Kitchen

When we bought our home it had been a rental for 5 years. We got a deal but along with that came the need to make some cosmetic changes. These "cosmetic" changes have really added up to be a lot of work. Our last one has now been done twice but I really should have broken down and did it the first time around. A NEW kitchen.

Kitchen #1 Day we moved in. It's really too bad that you can't see the microwave stand monstrosity from this angle.

Kitchen #2 I did what I could...

We started the process in May by ordering new cabinets. First of June we ordered the counter tops, with the delivery of the cabinets due the first of July. They came the first of July and Dad Mower spent some of his Alaskan vacation taking out our old cabinets and organizing the new ones. For those who have done any major remodel you will realize that things were going way to smoothly! About half of the cupboards needed to be reordered because of damage. What took 4 weeks to get the first time took 10 weeks the second time. Home Depot is no longer getting our business until further notice. I am not going to go on about the un-returned calls or the fact that it took them 2 weeks to actually re-order our cabinets. Enough on that... Our counter top guy was awesome. After having to reschedule 2 times he came and installed the very next Tuesday. The most awesome installer we had was named Matt Mower, he stayed up till 3am putting in cabinets so the counter tops could be put in. The counter - top guy even commented on how level the cabinets were.

The best part was we threw our annual Halloween party for the neighbors and Sophie was making cookies at the same time I was preparing the dinner in a pumpkin. And I wasn't completely stressed out about having people in my way. Completely impossible before. I've tripled by shelf space ( I still have empty cabinets) and my counter top work space has tripled. The only change we made was that we had to add 3 inches to the end of the wall due to measuring error.

Kitchen # 3

Now for all the fun little "perks"!

I now have this little space to "decorate" a little. It doesn't have to be used to store anything practical!

Video for previous post

Still living large in Alaska

We have been living up an absolutely incredible fall in Alaska. It was almost 60 today and the kids and I were running around in tee-shirts. To get everyone up to speed quickly and so I don't feel guilty about moving on  here is the bullet list of the last month and a half.

• Josette celebrated her 2 birthday. The BEST news.....she's perfect!! No x-rays for another year. She'll have to have a Ph Study to evaluate her acid reflux which involves an overnight hospital stay but we get to pick when, a big bonus. We also celebrated being surgery free for 1 year! She is truly a miracle baby and such an important part of our family.
  
• I went on a backpacking over nighter with the amazing Nicole. We hiked back to 5 miles over tundra and boulder field to sleep on the hillside between two incredibly beautifully lakes. We opened the tent door to eat blueberries and at blue water that you only see in pictures of the Caribbean.
• Pulled the kids out of school for a last ditch fishing trip to Sheep Creek. Benjamin's tenacity paid off as the only one to catch one.
• The Alaska State Fair, always a great time with record breaking vegetables!
• Pulled the kids out of school again to do the Denali Road Trip. A bit of bummer that we couldn't see the mountain due to lots of cloud cover. On the plus side my mom, meme, joined us for a truly unique Alaska adventure. We also got to drive to the end of the road, Teklanika, which can be rare at the end of September. It is usually closed due to snow. We also saw 6 bears, 3 bull moose with fabulous antlers, female moose, caribou, dall sheep, and a couple of foxes.
• Attended Lion King.....so AWESOME!!!! Carsten sat still for over 2 hours totally enthralled, no more needs to be said.
• All 6 of us survived the flu at the same time.

Slide show of photos to be posted. It's taking way too long to upload.

First week of School #1

During dinner tonight we were having our Sunday dinner conversation. Every Sunday we discuss what everyone talked about in their church lessons. Everybody takes a turn and I am always amazed at what they remember and discuss. My lesson in YW today was about the influences of different types of media. I asked the kids if they could tell me of something that could be used for both good and evil. Benjamin piped up with, an ax.

Josette is well, Josette. Such a little riot. She is constantly running around calling for "the boys". First thing in the morning she asks for Dadda (which is really mamma) and then she looks for the boys. She also always wants to carry her back pack which is really her red lunch box.

It has been gorgeous this week. Bright blue skies with warm temperatures. We had our best visit to the zoo ever. Even this little melt down didn't ruin the trip. The above picture is Carsten beginning. The bench in the background was were he wanted to eat but it was in the shade and Benjamin wanted to be in the sun (I did too). Since it's Benjamin's last day trip with school starting, we took to the sun. Carsten then moved to the ground to protest. A full 45 minutes later we are done and Carsten is happily eating on the bench in the shade.

The snow leopard is my favorite animal at the Anchorage Zoo. They are such magnificent cats. The blue sky behind is what we were enjoying.

Carsten always has at least 3 items in his hands. For family home evening it was a skewer, a little tool bar with a screw and bolt and a play belt. When we asked them what they were it was his sharp sword, a gun and a rope. The topic of our family home evening was loving your family. Where does he come up with these things? It's always something different.

This morning after I had left for my meeting Carsten refused to put on his tie. Matt said fine and left the room next thing he knows Benjamin is chanting that Carsten looks like a girl because he's wearing a bra. HUGH!! Carsten had wrapped his tie around his chest and to Benjamin that's what it looked like. I guess I'm going to have to lock my door now to keep my privacy, little ones barging in is just no longer going to cut it.

Sophie officially started school this week. On Thursday she brought home her social studies book just to get ahead. No homework, just wanted to be ready for the next day. I wonder how long that is going to last.

Battle of the Brain

My mind has seemed to be going overtime lately. It's taking so long to go to sleep, which is so unlike me. I figure writing some of it for everyone to read will make it easier.... Life ebbs and flows and as soon as you feel like you are comfortable with who you are and what you're made of it all changes. I feel so uncertain of myself in so many arenas. I love to take pictures! It's a hobby and purely a hobby that I enjoy but I feel myself looking at others pictures and wonder why I even think I can do it! The sensible side of myself kicks in and I know that is crazy thinking but it still occurs. 2nd-Motherhood. Dynamics have changed once again and my sweet little, laid back, Sophie has become another child. Loud, bossy, back talking, and ready to burst into tears at any moment. I don't handle this new one very well! I'm having to re-learn some motherhood skills that I thought I had gotten pretty ok at. This morning involved a very, very angry Carsten declaring that Benjamin was no longer his brother, shouldn't be part of this family and he hated him. After being sent to his room several times to settle down I finally just asked him if he was upset that Benjamin would be starting Kindergarten soon? He nodded, we talked about it and the morning changed drastically. We are all not ready to have Benjamin gone during the day.

We've now added YW President to add to my uncertainties. I think I'm about to burst at times. There are so many strong women, many of whom are serving with me and served before me. This is a challenge not to just step back and leave everything to their very capable hands. Once again I know in my heart and spirit that this is where and what I should be doing at this time. Once again it's the battle of the brain vs the heart.

The battle of the brain is what I'm going through. My head keeps telling me these things and keeps me up.

Impromtu Photo Shoot

While waiting for the baby sitter to come. (3rd of 4 big dentist appointments, let's just say I have a whole new view of popcorn and the damage/pain it can cause to a tooth!) I decided to play with my filters and try and get a picture that really got Sophie's eyes. I didn't get what I wanted but lots of other fun pictures.

The other girl is a neighbor and such a character! She was never hurt or scared at any moment. And I swear Sophie is only 8!

**WARNING- I had to change my image size in order for them to upload and as a result they look really grainy...agh.

 

 

 

 

Adventures with Grandma and Grandpa