Bet You'll Never Guess Where I've Been!

I know I disappeared, but I couldn't say what I was doing...I've been surprising a friend - a friend who does check my blog. So...I couldn't give details. But now I'm home again!

My girlfriend, Shannon, was turning 40 this past week. Really I know 40 isn't old, but it still seems like it! :) Her husband Greg had this awesome idea that Mike & I should join them on an Alaskan cruise as a surprise for her. This was his idea back in February. It has been killing me to keep that a secret - especially when I talk to her at least once a week if not more often!

So that is where we have been!

We went to Seattle and spent a few days with some college friends. It was hard to believe that we hadn't seen each other for almost 8 years!!! It was kind of neat to see how we had grown into responsible adults with children - although none of us would admit to that! My girlfriend, Elaine, was there and took lots of great pictures - including this one of us at the dock. You can check out all of her pictures at her blog - Know Myself. Thanks for the great pictures, Elaine!

Elaine and her family graciously gave us a ride to the dock to start our trip. Mike and Greg were texting all morning to keep each other aware of where we were. Shannon thought Greg was still working. The plan was to meet them at dinner and surprise Shannon. We got on the boat first and actually watched Greg and Shannon board from the top deck. It was killing me that I could see her, felt like I could reach out and touch her, but I had to wait four more hours until I could hug her! Greg told Mike they were going for food at the back of the ship, so Mike and I headed for a tour of the spa at the front of the ship. As we walked out of the spa we were by one of the banks of elevators. As we turned, the elevator doors opened and Greg and Shannon were standing right there. It is a huge ship and yet somehow we managed to run into each other. Best laid plans....I was secretly - okay not so secretly thankful that God worked it out so we could meet each other sooner and He surprised all four of us instead of just Shannon!

The rest of the trip was amazing! We sailed to Juneau, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, BC. Each of those cities in Alaska have no roads in or out - the only way to get to them is by boat or by plane. That's isolation!

In Juneau we took a whale watching excursion that included a tour of a glacier and a salmon bake. We saw a momma humpback whale with her calf. The calf was putting on a glorious show for us and jumped and splashed for 30 min! That is the longest that law allows you to stay watching one wildlife.

We also saw an eagle that caught a salmon and was making it his lunch.

And a pod of orca whales or killer whales. And sea lions. And lots of sea gulls.

Thankfully the tour boat had coffee and hot chocolate. It was a really amazing tour and kind of spoiled us for wildlife. From then on anytime someone would see a whale just swimming it didn't seem quite as exciting!

The glacier was beautiful. The "dirt" is silt that runs down. I kind of expected it to be brilliant like you see in on tv, but it was still beautiful. We hiked around the park adjacent to the glacier making lots of noise to avoid the bears that are coming out to the streams for the salmon spawning.

Then on to the salmon bake (I had bbq ribs) that was fantastic! It was raining, but they had great canopies set up to eat under. And we were right next to a waterfall that we donned our umbrellas and went to find.The day we visited Glacier Bay we were on the boat all day. In the morning they offered a Polar Bear Plunge. Much to Mike's dismay, that meant a swim in the outdoor pool (which I'm not sure anyone used other than that because it was cold and rainy the whole trip!). He was hoping it meant in the glacial waters. However, I did hear that the Coast Guard has a 50/50 rule for the Alaskan waters. That means you have a 50% chance of being able to swim 50 yards. Lets just say the water is COLD!

We did however wear our swim suits and view the glacier from the spa's thermal spa. The thermal spa contained a mineral tub specially designed to regulate your body temperature (I used this almost every day!); steam rooms; showers; a balcony; and full view out the front of the ship; and the most amazing heated lounge chairs. Many a nap happened in those. The glacier was beautiful! When the glacier would calv otherwise known as have a piece fall off into the water, it sounded like thunder. We stayed at the glacier for an hour and a half and even saw kayakers - crazy people!!!

On to Sitka. This was by far the cutest town. Mike and Greg went fishing in the morning and had fun. Shannon and I went to the spa and we had FUN! It was also our only day of sun. It was beautiful. When we got there, we could not dock, but had to take the life boats to the dock. It was cool to watch them bring them back on to the ship.

Then we went to Ketchikan, but it was cloudy and rainy the whole time - yuk. I'm sure the town is great, but the weather (especially after Sitka) made it not so appealing. We did however do a bunch of touristy trinket shopping for the kids. This was my favorite purchase...

...the pooping bear. When we got home, we explained that it wasn't real poop. Jeffrey assured us it wasn't - he licked it.

Lastly we went to Victoria, BC. Again, I'm sure it is a great city - they are hosting the Olympics soon - don't ask me which year...I don't remember. We didn't dock until 7pm on a Thursday night. Our trolley driver nicely explained that everything except the mall and the pubs were closed. We found a couple of cute shops, a gelatto store, and walked around the Empress hotel. This is the government building.

