Christmas

I feel I need to write about Christmas and everything that went on for journal writing sake. I love keeping track of who got what and all that jazz!

So here we go.

My sister Kassy and my mom flew up from Seattle to be up here. They both got here on Saturday before Christmas. The planes almost didn't leave because of the amount of snow that was at Sea-Tac. Kassy's plane had to be de-iced twice. I don't know about Mom's. Crazy Seattle weather!

Kassy's boyfriend/Chris' best friend, Shawn, also stayed with us on Christmas Eve so we could get up and open presents AS SOON as Bee woke up! :) It was 8am. Almost on the dot.

Bee got so many presents. He wasn't really interested in opening them but loved them when they were opened. He liked finding the twisty ties too! :) Here's the list: A fire truck with beeping and all goodness!, a John Deere gator, Black and Decker tool set, lots of clothes, a pull dog, a xylophone, Elmo Live...he is really cool..., blocks, trucks, a brown coat, hat from Auntie Kassie that attaches around the chin! (I think this is a gift more for me!) and so much more. I'm sure I'm missing some.

Chris was VERY good this year. He got a XBOX remote that charges when he plays, binoculars, a hunting backpack, jeans and belt with a gift cert to Target, a gun cleaning kit from Bee (he actually pointed to it in the store...how could I say no!?), Scope mouthwash (LOL his big present was a scope for his gun but it takes like 12 weeks to deliver it and I wanted him to open something so he got Scope! LOL I crack myself up!), and gift cards to Sears. He is so excited about that. He keeps changing what he wants to buy so I suggested he wait until the middle of January to go buy stuff. He is like a little boy! :)

I must have been doing something right this year too. I got a diamond ring from Chris. A bracelet from Mom. An awesome Christmas ornament from my sister in a shoe shape!! I also got new shirts, a wonderful grey coat, new church shoes, a cutting tool for quilting with a measuring tape (you always need more of those!), lotions glore, PhotoShop Elements (just you wait for it!), new scriptures with my married name on it! (YAY!) and a bread machine! Well two actually. One from Chris and one from Dad and Christine. Chris ordered his online so it would have been harder to return so I took back Dad and Christine's and I'm going to buy jeans, jeans and more jeans!! (Maybe a new bra but my dad doesn't wanna hear about that so shh!)

We got a sign and notepad, and cookies from friends around here. It's just so great to know we are loved! :) We love ALL of our Christmas cards. They are hanging above my kitchen counter. I love seeing everyone's smiley faces!

We were soooo blessed this year. We had friends and family around to celebrate. Kok, a single guy in Chris' shop, came over for dinner too. It was just a great time of playing games, eating and laughing. As you know, we almost didn't have Chris with us because of his work. It just made it that much more special for him to be there.

I have pictures but they are going through Photoshop and I haven't quite figured it out yet so I'm just going to edit this post later with pictures. I'll let you know. I just wanted to get this post up before the New Year!

Love you all!

Book Club

Tonight was Book Club for some girls around Anchorage.

It used to be a ward book club but our ward got split into a few different pieces. But we still wanted to all play together! So now we all play telephone tag around the end of the month to figure out where it's going to be and what's the book.

We've even added some new players! Love that.

Anyway this month was the TWILIGHT series. You know there was discussion. Who liked Jacob? Who hated the movie? How many times did you go see it? (Taron wins with 5.)

Can you just imagine getting about 16 people together to discuss these books and movie??! It was so great to hear everyone's opinions. It makes you think about what you read a lot more!

Those of us that saw the movie all agree that the makeup sucked. Otherwise, there was no agreement on anything!! And I loved it.

I love how just a few hundred pages (okay maybe a thousand or two) can stir up so many emotions! Love, hate, drama, anger, smiles, giggles...all wonderful!

This next month we are reading Marley and Me by John Groban. I got to choose this month and I think this book might be fitting with Jack's current living arrangement! :)

Anyway I just wanted to blog about how great it is to be able to get out of the house and just go talk with ADULT people about my opinions. I NEED it. CRAVE it!!

What is your NEED?

New Year's Resolutions

It's that time of year...time for goals.

So here are my goals for the new year. Maybe I'll be better at keeping them if all of your know!!

