A Dog's Life

It's been below-zero for days and days...and our old man Laska has been a little stressed. Consequently, we brought him inside for a few days and nights. Spunky is thrilled. It's amazing what our sweet old dog will put up with....
...but then again...Spunky makes it worth it!

Repeat Offender...

Despite this poor-quality photo, you can see our little guy was at it again today. I wish I could say this is only the second time he's taken off on a solo outdoor adventure, but it's not. If only he would start talking, perhaps our budding ornithologist would tell us when he was about to ascend on another of his field trips! We could at least help him attain the proper gear--I'm not sure why he insists on wearing only Daddy's shoes when he takes off bird watching??
His objects of affection are shown below. We had several of these gorgeous Pine Grosbeaks at our feeder today and yesterday.

Fitting for Valentine's Day...

Wise Bobcat asked to put my ring back on my finger after we made valentine cookies today. We started talking about marriage; here's what he has to say on the matter of weddings:

"So...my wife will buy me a ring....and I will buy my wife a ring....and we will offer them to each other. It reminds me of science--about how the birds, when they mate, offer each other food!!" (Picture him giving me an "eskimo kiss" as he states the last part of that.

Oh dear.

Picture This...

I didn't have the heart to take the time to shoot a photo of this morning's excitement, so you'll have to picture this:

It was a rare few moments of peace. I was taking care of some desperately-needed, deep-cleaning in the kitchen, as the older two boys were happily drawing at the table. Spunky, I thought, was playing in the living room. Suddenly, one of the boys exclaimed, "MOMMY!! Spunky is outside!!" "What?!" I asked, as I hurriedly went to the window to check out the situation. Sure enough--there was 2-year-old Spunky--tears streaming down his face, standing in the snow in his socks by the bird feeder, clutching his beloved "Lambykins", with Daddy's hiking boots toppled over nearby. It would have made a GREAT blog photo...but I couldn't justify prolonging his suffering in the name of blogging.

Good intentions

We went down to our friends' (who just became our new neighbors!) home this afternoon to play around on their snowmachine. Their daughter really wanted to "pull the sled with Baby Spunky in it" and walk home with us. About 25 yards in, she explained that she had a wonderful idea: We should put all the kids in the sled! I helped her add up all their weights, and then asked her, "Now, M, do you suppose Auntie JJ can pull 125 pounds comfortably?!" "No," (duh) "...you and Uncle Tony together!!" Guess who pulled the sled home?

Free Entertainment

Our view out the window this morning...not a rare sight this time of year.

Edible Culture Study

Last week we finished up our Jewish Culture study. We baked Challah, traditional Jewish bread. Here the boys are getting ready to eat their Challah, along with some apples. This is traditional to the Jewish celebration of Rosh Hashanah.

From the Mouth of an Environmentally-Conscious 6-Year-Old

The boys and I do a devotion/Bible story most mornings during breakfast. Today we were talking about "seeing the work of God" and what it tells us about Him. Eaglet mentioned that the things people make are very different than the things God makes. I said "Yes, and how are the things people make different? What happens to everything made by humans?" I briefly waited for what I thought to be the logical answer--that eventually everything made by people falls apart, becomes destroyed, rusty...what-have-you. Instead, Wise Bobcat replied, "They are made of harmful chemicals."

This makes for an interesting topic...

It's been quite a week. On Christmas vacation, we have so far:
1. Spent a day doing crafts
2. Spent a day shopping 'til we (literally) dropped (Spunky fell asleep on the Christian bookstore floor)
3. Spent a day baking
4. Spent above day's afternoon observing toddler for drunkenness

WHAT??! Yes, Spunky got hold of the mint baking extract. I called Poison Control immediately. After doing the calculations for his bodyweight, the nurse explained that the amount he'd possibly ingested was enough to intoxicate him. After hanging on the line while I fed him a cookie with juice, she gave me further instructions to keep him with me at all times, and observe for signs of drunkenness--staggering, slurring of speech, stumbling. OK, so how exactly does one observe for signs that normally encompass a toddler's life anyway?! The child does not speak a word, and he wipes out for fun on a regular basis. As it turned out, I did not notice anything different with his demeanor. Apparently, he didn't ingest much, if any, after all...though he smelled like a little after-dinner mint for the rest of the day.

Mothers beware!

How a Toddler Makes Breakfast

While I was in the shower...

One Good Reason Not to Set Your Toddler Loose With "Dot Art"