Kailyn's Princess Tea

For Kailyn's 4th birthday, she really wanted to have a Princess Tea, and what better place than Magpie's Bakery. Maggy and Kelsey were absolutely fabulous - they even dressed up, too! From time to time I have felt a little sad that we don't have all the options of a big city when it comes to birthday parties and stuff, but I really think that this year proved better than any bigger city could have dreamed of. And, ooooohhhh it was dreamy!

Quinn & Ginger

Kailyn & Chloe

Prince Elias - complete with a coat of arms and bugle!!Bella & Kailyn
Coloring a picture frame

Kailyn's helmet for her new 4 wheeler!

Bella & Brandy

We had a little time at the end while the princesses awaited their carraiges to dance a few jigs - so fun!!

Breaking in the new bed...

... the G Rated version!

After years of complaining about sleeping in a Queen size bed with my super *STAR* husband (who, in case you have missed the previous posts, really does sleep like a star... a rotating, rolling, tossing, and hitting super star), I finally gave in and "got off the wallet", as Brian says. He says this because for all the complaining, I am too cheap to spend the money when we were given a beautiful queen bedroom set for our wedding that was perfectly fine! But... the cabin is to the point that we are starting to think about furniture, and it seemed silly to buy a bedroom set for there instead of here.

So, the timing was perfect. Brian has been wanting a Temperpedic bed, and Sadler's had their truckload sale, so we were able to save a couple hundred bucks. Hey, it got me, anyways. We are now happy owners of a HUGE king size bed.

One of the funnest parts of buying a Temperpedic is that you have to break in the foam by jumping and walking on it. Luckily, we had a few kiddos that were happy to lend a hand! Even Charlie got in on the action - notice all the drool marks!!!

The furniture was a little tougher to decide on. After two days of going to every furniture store in Anchorage, we stopped in the Amish store on a whim. I've always LOVED their work, but would NEVER spend that much money. But, after talking to Brian for a long time, we didn't really love any of the stuff we had seen, none of it was great quality, and all of it was overpriced anyways. So, for just a tad bit more money than we had planned, we were able to order exactly what we wanted to be handmade by some of the most talented craftsmen in the world. We are super excited about it, and will be posting pictures when it gets here. Until then, excuse the completely unfinished and messy bedroom!

Four years old!

On August 6, our little Princess (yes, still!) turned four. And she is not shy about it at all! So far, we have informed the postman Tom and all the patrons in line, each and every stocker and customer at the grocery store, and a handful of tourists that we passed on our walk a few days after. I am amazed at how interested all of these people are - I just love living in a town like Valdez where nobody is too rushed to take a few minutes to chat with such a big girl. She is also most proud of the fact that she can *finally* chew gum, and she (palms up, hands pulsing up and down if you can just picture her) doesn't even swallow it!! So fun. I just love this age.

Ummmm..... usually, I do, anyways =).

When Kailyn woke up in the morning, she was greeted by her pink princess cake and was MOST DISAPPOINTED when I told her that was not a special breakfast for her. She had to wait the entire day to enjoy it with her friends and family... such torture for a little girl! Look at her face!
Charlie, as usual, thinks his sister absolutely hung the moon. She can always get him to laugh. He thought the face was funny, too.

For her actual birthday, we invited our local "family" over for a small dinner/ get-together. Although we've pretty much dropped off the social scene this summer, it was nice to still feel the love from so many great friends.

Still making the "party face" that the big girls taught her 2 1/2 years ago.

Brandy and Bella

Uncle Sean - always a hit!

Does Hailey know that she is not going to be "Baby Hailey" much longer? She loved hanging out in Kailyn's baby bed.

Another pregnant belly.
And another... who knew the Wisner's were expecting yet another baby?

Hoping for a houseful...

How could a girl not want ten more. How fun is this?

Independence Day

We had an extra special 4th this year... Aunt Michelle and Cousin Kate came to visit, and they brought Memere and Papa with them! The girls had such a good time together, and I can't wait to get together sometime down in Utah.

Of course we couldn't miss the Valdez 4th of July Parade!! All the kids came home with lots of loot, most of which melted by the end of the day it was so hot. Bella & Kailyn showing their patriotic spirit.

Ethan Weber becoming the envy of all the local kids!

After the parade, we had a few people over for a BBQ, and what would a BBQ be without watermelon? Charlie ate an entire watermelon by himself, I think!

The girls spent lots of time outside with gorgeous weather.

Kate loves the water so much that we turned the sprinkler on for her and she had a blast ! Kids always amaze me - our tap water is glacier fed (read... VERY cold!!!). Even Kailyn, Miss Tough Alaska Girl, wanted nothing to do with it! But Kate showed her Alaska spirit for sure!!!