1. Workout before I blog. (If you don't here from me for awhile....this might be why.)
We bought a treadmill this past year and it hasn't had much use. And I have a new iPod.

2. Write birthday cards to everyone in the family.

3. Read scriptures every day, along with prayers.
I got new scriptures for Christmas.

4. Go to the temple at least once a month.


What are your goals? How can I help you to keep them??

A New Home

Today was a difficult day for the W's in Alaska.

We found Jack a new home.

Jack is a great dog. He was great with Bee. Fun to play with Hooch. A cuddle bug.

But....

He got nervous when we left him alone. He ripped up carpet (we rent), he chewed on remotes, camera, makeup, shoes, chairs....

I admit, I'm not a great housekeeper. So that let a lot more stuff to get chewed up.

We tried bones, toys and other things with no difference.

The last straw for Chris was when he ate my sister's really expensive camera. We just can't keep spending the money to replace the things he chewed up.

So he went to a wonderful family that wanted him as a Christmas present. They have another dog for him to play with. I hope he does well there. I hope that he doesn't chew up their things.

Chris already regrets giving him away. I do not. I think it was a good decision for our family as a whole. It's gonna hurt but I think it's going to be better.

So that's what's new here. I'll get back in gear tomorrow with daily posts!

He is coming home!!

Update:

Chris will be home this evening. The crew ahead of him got their stuff in gear and now I'll have my man home for Christmas.

What a way to make me grateful for the little things!!

Thanks for your prayers and thoughts! Love ya

Christmas list

Here is my Christmas list:

*bread machine

*socks

*gift certs to Target and Seams like Home (quilt store)

*chick flicks

*sewing table

*jeans

*nice church shoes

*pretty ring for my right hand (cheap)

*There's a few more but I can't remember them all.


I would give them all back, give them to charity, sell them, etc......if I could have Chris home.

For reasons I can't post about the military, my husband will probably not be able to be home with us this Christmas.

This is the first year Bee can open his presents. It's the first year he'll be able to laugh and smile at what he got.

We will just move Christmas to a different day....when Chris can be here. My mom leaves the morning of the 27th. Fingers crossed, prayers said, that he will be here before that.

I realize it's just a day. I know that Jesus wasn't even born close to December. But it's just Christmas. You are suppose to be with your family.

I should be trying to look on the bright side like military wives' are suppose but I can't right now. I'm just going to go cry and pout around. I'll let you know what happens.

I truly hope your Christmas' are wonderful. Be grateful to be around people you love, like or even just get along with. I love ya all.

Don't worry about me. I have my mommy here! :)

Reason for not updating...

Hello my blogger friends! I'm writing you this so you know I haven't died, or am sick again. My mom is in town. This means I have an actual person to talk to during the day instead of all your fine blogs. (I love ya but sometimes it takes HOURS for you to respond to my comments.!!!)

So I'm giving you fair warning that I will be back after Christmas. I will try to read your blogs as the days go on, in my spare five minutes. Please know that I love you all. This isn't goodbye, it's a "See ya later."

I'll post pictures of Christmas soon. It isn't you, it's me, really.


For those that asked, my piano playing went alright. My husband said, "There were a few times I wanted to groan but I didn't." (That means I hit a few wrong notes but no one had to restart or stopped or even turned around to look at me to make sure I hadn't fallen asleep on the piano....so I think it went well...no disasters.)

For your reading pleasure for the next few days, a letter to the man at the bank.


Dear Man Behind Me At the Bank,

Hello. You don't know me but we share the same bank. I was in front of you a few days ago, waiting in line to pay my truck bill. You were behind me. VERY close behind me.

I know some cultures stand close together as a sign of acceptance but WE weren't a part of that culture from the looks of your 6 foot plus stature. You were wearing HUGE boots. You were standing so close the your big feet kept touching the back of my shoes.

You must have known how big your feet were. You have been using them for 30 plus years, being generous. Why did you have to touch my shoes? What if they were "Air Force Ones" and you scuffed them? Like the song, I would have to get knew ones.

This isn't even the worst part of your bad line actions.

You get a phone call from Stacy. Stacy and you MUST have been dating at one point because you were nice and sweet when you answered the phone. As soon as she mentioned wanting her mail, you blew a gasket! (Yes, WE (meaning the person in front of me too) heard the WHOLE conversation. About her Victoria Secret magazines and her 'order' from a nasty store were on the way.)

