I took my blog offline briefly and tinkered with it. I was uncomfortable with some of the traffic I appeared to be getting (yes, I can and do track where my visitors originate from, or where they are referred from, if through a link). After further review, talking with Allen, and investigation into these questionable links we are OK with putting it back up and will continue to monitor how things are going. We think they were likely spam/nonhuman/robot webcrawlers and such. goodness knows this is a family blog with normal (or... Almost normal!) family happenings chronicled herein. I do enjoy writing and sharing my family with friends and family from all over (hello to all of you!). I never have, and don't have, illusions as to what's out there on the big bad Internet. I do try to use reasonable precaution while not becoming paranoid/living in fear for a number of reasons.
I mention all this by way of explanation as to "where I went" and why my blog was down for a couple of days. Stay tuned for an updated family photo (yes, with all nine of us!)
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Saturday, July 27, 2013
I miss baking
I've been trying to make cookies with Rosalie for four days now. It still hasn't happened. Wonderful things have "gotten in the way" - playgroups, trips to parks, impromptu visits. Along with everyday things like "oops, the yogurt spilled again" or 'gotta vacuum up that spilled guinea pig food!'.
The sad thing is that at 9 or 9:30 she comes along and says "mom, we didn't make cookies AGAIN today!" And I respond with "I know. Lets see if we can do it tomorrow during some down time! Remind me at naptime!"
Of course, Rosalie has been busy and engaged in tasks and classes of her own (play dates, gymnastics) so it's not as if she is following me, bereft, while I refuse to bake with my sweet girl. I was actually going to include the making and baking of cookies during Rosalie's friend's play date here this week but they got busy with playing dolls, animals, etc., playing outside, riding on our ride on toys, and so on.
The funny thing is, I love to bake and cook. Somehow it gets to be 9 pm and I am dragging and hoping just to read a few pages in a book and its another day I didn't make cookies. Today is Saturday and I still haven't made cookies... But what did we do? I took the girls to a garage sale; to buy a birthday present for one of their friends (not at the garage sale!); the whole family went to the zoo; and in a few minutes I'm packing Rosalie and Andrew up and heading to their friend's birthday party which is three hours long, ending at 7pm. By that point 'need-for-bedtime' by the youngest two may be heating up, there may be a kitchen full of dinner dishes (did I say MAY be?) to help with..... Maybe the cookies will happen tomorrow? I know when I start thinking about baking something it'll likely happen sometime in the following WEEK. It's kind of odd to have windows of expectation like that but for this stage in my life it's just what needs to happen.
The sad thing is that at 9 or 9:30 she comes along and says "mom, we didn't make cookies AGAIN today!" And I respond with "I know. Lets see if we can do it tomorrow during some down time! Remind me at naptime!"
Of course, Rosalie has been busy and engaged in tasks and classes of her own (play dates, gymnastics) so it's not as if she is following me, bereft, while I refuse to bake with my sweet girl. I was actually going to include the making and baking of cookies during Rosalie's friend's play date here this week but they got busy with playing dolls, animals, etc., playing outside, riding on our ride on toys, and so on.
The funny thing is, I love to bake and cook. Somehow it gets to be 9 pm and I am dragging and hoping just to read a few pages in a book and its another day I didn't make cookies. Today is Saturday and I still haven't made cookies... But what did we do? I took the girls to a garage sale; to buy a birthday present for one of their friends (not at the garage sale!); the whole family went to the zoo; and in a few minutes I'm packing Rosalie and Andrew up and heading to their friend's birthday party which is three hours long, ending at 7pm. By that point 'need-for-bedtime' by the youngest two may be heating up, there may be a kitchen full of dinner dishes (did I say MAY be?) to help with..... Maybe the cookies will happen tomorrow? I know when I start thinking about baking something it'll likely happen sometime in the following WEEK. It's kind of odd to have windows of expectation like that but for this stage in my life it's just what needs to happen.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Dinner for one
With the fantastic weather lately we have been spending a lot of time at a lake in Kincaid Park and loving it. Today was rainy but still high activity. That said, everyone wants some down time some time... At least, I do, and I'm not really going to be apologetic about it because we do a lot in our days!
I floated the idea of "dinner for one" tonight with Allen. That being me, going out with just a book as my companion, to a restaurant and ordering and then eating dinner all on my own. He was game! To make things easier I put my dinner off til 8pm... Everyone else here ate the dinner I made, which was fine and perfectly suitable. I got the younger three down for the night and as Allen was setting up a game of monopoly with some of the older kids I took off and went to a nice sushi restaurant in south Anchorage.
It was great. The roll was complex, I always had enough water, I ate with two hands, I read my book, and I was home in about an hour feeling pretty recharged. I don't do this often so it was a nice guilt free treat!
I floated the idea of "dinner for one" tonight with Allen. That being me, going out with just a book as my companion, to a restaurant and ordering and then eating dinner all on my own. He was game! To make things easier I put my dinner off til 8pm... Everyone else here ate the dinner I made, which was fine and perfectly suitable. I got the younger three down for the night and as Allen was setting up a game of monopoly with some of the older kids I took off and went to a nice sushi restaurant in south Anchorage.
It was great. The roll was complex, I always had enough water, I ate with two hands, I read my book, and I was home in about an hour feeling pretty recharged. I don't do this often so it was a nice guilt free treat!
Sunday, July 21, 2013
yesterday's outdoor adventures
Since accidentally happening over to Little Campbell Lake early last week we have actually been going there for hours every day since. It's been so much fun for all of us! I have to be careful to stay out of the sun to some degree (using sunscreen) because I burn a lot more easily than any other family member. Still - this weather is amazing and we'd be fools not to be out in it.
