Friday Night Leftovers (winter is coming edition)

TGIF peeps on this last Friday in September.  I don't know about you but autumn is in FULL affect up here and winter is not far away at all!

• I'm thanking the good Lord that I have auto-start on my car with these cold Alaskan morning temps - a double click of a button from my kitchen window and my car is started, warming up and nice & cozy when the kids and I leave in the AM!
• Trying to think of the coming weeks ahead, I went ahead and bought several containers of stage 1 baby food for Marilyn.  Oh my... let the fun of food begin.
• It is sad what my middle of the week wardrobe has turned into - black running pants, running shoes and a sweatshirt of some sort.  And its not always because I'm working out or running... its just easy & comfortable.  I call it "dressing up" on the weekends when I put on my jeans/khakis and comfy brown shoes.
• The Hecks now have one of our vehicles outfitted with snow tires... bring on the SNOW (which I am told will be here in the next 3 weeks)!
• I'm not sure when the screaming, arguing, snatching, pushing, pinching, & biting between brother & sister will end?  Please don't tell me that I have to wait until they are 18 respectively.
• I know I didn't do any kind of update ("more to come") on Abbigail's speech evaluation like I said I would last week... but I do promise to do one this week.  The short story is she is going for a second evaluation (with a different pediatric therapist) next Friday and then will begin weekly sessions the following week with her.  Although she is already making some positive and forward steps with her verbal communication, she is still quite behind where she should be as a 26-month old.  Fingers crossed though that she is on the cusp and words will start flowing soon!

OK... that is it for here.  I smell stinky diapers from my youngest and she has drool from one end of her big gummy smile to the other.  Enjoy your weekend friends.

Seward

Last week the kids and I headed south 3 hours to the small coastal town of Seward to meet up with Brian who was there on TDY.  Known for its scenic views, numerous visitor attractions, and as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park & the Gulf of Alaska. The town is famous in Alaska for its Fourth of July celebration that features a grueling foot race to the top of the 3,000 foot Mt. Marathon (something that I think Brian wants to tackle one day).

Not only on the drive down through the Kenai Peninsula, but also once there, we were in awe of the snow-topped mountains, the beautiful Resurrection Bay and the serene landscape & wildlife. 

We stayed at the U.S. Army Seward Resort, although Brian was there to close down for the season the U.S. Air Force Recreation Camp.  Both places were prime for the outdoors men/women in the summer as well as the winter months.  Although we were only there for a day & a night, I can certainly see us visiting Seward again next summer and endulging in the fishing, hiking, taking a glacier cruise and seeing the whales & sea lions in the waters that lead to the Gulf of Alaska.

 

 I couldn't believe the view.  EVERYWHERE.

 The quaint little town is also home to the famous SeaLife Center (at the bottom of the hill), Alaska’s only public aquarium and ocean wildlife rescue center.  This was by far worth every moment (and every dollar) we spent with the kids there...

 ... visiting with the sea lions,

 puffins & so many other marine animals who make the Alaskan waters home.

 Probably one of the favorite parts of the SeaLife Center for the kids was this hands on exhibit with the fishing boat.  Complete with mini-boat, lifejackets, harbor scenery and fish/crab to catch... the kids wanted to go back for a second visit when we were all done.  They just couldn't get enough of it and it was priceless!

 The happy Captain

 Lots of catch today... crab & fish galore!

 And on the serious note, this is now more of a reality than hurricanes.

I guess we aren't in Florida anymore.

 Nope... we are now in the beautiful state of Alaska.

Fresh clean air, breath-taking views everywhere, and abundant wildlife...

Wordless Wednesday - All smiles edition

Hurry Up!

After the dinner cleanup tonight, we decided to head outside and enjoy what was left of a beautiful day (lows this morning were 29 and the high was 54 degrees).  While Brian took the girls to the playground, that gave me a chance to go on a run.  I decided to take Thomas with me so he could go on a bike ride on the running path I like to use.

I will not deny the fact that Brian and I are each pretty competitive in most everything we do.  I have a feeling Thomas has inherited that trait.  Decide for yourself -

[As Thomas is riding and I am running.  He is SLIGHTLY ahead of me]
T: Mommy, Hurry Up!  I am winning this race!
Me: Not for long...
T: Mommy, Hurry Up!  You are running slow!
Me: Seriously Thomas... I'm running pretty fast.  Give me a break Bud.
T: Mommy, Hurry Up or you will be sorry that I beat you.  I'm four.  Your old.

Seriously?  Yes he did.
I'm not sure what chapped my @$$ more - him telling me to hurry up or calling me old?

To set the record straight though... I won in the end!
Ha!  Look who the winner is now Bud!

Little 'Nole Fans

Thanks Uncle Ash (and Aunt Jen) for the awesome FSU Seminoles outfits that just arrived in the mail!

Although Mommy & Daddy aren't alum, you wouldn't know that by how much 'Noles t-shirts, bibs and now sports gear is in our house!

 We played football...

 Baseball....

 and what you can't see are the soccer and basketballs that are out in the yard too.

It was an all sports afternoon at the Hecks once the FSU gear was put on.

