Kabe Goes to the Temple

 Kabe finally got to attend the temple for Baptisms for the Dead!  Lucky Mom actually got to come with and watch Daddy perform the ordinance for both of the big kids.  What a beautiful night together in such a beautiful place.

 Sure do love these two and the great choices that they are making in their lives.  It's nice to see them so very happy and enjoying each other more all the time.

Ice Fishing

The Daddy took the Big kids ice fishing.  It looks cold, but they said they had a great time.

 Tyler thinks he's cursed.  They didn't catch anything and he joked that when he left they would.  Not five minutes after he left to come home - they started catching fish and a big bald eagle came and snatched one up right off the ice next to them.

 The snow has been so beautiful this winter.  It keeps snowing and we've enjoyed it so much.  Less so - the temperatures which have been C-O-L-D!

It's ok Alaska - when I said I wanted a "real" Alaska winter I was referring to snowfall, not cold.  

First Snow 2016

Winter finally arrived and we are loving it!  

 Leisl has perfected the snow angel - but insists that the only way to keep it perfect is to not move when she's done.  She'll lay like this forever until I come and pick her up out of her creation.

Noah wants nothing more than to eat as much of the snow as possible.  He'll lay down with his face in it and just munch away.  Silly guy.  (we couldn't find his gloves so he's sporting his sister's pink ones).

Ksenya has figured out that if she is willing to get the little ones in their snow clothes then it's much more likely that I'll come out and play too (I hate the bundling workout pre-snow-play).  She is such a great helper and finds a way to look like a model no matter what activity we're doing.

Boys - need I say more?  They've found a dozen ways to love the snow.

I don't think he's quite loved enough do you?  How I love my winter herd - and how I am loving Alaska winters!  I only hope this one has a little more snow than last and that the wind leaves it in my yard long enough to play in.  

Big Boy Church Moments

It's a big month for my boys.  Kabe will receive the Aaronic Priesthood and Brigham will be baptised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints next weekend.  We decided we'd better commemorate the event with some pictures and some new church clothes.  Since Noah got a new outfit too we decided he'd better be in the pictures as well.

I'm so thankful that my boys are setting such a good example for each other and for their sisters.  They are learning and genuinely try to do what is right.  I'm also excited to have another member in our family and another Priesthood holder in our home.  I know that they learned by the great example of their Daddies, Grandpa's and Uncles how to be men of honor and integrity and I'm excited to watch them to continue to grow in the Strength of the Lord.  After all, this world could use a few more good men!!!

They are also the most handsome young men I've ever seen.  Those dimples, those freckles, those cheeks.  I seriously love these boys.

Even though they are a little farther apart than the girls are in age, Kabe and Brig have really bonded and I love watching them.  It reminds me of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and the way they defended and supported each other.  I hope my boys always remember to be each other's wingman.

They really enjoyed having their own photoshoot - something that they don't get often.  I also  had the best time shopping for a suit with Kabe.  He is such a charming boy and took the whole thing so seriouslly.  He especially wanted a "real" tie that he had to learn how to tie himself just like Dad and they have had several "lessons" on how to do it.  

 I love these pictures because my boys have inherited a love of hats from their Papa Horse.  Kabe is wearing a hat that belonged to his Great Grandpa Riding.  Brigham is wearing his favorite old, worn out "cowboy" hat - the one that he wore to the farm a hundred times and it reminds me of the farm in all of us.  Noah is just the cutest thing ever in his hat and even learned to say the word Hat when we put it on his head.  (after that I had to buy it!)

 I love that they all have a little mischevious in them - look at those naughty eyes, like they are trying not to get caught doing something.  They are all three big teases and their favorite target is their mother.  Heaven help me but they've got my number big time.

I'm so thankful for my boys - they bring a level of adventure of my life I couldn't do without and are a consisten source of laughter and love in our home.   

First Priesthood Meeting

Here is Kabe and Tyler on their way to their first General Priesthood Session together.  Finally - Tyler has someone to go with every six months.  He has such great memories of going with his Dad and it was cool to watch them go together.  Plus - my guys in suits - mn-hm.  

Kabes Birthday Adventure

Kabe wanted to hike the Lazy Mountain trail for his birthday.  Despite the chilly weather we headed out to enjoy the day.  After doing a little research we realized the the challenge of this hike is a bit beyond a few of us (myself included probably) so we took the lower Lazy Moose trail for a bit.  We didn't reach the summit but enjoyed a little excursion into some woods we haven't explored before.  The view of the river was pretty cool

Happy Hikers. 

Again - a really cool panorama with a really handsome Daddy and a comfy snuggly baby.

Kabe and I like to look for unique burls

 And of course he had to find a tree to climb

Happy birthday son - good adventure!

Learning & Laughing Together

This was a magical math moment - each school morning we start with math around the kitchen table.  They are so stinking cute when I get a chance to sit back and "watch" them learn. 

Look what Brigham's going to play?  He got to go and try out a cello to see if it was going to be a good fit.  We decided "yes" so I'm sure there will be more pictures like this in the future.  

Noah LOVES the ipad - I know I should limit his exposure but it gives me a nice break to work with the bigger kids on math so each morning he and Leisl get 30 minutes on the ipad.  He is content most of the time to sit and watch her practice her numbers.  

School is pretty funny sometimes.  These are Ayvri's notes about water pressure.  We were discussing why you can't scuba dive to the bottom of the abyssal plain.  I think her illustration makes perfect sense.