We bought a small inflatable boat that has really added fun to our afternoon outings.
Aidan loves throwing our large Beam-O frisbee.
Allen swimming in the lake.
Andrew & Rosalie on the inner tube
Random action shot
Aidan trying really hard to catch the frisbee!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Little Campbell Lake, Kincaid Park
Today we took advantage of our incredible, warm weather and went to Kincaid Park on the other side of town. We originally planned to go to the sand dunes, but ended up at Little Campbell Lake instead.
Perpetua, Andrew, Aaron
We only wish these kayaks belonged to us! It was amazing the number of small kayak/canoe type boats that were there while we were playing.
Despite it being "only" 72 degrees the kids felt the water was warm enough for wading and swimming. This is a "clean" lake, too. No geese.
Aidan
Alex spent the whole time by the water's edge -- eventually getting IN the water -- throwing rocks.
Aidan, Andrew, Rosalie, Alex
Aidan
Andrew was intrigued by his big brother swimming.
He likes to push limits.
Notice that Alex is now IN the water (and he was very happy there)
Rosalie and Perpetua showing off their lily pad leaves, that Allen swam to the other side of the lake and got for them.
I love how Rosalie is hiding behind the leaf in this picture. It's her personality completely - enthusiastic but a little shy.
Random pic of me that Aaron took. It's OK...
In any event, we had a great time. I'm glad I remembered to bring my camera!
In any event, we had a great time. I'm glad I remembered to bring my camera!
Monday, July 15, 2013
ugh
I am on day 2 of some kind of almost-puking-but-not-quite stomach bug. I've kind of given up, and while the baby naps I am laying on the couch and staring into space. That's how I feel. And I rarely stop. I usually force myself to continue going and doing and fake functional unless I'm really really sick. I just don't have energy to fake today.
I thought about posting a whiny, indulgent "I'm siiiiick" post on facebook where I realize so many people I know are having bigger struggles (pregnancies that may not make it, threatened preterm labor, relatives with terminal diseases, organ transplants) - it makes me feel ashamed for "feeling sorry for myself" - which I'm not really doing. I guess a better term would be struggling to embrace this minor inconvenience? I wonder, when the minor inconveniences pile up and you have ten of them, do you "get to" say THIS SUCKS then? Probably, the answer is no.
I'm just feeling worn down by recent events; there's not enough caffeine in the world to power me some days, and on top of that I'm sick, and everyone still needs me at 100%. A tip of the hat to people who do all this, have fifteen kids, and homeschool with a self-designed classical curriculum. It's just not my bag, I guess.
I thought about posting a whiny, indulgent "I'm siiiiick" post on facebook where I realize so many people I know are having bigger struggles (pregnancies that may not make it, threatened preterm labor, relatives with terminal diseases, organ transplants) - it makes me feel ashamed for "feeling sorry for myself" - which I'm not really doing. I guess a better term would be struggling to embrace this minor inconvenience? I wonder, when the minor inconveniences pile up and you have ten of them, do you "get to" say THIS SUCKS then? Probably, the answer is no.
I'm just feeling worn down by recent events; there's not enough caffeine in the world to power me some days, and on top of that I'm sick, and everyone still needs me at 100%. A tip of the hat to people who do all this, have fifteen kids, and homeschool with a self-designed classical curriculum. It's just not my bag, I guess.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
lucky
A week or so ago I saw a floatie keychain laying on our dressing table. It occurred to me that we are around water so frequently I should PROBABLY put it on there! Then I thought - naaah.... that'll just make my keys bigger. I put it on anyway.
Fast forward to yesterday when I was at Potter's Marsh with the kids. I stuck my keys in my back pocket and we were having a great time. Until....!
I patted my back pocket out of habit to make sure the keys were there, and they were gone. Potter's Marsh (suggested by the name, right?) is surrounded by fresh and tidal water, flowing and not so much. It's wetland/tidal estuary. I didn't see my keys anywhere.
As I was alone with them while Allen was working, I gathered the kids, told them the keys were missing and "let's help mom find them"... they were nowhere on the boardwalks. At the end of the first boardwalk, a guy who had overheard us saw my floatie keychain doing its job in an estuary pool. He hopped the boardwalk fence and got the keys for me! What a guy. I am so fortunate!
I generally don't feel the universe is looking out for me, and that if something happens that's just what happens but this one, with the inner prompting to put that keychain on, makes me feel like someone out there was looking out for me yesterday. :-) Warm fuzzies.
Fast forward to yesterday when I was at Potter's Marsh with the kids. I stuck my keys in my back pocket and we were having a great time. Until....!
I patted my back pocket out of habit to make sure the keys were there, and they were gone. Potter's Marsh (suggested by the name, right?) is surrounded by fresh and tidal water, flowing and not so much. It's wetland/tidal estuary. I didn't see my keys anywhere.
As I was alone with them while Allen was working, I gathered the kids, told them the keys were missing and "let's help mom find them"... they were nowhere on the boardwalks. At the end of the first boardwalk, a guy who had overheard us saw my floatie keychain doing its job in an estuary pool. He hopped the boardwalk fence and got the keys for me! What a guy. I am so fortunate!
I generally don't feel the universe is looking out for me, and that if something happens that's just what happens but this one, with the inner prompting to put that keychain on, makes me feel like someone out there was looking out for me yesterday. :-) Warm fuzzies.
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