No I don't care about her mail. I don't care that you broke up. Really, I don't care if she gets her package. Here's what I do care about...you YELLING into your phone, you spitting your saliva when yelling over the top of my head onto the paper I was holding, and you moving your feet to kick my SHOES!!!!

STOP doing that!! IF you weren't a foot taller than me, and looked like you could probably pick me up with one hand, I would have turned around and glared at you. Yes, the Mom glare.

Now Sir, IF we run into each other again, I will have to say something. For the health of the bank teller, who had to touch your gross nastiness on the paper, don't talk on the phone in line. It's rude.

Don't stand so close. I don't like smelling your BO. I'm pretty sure no one else does either.

Thank you Sir. I hope you follow this simple but IMPORTANT rules of line standing.

K, person in front.

Picture post vol 2

Hey y'all!

This is the picture post I've been promising for a few days now.

This picture is an up close of a quilt I've been working on. It's a Christmas present so I'm keeping shut who it's for.


I figure it was fitting with snowman to come from Alaska but now that it's snowing just about everywhere...it's really fitting! Cute little guy isn't he?
Pretty border that turned out a lot better that I thought.

Big picture. I wish the purple and the middle green stood out more but lesson learned!
Here is our new neighborhood moose. It's a girl. I'm going to name her Molly Moose. Our other boy moose, who ate our pumpkins in October, hasn't been around for awhile. I'm thinking he got a better offer. I've seen Molly around a few times. She looks to be a yearling. (Born this time at last year.) She isn't ever big and still has a pretty nice looking coat.

Here she is in all her glory! So pretty.

Notice the snow in the middle of the road. The snow plow had just come through and pushed it into the middle. She didn't care he was there. She just kept eating the leaves off my neighbor's tree.

PS This is with a zoom lense. You don't get this close to moose unless you want to get kicked/hurt. They like their space.

This is Nova and Ethan. They are the boys I watch for two weeks at a time. This was just before breakfast...note the hair! :)


So I'm a horrible blogger and just realized that I hadn't put up pictures of my presents I got from my Secret Santa!! Sorry chica!! I still heart you!

This is so wonderful and can't wait to start. I cheated and looked at my birthday...it's my favorite scripture...a lamp unto my feet! Love it!

She even got Bee a present! What a sweet heart! It's a book "The Snowman named Bob" and I' didn't take any pictures of Bee opening it. I know, I'm grounded!

Oh look at me before my shower and my eyebrows not plucked! Anyway she gave me wonderfully warm and lovely hat and scarf! (I so needed this, for real! My wonderful dog, Jack, chewed holes in my last year gear.)

Thank you soooooooo much for my lovely presents! You are so wonderful and thoughtful!


Daisy Quilts is having a giveaway. It's in the rules that I have to tell you, or I don't think I would. The prize is THAT good. But go over there and try and win. If I don't win, I want you to....kinda. I would rather win.

I kid, I kid....again kinda!

Anyway go check her out!


K so I have to take a cat nap while Bee is sleeping. Then I have to practice the piano BECAUSE I am playing SIX (6) songs in the Christmas program at church tomorrow morning. Pray for me!!!!!!

Then Kassy and my mom are coming in at 9pm and 11pm tonight! we are going to be up late, I can just tell!

Til tomorrow when I tell you about my piano playing!

Friday Fragments

My friend, Mrs. 4444, does Friday Fragments. I'm going to play with week!!


Welcome to Friday Fragments; bits and pieces of my week that were too good to lose, but too short to stand alone. For more on Friday Fragments, click here.
***************************************************************************************


*Snow is falling every where in the United States BUT where it should be. ALASKA!!! It hasn't snowed here in over a week! (maybe two!)

*Bee now knows how to turn the TV on and points the remote at the receiver. He's played with the buttons forever but now knows how to put on his movies. I asked him a few days ago to turn on the TV. He walked right up to it, push the right button and came and sat in my lap. Who said he could grow up.

*Bee walks around the house with a handful of dog food so the dogs will follow him! :)

*Jack has taken up chewing on our shoes...bad dog. Three shoes in 4 days.

