Oh My Goodness...

"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...

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.

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...

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...

She's Growing...

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...

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!

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

Much Ado About Nothing

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)