Growing Up

This little girl had NO IDEA what lay ahead of her . . . where her life would lead . . . what she would become . . . it's all so unexpected . . . oh not the part of growing up, getting married and having kids - that was always part of the plan . . . but living in Alaska, being married to an attorney, having more sons than daughters . . . let's just say there've been a few twists and turns I couldn't have dreamed of. All in all - I'm living a very blessed and fulfilling life. I'm not the best me, but I've come through some challenges and experiences I never would have thought I'd have, let alone make it through. I'm lucky to be where I am - both physically and emotionally - I just want to work on making those experiences and lessons shape me better. I'm not as strong as I envisioned myself - I'm not as positive as I expected I'd be - I'm not as accepting of the  unexpected as I should be . . . what does it really matter anyway, right? I'm getting more and more OCD the older I get - maybe because I'm holding on tight to those things I CAN control, which aren't many, and to others may seem too trivial . . . but still - I hold on. 

And even though I have a longing to better myself in certain areas, I can't discount those things that have allowed me to experience the euphoria of empowerment and strength. I'm living up to some things I dreamed, but also reveling in some that never existed in my life's desired experiences. 

So - another year older, more experiences, more disappointments, more joys, more triumphs, more challenges, more love and admiration. Maybe by this time next year I'll be a better me - a better wife, better mom, better friend, better teacher - if I were to blow out candles right now . . . that would be my wish. 

Jack Jack

Wow - another post . . . the kids are supplying me with plenty of material - plus, I'm doing a month in review class each month and I'm finally taking lots of pictures and paying attention to what's going on a bit more closely - 

So anyway, the other day Jack got the rare quarter to blow on a piece of bubble gum at the grocery store (pun intended only if you got it and thought it was funny!) Anyway, he was so thrilled. But after chewing for a while in the car - he pipes up and says, 

"This gum is the same taste as a sucker."

me - "Oh yeah? Same as a sucker, huh?"

Jack - "Yeah, it's creepy."

Not strange, not cool, not weird . . . creepy! I guess that's one way to look at it!

Boy Scouts = Success

Lately Harrison's affinity for Boy Scouts has been lukewarm at best - but one night he came home more upbeat with a new bird-feeder in tow. He put it up the following day and waited and waited for signs of birds . . . the problem was - his buddy Nik said he'd gone through all his bird food cuz the little fouls were coming by the droves . . . and still . . . all seeds accounted for at the Kent home. Until one morning when the seeds were gone and little birdy tracks were found all over our front porch - we've filled it back up a few times and the kids LOVE watching the little feathered friends fight for the food. Aidan's been the most mesmerized. I'd say that THIS project for Scouts was a huge success.

Little Old Man

A week ago today I was in our Doctor's office lamenting the possibility of Aidan's leg needing a cast. The night before - he and Harrison were sliding down the McDonald's Playland slide - Aidan's leg got caught under Harrison's and from that moment on - there were tears, flinches and no weight put on his right leg. So we got him an appointment and the little trooper did well for about an hour and a half - even through the X-rays - but the last 45 minutes (when the Dr. was tracking down the images from radiology) he just wailed. Not because of the leg - but because he was so tired and hungry - and probably frustrated, too, that he couldn't just run around like normal. There were no visible breaks - and nothing to be done - so we went home hoping he'd get better on his own. He's shown improvement daily - but he's still limping - he looks like a little old man shuffling around. When he's serious about getting somewhere he just drops to the floor and power-crawls. 

He absolutely LOVED this magnetic puzzle in the Dr.'s office - and immediately started moving the pieces from their complete position. I was shocked that he knew just what to do and had the coordination to do it. He's growing up so fast. My baby's not a baby anymore!

I should be in Vegas!

