Life is loud; our house is no different

Noise in my house is almost always constant. 
Laughing.
Complaining.
Screaming.
Questioning.
Explaining.
Snorting.
Giggling.
Whining.

The exceptions to this rule are 1) when my 3 darlings are all sleeping, 2) when their eyeballs are glued to some wonderful TV show or movie that has their full attention, and 3) when the kids are not home.

Life is loud; our house is no different.

Although it drives me crazy & I complain at times, I wouldn't want it any other way.  I know this phase of childhood won't last and there will come a time when the house is quiet and I will yearn for loudness and chaos one day.  Wow... I almost can't believe that I admitted that aloud.

With that said, here are some recent hilarious moments of constant "life is loud" noise:

Thomas - (telling a joke) Mom, I need to get a new butt.
Me - What? Why?
Thomas - Because mine has a crack in it!  (Ha-ha)

Marilyn (whining constantly that the splinter in her foot hurts) - Ohhh, it hurts!
Daddy - Let me take a good look at it.  Put your foot right here on my lap.
Marilyn - Ohhh, it hurts.  Wait, don't use that sharp pointy thing to hurt it even more.
Daddy - The tweezers will help me take it out quickly so that it won't hurt you any more.
Marilyn - No, No!  I don't want it to come out.  It's in his place.  It's in his place!
Daddy - The splinter is in his place?
Marilyn - Yes, please leave him there in his place (and then hops down with a smile).

Abby - Hey, Mom?
Me - What's up Ab?
Abby - Mom, Bom, Dom, Fom, Hom, Kom...
Me - Are you rhyming my name?
Abby - Mom, Nom, Pom, Rom, Tom, Wom, Zom, Zom, Zom!!
Me - Nice job.  Now what?
Abby - nothing.  I'm done.  Actually, I'm Dom (walks out laughing HA-HA!)

Did I mention that Life is loud, our house is no different.

Friday Night Leftovers (To Do List edition)

• Today was my last day of work.  Done. *sigh*
• I've applied for 2 administrator positions so far back in my old school district.  I'm hopeful, but there is still a process and a time factor.
• The growth spurts continue on with the kids.  They each grew 1"in less than 3 months.  That has been happening all year long.  At this rate, the kids are gonna be taller than me before their out of elementary school.
• We are leaving Alaska in exactly 30 days.  Gheez All Mighty!
• The packers & moving truck arrive in 3 weeks.  So.  Much. To. Do. Before. Then!
• Summer is in full swing up here - more than 18.5 hours of daylight. 
• For the first time in more than 3 years, I purchased new shorts with the anticipation of moving back to warm hot weather.  Now I just need to work on my tan.
• Aside from his official retirement ceremony in late August, Brian will be wearing his uniform exactly 6 more times in his Air Force career. *sigh*
• With work now over, my Moving To-Do List is fairly long.  The top priorities? #1 Continue to purge and sort.  #2 Make hotel reservations along our travel route... 3000 miles worth of roads.
• It's early but it has become abundantly clear to Brian and I (as well as the dentist) that Thomas will need braces.  Yep, not even 7 years old yet and that's already on our radar.  Gheez.

Throwback Thursday: Preggo Teachers

In honor of Marilyn's birthday and the end of school, I thought I would throw back to May 2011 when my good friend Nicky & I were both super pregnant - sporting our flip flops, puffy toes, and big bellies.

Wordless Wednesday: They love her with all of their hearts

 

 

End of the Road & Spit - Visiting Homer

With only a month left here in Alaska, there are a few Bucket List items that we still want to take care of before we head out.  So, we took advantage of the long Memorial Day weekend and headed out south to Homer to explore and enjoy more of Alaska's natural beauty!

Located near the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula & about 5 hours south of Anchorage, Homer is variously described as “where the land ends and the sea begins,” “the cosmic hamlet by the sea,” an arts community, and a fishing community. Common to almost any description is an acknowledgement that Homer is situated in one of the most beautiful places in the world, with spectacular views of Kachemak Bay, the Kenai Mountains, and several volcanic peaks across Cook Inlet including Mt. Augustine, Mt. Iliamna, and Mt. Redoubt.

Homer is also famous for the Homer Spit, a 4.5 mile natural spit of land extending into Kachemak Bay. Accommodating Homer’s port facilities and small boat harbor along with numerous shops, restaurants, the Nick Dudiak “Fishing Hole,” campgrounds, charter fishing and sight-seeing businesses, and other attractions, the Spit is a beehive of activity during the summer months. Commercial fishing remains a vital part of the local economy. Homer lands more halibut than any other port in the world, earning the title of

“Halibut Capital of the World.”

Taking a quick break to stretch our legs, enjoy the sights, use the potty...

 and get coffee!

Don't these ladies have the most incredible office view?

Once we hit the bluff and could peer down on Katchemak Bay to see the picturesque town of Homer, we knew we were almost there!

In planning our weekend getaway, Brian hooked us up with some pretty incredible accommodations at the Lands End Resort which is literally at the end of the Spit (peninsula) looking out over the Bay and across to the Kenai Mountain Range & glaciers.

 Majestic view doesn't even begin to describe what we saw.

Lots of fish, birds and sea otters enjoying the Bay.

 Unfortunately, Brian didn't get to go out with these fellas,

but instead did a little shore fishing.

 The harbor was surprisingly HUGE.

So big that we had forgotten some famous crab boats dock themselves here during the summer months when they aren't being filmed for Deadliest Catch while braving the Bering Sea for Alaska's crab!

 

 We even caught a glimpse of the Cape Caution leaving the harbor.

And because kids don't float,

the kiddos got a kick out of wearing life jackets on the docks!

 Breakfast on the deck

 Just as soon as we were done eating, we hit the beach...

 

 

 

 My partner-in-crime.

 A man with his fishing rod, a beer, and his thoughts.

Classic Brian.

 

A few of my favorite spots along the Boardwalk.

What I didn't get a picture of was the great place we enjoyed some of the best Halibut & fries along with one of my dear friends I work with & her husband, Margaret & Mathew!

After we ate & drank some Homer brewed beer, we strolled the beach with the kids collecting all kinds of sea treasures!  What a wonderful time we all had!

 

When the weekend was over, we packed the truck full and headed home having enjoyed another weekend of adventure & Alaska beauty!

 Beauty in the middle of no where on the Kenai Peninsula!

 

 Views like this will certainly be missed when we leave Alaska next month.

 

 

What sick looks like

When the fever, watery eyes, and coughs get the best of you...

there is no better place than cozied up on the couch, getting extra snuggles and kisses, laying around in 'jammies,  ALL. DAY. LONG!

Thankfully we are on the mend.

Even more thankful that Abby is almost back to her bubbly, smiley, sweet self.

Party Girl!

Wow.  I just can't believe we are at 3 already!

We love you, Marilyn Jane.

You are indeed our party girl...

Happy Birthday, birthday girl!