This was another funny school moment.  We were discussing our lungs and how the pressure of the water would crush your lungs.  I told them to take a deep breath with their hand on their chest and feel the air fill up their lungs.  I explained that lungs are like two big balloons in your chest and they fill with air when you breathe.  A minute later I decided to review and see if they were listening.  I asked, "What is in your chest like two big balloons?"  Leisl leapt to her feet and held up her marker board and shouted, "Boobs!"  Well played little wonder, well played.  

My brownies joined me at a little excursion to the thrift store and spent an hour enjoying their halloween selection.  

We had a mishap with our stove.  Someone (who shall remain unnamed) booby-trapped the cupboard with my heavy glass pitcher.  When Kabe opened the cubpoard the pitcher crashed down onto the glass top stove and it shattered.  We had to find a new stove and ended up finding one down in Anchorage so Kabe joined Mom and Dad on a little drive down to the city.  I guess I should have looked up the address on the map before we went because it was a LONG drive clear up the side of the mountain and we ended up on the top of the world looking out at the ocean and the volcano beyond.  The view was incredible but when the guy said, "those are bear prints on my lawn" and that he gets wind gusts at 146 mph I decided I like where I live a whole lot. Still, nice view!

We love our missionaries.  At least 2 times a month we have them come over and subject them to our crazy.  On this night they were using a game of Jenga to illustrate the restoration.  Too bad they transfer.  We'd keep these two for 2 more years.  

The kids earned another (and final) cotton ball adventure so we went bowling again.  This is such a funny sport and turns out Ayvri was the best bowler in our group on this day.

More ipad time.  I love that she usually holds his face.  

Brigham and Darla had a printing "test" and this is what they came up with.  I was pretty impressed with the handwriting for both of them.  

The Comedian

Kabe is our resident comedian.  If there's an opportunity to make a joke or do or say something funny, Kabe beats us all to the punch.  He loves "your mom" jokes and since they're usually about me, I find them exceptionally funny.  He has pretty good timing and can say it with a straight face just like his Dad.

Kabe is also an ambitious musician lately and has started playing the banjo on his own.  He's got fast little fingers and can really read the Tablature better than I've ever been able to.  He likes to show off and I enjoy listening to him play so much.  Kabe is my secret defender and is always watching out for me.  He's gotten in the habit of opening my door and escorting me into church and I find it so endearing.  

Kabe has been preparing to receive the Aaronic Priesthood and has been studying and observing diligently the Deacons as they pass the sacrament.  He's so excited for this new phase of his life in "real scouts" where he can overnight without Dad.  I love being with Kabe and love the young man he's growing into.  The only downside is that I feel the time hastening and know that I only have him as "all mine" for 6 more years.  I know they'll fly as fast as the last 6 and that makes me sad. 

Winner Creek Trail

Another on my bucket list was the hand tram at Winner Creek Trail in Girdwood.  We played it smart this time and packed a lunch for a day trip.  We dropped off a car at the other side so we'd only have to hike across and not back.  

Signs like this always make me laugh.  Everywhere else I've been there are tons of precautions, in Alaska if there's anything it's a warning sign and then - you're on your own.  

Brigham found a "cave" and thought there might be a bear.  That's one thing we left on our bucket list this time, though we got closer than ever before.

Wherever someone poses Darla has to get a pose in too.  

Another awesome cave.  I took a bunch of pictures for a photo project - maybe someday I'll finish the project.  Maybe.

The kids thought this looked like a fairy castle.

The mushrooms here are incredible.  There are so many different shapes and colors and varieties and I am fascinated with them.  I think Tyler got sick of all the times I stopped to take a picture of the mushrooms.

 This was our close encounter.  It had been rainy and was very wet and here in the trail there was a bear print.  This is not the terrain I would expect a bear to live in but apparently they are pretty common in this area.  I was surprised how big the print was.  Just for reference - those are Ksenya's feet and she wears a size 9 in women's.

 Sweet sisters.  When we hike Leisl will give herself a little pep talk.  She'll be marching along talking to herself and she's saying, "We can DO this!  We've got this.  We've SO got this Mom!"  Cracks me up.

This was a big bridge over a rushing river.  I was surprised that Darla who is usually really scared of heights walked right out over it and you could see between the slats.  

Noah is such a happy hiker.  He likes to sing and hum to himself behind Daddy and when I carry him he likes to play with my hair.

Brig thought the river would be fun to swim in - except it's FREEZING glacier water!

Cutest hikers ever.

And another poser. 

This is a very narrow (15 ft?) rock crevass that the river rushes through and it sounds like thunder.  It's so loud you can't have a conversation here and the rocks are so smooth they look like glass.  

It's so fun having Amber and her kiddos here with us - they are adventurous and willing to try whatever we get it into our brains to do.  

The highlight of the trip for the kids was the hand tram.  You have to pull yourself by hand out over the river and across.  It was pretty high and I was a little nervous (I may have ridden across on my knees down in the bottom of the cage.)  You can see Noah thought the whole thing was pretty great and the rest of the kids liked it too.

When we finished we all piled into the car to head back to the other car.  We were tired and dirty but had so much fun exploring together!

We stopped in Turnagain Arm on our way back to get a close up of the ocean.  I was hoping for whales, but we missed them by just a couple of weeks.  

The bore tide is so incredible to watch. I always want to go out on the flats but Tyler won't let me (good thing I have him too, they are really dangerous!).  

What fun to have a partner as crazy as me.  

We have a serious side too.

but not very often.