Yep - Dan and I should be enjoying a much warmer climate and hotter night life! We were scheduled to be in Vegas by this morning . . . but funny thing happened . . . this little wart on the planet called Mount Redoubt decided to finally send a bit 'o ash our way - we've been warned for well over a month that the volcano could blow . . . and so far all activity has kept the ash away from Anchorage and the flight paths . . . until now . . . flights have been cancelled for two days straight. We've been checking both flight and ash status and been on a number of wait lists that desolve with the cancellation or delay of yet another flight . . . we ARE booked solid for a flight that leaves Monday around 1 am and our return flight on Monday around 4 seems to be fine as well . . . just enough time for Dan to hit 9 holes - pending highway traffic, of course! So - our get-away weekend is squashed and my beautiful pedicure will only be seen in the shower - when I'm not wearing thick winter socks. It's been snowing all day - makes this wound sting of lemon juice!

Just an update

Here are my two little guys - they need haircuts! I really wanna learn how to cut their hair myself - three boys - lifetimes of haircuts - it adds up to quite a bit I'm sure - I could probably do the whole beauty school thing for the price - maybe I'll just find a tutorial on youtube - anyone know how to become a master stylist from home?

Then here's my beautiful Eme - we did her hair on Sunday and Harrison says, "You look like Sarah Palin." Let's not take into account that { I } have been doing my hair like this for YEARS - nope, she doesn't look like mom, she looks like Sarah Palin. Darn Media!!!

 

I feel lucky!

I've not been in the best mood lately, but through the stress and work and pressure, my kids have made me laugh - not always the easiest thing to do ! ! ! 

Last week was Spring Break - oh so happy it's back to "normal" now - but last week I'm in the car w/ all 4 of the offspring when a conversation ensues between Harrison and Jack. Now, I am not totally sure what it was about - but I began to impart my wisdom . . . probably correcting some song lyrics or identifying the difference between a crocodile and alligator or setting them straight with something - don't remember, but Jack pipes up and informs me in the most irritated tone, "We're having a meeting back he-re!" Guess I didn't get the memo! 

So last week Emery was "shoveling" and Jack ended up rushing in the house blood and tear-stained . . . no stitches needed, but some sweet looking "Indiana Jones-esque" injury to show for it - I dunno - the kids came up with that to help him feel like a man, I guess = anyway, that was last week and the bandage is almost gone after multiple trimmings of loose ends - so today he knocks his head on a door knob and comes in to me crying . . . and because I'm always the most compassionate, kind and forever tender mom (insert sarchasm) I let him up on my lap while working at the computer and start humming a Bugs Life song and thumping my hand (lightly) to the beat on his back . . . which leads to his comment, "that's not gonna make my owie feel any better!" Oh he's so darned cute. The things he comes up with - the wisdom in that little 3 1/2 year old is mind-boggling. On a better note - there's progress in the potty training area. Still in pull-ups - which I used to swear I'd never use . . . but he's dry 99% of the time - a very rare wet accident and a little more common messy accident - but hey, it's progress . . . the kid's just got too much else he's excelling at to be great in this area as well (I'm good w/ sarchasm, right?)

Because you never know when the time is right...

A friend of mine (this is Dan) is working overseas and found this sign outside a construction site. It's way too funny not to share, so I jumped on Tonya's grand stage here to share it. Sorry dear!

My kids are definitely Alaskans -

So we're doing errands today and Harrison says to me . . . "Hey look at all those sweet snowmachines!" as we pass some lucky people pulling a trailer full of "toys." No one here calls them snowmobiles - so it caught me funny that yes, my kids are more Alaskan than lower-48  - and more Alaskan than me. This is all they know or remember. There are still things that are "different" for me from my up-bringing, but to them - it's totally normal - just a regular part of their lives - like recess in single digits below 0 - and moose - and dark winters/light summers - bed-head in public - it's all perfectly normal and they don't think twice about it - but for me, it still not second-nature.

WHAT TIME IS IT???

It's 12:58 AM!!! What are we doing? Dan's watching golf (don't know how we're both awake! It's just not as blood-pumping as basketball) and I am sitting here next to him catching up on blogs. Every night we're up late we blame each other and swear we won't stay up late anymore . . . but there's just something about being up late a-l-o-n-e!!! We haven't been getting enough us time - so we cut into our healthy sleep time . . . no wonder I'm more often than not grumpy and tired! But at midnight - I'm usually happy to be sitting by my man!