The Wild Bunch

These three little monkeys are going stir crazy.  With the winter weather there just hasn't been as much wild play time as they need and they are always in the mood to "snuggle" which is really code for wrestle.  Thankfully Daddy has a lot of energy and big muscles.  He is always willing to be the human pillow - even if he just stepped in the door from work.  

 Noah just keeps growing.  I just love how he always has a bear under one arm.  He is still a little thumb-sucker but usually only when he's sleeping and he speaks constantly and really clearly.

Don't blink Mommy - you might just miss it.

December Random

Noah really loved the nativity this year - and the new dog bed we got for Max.  Poor dog had to sleep elsewhere whenever Noah was around because he was convinced this was for him.  

Another line-up picture.  I' not sure why we were having them line up or why we were taking their picture - but it's a great documentation of their size this year.  

And here is documentation of our traditional Denny's Dinner.  I don't know why we enjoy this tradition so very much but it's a hit every year!

Look who lost her first tooth?  Little Darla has joined the ranks of the toothless.  

This might be one of my favorite pictures of all time.  I have a picture like this with Tyler and almost every one of the kids.  He is the epitome of a Great Daddy and the kids all think he walks on water.  What a fun December we had.  

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.  

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.  

Oh My, Darlin'!

This little girl is pure sunshine.  Perfectionist, diva, drama queen, little mama and chatterbox she's a little bit of everything and then some. 

One of the things I love about Darla is that she isn't shy about anything.  She will march right up to a stranger and give them a piece of her mind whether they are a grown up or not and usually her mind is loving and kind.  She's a marvel to behold and is constantly laughing.

She also has a sweet soft side and has the most interesting things to say.  Just when I think Darla isn't listening she'll pop off with a question that blows my mind.  

Darla loves to HOLD HANDS.  She is always reaching out for my hand wherever we go and is content to sit and read with me as long as she's touching me.  She is also a phenomenal reader - with such enthusiasm and inflection that I get caught up listening to her and forget what I'm doing.  What a rare gift at 6 years old to be such a good story-teller.  

Darla likes to do things her own way and doesn't like to be bossed, but she's also very obedient and wants to please.  

Anyone who knows Darla knows that she has a special sparkle in her eyes.  To say it's distinctive is an understatement - I've only seen eyes like hers in one other place - her namesake.  Those eyes make me smile every time and she's so quick to laugh and enjoy herself that she's a joy to be around.

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.