Then we sadly headed home. I'd like to say that I really missed the kids and home, but...I didn't cook for 10 days; I didn't have children waking me up in the middle of the night; I didn't have to make my bed every day; I didn't have to correct any children, change any diapers, or wash any dishes. However, I also didn't get lots of hugs and kisses - sweet little kids ones that is! When I think of those sweet moments, then I really did miss them!

It is good to be home (and sleep in my bed with two extra kids), but now I'm engrossed in the laundry and cleaning. Life goes on.

Bed

This is where I want to be in about 12 hours.

Mike has been gone this past week to Jr. High church camp as the speaker. He took Mikalah with him. So I have been single mommy to five.

It really hasn't been bad. Don't get me wrong, we've had our moments, but all in all pretty good.

Only one complaint. My adrehelin has been running high. I've gotten a lot accomplished, but I also can not go to sleep until I am exhausted.

I have not been in bed or asleep until after 2 am every night.

So tonight, since Mike will be home, I want to go to bed at 9pm and get A LOT of sleep!

Picture courtesy of: http://www.housetohome.co.uk

Butt, Mommy

Jeffrey is three. Really that should say it all. He has the cutest dimples and contagious smile. He loves books - even sleeps with them. He is full of energy.

He is full of energy. That just really needed to be said twice.

I love him dearly. There are days, however, when his sweet, kind of loud, voice sound like nails on a chalkboard to me.

Lately, when I ask him to do something - like finish his food, pick up his toys, get dressed - he has something more important to say. A typical conversation goes like this:

Me: Jeffrey, sweet boy, I would like you to please take your garbage to the garbage can so we can keep our house sparkling clean.

Okay, that's what I say when there are people around. The real conversation goes like this:

Me: JEFFREY! I TOLD YOU THREE TIMES TO PICK UP YOUR GARBAGE. DO IT NOW!

Jeffrey: Okay, but, Mommy...

And his voice goes up to a higher pitch at the end. Really the "mommy" sounds more like "mommeeeeeeeee"

We are working on a new pronunciation of my name!

So I don't let the "but, Mommy" go - that's back-talking in my books.

My response: No buts - go do it.

Often I get another "but, Mommy" and we have to stop and talk about how he can tell me what it is that he wants to say after he has been obedient and finished what mommy asked him to do.

That goes over really well and we usually end up with a three year old in a puddle of tears, flopped on the floor and the mommy threatening punishment if he isn't obedient right away.

It is exhausting. I think I need a nap after just telling that scenario to you.

Now, the real fun part is that Morgan has started copying Jeffrey.

So last night when I was trying to get her ready for bed and wanted her to get up on her bed this is what the conversation went like:

Me: Morgan, up on your bed so mommy can change your diaper. You are a stinky girl!

Morgan: I not a stinky girl! (for the record - she wasn't - so frustrating when they are right!)

Me: I still need to change your diaper, so get up on your bed.

Morgan: but, mommy

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!

Me: Morgan, GET UP ON YOUR BED - NO BUTS!

Morgan: no buts, no buts, no buts (in a sing-songy voice as she dances around the room)

Tired, I just pick her up and put her on the bed. As I begin to change her diaper...

Morgan: Mommy, I'mmmmmm naked! (naked is said very quickly - very cute)

Me: yes, sweetheart, mommy needs to change your diaper its almost bedtime.

Morgan: (in the same sing-songy voice) yes butts, yes butts, yes butts

Beauty Queen Wannabe

I have always loved watching beauty pageants. I like competition. I like getting dressed up. So even though they are a little hokey, I am technically still a little girl who wants to grow up and be beautiful.

Well, I've found a way to get just a smidgen of that princess spotlight.

If you go to Walmart late at night, the lights are a little lower and the isles a little emptier. Go to the frozen section and wait for the isle to be completely empty. Then proceed slowly down the isle, careful to stay in the middle of the lane. As you go, there is a sensor that turns on the lights as you approach each glass door.

It's like the spotlights are coming on just for you.

Feel free to give the pageant wave as you go.

No bathing suit or evening gown necessary.

Heels optional.

It makes me stand a bit taller.

Until I round the corner to the check out.

Photo Catch-up

Okay, since the last picture round-up ended at Morgan's birthday, so we'll pick up three days later with Jarrett's birthday. Although that now seems like months ago!!!

His choice was Red Robin, so we decided to make it a family party at the restaurant. He opened presents which included the necessary boring shirt from his parents...
...but also the more exciting XBOX game to go with the system that his Uncle Josh sent for the family.
Again we were able to forgo cake and instead had this and Mountain High Mud Pie. I think the calorie count was a wash.
Mike captured some great pictures of the kids...and the ad for the Red Stripe Beer!

Most of our May was spent at track. Mikalah, Judson, and Jarrett all participated and the other three did a lot of running around in the grass and dirt piles.

Judson's favorite event was discus. His best throw for the track meet was 52+ feet. His coach said he had great form and he should seep with it and be awesome in high school. that was great encouragement especially since track replaced baseball season.

Jarrett competed in the long jump.

