gone camping

Last Friday I did something I've been wanting to do, but dreading to do....camping. I love camping, but the idea of going with 3 kids, one of which is not yet 18 months, has quite frankly been haunting me. Knowing I won't get much sleep, if any, being cold, worrying about Levi around a campfire, the endless packing for just an overnight campout, etc. But I did it! and I'm glad to say that it was fun despite the inevitable. We didn't sleep much, Levi was infatuated with the fire, we packed what seemed like our entire house, we woke up to a partially inflated air mattress, had neighbors that talked to the wee hours of the morning, but the kids had a great time and so did I-no really, I did. I will do it again, although, it might not be until next year since winter is quickly approaching. We hiked, threw rocks at the river, built a fire, roasted marshmallows, got dirty, and hung out. We went with our friends, the Schanz's. The kids really were in seventh heaven. They picked berries and mushrooms, both probably poisonous, for hooouuurrss. 1st family campout: check. Success!
Proof that we were there and proof that I'm "butch" when camping.
Someone is excited
It was nice sleeping next to the sound of this river.
Gooey marshmallows
Gooey and sticky marshmallows. Seriously, I can't believe I didn't think that marshmallows would get all over Jordyn's hands like this. They only wanted the marshmallow and not the chocolate and cracker to go with it. Silly girls.
Good night.

1st day of Kindergarten

Parents received this poem by an unknown author wrapped around tissue. I thought it was cute:

Every one has a "first day"
when they feel sad and all alone,
It can be so scary
when you're out on your own
And I know that a "first day"
can be full of doubts and fears,
But they're full of new beginnings.
Take my hankie, dry your tears.

You'll find lots of things to do
and you'll probably make new friends.
I promise we'll be together
when the school day ends.

Here comes the teacher
blow yor nose and be brave.
Come on now and wipe your eyes,
this is no way to behave.

Well good morning teacher.
We really must beg your pardon.
No, MOMMY doesn't always act this way,
But it's my first day of....KINDERGARTEN!

Sydney started her 1st day of kindergarten this morning at Eagle Academy. It's a charter school. She got into the school by lottery. In the morning a friend a few house down will take to school and I will pick up in the afternoon. At this school, kids wear uniforms. Sydney was very excited this morning. She expressed some concern about missing us during the day so I gave her a heart bracelet I got when I graduated from H.S. On the heart says L.M.K. (my initials before I got married). I told her it's her special charm bracelet and when she's feeling like she missing us she can rub her heart bracelet and when she sees LMK she'll know it's me saying, "Love My Kiddo" and feel a little better. I was proud of myself that I thought of this last minute. Sydney was very happy about this special present I got her :) I also placed special kisses from me in her hand if she needs something a little more, like a kiss. She'll be fine though. She's going to be a great student. She got to school this morning saw a few kids she knew and walked to class. She found her cubby and sat down to color a picture of a rainbow that every student had on their desk. She told Jordyn she was going to miss her too. So sweet. When we left she cried a little bit; a minute later when I peeked in, she was fine and coloring her picture. We're all going to miss Sydney's presence during the day.

U-pick-it

Yesterday I woke up and told the kids we were going to be farmers for a few hours and actually pick our own vegetables. They were kinda confused at first, but as soon as we started picking vegetables at the you-pick-it-farm in Palmer, they were loving being "farmers." I have heard of this place but thought it was more of a farmers market. All of us had a ton of fun getting dirty, picking the vegetables, and learning what certain vegetable plants look like. It's embarrassing to admit, but I didn't know what a broccoli plant looked like or many other vegetables. I don't even know what to do w/ most of the vegetables either like: kohlrabi, bok choi, or even rhubarb. Can you tell I was born and raised in Southern California? So if you have any ways you cook some of those vegetables please write a comment. We did pick the vegetables we know and love: broccoli, peas, potatoes, onion, and carrots. We'll definitely go back in Sept. and then next summer for sure. On the way home we quickly stopped by a reindeer farm as well and took a few pixs.

9 years

On Wednesday Jeff and I celebrated our 9 year anniversary. As I say every year, it sounds like a long time but it doesn't feel that way. I guess moving a lot, having kids, working and having fun makes time go by fast. So last night we went on a date. We rode bikes at Eklutna Lake, ate dinner, and read our letters we write to each other every year.
The Eklutna Glacier carved this valley as it retreated, leaving horizontal scarring on rock formations as evidence of its passage. Glacial and freshwater streams flowing into the valley created the 7-mile-long lake. Eklutna Lake feeds a power plant and provides drinking water for the Anchorage area.
The ride around Eklutna lake was Gorgeous. It really was awesome to explore somewhere new.

VT conference

Here's an outline of what I did. The theme was being a SUPER HERO Visiting Teacher. I was really nervous because the RS Stake Presidency was there and the Bishop came in too, not to mention all the sisters in the ward. The room was completely full.

1. Intro to Super Hero VT: ask the question: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
2. A Super Hero visiting teacher is.... have the sisters fill in the blank. write answers on board.
3. Show 2 min. clip "Visiting Teaching" from LDS dot org These qualities are super powers.
4. Introduce the 3 responsibilities from the handbook page 69. Love and Know each sister, Help strengthen her faith, and Give Service. Ask how can we accomplish these 3 things. i.e. pray for them, support, prepare lesson, etc.
5. EXAMPLES
Scripture Super Heros that exemplify each of these responsibilities: 1. love : 3rd ne 17: 21-22. 2. strengthen faith: Moroni 9:25. Third. Service: Christ washing Apostles feet.
6. Ward SUPER HERO VT examples.
love: Carrie Elordi
faith: Kristin Armstrong
service: Katrina Rico
7. Close: bear testimony, pass out hand out and new assignments.

