Road Trip!

Well, we left nice and late!! Our orginal plan was 5 am on the 18th. and I think we left the Eagle River around 11:30, but didn't get out of palmer until 3:30... then we had a flat tire on our Trailer in Glennallen, but... we fixed it! We then drove only stopping for gas until we got to Edmonton! about 36 hours worth of driving!! It was crazy! The girls did rather well. Lots of movies, coloring, and singing.

On the Road we saw LOTS of buffulo, a lynx, deer, and arctic hares. I don't have any pictures becuase most was when I was driving, so Randy was sleeping, and If I stopped everyone would wake up.

In Edmonton we spent from Sunday afternoon until Tuesday morning there. On monday we went to the water park! That was the greatest thing to do for us! we played, and played. The girls loved the park, and Randy and I enjoyed the slides. That water park puts H2Oasis to shame!! I thought what was really funny was how the slide I REALLY liked scared Randy. :)

We also went to the sea lion show they have. Kimber wasn't too excited at first, but by the end she was begging to get up clase to them. So, we set it up for her to get kissed! She thought that was so funny.

Tuesday we hit the road again, We stopped at a play place in Shaktoon (sp??) and then kept on going until we made it to Manhattan KS just before 6 pm Wednesday. It was crazy.

On a spiritual note: I want to acknowledge the Lord's hand in all of this. we were right infront of a bad storm that closed now interstates, we had help where-ever we needed it... The weather cleared up in Alaska, the day we left... there were so many little blessings, and some rather large ones that I have to give Heavenly Father the credit in our safe journey.





They had Lemers and Sloths on display in the mall

A giant Whale



Driving...

She loved the BIG bed!

Road Sign Forest

keeping busy with a puzzel

Cheese!

Updating... Living with Gramma and Papa Neff

We stayed with my in-laws from the end of October until the middle of December. It was so much fun! I am so blessed to have such a great family! The girls loved spending all that time with them. Before we left it snowed, and snowed and snowed! The girls loved it! We would go sledding down the drive way, or better yet, the neighbors next door's drive way!

Another fun thing about Gramma's house is her scraps!! Kimber loves to play with them. This day, she decided to be a monster!

Nicole making a mess...

and looking too cute to get into trouble!

Updating... Halloween Pictures!

Bryson, Kimberly,Gabby, Bella, Annelise, Nicole

Randy was home for Halloween for the first time in YEARS! It was so much fun. I made Kimber's costume, with a lot of help from Julie. We went trick or treating in my In-laws neighborhood. It was alot of fun, except Nicole pucked after the 2nd house, so I came home and helped pass out candy. Kimberly had a blast finishing the street, and then my sister-in-law, Audrey, came over with her kids. It was fun to see everybody!

Christmas Cooking

Today we made our Christmas goodies for Family, friends and work. Kimber got to help Grandma Neff while I worked today. When I came home, Kimber was the master at pouring the chocolate and nuts into the fudge, and then helped me make peanut blossoms. She was great at helping me measure out the flour, as well as roll the cookies and places the kisses on them. Nicole's job today was the taste tester; she stole a loaf of Cranberry bread from the cooling rack and started eating it. It was a lot of fun doing this with family rather than all by myself.

Also... Today at school, I started telling the kids that I was moving and would not be here next semester. They seemed rather upset. Some started plotting duct taping me to a chair, others told me I should leave Randy to stay. I was very flattered. I thought they all hated me because I got them into trouble, but apparently I am "kewl."

I did get my final grades today for school. I officially passed!! I had 2 Ps and 2 Bs. The "P"s are for my pass or fail classes!! I am a little disappointed I only got Bs, but... I am done and that is all that counts! I am done with my Early Childhood Education Associates!!! I still need to finish my Bachelors, but I have about 10 years before I am going to get started on that.

Well, we have 6 days until my family starts the drive to Kansas. I am excited and very sad. I have been blessed with creating some dear friends, and it is going to be hard to leave them....

