Blog Hiatus

I have half-a-million partially written blog posts in my queue.  Or so it feels that way. None of them done though.
I feel like a have another 1,000 thoughts running in my head about stories, frustrations, milestones, worries, joys and hopes that have to do with our family.

But...
I feel like time is against me right now.
In all truth I expected this; frankly, I was surprised I lasted as long as I have without any real interruption.
As much as I absolutely love to blog and reflect on what my kiddos go through, what motherhood and being a wife are like and my personal thoughts along the way - I have put an enormous (unnecessary) amount of stress on myself to maintain it. 
I do want to continue for Thomas, Abbigail, and Marilyn's sake but I feel so much of my spare time (even if its just moments here and moments there) are spent on what I would like to write about or thinking about how to make time for writing.
Frankly - all those moments add up and it is those moments that I feel like are missed moments with my 3 little love bugs.
I need for myself to refocus.  Prioritize.  Live in the moments.

I don't know how long I'm going to take a break from blogging.
It could be a solid week of not thinking about HeckLures' Adventures - it might be a month or longer.

I just know myself and if I put it in writing - like I am now - I will let myself off the hook on feeling like I've got to share something.

Our life is busy... extremely busy... as all families are. 
I just don't want to miss any of these chaotic & busy moments because I know I'm never going to get them back.

Until next time - whenever that is - please know that the Hecks are well.
We hope you are too.

Wordless Wednesday: Armed Alaskan Carpenter



Mother Nature's stunt

Dear Mother Nature,
Given your little "Fall" stunt today, I thought I would put in a few requests before you decide every record is to be broken {again} this year...

If you please, above average temps, average snowfall, below average rainfall, no arctic hurricanes, and a record breaking early warm spring.  That's not asking too much, is it?

 



 

Fall Festival: Pyrah's Pioneer Peak Farm

I'm a little embarrassed to say that in the full two years that we have been up here in Alaska, I've completely dropped the ball with getting my crew out to a Fall Harvest Festival.  That is until now.

I finally got my act together and started asking all of my local friends and it was a resounding suggestion for us to take the kids north to Pyrah's Pioneer Peak Farm. 

 

Settled about 45 minutes north of Anchorage in the town of Palmer (one of the original part of the colony in the Matanuska Valley), the farm has long been a part of the local community and its roots are in the U-Pick business.

Although we didn't do any pickin' of our own on this trip, we DID have a super duper fun time with the kids at the annual Fall Harvest Festival.

 

Our little Pumpkins

It's not very often that we get a great family photo - this ranks right up there as one of my favorites!

Thomas decided he wanted to compete in the Water Pump Duck Race.

After giving it a trial run, Thomas & 4 other kiddo competitors stepped up for the race.

Daddy was there for moral support (and if there was any technical problems) and the girls and I stood down at the finish line as his cheerleaders!

 Guess who won 1st place?

This face is priceless!

It's fair to say that the kids had a blast with all the games that were there to enjoy!



 



This boy had a blast on this tractor-bike track...

 



 3 sleeping pumpkins.

This is what I call success.

Autumn in Alaska

Although it is still pretty warm & summer-like in the Lower 48,

Autumn is in full swing up here in Alaska.

 

Fresh snow on top of the mountains - over the next few weeks, the fluffy white stuff will slowly creep down and eventually will blanket all of Anchorage.

 

Around every corner are beautiful yellow, orange and green colors on the trees.

 Early morning at the bus stop involves winter jackets, hats & gloves!

 Friday night after dinner, we decided to drive up to the top of Arctic Valley and take in the beautiful view from up above.  With clear, blue skies and temperatures still hanging in the low-40s, we were spoiled with an incredible view of the snow-topped mountains nearby and all of the Anchorage down below.

 

Friday Night Leftovers (Fairies and Power Rangers Edition)

Happy Belated Friday.  I hope the weekend is off to a great start!

• This Alaska weekend has started off on a cold note... 30 degrees.  The truth of the matter is there is no turning back now.  Winter is around the corner and will be here for the next 7 months.
• I have a feeling that the Tooth Fairy will be visiting us soon for the first time ever.
• Speaking of Fairies, I wish there was a Dusting Fairy, Vacuuming Fairy, also one that loves to clean bathrooms.  I would very much like those gals to visit me.
• Cub Scouts never panned out - Brian and I just can't take the disorganization of the leader/pack and the lack of focus that should be a priority.  We may look elsewhere but more than likely we will just wait until next school year when we are back home to try again.
• At the rate we're moving, Marilyn and Abby are going to be wearing the same size clothes in the next year. 
• The initial report from Thomas' teacher at this point in the year is that he is reading at almost a 2nd grade level.  Proud Mama is what I am.
• What I'm hearing on the Halloween rumor mill is that I need to find/put together a costume for a Red Power Ranger, a Pink Power Ranger (gosh, where did she possibly get that idea?), and a pumpkin or Doc McStuffins.
• I'm headed out the door tonight for our school's football game against our cross-town rival.  Oddly enough, it has been a quiet week leading up I just wanted it to be known that there is nothing in comparison to what CHS school spirit and football is.  Period.  Sure do miss it.

