Alaska State Fair 2009: Get Happy!

This year we had a lot of fun at the state fair!! I went twice before Randy came home, once with our friends the Victors (Monica and Miles) and than once with Rick and Julie (my in-laws). We had a lot of fun. With Monica we went an saw the animal exhibits which included the petting zoo, live stock,

and reptiles!

The Reptiles were awesome! The girls loved them! Nicole really liked the Turtle.

She even loved all the live-stock, but when we put her in the petting zoo, she got kinda scared and clingy.

When we went with Rick and Julie we took the girls on the rides and returned to the live stock. Nicole loved the turkeys. I was so worried she would get her nose bit. Kimber really LOVED the rides, but really seemed to enjoy petting the goats, and sheep again. She also go to see some baby chickens hatch. (Rick has all the pictures from this day, my battery was dead.)

When Randy came home, we went one last time (10 am am t0 1 pm) and did the rides again so he could play with the girls. Kimber really liked the roller-coaster type ride we did,

and Nicole loved the slide

but didn't like the Viking boat swing (she panicked).

We got there early enough we missed the crowds. We also walked to the other end of the Fair and did the National Guards Opstical course (twice).

Kimber had a lot of fun and really liked getting her face painted!

When we were looking at the live stock, Randy was trying to explain to Kimber that Christ once road on a donkey (pointing to the two there.) She responded, "AH! Really? What was its name?" Randy told her he didn't know, so she asked "Was it a daddy donkey or a mommy donkey?" The things they don't teach us in seminary... ;-)

Nicole enjoyed her self, but ended up getting cranky and falling alseep. It was a lot of fun, everyday!

Summer's End

Well, the fireweed has started to seed, so 6 weeks until snow, and fall has begun. The leaves are turning yellow, and it is much colder now, but I still have hope for a few more nice days (maybe in the 50s.) The last 2 weeks have been so much fun. Randy was home, and we didn't do a whole lot of extra, but we enjoyed every minute we could.

I started working at Palmer Junior Middle School as a monitor 2 hours a day (I withdrew my name, because my school conflicted, and they called me back willing to work with it.) I enjoy the break, but it is still hard to leave the girls. Randy was a huge help, and did dishes and laundry everyday! I am so lucky! He also had tons of fun stories about the girls by the end of 2 hours.

His stories:

Kimber buried him with pillows and stuff animals and when he asked when she was going to let him go, she said "No, Never!!"

Another morning Randy was cuddling Kimber on the couch and had not brushed his teeth yet. Kimber got wind of his breath and said "Daddy you STINK!"

They were watching a movie, and Randy started dozing, so Kimber crawled over and started tickling his feet (his most ticklish spot).

Nicole loves to rough house with her dad, and sister. She also has become very attached to blankets. When she first wakes up she likes to cuddle with me/or Dad and her blanket. In fact, she asks for her blanket if we forget it by saying "Bee bee?" Nicole is also wrapping up baby dolls up in blankets and pats them on the back. If one is moved she will shrug it off but will also notice it, then she picks her doll back up re-wrap it, and say "baby" and set put it back where she wants it.

Nicole has once again fallen asleep, or close to, on the lawn mower. She loves that machine! She sees it out and is climbing on it.

We did a Family home evening with some friends of ours, the Ryan's. It was about sharing your testimony. While I read a story from the Friend, I started eating an apple, and talking about how good it was. All of the children able to talk (5 between 3 and 10) started to complain about how I was supposed to share, and they wanted an apple to. It was perfect!!! Kimber even got in down and walked in front of me to let me know that I needed to share! I know the older kids got the actual idea of sharing your testimony, and the younger ones at least learn how important it is to share.

Randy and I finally had a chance to celebrate our 5th anniversary. We decided to backpack crow pass... but the river was too high, so we did the Gold Mint trail in Hatcher's Pass. It was BEAUTIFUL, rainy, and a bit cold. We took our time the first day, and just had fun, but it was raining bad enough the next morning, we packed up and did 9 miles in just over 4 hours to get out... the funniest part was how little we could move that evening and the next day. It was a blast, and we just had fun being with each other. We saw waterfalls, and marmots, but nothing to worry about. Our food even made it through the night with out any animals trying to get into it.

As a family we have been enjoying the nice evenings with a fire in our firepit. One of my close friends (Taron Deeds) and her family came out and spent Friday evening with us, and I just have some cute pictures of our families I wanted to share:

The Kids Attacking Randy



Braydon enjoying an overcooked Marshmello

Sitting around the Fire

Ethan Dunking himself in the pool

Nicole enjoying a marshmello

The Kiddos

So... a couple of things the kids have done this week:

Kimber and Nicole played a "copy me " game. Kimber hummed a tune and clapped and Nicole would mimic... for about 10 minutes

Nicole was so determined to stay on the lawn mower with Randy that she fell asleep in his arms, and woke up when he turned it off to bring her to me, insisting on staying on the mower.

Kimber wanted to play house, and be the mommy, so she called me sweety all day when she asked for stuff. It was super cute. She would call me on the phone, and say, "Thank you Mom... Sweety, what else?"

Randy surprised them both that he was home, and Nicole kept crawling into his lap, giggling and refusing to leave when she saw him.

Nicole also was trying to help me weed, but while I was on my hands and knees she grabbed grass, pulled my shirt up, and tried to put the grass down my pants. Randy thought that was so funny, but that is when he invited her to ride on the lawn mower.

They both are keeping smiles on our faces, and us busy. But we love them!

Fun in the Sun... Update!