*I've been spending every spare minute I have quilting for two special people. I don't think they will be done for Christmas but they'll be close enough to wrap up and take it back to finish.

*I have a new found love for Limewire. It downloads the songs straight into your iTunes...must have been a woman!

*I am done Christmas shopping except for stocking stuffers.

*I'm not sending out Christmas cards this year but Valentine's Day picture/cards. (Yup call me a slacker or a thirty shopper but Costco has great sales in January for picture cards.)

*Chris will be going back on a regular schedule after the New Year, which means no more sleeping alone! YAY!

*I'm going out clubbing with my sister, husband and MOM next week. How weird is that?!

*This is my 180th post...I smell another giveaway soon. (I love giving stuff away to you guys!)

*I bought new ice cube thingys! (They are plastic with liquid in them that you pop in the freezer. Then you plop them in your drink and it doesn't water it down! Again most have been a woman!) For a $1 for 8 at Target.

K I'm done! Hope you enjoyed. I promise, pictures tomorrow, cross my heart!

Secret Santa Can Suck It: Round 2

You all know that I entered 4 Christmas/Secret Santa/Ornament Swaps on here. Well here is another one.

Bee Musings is hosting this fun little adventure. We each get a 'victim' and we get to buy them presents, money not an issue, cuz it's virtual! Love it!!!

So my victim was Chas from My Neurotic Spot....awesome blog!!

So I have been stalking her and this is what I've come up with for her Christmas presents:

1. A $10,000 dollar gift card to Starbucks...just helping feed the addiction!
She has a countdown on her sidebar of being Starbucks free...this should help that!

2. She loves new notebooks so here's a few! (She's list freak like me!)3. A massage cuz all mom's of children under 100 should get a massage once a year, whether they need it or not!




4. An Egg Separator- who doesn't need one of these? Do you see that snot?.....yum!


5. iTunes so she can get some more songs to sing to her babies!6. A Do Not Disturb sign for this reason....HERE!!




7. Last but not least, this bed so she doesn't kill her Bonehead! read about it here.....I would have killed him, probably 5000 times over!!




Thanks to Bee who set this all up! It's been really fun!!

I'll be back tomorrow to post about all the presents I have received and tell another story...I love stories!

Don't you hate it when....2nd post today!!

K scroll down and leave some birthday love for me and then come back....

Waiting....

You done??

Now you get to read my hubby's most embarrassing moment...Don't you Hate it when....

Here we go.

I had been seeing/dating Chris for a couple weeks. (Chris and I went to the same schools since elementary. He was two years younger than me. (Which means he was in the same grade as my sister, which in turn means, I didn't give him the time of day.)) So my mom knew who he was but not very well. Just of him. My dad was just meeting him for the first time.

Chris was really nervous about this meeting. (Aren't we all, meeting the parents?) We had already started talking about marriage and pretty much knew that these people were going to be his law-in's.

We were running late for dinner. I knew the roads like the back of my hand. I knew where to brake, speed up and run stop signs. (Not that I would ever do that, Connor. Your mom and dad obey all road signs!)

Anyway we have dinner and meet the parents. Have a few laughs. All is good. Chris had to leave to go to work. He was running a little behind because I think he forgot his work shirt or something. Anyway he leaves and all things are great!

About ten minutes later I get a phone call on my cell.

"Uhhh, do you think you could drive down your road and help me? Maybe bring your dad."


"Why? Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm off the road. Can you just come here?"

So I jump in my car and go down the road. (We lived on private road with just trees and bushes along the edge.)

I turn the corner and Chris' silver car is in the MIDDLE of a little pond, off the side of the road. (If you know the road, you would know to slow down around that corner...Chris didn't.)

Pretty much he flew in the air off the corner, into the pond/swamp. His car was in the muck up to his bumpers and was going into his floor!!

I just bust out laughing. (I know Best Girlfriend Award.) There's no way I can help him. I have to call my dad. He has a tractor and gloves and knowledge.

Keep in mind, Chris JUST met my parents. So much for the good impression!!

My parents come down and pull his car out of the swamp with our tractor. My dad has to weighed into the water/muck to get chains around Chris' frame of his car. All the while, mom and I are trying not to cry from laughing so hard.

