Fall Photo Shoot Take 2

I had Matt with me this time and not a single picture where all four are looking! So frustrating! I just want one pic to replace the one of Carson and Tana over the fireplace...

Fall Photo Shoot Take 1

Beautiful Alaska

Mt. Redoubt as viewed in the evening from our bonus room window.

The mountains to the south as viewed from the other bonus room window.

The Turnagin Arm drive is so beautiful some days! I drove by myself to Anchorage to lead a state MOPS meeting and I had to attempt to capture some of the beauty by opening the window a little and holding the camera and shooting. Without looking of course!

House Progress

We are planning to move into our house next weekend! By then all the flooring should be installed and we should have a completely functional kitchen and at least one functional bathroom. Everything else that is not done we will do while in residence. I CAN'T WAIT!

Cute Kids

Ollie in his babylegs on the road by our house.

Hallie in her new princess dress from Grandma. We had a tea party every day for a couple of weeks.

Fleeting Moments

Last night I couldn't fall asleep. It's becoming about a 1 in 3 day pattern. At about 11:30 I heard Oliver fussing. He almost never wakes up at night, so I crept in to console him and see what might be causing his distress. I hefted his long, 18 month old body out of the crib and sat with him close to my heart. I cherished 5 solid minutes of rocking and cuddling him. A toddler boy is a busy boy and his times of sitting still are rare.

Although I am looking forward with anticipation to how our family will look when there are no more babies, and I am bravely facing a new identity, my heart still longs for another baby. (No matter how many I have, I don't think it would ever stop!) Thoughts of how quickly the days have passed in my children's first years brings me to tears, because I realize how little I took the time to cherish them. I pushed them to grow quickly and allowed time to pass quickly because I always knew there would be a "next" baby. Now I am mourning the end of an era.

Montana's 6th Birthday

On Montana's birthday, she picked pancakes for dinner!

The next day was Saturday and we had a tea party. It would have taken place at the park, except for it decided to pour down rain. Thankfully, Tana did not have a large guest list and we were able to "take over" the little kids eating room at McDonalds for an hour without any complaints from the other diners. I think she was happy with the outcome, but I definitely look forward to being able to have celebrations in our own home again! I fear being in McDonalds with many children!