The sun has come out again, and we are playing in the water. Today Monica came over and we relaxed letting the kids play. Heather Thorson invited us to go to Kepler-Bradley with her and her husband. We learned: go to lakes where you don't have to walk 1/2 mile to get to the beach with little ones, don't take strollers on these muddy paths, always carry bug spray, and don't keep your cell phone in your pocket as you wade in the lake. We still had fun though. It was fun cramming 3 kids in the back seat of a Vibe, and just trying to get to and from the beach. I enjoyed the day with Monica, and seeing Heather was a bonus.
This evening my girls have been out in the kiddy pool, and now are playing in the tub. Kim is excited because they started building next door and now she has a new dirt hill to play in.
We are so lucky to live somewhere so beautiful.
Tomorrow it is back to chores and mowing the lawn, and weeding. But hopefully the kids will be entertained and it can get done quickly.
6 days until Randy is home!

Lots of time to catch up!

Well, life has been crazy, and way too many cute things have happened. I feel so guilty for not keeping up on this better.

Well, Randy has been working lots of extra this summer, so when he is home we are trying to play and have inexpensive fun.

My Parents siblings came up to Alaska in June for Kristina's wedding reception. Kristina was married on May 5th in Manti, but came here to let everyone me Skyler. We had a lot of fun. Randy missed part of it, but was here for the 2nd half of their trip. While they were here, we went to Girdwood, and Portage, stopping at Beluga point and Mcough creek. We also spent a day at Eklutna and Thunderbird Falls.

I was so proud of Kimber for walking the entire trail! We went to Seward and did a Sealife cruise, also visiting the Sealife Center.

Kimber LOVED the sea life center. The star fish she got to touch were her highlight. She also thought it was neat to see the seals, and otters. Of course she was just happy to have Grandma and Grandpa here. At the reception Kimber loved Kristina's dress, and thought she looked just like a princess should. We had a blast seeing everyone, and it was so sad to have to say good bye.

On the fourth of July I went with all the Neffs, and Krissee's Family to the Wrights Cabin, where we has a blast on the jet ski, and knee board. We went the following weekend when Randy was home, and had just as much fun. We swam and has dunking wars in the water. Kimber got courageous and sat on a floaty while we splashed around her. she even road on the 'tube twice with me.

Nicole mostly played on the trampoline and in the sand by the lake. The weekend we were there with Randy we also had my niece Brittany from Texas. She was scared of the 'tube, but we promised her there was NO WAY to flip it, and that people have tried with no success.

Well.... Randy was pulling us, with Julie, Brittany and myself. We were just circling around when the 'tube hit a wake from a large boat that just zoomed by... and, well... we figure Randy was going about 20 mph at the time, and we were 30 ft behind him... so somewhere between 50 and 60 miles an hour we discovered how hard water feels when you fly into it. Poor Randy was devastated that he just hurt people he loved, and Julie and I were more concerned about how Brittany handled it... Tally for injury, is I did something to my eye that made me cry blood for a period of time, and only left a light bruise on the right side of my face (it felt like a 2x4 and i was hoping for better proof) Julie pulled some muscles from around her rib cage and chest (still kinda soar... like a sprain) and Brittany hurt her hand, but the lease sever of everything else. After an hour or two, we were ready to go again, so nothing enough to scare us.

The last hitch that Randy was home for we spent 3 days driving to Fairbanks. While we were there we visited Pioneer Park, Santa Clause's house and Denali National Park. The girls did rather well considering it took us 7 hours to drive there. Pioneer park was nice. We rode a train and they had a play ground for the kids to play at. Kimber loved looking at all the different things in the shops. I was proud that she never asked to buy anything. Santa was her favorite though!! She was making up songs about seeing him, and being at his house. It was everything we could do for her not to cut in line to see him. When it came time to leave she even wanted to wait in line again to tell him good bye. Now she talks about writing letters to Santa and seeing him at Christmas with presents. I was proud of her that when we walked by the nativities she new it was baby Jesus, and it gave a chance to talk about what Christmas is REALLY all about.

Denali was fun. Kimber loved seeing all the different animals and feeling all the different types of furs they had displayed. Was was excited about everything. Nicole, not so much. Kimber was told we were at a park, so she kept asking where the playground was. I just told her it was a different kind of park. I was also informed by many tourist that my girls were the cutest they have ever seen!

This last weekend the girls and I joined the rest of the Neffs in a fishing trip to Kenai. The girls loved camping, and thought it was fun to be in sleeping bags and a tent with Mommy. The were spoiled though and we had Rick and Julie's RV with us so we could stay dry when it rained, watch a movie, and use a bathroom rather than outhouses. The last day fishing we took all of the kids to the beach with us (give those not fishing something else to do) and Nicole LOVED the mud. She was the first to start playing in it. Kimber followed shortly. Kimber was excited about the fish, and want to touch and see them all. It was so much fun.

How stubborn Nikki is

Nicole is now almost 14 months old. She just barely figured out how to go down stairs backwards, and only falls when she tries to stand and dance. She only figured this out with the help of our friends son spending an entire evening teaching her. Well last night Randy came home around 10 pm, after visiting Gramma and Papa. Nicole had hit her second wind and was punch drunk goofy. We woke Kim up, and got her out of the car to get her ready for bed, and were doing our regular routine, when Nikki crawls to the couch, stands up and turns to face me. she starts to take a couple of steps (she has been doing that for 2 months now). She fell, laughed, and crawled back to the couch to repeat. after the 3rd attempted we realized that she was practicing and trying to walk across the room to me. All 3 of us started to cheer for her and she finally did it! after moments of her clapping and giggling, she crawled back to the couch to do it again.

I am excited she finally decided she wants to walk, but what does this mean for her future with her personality? ;-) She is defiantly strong willed, and stubborn... who knows where that came from?

Name that Baby

Eveyone always says my girls look just like me, but nothing like eachother... well, you tell me. Can you name that baby???