Finally it's out on the road, full of gross water and he has to go deliver pizzas. Needless to say, he called in and we went back to the house and had hot chocolate and shared car crash stories!

The next day Chris and I washed his car and got yelled at by the car wash people for clogging their drains with our gross water!!

Don't you hate it when that happens......????
Yeah Chris does too.

He he he!

HaPpY Birthday to me!

So I'm all about the comment love today. If you read and don't comment, today is the day to comment!!

Anyways...look at what my hubby bought me for my birthday!!!

Nope ladies, he is taken. Not for sale. He is mine.

I got it a little early because we are going out to dinner tomorrow and he wouldn't have time to go get it...dinner or shopping...you know his choice!!

Anyway when my sister was here she had a gazillion huge ipod. It held like fifty million songs. I was shocked that she even knew that many different songs. I don't know if I do. Well my hubby thought it was a great idea to get me a huge one too! I'm so excited to see just how many songs and audio books I can put on this bad boy!!

So comment away. I'm going to be eating and playing with my ipod, watching you guys comment!

Sharing my favorite recipes today

So I thought I would share my favorite recipes today. I know we all don't have time but print these off and try them out between Christmas and New Year's. You will thank me!

CAKE MIX COOKIES

1 package of cake mix (any flavor) 1 large egg 1/4 cup of oil 1/4 cup of water 1 cup of chopped nuts, raisins, oatmeal, coconut, chocolate chips, M&M'S® etc. (anything you like in cookies) Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cake mix, egg, oil, and water. Beat until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredient (s). Drop by teaspoon about 1 inch apart onto greased cooke sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until done. Makes about 4 dozens.

I have tried chocolate cake mix with pumpkin as the extra. I've done and LOVE the sprinkle cake mix with frosting on top of each cookie. Yummy!

Home Made Oreo Cookies

2 (18 ounce) boxes devil's food cake mix
4 eggs, beaten well
2/3 cup oil
1/2 cup butter
4 ounces cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Mix eggs, cake mix, and oil together well.
2. Shape into gumball sizes balls.
3. Bake at 350F for 10 minutes.

Inside Cream Filling:
1. Mix butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla together.
2. When cookies are completely cool frost the flat side of one cookie, place another cookie on top of the frosting (flat side to flat side).


And last but not least:

Chocolately Goodness!!

Chex® Muddy Buddies®

9	cups Corn Chex®, Rice Chex®, Wheat Chex® or Chocolate Chex® cereal (or combination)
1	cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2	cup peanut butter
1/4	cup butter or margarine
1	teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2	cups powdered sugar

Substitution

Peanut butter and chocolate are a favorite flavor combo, but peanut butter lovers can substitute peanut butter chips for the chocolate chips to intensify that flavor.

1.	Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
2.	In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
3.	Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator. Oh my!! Now that you are drooling....go visit some more cookie recipes here! Seriously you need to try at least one of these!

PS Does anyone know how to hide your long list of blogs from the general public? I have a few private blogs that people keep trying to visit. I want them to visit this one. Any ideas? Thanks.

Pay It Forward

Thanks you guys for being so patient with me this week, and lack of posting! You guys are superstars in my eyes!

So with all this giving going on....here's one more thing....but this one is WONDERFUL, Lovely, Smarvelous!!

It's a pay it forward. The first three (3) to comment on this post saying they wanna play, will be part of the 'in' crowd. I'm playing with Jane.
That's right, free pass to the popular table in the lunchroom. Come on, sit with Chris, Bee, and I.

Anyway here are the rules:

I will send a handmade item to each of you sometime within the NEXT YEAR. In turn, each of you agrees to post a similar announcement on your website and send a handmade item to three people who will continue to Pay It Forward in the same way.


So there you go. Come play!

(Those of you lovely ladies that just won a quilt are disqualified from this. (Jenny and Melissa) You can't have two of my masterpieces (ha ha ha) running around your house until everyone has one. It's like the line at the dessert table...you know you want more but have to wait until everyone has gone through!!)

Winners!!

Well that contest went a lot faster than I thought but totally awesome!!!!

Alright this is going to seem weird but it's my contest so I get to announce the winners how I want!!

The 1000th post winner is Jenny.

(It was actually Melissa but I think she deserves the title of most commenter so yeah!)

