Alaska the beautiful!

The beautiful view! I love climbing the butte.

I have been dying to go climb Lazy this summer, any one want to go with me?! Guess I could just suck it up and go by myself. It's calling to me.. every time I drive down the mountain.

This time Henry hiked the whole thing himself!

He didn't really have a choice I was carrying Lydia and the backpack. He followed Elizabeth, up all the crazy rock parts with out a problem and really loved it.

He was so excited and proud of himself.


THE TOP

And Lydia is beginning to enjoy the Johnny Jumper...she's growing too fast!
She is acting much like Elizabeth did when she was little. She would scream every time I put her down. Unless I was helping her stand and walk she would scream. (Elizabeth started walking at 7 months! I'm hoping Lydia takes her time! hahaha)

Sick Days?!

Pink eye, runny nose, gross goop from ears...cough... etc. etc. etc.!!!!

And that's the fun we're having in this house. Don't be too jealous!

Can't believe how big she is getting. Mostly she cries if she isn't being fed, or sleeping or being held... pretty much ALL the time.

Not her fault though, she's got a heat rash, runny nose, upset tummy and not enough mommy time. She needs her Auntie to come and hold her all day!

And that's what's happening in our household these days.

Scriptures & Prayer

My dear sweet children remind me every night before bed that it's time for "scriptures and prayer." In our house we are reading the Book of Mormon, from beginning to end. We are currently beginning the book of 2 Nephi. Those of you familiar with the Book of Mormon will realize we're not very far. Some nights are more productive than others.
Tonight we read the words of Lehi, a prophet that lived in Jerusalem. He warned the people to change there ways or the city would be destroyed. The people wouldn't listen, so the Lord told Lehi to take his family away to the wilderness... from there they traveled by boat, a boat that Nephi built with direction from the Lord, to the promised land(the Americas). Now Lehi is getting old and knows his days are few, and these are the words he speaks to his children:
"Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent, whose limbs ye must soon lay down in the cold and silent grave, from whence no traveler can return; a few more days and I go the way of all the earth.
But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.
And I desire that ye should remember to observe the statutes and the judgments of he Lord; behold, this hath been the anxiety of my soul from the beginning...
Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.
And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might leave this world with gladness because of you, that I might not be brought down with grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my sons , and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things..."
My daughter is only 4, however she acts like a 14 year old. We battle back and forth about "obedience." If Mom says it, just do it. Perhaps I have unrealistic expectations, I do recall my own youth and my inability to "just do" what Mom said. Although afterwards I was always blindingly aware that my Mom had been right. At some point I was supposed to "learn" my lesson; I was supposed to finally learn to trust my Mom and "just do" what she said. I don't think that ever happened. I am pretty thick headed because it takes me a LONG time to "learn my lesson." My past would have been a lot different had I listened to my Mother! Not because Mom is always right, but because she was attempting to teach me a greater lesson. She was trying to teach me what Lehi was trying to teach his sons. Obey the Lord and you'll be happy, you'll prosper. Don't live your life realizing, after you've already made the wrong choice that the Lord was right. At some point in our lives we have to learn to trust in the Lord, trust that he knows more than we do, he can see the outcome of our choices, he knows us better than we do and if he says do it, we should just do it. I find myself being compared to my 4 year old daily. The Lord is trying to teach me that I too should listen and obey. When the Lord tells me to do something I should "just do it!" And yet I fail to do it. I expect so much from my daughter and my son, and yet I am unable to accomplish the same thing.
So perhaps my running and never accomplishing anything is my own inability to learn and grow, and my fear that my daughter won't learn what I'm trying to teach her. There is a great responsibility as parents to teach our children what they need to know, so when they are left on their own, they will "arise from the dust...and be determined..." to do what is right. I am not a great Mother, I'm still learning and figuring out what works, but I do know that ultimately the anxiety of my soul is as Lehi said, that they (my children) will remember to follow the Lord, that they will trust Him and "just do" what he says. I know there is happiness in doing what's right. I know that we can trust the Lord and I know that as we do He will bless us with great joy and prosperity. And before I leave this world I pray that my daughter will know it as well, that she will be happier in her own life because she has learned the greater lesson.

Auntie Robyn!

Robyn came to visit in June for a week, and we had so much fun!

The kids were so excited that she came all the way from "HonK Honk" to see us. The argued about who's room she would stay in. (We decided to give her Henry's room so she wouldn't have to climb the ladder.) I'm pretty sure she was grateful for that.

While Robyn was here we took her out in the Bronco to Jim Creek. She about had a heart attack, not really something she "enjoyed" well driving out there and up and down the dunes. What we did enjoy was playing in the "sand/silt".

If you look closely that's Elizabeth sliding down on her stomach. She wore "sand leggings" most of the day.
And back up for more!
It took Henry a while to get into it... but he had so much fun!
We ran into friends out there and the kids had a blast!

I LOVE the Dunes
Alaska's "beach"

I cannot explain why I get so excited, but I do! I love it! So much fun.

I understand that I look silly.. but it was so fun, I even ended up falling on my face and rolling backwards down the hill for a while. haha Can we say "sand in the pants!"

Lydia really Loves her Auntie!
Now Lydia cries when we put her down, Robyn spoiled her!
I was trying to catch them sleeping and scared the jeepers out of Robyn... but she was a good sport and pretended to sleep while I took another one.

I LOVE my sister so much! I miss her and although she's having fun in Hong Kong I secretly hope she comes back to AK to stay. Although she would freeze to death... I still hope she comes back. Henry prayers for her every time it's his turn to pray. :) We look forward to the next visit from Auntie Robyn! Sending Hugs your way Robyn.

Colony Days Again!

I feel as if I just posted last years pictures of Colony Days. Time is flying by so quickly. For a few years time didn't seem to exist, the world went on while we sat in a hospital room trying to think of something other than time. Now we seem to be making up for lost time, and enjoying every minute of it.

Elizabeth remembered last years carnival and was so excited for this years fun!

It was Henry's first, and they both thoroughly enjoyed it as you will see from the pictures.

Both kids were so excited to ride the horses. They have farm/cowboy in their blood. :)

"What is that smell?"

I Love this picture of Elizabeth!

There were little holes in the side of the blow up room, I stuck my camera in (about knee height) and snapped this. Turned out awesome!

The parade... Henry says, Mom look a camel!

Yes my children are well cultured! LOL

We had so much fun with family! Home town parades are the best.

Thanks to all you "parade makers" that took time to hand out candy and make the parade so much fun!