Lifelong dreams

"My mother always told me some people grow up wanting to be doctors or lawyers or teachers. She wanted to be a mommy," Markham said in a statement. "Her lifelong dream was loving her babies and being a voice for them."

Ashley Markham is one of the 16 children whose parents were recently murdered in Pensacola, FL, where I went to college and then worked before moving to Alaska.

For so many reasons, it has had me thinking about so many things these last few days. Mostly about how sad that such good people had to be taken from this world, but it's also helped me reflect on my own life.

We've had a few tragedies recently here in Valdez, too. This year alone, two dad's were taken way too soon from their very young families. Really, this type of thing seems like it will never happen to you, but why are any of us different from this family in Pensacola or one of the moms here that had possibly the worst possible thing happen and change their lives in a matter of minutes. Seconds even.

We're not different. Those people probably woke up and went about their daily routine just like you and I did. They had no idea that it was their last day to see their kids. Their last day to kiss their spouse. That someone else would be finishing their to-do list. How could they have known that they would not, for whatever reason, get to finish that day?

They didn't.

Which makes me think about my own life. While I can't exactly say that I have ever wanted to die - I've always been pretty happy - I have never wanted to live so badly. If nothing else, these tragedies have reminded me that each day is such a blessing. We are so lucky that for whatever reason, be it God or fate or whatever you believe, you get to walk in this world one more day. You get to see your kids, your spouse, your dog. One more time you get to leave your underwear on the floor even.... the world is completely open to you; you woke up.

I wonder how many people didn't get to do that this morning.

If I sound bleak, I certainly don't mean to. I have been refreshed, if nothing else, by the reminder that life is so delicate. I have been reminded to live each day as if it could be my last, because, really, it could be.

Ashley's quote reminded me of a conversation with Brian one night after dinner. He mentioned that he, as Fire Chief, has reached his life goal. It's what he always wanted to be, and now, at 32 years old, he's there. In those talks, I've always been so proud of him that I never bridged the thought over to myself - I mean, really, how cool is that to be able to say? My thoughts stayed on the excitement I felt for Brian. But today I thought about myself.

It hit me that I, too, have reached my life goal. For as long as I can remember, I would always tell people that I wanted to be a wife, a mom, and a teacher. And look at that. I have been a teacher, though not the kind I would have preferred, and I will be a wife and mother until my last day. How fabulous is that? I, at the very least, got to live to see my life's dreams come true, and I will be living the dream each day until my last.

I hope that the same is true for you =)


p.s. I do know that the pictures are repeats, but they really make me smile.

Ketchup

Well, it's summer in Alaska. What else can I say but chasing a 3-year old, a 10-month old, growing a baby in my belly, and attending the building of one fabulous cabin has kept me away from the computer. Here are a few (OK, alot, but I couldn't narrow it any more) pictures from what we've been up to over the last couple of months. Anchorage doctor's appointments give us lots of time with Memere & Papa.

Kailyn traded in her princess garb for a detective's suit at Memere's house. It seems that there have been some bad guys around.... hmmm...

Kailyn had her first ballet recital and was a smashing success!

My washer and dryer have been installed upstairs (YEAH!!) Lots of time has been spent outside, especially in our backyard...

...where Kailyn got her first swing set. Her last day at Mrs. Banner's Preschool - Beach Day.

The first of several cruise ships came to town.

The hummingbirds arrived, so we made them some yummy food and have quite a few that regularly visit us, even when we sit outside.

Even the cabin got a swingset...

...And a new roof!We had so many friends come up to help Brian put the roof on - we feel so blessed to be surrounded by such awesome friends, even when we are not the best at keeping in touch as much as we'd like.

Our Alaska girl - it's been so hot that she can't even stand to wear pants, but notice that she still has on her XTRA TUFFs - I think that this may be THE yearbook picture...

Charlie's been able to take some time from his busy schedule to relax in his namesake's chair at the cabin.

Kailyn has broadened her flower-smelling/ picking obsession to include baby pinecones. Really cute baby pinecones... I am thinking of Christmas crafts to come!

Charlie absolutely digs the swing!Can you just tell how much he ADORES his big sister? And she cannot get enough of him, either.

Willie still loves rocks. His back seems to be pretty much healed, but it's not exactly 100%. I'm just glad that he's having fun and not in pain.
Even though she is still our Princess, this girl LOVES a pile of mud. Dad has to take her on a quick ride most every night at the cabin, and sometimes several rides if there's been rain.

With all the trips to Anchorage, we've been able to hang out with the Head family and use our zoo pass from last summer.

More swinging - this is a regular theme around here!