Jenny was the 1001 commenter...so she wins!!

The most commenter is MELISSA!!!!!

She came in with 819 comments....in 2.5 hours! That's awesome!!! You go girl!

Random winners:

64- Jenni

and 107- Shelle

So here's how it's going to go ladies.... you four need to give me your wishes (lap quilt, wall quilt, apron or candy) in order on this post.

ex 1. Peanut butter
2. Jelly....

When I get everyone's, I'll let you girls know what you won!!!! This is so exciting!

K I'm off to comment and email you all!

Comment marathon!

Happy Birthday to Chris (on the 10th) and ME (on the 16th)!!!(PS this cake was decorated by Kate. go check her out... she does a great job.)


Aren't we so lucky to have our birthdays so close together, that we can't ever forget the other's!!


So in celebration of our birthdays, Christmas and all things happy....we are having a giveaway. Two actually.

So here is what you can win: a big box of candy, an apron, a wall quilt or a lap quilt!!

(These will not even be started until after Christmas so you gotta hold your horses together.)

I had to throw the candy in there for the boys that want to enter. (Actually cuz my hubby thought that boys read my blog!! LOL)

So rules: (I know, Shelle, but if you wanna win you HAVE to do them :) I heart you!!)

The first person to reach the 1000th comment (yes you read that right, it doesn't take long, trust me.) will win first choice of said prizes.

The second prize will go to the person that commented the most. They will get second choice of said prizes.


Now it's your choice whether you want to tell your friends about this. The more people that enter, the harder it's going to be to be the 1000th commenter.



This giveaway ends on my birthday, Dec. 16th. I will announce the winner after my birthday dinner. (Which will probably be after you kitties are in bed.)

If I'm feeling nice, I might random draw the other two prizes.

"Do you feel lucky...Punk, huh do ya?"

This is stay at the top so please scroll down for recent posts! Thanks for playing!!

Update: A few questions have been asked in the first few comments...I'm new to this whole contest thing....be patient, por favor!

You can comment ABOUT other posts, but if you want it counted toward a quilt, you have to comment here, on this one.

No you don't have to keep track of how many comments you have, or where you are at...I have a secret way...waha ha ha! (it's called counting my emails!)

Consider this a birthday present to us....COMMENT away!!

So I decided a few things...

1. Either Bee and I have a lot better immune system than Chris.
(That's really not possible because I don't have a spleen and Bee is a toodler.)

OR

2. Chris is a wimp.

Bee and I are now over that horrible flu bug that we had. Chris is still dying. Poor guy.

I also decided that I should tell people I'm sick more often!! Look what came in the mail today!! (Okay so they would have had to be mailed WAY before yesterday but still!!)

Look at what I got from Jane. We are doing a little swap of cottages amongst ourselves.

She sent me extras! Gosh I heart her!!


THEN this came from my Secret Ornament. It's a Sandman!!! I love it!!! It's on my tree right now. It says the beach that she is close to so I'm going to scratch it out...just in case.

I don't know why these are in black and white but that's what happened so there you are!

Come back tomorrow....you are sooooo gonna wanna!! (It has to do with a giveaway or two!)

Until further notice...

I'm dying. I just thought I'd let you guys know.

Bee woke up at 12am on Friday night, barfing his brains out....like every 30 minutes. I felt sooo bad for him. I've never had to deal with a puking kid before. What an adventure!

Then Chris and I went to bed around 11pm last night. He woke up at 1am, barfing. I hate to say it but I wasn't much help with him. I am a sympathic vomitter. (When I hear or smell vomit, I puke too!) I don't know why I didn't with Connor. i think I just go into Mom-mode. Well anyway last night was not fun.

Then tonight I find out that Chris shared with me!! Jerk. I haven't barfed since I was prego with Bee. I would have hoped I could have kept it that way until I was pregnant again. NOPE!! My lovely, thoughtful huband thought I needed to be taking down with him.

So what if I have three quilts to make in the next 17 days. I have like thirty packages to send. Cookies and caramels to deliver.

But instead I'm dying here on the couch.

We are having internet problems on top of it all so I'm not sure the next time I will post.

I will be thinking of you, all of you! Be safe and well!