You can never be too young to be a 'Nole fan!

Marilyn - 4 months old

Marilyn Jane is 4 months old.

She is a gem.  She is a sweetie pie.  She is pure sugar.  She is our baby girl.

She is trying hard to fit into size 6 months clothes.

She eats like a truck driver (sounds like her sister) and loves her some boobie feeding.
She is good for a full night sleep (a solid 8-10 hours) with only a quick feeding in the wee hours of the morning and then she goes right back to sleep until after the sun comes up.

Marilyn has beautiful blue eyes (just like her sister) and soft brown hair.  The jury is still out on whether the color will turn even lighter to blonde.  Time will tell.

Marilyn has had some "firsts" recently...

1) Cereal yums

2) ExerSaucer funs

3) Tummy-to-Back roll overs

 She enjoys the walks and runs we go in the running stroller.  She also loves when Mommy & Daddy snuggle with her, blow zerberts on her belly, sing to her, sit next to her and just talk with her.

She loves when we come into her room just after she wakes and peer over her crib railing.  She giggles and squirms with delight.

Our baby girl is certainly growing up...

Friday Night Leftovers (the More-to-Come edition)

TGIF!  I'm tired.  Actually, I'm exhausted therefore this is going to ber short...

• I'm not sure if we are being tricked, but this is the 2nd weekend in a row where really, really nice weather is forcasted.  Fingers crossed because I'm all about enjoying the outdoors.
• We have officially begun cereal with Marilyn.  She was not a fan, however I'm hopeful that will change her mind soon.  More to come on that this week.
• The Hecks have just returned from a short trip down to Seward to pick Daddy up from his TDY this week... much fun was had, breathtaking views & wildlife were seen.  More to come on that this week.
• Abbigail was evaluated by a speech pathologist this week.  More to come on that this week.
• I'm heading to my first spouses social this week.  I'm usual not one for these types of events, however I figured there might be some nice people to meet and some good networking to be done.  More to come on that this week.

OK... I'm heading to bed peeps.  Enjoy your weekend.

stairs

When you  live in a one-floor Florida home, stairs kinda sound appealing.  In the back of my head, I was always thinking, we should live in a house that has stairs so that my kids will know how to use them when the time comes.   So that they can have fun running up and down them.  So that they can slide down the stairs like I did when I was a kid.  So that they will have somewhere distinct to sit on Christmas mornings (until Mom & Dad said it was time to go see what Santa brought).  Stairs would be fun to have.  Or so I thought.

Fast forward to now.

I'm starting to hate stairs.  Don't get me wrong... I'm sure my butt & legs are getting one of the best workouts I've ever put them through in my entire 37 year life... however, it really is insane how many times I go walk RUN up my stairs daily hourly in what seems like every few minutes.

Sometimes I'm shooing kids down the stairs; sometimes I'm running back up to get something I forgot.

Much of the time, Marilyn is in my arms (in addition to 2, 3 or even 5 other things).

Often times I drop something along the way which then requires a squat to pick it up (don't forget about all the crap that I already have in my hand + child).
In addition to my "workout," the kids have had their own incidents - 2 falls down the stairs, 3 different nights of little ones falling asleep on the stairs, dropped snacks, spilled drinks and toys left behind for Mommy & Daddy to step on.
Don't even get me started on vacuuming stairs!!!  %*&@

Stairs.

I'm not sure I really like them so much anymore.
A one-flat-horizontal-floored house is not such a bad idea anymore.

1K

Holy Cow! 

I just realized that my last post (this morning) about Marilyn's milestone achievement was my

1000th post!

 Apparently, I had a lot to say over the last 4.5 years that I have had this blog!

I would say that in itself is a milestone for this Mama!

Gett'in her roll on

Get out of her way...

Marilyn has now figured out how to roll over!

Inner City Trail Hike

More beautiful pictures of the Anchorage area that we live in...

Sunday brought clear skies & LOTS of sunshine for us so we knew we needed to make plans that kept us outside as much as possible for the day.  We decided to hit a local trail that we could bring the running stroller for the girls and the bike for Thomas.  Would you believe that it was right in downtown Anchorage?

We made it a 3 mile trek and enjoyed the scenery for sure!

The occasional stop to admire the water

Even crossed over the RR tracks on our hike (but to no avail... we saw no train).

At mid point, we stopped for some snacks and drinks and everyone relaxed their legs.

Necessary snacks included water, juice boxes, chewy granola bars, PB crackers and grapes.

And after packing up and calling it a day, we headed for home.  But not before we were stopped at the RR crossing and Thomas got to see up close and personal the Alaska RR as it roared by.  Needless to say that was probably his favorite moment.

Not a bad way to end a beautiful, cool, sunny autumn day in Anchorage.  Not sure how many more of these kind of days we will have left so it was good to take full advantage of it.

Oh... and we didn't have to use the "Bear Attack Deterant" spray after all.

Amen.

I'm hoping that one can lasts the entire 3 years we are up here in Alaska.

Not interested at ALL in seeing a bear while I'm treking, camping, skiing or fishing.

NOT.  AT.  ALL.