I was pleased with how my lesson went, sister's comments throughout the lesson, and feedback afterwards. I'm thankful that Heavenly Father did inspire me with this lesson. I prayed for the Spirit to be present and I think there were several women who felt the Spirit so that alone I'm thankful for as well.

super hero invitations

Yesterday I handed these out for the "Super Hero" VT Conference I had. I was thinking that you could easily change the words up and have a super cute "Super Hero" birthday invitation for a Super Hero party. I'll have to remember this idea for Levi's birthday.

Flat Top

Jeff trying to protect himself from the hail.

Last Saturday Jeff and I hiked Flat Top for our date. The day before I asked Sydney what Jeff and I should do for our date. She suggested we do "dinner and movie or do missionary work." We figure we can do dinner and a movie when it's winter time; as far as missionary work....we'll have to try that a different date night. We had never hiked Flat Top before. It's a popular hike in Anchorage. It's 3 miles round trip. This was the most painful date I've ever been on. So, as we were hiking it started raining, and rain turned into hail, and then the wind picked up....I would guess 40 mph. So hailing hitting us in the face at 40 mph, didn't feel great. But nonetheless we kept putting one foot in front of the other. We eventually made it to the top, at times I had wondered if forging ahead was the best idea. We made it down super fast, because the wind was pushing us. There were many times I wanted to step carefully and cautiously, but the wind blew me and Jeff into running, thus my several falls. Like I mentioned it was a painful date, but one I will never forget. By the time we made it back to the car we were completely soaked and muddy. We had a fun time laughing at the conditions and getting back into a warm car never felt better.
On a clear day people say you can see McKinley and the Aleutian Islands....not so much today.

Dip Netting

This past Wednesday we went dip netting. Let me rephrase that, Jeff went dip netting while I tended to the kids. However, I would've loved to dip net myself, but since Jeff went with 3 other guys, that would've been a little weird. We went with a few of our neighbors. One of our neighbors that we went with has a cabin in Kasilof. We drove down there Tuesday night, stayed in their cabin, and the guys went dip netting in his boat the next morning. Jeff had a blast. It was a beautiful, clear, and warm day. Last year we dip netted from shore and it was cold, slow, and crazy (other people lined up on shore are really competitive). Dip netting from the boat is nice because you can get more fish in a shorter amount of time and you're not dealing w/ other people from shore. Last year we spent about 6 hours (from shore) and caught 6 salmon. On Wednesday Jeff and the guys caught 114 in 5 hours. We took home 35 salmon which should be more than enough for our family this winter. While he went fishing, me and the kids went to the beach w/ my friend and her kids and looked for shells and rocks. We also went to a lake and rode their 4 wheelers. When we came home we fillet our fish and now we have a freezer filled w/ red meat. From the beach you could see Mt. Redoubt. Right before we moved here this volcano was extremely active.
The kids playing in the lake.
Like I said it was a beautiful day. When we drove home Wednesday night we saw this sight. It was so beautiful. Keep in mind, it was 11:15 pm and this is how clear it was.
First Jeff cut off the head, then cut a slit on the belly and pulled out guts and any eggs, and then he just cut the meat off on each side, making 2 large fillets.
Lots of bloody fish. We fillet them on our driveway. I was a nervous wreak because just 2 days prior the kids and I were in the front yard when a black bear and 2 cubs were right across the street from our house, and here we were filleting fish.
Sydney with her new eyeball.
Jordyn holding some fish eggs.

Prayer Rocks

Prayer rocks have been around for A LONG time. This is the idea behind a prayer rock. When you wake up in the morning, you put the prayer rock on your pillow so when you lay your head on the pillow at night, you remember to say your prayers. When you go to bed at night, you put the rock on the floor so when you wake up in the morning and step on the rock, you remember to say your prayers. A few weeks ago we were throwing rocks at a river near our home and I found some big smooth rocks. I thought about prayers rocks, but the one/s (I think I got a few when I was a kid) teachers gave me were always that gray, bland, rock color. So thanks to some blogs I got the idea to paint them. I primed, spray painted and then personalized each rock, modged podged them, and viola...a super fun, colorful prayer rock.

new projects

After we got home from the lower 48, Jeff started constructing the rock wall in our house. We had to do it upstairs because our basement is mostly made from cement. Jeff secured plywood to the existing wall. We painted the wood the same color as the walls and secured the holds. The holds are pretty small, I've tried to climb the wall and I can't, my fingers and toes are too big, but it's perfect for the girls. Now they have another thing to climb and exert energy (important for winter months in AK). Jeff and I were adding things up. Those "playgrounds" you can buy at Costco are over $1000. We've put in our basement a trampoline, 2 swings, and trampeze thing, plus this new rock wall and it all cost much less that half of a costco playground.
Note: Sydney's bed head. My girls get bed head like no man's business. They must get it from me:) It was 7:30am when I took this pix. My kids play hard so they sleep hard.

This week I made some colorful and personalized prayer rocks that I just wrote more about.

I was also feeling the urge to organize a bit so I came up with this file box that I will put Sydney's finished school work in. I'm only planning on putting her favorite and my favorite school work so we keep some of her work (art, writing, math, etc) but not every single paper she comes home with.

Some other big news....no not preggers is that last sunday I was set apart to be RS Pres. (ummm....okay pick up your jaw now. No worries I was shocked too). So this week Jeff was gone for a few days, I was crazy busy w/ meetings, phone calls, planning, etc but somehow I was able to magnify (or try to at least) my calling, do these two easy projects, AND be a happy mommy. It's been a great week!