I still need to update more details on past activities and I have pictures, but... this is all for now!

hmmm... lots of time has gone by

Well, lots has happened... and I will post pictures later and update more detailed, but a quick catch up... We closed on our home November 3rd, and have been living with my in-laws. It has been fun. The girls LOVE being with Papa and Grandma everyday, I think they are going to miss their greetings the get when they come home.
Halloween was a blast... well, for most. Kimber and Daddy trick-or-treated the street. Nicole made it to 2 houses before she threw up.
Thanksgiving we spent with our dear friends the Frys and Burtons, and then also drove to Anchorage to see my sister-in-law and her family.
Randy got his Job for the Air Force!!!!! He is active duty as of the 20th of April when he enters Basic, and he will be training for F16 avionics. It means I have to be separated from April until about September or October, but I will be able to visit after the first 2 months.
Now... We are two weeks away from driving down the Alcan, I should be finishing my finals that are do on Monday, but that is what Saturday is for. I am excited and sad all at the same time. I have so many people here I don't want to leave, but I know the Lord wants us to do this. So... I will come back and visit, and count my blessings to have the love I do here.

I will update more... probably in 3 weeks with pictures of previous events, the drive, and Christmas! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!!

Sale Pending

Our house had an offer made, and through counters we agreed on a price! I can't believe it!! I have less than a month to move out of my house, and it is hitting me, that although I prayed for this, I really am going to miss my house. I am also a little more nervous about how the military is going to work out... With selling our house and not knowing what is to come just yet... kinda scary. I was up half the night thinking to do's and where to start. I am so grateful for my in-laws that are going to let me live with them while everything works-out, and then continue to Kansas if things progress nicely with the military.
This waiting game is going to be fun. My little girls are going to go crazy with me as we adjust to everything. I am hoping they wont notice how many toys are going to be packed, and have patience with my while I try to pack, and prepare for school as well. But! It is one less worry for me, and a comfort to know the house is taken care of.

On other notes. We took the girls swimming last night. Kimber got to wear swimming wings for the first time, and if she picked up her feet to float it was awesome, but if we put her in the deep end she kinda freaked, but did work her way to us for support. Nicole just loved the water... after the first shock. She was tipping over her "lily pad" that we put her in, and when she was in the shallow end she was walking and bouncing... if she tripped and went under she just thought it was funny!
Randy got his truck running this week! It was quite a bit of excitement... to get it there it caught on fire, and had some other mishaps as it all went together! But we are all excited he has his truck up and running!
The girls are finally feeling better. Life has been not overly exciting because Kimber and Nicole have been sick (Kimber mostly). Nicole did have her 18m well baby check and is 26 lbs 2 oz, 34 inches long (that is 90 percentile for height and50percentile for weight). She got pricked a while bunch, and didn't really care for that.

Well... that is our exciting moments of the last week. Hopefully this week we will all be healthy and can go play a bit more!

Update...

Nicole was super sick and cuddly, Kimber wanted a chance to hold her to help her feel better!


It was raining!!! Kimber played in the rain for about 5 minutes before she was too cold. The day after the rain we had termination dust half way down the mountain... winter is coming quick!



Bath time fun.... we have been doing this lots, because they have been making lots of messes!




Randy working on his truck with our friend Robin Worch. They changed the engine from a diesel to a gas. Lots of fun!


We have been border-line crazy busy. It seems funny, because I have nothing to do but house work after lunch most days.... but we have been finding stuff to keep us busy! Kimber is loving having a preschool with her friends 2 days a week. And I think the babysitting situations are finally figured out. We are so blessed to have so many people helping take care of us, and providing service. Thank you everyone!

We are very excited for Randy to come home on Sunday!! I get to have my sweetheart home!! It is time to winterize the house, and try to pack a bit more, in hopes my house will be sold or rented soon.


I will update again soon!