Church and Boden

Lately, when we head to church...Bodey starts to get this whimper about time we pull into the street of our church. I didn't correlate it at first, but now I realize he hates to be left at church. He's been in the baby room for the past year, so is usually bored out of his mind. I just realized he could move up to the toddler room where there are lots more toys, slides, and BALLS!! The last few Sunday's I've helped out since they were short and he acted as if I wasn't even there...so I'm hoping next Sunday he plays and is excited to go much like his brother Brayden!! Brayden tried to console him, but he wasn't having any of it.....I think he was hoping I'd feel sorry and keep him with me!! They have to learn sometime right??

Time to catch up!! Starting with the 4th of July!!

The 4th of July is a very important holiday in our household.....we celebrate our country's freedom everyday, but the 4th is a special day to remember what this country was founded on...Faith, Family, and Patriatism!!

This year we headed to my parent's annual 4th of July bar-b-que and the Chugiak 4th of July parade (which I've watched since we first moved up). Brayden loves parades and made sure to have a "special" bag ready for his treats!!

We stopped at the park before the parade started.....it was a hot day, so sitting in the sun for an hour waiting for the parade did not seem as fun as playing on the playground!! Bodey has gotten soo independent and insists on following Brayden wherever he goes, even if it's too big for him!! Thank goodness for Mimi to help me play "catch" when and if he ever fell!!






And of course we all have to dress the part, including Grandma!! We are proud to be Americans and proud of our country!! The parade was great and the kids made out like bandits thanks to the "Candy Cash Cow (aka Rural Discount Center)".....I totally teared up when a float with some Marines that had just returned from duty went by......I'm a sucker for soldiers and what they do for us!!! Remember to thank a soldier tomorrow!

Mosquitoes Love Babies!!

Yes, I had to find out the hard way, but mosquitoes LOVE Boden....it must be his sweet sweet blood!! Poor little Bodey......I was mowing the lawn the other day while Brayden and Boden were playing on the bikes in the yard....I looked up and saw Boden's face covered in bugs, there was literally 10 mosquitoes feasting on his face!! He wouldn't even swish them out of the way, almost as if he didn't even feel them~ I even put some repellent on them, but of course, couldn't really put any on his face. After we made it inside, his poor face looked awful...I had to take some pictures so I wouldn't forget my guilt!!

AND HE'S WALKING!!

YEAH!! Bodey is finally walking!! He's been standing on his own for the past few months, but never quite brave enough to take the leap of faith. He would walk as long as your fingers were touching his, but the minute you drop them, he would fall to his knees and do his famous "Bodey Shuffle". My mother-in-law actually thought something was wrong with him and asked her doctor if he'd ever heard of a baby doing that....haha poor Bodey~ He just loved to walk around on his knees, almost more than crawling, which was so funny to watch.

Anyways....This past week, he's been a little more braver than usual and had taken a few steps here and there. Then on Thursday, he finally took more than 3 steps in a row!! The best part was he was soooo proud of himself. Even after he'd fall, he would get right back up and start walking again and smile at us the entire time, maybe cause he knew just how proud of him we were!! He is still a little unbalanced, so he looks sort of like a drunken sailor walking around. He also sometimes favors one leg over the other, so ends up doing a circle instead of walking across the room. We are having so much fun with his newly learned skill and the camera has been on standby and will be for awhile!!

I love it that my kids reach their milestones, but with each one, I also shed a tear knowing they'll never have that 1st again~

MIA

Ok, so I'm back....I know, I know...it's been way too long!! An 88 page program book for Miss Alaska has been the only thing my eyes have looked at for the past 3 weeks!! Thank goodness it's done!!

So what's new? Well Brayden is officially signed up for preschool next year....2 days a week for 2 1/2 hours each day~ I can't believe he's actually in preschool (well almost!!). He'll actually do 2 years of preschool, since I've decided to hold him back since he's an August birthday. But, more experience right?? Plus, he's bored out of his mind at home. On a daily basis, he wakes up and says, "What are we going to do today mom?", then as soon as I tell him what we are going to do, he'll say "and after that what are we goign to do?". He will repeat this until I finally say enough and tell him not to worry about it (as we arrive on day 3 of our schedule)!! I know he'll enjoy it.....he tells everyone that church is his "school" and often wants to take his "pack-pack" to church with him. Smile!

Kids are so darn smart!

Tonight, as I was putting Brayden to bed and going through our nightly rituals it dawned on me just how smart my child really is. Brayden is a creature of habbit and almost every night we read the same books, eat the same snacks, and sing the same song (Jesus Loves Me). If I try to change one thing, it's upseting and not worth it, so I look forward to the nights HE wants change.
He has a small book about the Backyardigans going through colors on their jungle journey. When we first started reading this book, I used the opportunity to help him practice his colors by stopping just before the color and letting him say the color on the page. Now when we read this book, I have to make sure to stop and let him say the word or he reminds me that I forgot! Well tonight when I was reading I decided to stop at a few other points to see how much he knew. To my surprise.....he continued EVERY place I stopped to the and said it perfectly!! I got to laughing so hard and he'd giggle too. He even finished this line "It says that the legend of the missing ruby needs to be returned to the Great Golden Idol".....I mean come on, a 3 year old saying "Great Golden Idol"???? Hysterical!!
He literally knew the ENTIRE book, word from word!! I wish I could say he could read, but obviously he has a memory like his mama!! Since he was little, he always knew all the words to songs I would sing him. Even now, I catch him in the car singing along to the radio......his latest..."Pa,pa,pa,poker face..pa,pa,poker face" all while Bodey does the Bodey Shuffle! Sooo funny~

Alaska Barbies

I received this from a friend and loved it!! Sad, but true, I have become the Wasilla Barbie and married a true Wasilla "Ken"!! My friends from Valdez will love their girl......totally fits them to a T! Enjoy~


Anchorage Barbie:
This fit Barbie has a graduate degree in science, resources management, and/or is an environmental lawyer. Comes with brand new Subaru with roof rack holding skate skis and a kayak. Accessories include running tights, cross-trainer shoes, a husky named Kobuk, and a cell phone. Boyfriend Ken comes in seasonally employed climbing guide, fishing guide, or Girdwood bartender models.
Sold at New Sagaya.