Lovingly renamed the short jump.
And so did Mikalah.

Mikalah also really enjoyed the hurdles.

I love that she does it with style and a smile.

Lots of running and running and more running.
Although I think this picture best captures how involved our kids were.

Mikalah listening intently, Jarrett playing.
This is something new Jarrett learned. I think he taught himself, but it is just so unnatural.

I mean really, how?...why?
Next birthday was mine and we won't talk too much except to say I think I'm getting old. I asked for oatmeal for breakfast and a toothbrush as a present. Thankfully Mike saved me and took me to dinner and disco bowling with some friends! (Notice how I cleverly posted the picture of me behind the box - yeah, this was before a shower in the morning!)
For Judson and Jarrett's birthdays, we told them they could each pick one friend to take to our local game park.

One handsome dude! I'm preparing myself now to fight off the girls!
How many goofy boys does it take to get the ball in the whole?

Okay - so this is just wrong, but too cute not to include! He is just getting so big!
Speaking of big, Morgan moved into her "big girl bed".

She loved it and I love it because she looks so little in that big bed!

Present from the grandparents - a Wii. I know does one family really need two game systems? With six kids and their friends...YES!!! I love the Wii, because even the little ones can play. Meredith is our bowling champion. She beat Daddy last week!
Mike had a birthday - with no pictures. I love him, he's a handsome guy, but not picture cute! :) Okay really, I just forgot. But for Father's Day - the next day - after church we went for Chinese food. Really small children and eating out at nap time is not a good combination. The kids did really well, but the five minute ride home was too much for Morgan.So there you have our last bit in pictures. We did not have two kids have tonsillectomies, but we will in the next few months. They were rescheduled due to an insurance mix-up. I am thankful, though. I had cleared our schedule for these two weeks so that they could recover. Now we are just having lazy days of summer and lots of FUN!!!!

Gotcha Day

June is over! Hallelujah! Don't get me wrong, I love the month of June. My birthday, Summer arrives - it has always been a favorite. However, it also contains Judson & Mike's birthdays and Father's Day, and the kids summer break beginning. It's a lot of fun, but it is a lot! So now birthdays are over, and we have finally begun to settle into a routine. The pool is up and being used in the backyard, and there are wonderful fruits in season.

I know the fruit thing seems odd, but really by this time of year I am so tired of apples and bananas and oranges, that I don't care that cherries are $5/lb. I'm buying!!! The tomatoes are finally yummy and we can't seem to keep blueberries in the house - they're demolished too fast!

This is where I would show you a bunch of pictures from the last month, but my husband recycled a laptop for me. Yeah I have a laptop that i can cart around the house and out of the house with me. It means I can go and sit at Starbucks and work, or even just sit on my bed or the sofa. However, it does not have a card reader for my camera. Apparently I have to get some kind of reader. I'm not that technically minded to just run and get it. So, the process of putting pictures up goes like this:

Upload pictures to kitchen computer.
Edit and save.
Save to jump drive.
Remove jump drive.
Put jump drive into laptop.
Upload pictures.
Upload pictures to blogger.

So, I need to find whatever reader thingy I need. Then I do several posts of pictures.

Also this past month my ladies Bible study started Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself. I had started with a good friend a couple of weeks ahead so that I would be prepared and not just at the last minute. The study is awesome!!! Interestingly enough, she spent the first two weeks talking about the Holy Spirit. Call it a blonde moment (hard to do since I'm not blonde), but I was surprised by my "aha" moment that the fruit of the spirit is talking about the Holy Spirit!!!! I had just never made that connection. Now I'm really not sure why I hadn't made that connection, but I hadn't.

This week, my ladies are studying "joy". I have to confess that i am no longer ahead. I desperately want to be and I'm hoping that the next week I can actually work ahead, but I got stuck. It has been one year since my sister died, and having to do a study where every other word is her name has been really hard. It's not so much that they are talking about her - although if there was a person that fit her name, it was Joy, it's really just seeing her name over and over again. I can't pick up the phone and call her and tell her what I am studying.

What is totally awesome is what true joy is. Ultimately, no matter what is going on in our lives, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and take the punishment that we deserve, so we don't have to. Nothing can compare. All my trials pale in comparison. When we accept that gift that God offers - the gift of His Son, we are adopted out of our sinful family into God's eternal family. WOW!

Philippians 3:8a "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."

Thirty-four years ago today, I was welcomed into the home of my earthly adopted family. We call today my "Gotcha Day." I am so thankful that God gave them to me so that I could learn about His complete love at an early age. I am even more thankful that God has His own "Gotcha Day" for me!

Random Thoughts

Why doesn't my dog clean up popcorn?

Why do my children think 6:15 am is a good time to get up in the morning? Time for new window treatments with light-blocking fabric!

This morning's google headline: Sen. Ted Kennedy to undergo brain surgery. That just sets up so many really good jokes, but since I'm studying the Fruit of the Spirit right now, I'm too convicted to go any further!