Throwback Thursday: 2 Year Old Hecks

Thomas - 2 in 2009

Abbigail - 2 in 2011

Marilyn - 2 in 2013



Wordless Wednesday: B-ballin'

Dinnertime Antics

I think that Brian and I have come to the realization, and are no longer in denial, that Marilyn is our "push-the-limits, don't-want-to-conform, who-cares-about-rules-standards-etiquette-and-manners" child. 

Yes, I know that she is only 2 years & 3 months old.
But truthfully, by this age, a parent knows their child & has already figured out their personality.
And this is certainly true for Marilyn.

Make no mistake about it - we love and adore her no less. 
We find it downright exhausting and yet, hilarious at the same time.
On one hand, we want to pinch her and on the other hand, we want to eat up all her laughs & giggles.

I know that some say this is just a phase, The Terrible Twos, and although some of her dinnertime antics may be rooted in this growing stage, I'm convinced that most of it is because it is who she is... our #3.  Our Marilyn.

Let's review our dinnertime routine so that it is clear as to why my #3 is giving me new grey hairs:

• despite asking her to go potty before we sit down for dinner, she says, "No, I no need to go potty."
• Like clockwork, as soon as we have said the blessing and she picks up her fork, she exclaims, "OH, I need go potty!"
• Once she plops down out of her seat and runs to the bathroom, her "fun" begins.
• While on the potty, we hear the purposefully loud farts, followed by giggles & squeals which usually ends with her exclaiming, "Mommmmmmmmm, I got big poopies!"
• Following her bathroom business, she always runs out to the dining room completely naked.
• Mind you, the rest of us are trying to eat dinner.
• This also is at the point in my meal where I have to get up and get involved.  Make no mistake though, up until this point I've been shoveling food into my mouth because I knew just moments seconds after starting, my meal would be interrupted.
• Once I have gotten her redressed and assured she is clean from her potty visit, she climbs back up on her chair at the dinner table and proceeds to just pick at her food.
• The "picking" becomes "playing" and before long she is having a party in her seat that includes turning around to see what's behind her, reaching over to bother her sister while she's eating, picking her nose, hooting & hollering, repeating whatever Brian and I are saying to her - including, "EAT NOW!"
• Sometimes, More often than not, What seems like ALWAYS, Marilyn will usually spill her milk or some other dinner food will go flying across the table.
• And she is the last one at the table - almost always with a plateful of mess - long after everyone has been excused and I've completely cleaned the kitchen from our dinnertime meal.
• It's fair to say the girl is just a hot mess.  Seriously.

The Boobie Conversation

Sometimes conversations with our kiddos seem to come out of nowhere.  Or at least left field.
Tonight's after-bath time conversation with Abby is a perfect example:

Abby: Mommy, do I have boobies?
Me: Yes, all girls have boobies, Abby.
Abby: Why aren't mine big like yours?
Me: Well, because I'm a Mommy.  Mommies have bigger boobies.
Abby: Can I see your boobies right now, Mommy?
Me: Nope. Classy girls don't lift up their shirts to show their boobies
Abby: When will my boobies get bigger?
Me: When you're a Mommy.  Well, that's not true.  As soon as you are a bit older Abby.
Abby: When though?
Me: In probably about 9 years Abby your boobies will grow bigger.
Abby: Can I wear a bra then like you do?
Me: You sure can. 
Abby: Can I wear a Princess bra, Mommy?
Me: Absolutely... I wouldn't expect anything else, sweetie.

And there ya have it - we are already having boobie conversations in our house.
I guess I should be grateful the conversation wasn't with Thomas... yet.

Swimming - Florida vs. Alaska

My children love the water.  This includes tubby baths, pools, beaches and even big puddles left from heavy rains.  It really makes no difference, they want in and they want to enjoy the water.

 

With that said, I promised to take the kids to one of the indoor pools here on base this weekend.  As much as the kids LOVE to swim, and trust me when I say they are all fish, they had forgotten that the indoor pools on base are not nearly as warm as their beloved Florida pools -

We're talking a 10-20 degree temperature difference (depending on the time of summer it is in FL).

Whoa!

 

So, with everyone very excited this morning to get their swim on, we headed out to enjoy some splashing & fun!

These are their faces before jumping in...

And, unfortunately, these are their faces after swimming for a mere 20 minutes...

This cute smile was forced and bribed...

 

Although we try and enjoy everything that Alaska has thrown at us & has to offer for us, I have no reservations or hesitations in saying that my children can not wait to move back to Florida this coming summer and enjoy the warm (and even hot) water that surrounds the place we call home.