From the world between death and life,

Kritta

For your viewing pleasure. See you soon!

Sunrise, Sunset

I have had a few questions about the daylight up here. So to answer a few questions, I'll try and explain it as best as I can.

Today the sunrise was at 9:51am. At 9:51am here looks like your 6:30am there. The sky is dusk, you need your headlights, you can just see the top of the sun. The sun gets to sleep in up here.
(Got this picture here.)


Tonight the sunset was at 3:48pm. Just about 15 minutes after the kids get out of school.
Got this picture here.

By the way, those pictures aren't of today.


Daylight is not really a big deal if you are a stay at home mom. Actually I tend to sleep later because it's still dark out. But when I worked, it stunk!!!

Think about it. If you go to work at 8am...it's dark. 100% dark, like it's 4am. Say you get off at 4pm....it's dark. Like turn your headlights on, dark. There are three WHOLE months that I didn't see the sun besides on the weekends and out a passing window. It's NO wonder people have depression up here. We need all those yummy vitamins that sun gives us.

We gain about 5 minutes of darkness/daylight a day. So tomorrow we will have 5 min. more of our sunset. The Solaces up here are HUGE!! In fact, we celebrate Christmas and winter solaces together! It's so big. The winter solaces means we start GAINING 5 minutes of daylight a day. It's the turning point for the sun to come back our way.

(Now do you see why I wanted to go to Florida or New Mexico? I have some sun deprivation going on here!)

Do you now understand why the Alaskan government helps buy plane tickets in February to Hawaii for it's citizens? Do you understand why people take vacations here in January?

It's hard with the daylight/darkness but add the cold, and it is just plain difficult to live up here. Hats off to the people that do it year, after year. I will NOT be one of them.

Some interesting things you probably have not thought about living in the 'lower 48.'

Fourth of July is bright and sunny at midnight. People buy fireworks and save them for New Year's when we can see them.
Camping in the summer, you don't need a flashlight to go potty. (It's light enough, even when the sun is down, to find your way.)
I have two sensitive sleepers in my house and have to put foil on the windows to keep the light out at 3am.
Our electric bills in the summer are less than 20 bucks. In the winter, they are in the three digits.
People can plug their cars in to stay warm, while they grocery shop.
You actually like driving on ice because it fills in the pot holes. (With the weather changing so much everyday, the concrete has a hard time keeping up with a 60 degree change, so it just cracks. Leaving huge holes.)

And of course, you have to check the street corners for crossing moose.

What's an Alaskan post without a moose picture. Here ya go.

Here's one more for the road. They actually printed this one in the newspaper.

Honest Scrap

I have been tagged by CJ, Purple Diva. I have to write 10 honest things on here about myself. So hold on to your hats...it could get a little crazy.

1. I HATE stepping in water. Whether it's on my kitchen floor, the pool deck, the shower...I hate stepping in it. I would rather jump into the pool. I would rather mop my whole kitchen floor then have a puddle to step in.

2. I don't pluck my eyebrows as often as I should. I wait for someone to tell me they are bad, and then, if I remember, I pluck them. It is the worst thing us girls have to do. BUT what's totally bad is I judge other people's eyebrows! How wrong is that??! There is a reason for it...see #3.

3. I can't see well. My hubby has been getting on my case lately about going to the eye doctor. He is tired of me looking like a dummy in our living room with our big screen TV, or when I'm blogging on our laptop, which is on my knees. I can't see people's facial expressions, if they are more than a few feet away. I can tell their actions by their eyebrows, for the most part, hence me judging them on their eyebrows. (I couldn't tell if they plucked their eyebrows, even if I tried. It's too far and tiny.)

4. I have a new hobby of quilting. Anyone that quilts knows that it's not a cheap hobby. You can buy things on sale but you still are putting out quite a bit of money for your hobby. I don't feel guilty about spending this money. My hubby spends WAY more money on his hobbies of fishing, hunting and outdoor stuff. IE: our $13,000 Ranger in the garage.

5. I'm not a very good house keeper. I would rather blog. Or pluck my eyebrows!

6. I used to be a dog person. I think I still am but NOT a puppy person. Our 'puppy' malamute destroyed our living carpet, the day after we replaced the upstair's bedroom. Anyone want a malamute?