Wasilla Barbie:
This Barbie comes with big hair, country music CDs, a .44 Magnum and a bible. Weekender Kit includes snow machine, 4-wheeler, and fishing boat. Brand new duplex dream house and lake cabin are also available (sold separately). Ken comes with a Ford F-350 Diesel pick-u truck with gun rack and trailer, his own snow machine, 4-wheeler, boat, and .44 Magnum. Ken is available every other two weeks when he is not working on the Slope. Alternative Military Ken available by special order.
Sold at Wasilla Wal-Mart.

Fairbanks Barbie:
This graduate school Barbie kit includes a tiny cabin with detached outhouse. This Barbie has hairy legs, hat hair, and a fleece jacket covered with dog fur. Accessories include extra long johns, shower bag, head lamp, case of Ramen noodles, and bug dope. Also available is a beater, 1979 model Subaru, complete with plug-in, ice scraper, shovel, and set of studded tires. Ken is either at the Marlin, the Howling Dog, the Loon, out hunting, doing field work, or is long gone.
Sold at Big Rays.


Ketchikan Barbie:
K-town Barbie lives in an old leaky sailboat that is moored down in Thomas Basin -- in a slip that is conveniently located just off the ramp directly below the Potlatch Bar. For basic transport, she runs a beat up old 18' skiff that has a rundown Johnson 30 hp outboard that leaks oil. She can out fish most any old Norwegian bachelor fisherman; can cut down old growth cedars faster than most any drunken old Swede logger; and can shoot and skin black tail deer that foolishly wander down to beach at sunset faster than any alcohol fueled Finn bushwhacker. Her Ken can be found anytime, day or night, on the deck of the Alaskan Bar pontificating -- often with wild, exaggerated arm waiving and finger pointing -- as to exactly where the Bridge to Nowhere is going to land over on Pennock Island

Sitka Barbie:
Sitka Barbie has most of the same endearments as K-town Barbie except she recently shot her Ken in what is colloquially known as a Sitka divorce. She took the life insurance money and purchased a brand new 26' Hewescraft "Alaskan" with enclosed heated cabin and a 200 hp Honda outboard. Sold only at a kiosk on the cruise ship dock during June, July & August.

Barrow Barbie:
This Barbie comes with blonde hair with dark roots, kuspuk and parka. Accessories include a 650cc Skidoo snow machine, tiny ulu and baleen carving kit. Ken alternates between being a whaling captain and working for the North Slope Borough.
Available at the northern most KFC store.

Juneau Barbie:
This Barbie comes with membership cards for the Alaska Democratic Party, AFSME/AFL-CIO and Alaska Conservation Voters, little red X-tra Tuff boots and an un-used fishing outfit. She lives in tiny apartment above an obscure bar and works as a secretary in the State Office Building. Drives rusty Subaru Forester, but has peeled the "Forester" lettering off because she feels that logging is evil. Ken claims to be a fisherman, but actually he is also a secretary in the State Office Building.
Available in gift shop at the Baranof.

Ft. Yukon Barbie:
This Barbie comes with a Honda Big Red, a 24 foot boat with ancient outboard that would better be kept in the Evinrude Museum, hip boots, little marten trapper hat and snogo suit. She lives in a nice little log house and goes to all the basketball games. A lot of her groceries are flown in too, but she is outfitted with a selection of knives and knows how to cut fish, skin a lynx AND pack moose. Ken is not in town much. He claims to be on the trapline or at fish camp, but someone saw him in Fairbanks.

Valdez Barbie:
This Barbie was not born here, comes with an Alyeska modular or a brand new cookie cutter house by Stan Peterson. This Barbie is best accessorized with an Alyeska husband. She drives a brand new Chevy Suburban, or other large 4x4 vehicle, needs it to get her over Thompson Pass when it has snowed 5' overnight. Has 2.5 children and runs all over town shuttling them from event to event. She typically does not mind the snow or rain, but is always complaining about the weather regardless. Valdez Barbie also spends her weekends shopping in Anchorage although she could get the same thing at the Prospector or so the ad says.

Kenai Barbie
Kenai Barbie is just a weekend Anchorage Barbie that fishes.

Homer Barbie
Homer Barbie spends summers on the Spit and winters going from protest to protest, also hears voices in her head.

Copper Center Barbie:
Lives off the grid, hauls water in a huge tank on the back of her vintage Ford pickup truck. Most often accessorized with Barbie's friend Midge, no need for a Ken doll, but enjoys having Allan, Skipper, Scooter, Francie and Ricky around to play cards on those long dark winter nights. This Barbie owns a 4-wheeler, solar panels and sometimes grows pot in her shed out back. She enjoys mushing dogs, and actually prefers them to people.