Polar Express 2008

This year we went to the
Polar Express a little early,
but it was still lots of fun!

~it's nice to be home

It sure is nice to be home, even though we've been going 90 miles an hour since the plane landed last Thursday. My mom and sisters came to visit over the weekend and we had so much fun. Sunday was eventful with Simon spending half the day in Urgent Care for a dislocated elbow.

This week Adam and I have been going through our storage unit preparing most of it to be sold at a yard sale we're having this Saturday. It looks like we'll be staying in Mesa until next summer and then moving to Alaska for good. We're trying to get rid of as much stuff as we can now so we won't have to deal with it later.

Anyway, if anyone is interested, let me know and I will email you the address. We'll be in Mesa at my in-laws. We have tons of stuff - camping, clothes, baby stuff including a pottery barn crib set, some furniture, piano, kitchen stuff and small appliances. There's probably more, but you can get the idea.

~Simon

Last night Simon got into his backpack (the one I had prepared for the plane ride) and he found some stickers! He's such a funny kid!

~954 Baskerville St. and Adam's cell phone

That house in the fuzzy picture is
954 Baskerville St. Some would call it a major fixer-upper, but we will call it home. Yes, we bought a house in Alaksa.


We will keep you updated as we start on this new adventure!


********************************

In other news, Adam lost his cell phone and guess where we found it! It was buried in a pile of freshly plowed snow at the North Pole house. Over the weekend it had fallen out of his pocket. We heard it ringing and started digging. Damage? Well, after spending the night covered in snow and surviving below 0 temperatures, it only ended up with a cracked face plate. Not too bad...

~The Office

the best show on television

thursday nights

quotes from The Office:
Michael Scott


"I'm an early bird...and I'm a night owl. So I'm wise, and, I have worms...um..."


"Society teaches us that having feelings and crying is bad and wrong. Well that's baloney, because grief isn't wrong. There is such a thing as good grief. Just ask Charlie Brown."


Dwight Schrute


"In the wild, there is no health care. In the wild, health care is, 'Ow, I hurt my leg. I can't run. A lion eats me. I'm dead.' Well, I'm not dead. I'm the lion. You're dead."

"I have been Michael’s number two guy for about 5 years. And we make a great team. We’re like one of those classic famous teams. He’s like Mozart and I’m like...Mozart's friend. No. I’m like Butch Cassidy and Michael is like...Mozart. You try and hurt Mozart? You’re gonna get a bullet in your head courtesy of Butch Cassidy."

~to the land of sunshine and cactus jelly

Flight 124

October 30, 2008

Depart: Fairbanks, Alaska at 7:00 a.m.

Arrive: Phoenix, Arizona 5:46 p.m.

The month of November will be very busy for us. From cleaning out our storage unit to riding The Polar Express, we plan on keeping a full schedule. Most of all, we want to spend lots of time with you, our family and friends. Be ready for movies, food and fun...

WE'RE COMIN' HOME!

~Ordinary Miracles~

Look at these cuties!

When I look at my boys it brings me to tears. How can I have such wonderful blessings in my life when I am so imperfect~Thank goodness for little moments in life that remind us of what's truly important.

~Yesterday~

While Noah and I were doing preschool, Simon was working on something else!

This is my dear friend, Lisa.

People say we could be sisters~

She gave me this

wonderful crock pot recipe.

My family loved it,

so I thought I'd share. (with her permission of course)

Tater Tot Casserole

1 bag (32 ounces) tater tots
1 can (8 ounces) chicken, drained
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can(14 1/2 ounces) green beans, drained
1 can(10 1/2 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
1 tsp dried onion
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Pour bag of frozen tater tots on bottom of greased slow cooker. In separate bowl combine remaining ingredients except cheese and pour over potatoes. Cover and cook on high heat 3 hours or on low for 4 to 5 hours. Half an hour before serving sprinkle grated cheese over the top.

I served this with bread & butter and a salad. It was also good as leftovers. This would be a good side dish too. Take the chicken out and serve with steak or a chicken breast.

Noah was promised

that if he "took care of business on the toilet" Daddy

would take him fishing. After success on the toilet and

Adam getting a day off, (and after conference) we bundled up and headed to the river. Simon missed out on most of the fun, falling asleep on the way, but Noah had a blast!

We were driving back

from Northpole and Noah excitedly said,

"Look Mom! I see Alaska!"

Feels like Christmas

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

but the fire is so delightful,

and since we've no place to go....

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Noah's Favorite Song

Simon says, "No More Stairs"

• About a week ago Adam and I were unloading groceries from the truck and taking them upstairs to our apartment. As we were making our second trip we heard Noah say, "OH NO!! Come here guys." I made it around the truck just in time to see Simon ride his bike out of the apartment and half way down the stairs before his bike toppled, sending him flying head over heals through the air. By the time I made it to him, (in just a matter of seconds), he had blood all over his face and was very upset. After a thorough examination he ended up with a bruise on his head and a fat lip the size of a watermelon!

• The next day as we were coming up the stairs from the basement (where we do our laundry) Simon started hopping up each step, acting like a frog saying, "rib-bit, rib-bit." Before I knew it he lost his balance, fell backwards, rolled over and slid the rest of the way down on his face. I couldn't help but chuckle at his bad luck. Of course he was upset, but there were no new ouchies. Thank heavens!

Alaska

The things we like about Alaska

• moose
• the crooked tree in Creamer's field
• daily walks with the boys
• birchwood trees
• getting to wear a sweater everyday
• getting to see adam everyday
• seeing the first snowfall of the season
• tuning in to watch "The Grizzly Man Diaries"
• actually being interested in "The Grizzly Man Diaries"
• the fact that "fast food" is not fast, patience grasshopper
• geese and cranes
• realizing that sometimes life is just hard
• did i mention moose?
• no heat, ever
• did i already say moose?