7. I have to have lotion on my feet before I go to bed. I can't stand the feel of dry feet on the sheets.

8. I get really, really hurt when I am ditched. If I make a 'date' with someone, the minute it's set, I start planning what I'm going to say, what topics to talk about, what we should do, what I'm going to do with Bee, what if he acts up, etc. The more time I have to think about it, the more excited I get. I'm a stay-at-home mom and LIVE for adult human interaction.

9. I would rather have and love a few close friends than have 100's of acquaintances.

10. I want to go to Mexico someday but I'm scared of the little kids. I have heard stories where they try and rip you off. I can't turn down kids without thinking I'm going to go to Hell. The song, "What if God was one of us" pipes into my head like a TV series episode. Girl Scout cookies at Fred Meyer's, I wait for someone else to go through the door with me and make them say no for the both of us.

K so there are my 10. If you wanna play, have at it. Just let me know you did so I can come read it!

Picture posts vol 1

I just wanted to write about some of these pictures. I've been using my camera and wanted to share with you guys my world.

This is a picture from my front yard at 8am last Monday. Yes, it's still almost dark at 8am. The sun didn't come up this week until about 9:30am. (I'm going to do a post on this on Friday so come back to learn.)
Anyway this is a star. "This electric sculpture of 325 50-watt bulbs suspended above the alpine tundra on poles set in concrete fills the area of a football field" says ADN (Anchorage Daily News). You can see it anywhere from Anchorage. It really brings a sense of comfort to know it's there. It's on the Fort Richardson. It's kinda reminder that the military is here and always present. I really like it and will be one of the things I miss when I leave here.I don't know why this is in blue but it is.
This is a picture of Portage lake. Bee and I took Dad and Christine site seeing on Black Friday. This is the mountain that the Whittier tunnel goes through.This is my beautiful kid.
Can boys be beautiful? Well anyway the snow and his eyes are just amazing so I had to take a picture.
This is another picture of the Portage lake. Up close of that part of the glacier that had 'calfed'. This is Bee.
He is standing next to a quickly made snowman at the beginning of the Kenai river. He just stood there because he doesn't like the feeling of walking on snow! :)This is Grandpa Carlson, Christine and Bee.
Grandpa was fixing Bee's glove that he kept taking off. It was pretty cold here...about 20 degrees.
This is a picture of the Cook Inlet.
The tide is out so you can really see all the ice in the water. This is one of the most beautiful but most dangerous places in Anchorage.Ice on the side of the highway going to Whittier.

Auntie Kassie andbee
Don't judge me for going inside to grab my camera and not a coat for my kid. So what if it's snowing, he was born here. I'm sure he is used to it. Okay I'm totally trying to find an excuse. Notice the amount of snow on the rear view mirror, next to my sister. We had just left about 3 hours before. So that much snow in 3 hours.
This is my SSS present!!
It is from Mrs. 4444. Here is her blog. She is soo wonderful. Don't you just love it! I'm so lucky.
This is the cookbook she sent. It's of her family recipes! How stinkin cool is that!?!
I covered up the names and stuff just in case she wanted it that way. But that still doesn't take away from such a great gift. Can you tell I'm going to use the heck out of this!?
And she sent me chocolate. Gosh I love this woman!
And great smelling lotion! I put it on after my shower today....yummm!


K so there's my life in a few pictures, as of late.

My sister just ordered her tickets to come back up here in 18 days. The same day my mom is coming!! I'm sooo blessed to have family come up here this year!

We had such a great time with Dad and Christine and Kassy up here for Thanksgiving. Even though I don't have a dining room table to eat at, it was still such a great time. Dad and Christine really got into the Wii. There were 3 nights that we stayed up until 1-2am playing golf and bowling!! (And let me tell you, I'm not a Spring chick anymore and had a really tough time getting out of bed!)

For dinner we had turkey, stuffing, potatoes, green bean stuff, rice pudding, 5 pies (apple, pumpkin and pumpkin cheese cake), marshmallow fruit salad, rolls and a great time. Shawn came over too. He is dating my sister so it's a win-win situation. (He is Chris' best friend.)

Bee doesn't like turkey. He won't eat it. Silly kid.

Well there it is, in a nut shell. Back to your normal blogging schedule tomorrow!