Catching Up

I kind of lost my blogging mojo there for a while. I just couldn't get it together after a full day of mothering to get photos from my camera or phone on to the computer and then to the blog. It was all just too much. Lol.
I'm sort of feeling up to the challenge of catching up on things now... 

At the end of March, the little ones and I hopped on a C-17 headed to Charleston. We barely made it to the terminal on time. They changed the flight overnight to an earlier departure time and we almost missed it. But, luckily we made it and we took a direct flight from AK to SC for a short 7 1/2 hours! It usually takes 12-14 hours to fly commercially with layovers and missed flights and lost luggage. The C-17 is the way to go! BeBe and PawPaw were able to get on the Airforce Base in Chs to pick us up too which was a nice bonus. No taxi ride for us. Easy peasy!

We spent about a month in SC. We were trying to catch a C-17 back to AK but one never popped up on the schedule, so we flew back commercially. The kids did great and it was so nice to have B-man waiting here in AK to pick us up! He was a welcome sight for this mama's tired eyes. He's so handsome and has a smile that I just LOVE.

So, here are some pics showing our SC adventures.

C-17 flight. I love the bottom right pic. We had landed in CHS and the ramp is open in the back. The lights had gone out for about 10 seconds  and this was their frightened expression as the lights came back on. Hehehe.

Easter cookies, egg hunts with friends, and dyeing eggs for the bunny.

Country life!
Lil Bit was over the moon excited about the cows!
"Look Mama, LOOK! A cow, mama, a cow!!"

We made brown-eees for G, GPa, and Kirstin and Aunt R and Uncle D for April Fool's Day.
Get it? Brownies vs brown-ees?

Egg Hunt at church.

Easter Morning!

Easter Best!
Susu, their Sunday School teacher in SC (who was also my SS teacher growing up) told me after church that Boo, Bit, and Callie (their friend) told her all about the Easter story. She didn't even need to teach it to them! :)

The Boys

More catching up to come!

Lil Bit Skuuts Along

We searched the Anchorage area high and low for a balance bike for Lil Bit. But the only ones we could find were too tall for our little lady. So, then I began to search Amazon. I finally settled on the Skuut bike. It was the shortest one I could find and it would grow with her. So, we ordered it and anxiously awaited its arrival.
You should have seen her the day I put it together for her. She was overjoyed that she was getting her own bike. "Is it mine, Mama?? Is it my bike? I like it Mama. I'm so decided (read: excited)!"

Do y'all remember Boo's wooden bike? Well, hers is very similar to that one. In fact, B-man may have modeled his craftsmanship after the Skuut bike.
I have to say, I really am amazed at how Boo skipped the whole training wheel phase. I owe it to his starting out on the balance bike which I owe to B-man. It's really been since last August when we were in SC that he last rode his balance bike and he just picked it up again so easily when we brought home the Red Rocket a couple of weeks ago! B-man was the one who advocated for the balance bike route and I'm so glad that he did.

And now, Lil Bit is on her way!


This is her first ride! This is how they start, just walking it along, kind of standing over it.




This is later the same day. You can see she's gotten more comfortable and is sitting on the seat and is skuuting along more smoothly. I wish I had a picture of her when she was on it and had both feet up in the air and was balanced!! Way to go Lil Bit!!

I guess it's time for Mama to get a bike too!

Third Time's A Charm

Is it third time's a charm or third times a charm?

I went with time's as a contraction of "time is" but I don't know if that's right and I tried to search online but found evidence in support of both options. Anyone know? 

Anyway...
Boo is all over it on the bike. The next day we went out after his inaugural ride he learned how to start on his own!
He was doing well and I decided to draw a big stop sign on the road so that he could practice stopping.

Which brings me to the question from the top of the post...

Third time's a charm:








He's got it now! He asks to ride his bike nearly everyday.
That being said, he's always a little nervous getting out there, but then he's fine. He may or may not have gotten that from me.

Up next, Lil Bit's turn!

BREAKING NEWS!

I know I haven't posted in a really long time and I know there's a lot to catch up on...
But, instead of catching up, I bring you this breaking news video clip!

Winters are LONG here in AK. And it's STILL 32 degrees outside at the end of April, but the snow has melted from the streets and driveways (our backyard still has 2 plus feet of snow in it) so that means it's BREAK UP time here in AK. Winter break up. B-man and I discussed getting Boo a bike for Christmas and for his birthday, but knowing that he wouldn't be able to ride it b/c of the snow, we decided to wait for break up. So, Friday night we went to Wal-mart and purchased THE RED ROCKET!

Saturday morning we bundled up and headed outside (after taking the training wheels off!). He was scared and immediately fell like 5 times because he was scared. But after about 45 minutes, he was getting the hang of it! We still have a long way to go, but this is success!! He's still kind of leary about it and I'm not sure he'll be excited the next time we go out, but it won't be long before he'll be riding all over! 


So proud of him for not quitting!!!

P.S. Lil Bit will be getting a break up ride also. We're looking for a balance bike for her.

Birthday Interviews

A while back, I saw an idea online to ask your children the same list of questions every year on their birthday and see how their answers change over time. So, I decided to ask Boo the list of questions. Lil Bit piped in too (I thought she might be too young but I was wrong). So, I'll share both of their answers. You can tell that sometimes she would just say the same thing that he did. :)


1. What's your favorite color?
     Boo: Red.
     Bit: Purple.

2. What is your favorite toy?
     Boo: All of them from my birthday.
     Bit: All of them from my birthday.

3.  What is your favorite fruit?
      Boo: Oranges.
      Bit: Blueberries.

4.  What's you're favorite show to watch on TV?
     Boo: Charlie and Lola.
     Bit: The purple show (there is no purple show...just 
            proving her love for purple).

5.  What's you're favorite thing to eat for lunch?
      Boo: PB&J and ham sandwich with mustard
      Bit:  Peanut butter and purple sandwich (purple jelly).

6.  What is your favorite outfit?
     Boo: My firefighter costume.
     Bit: My horse.

7.  What is your favorite game?
     Boo: Chutes and Ladders.
     Bit: My computer.

8.  What is your favorite snack?
      Boo: Pancakes and fruit snacks.
      Bit: Yogurt.

9.What is your favorite animal?
    Boo: Moose.
    Bit:  Moose.

10.  What is your favorite song?
       Boo: My bedtime songs (Jesus Loves Me, Tractor).
       Bit: Twinkle Star.

11.  What is your favorite book?
       Boo: All of my library books.
       Bit:  Dinosaur music book.

12.  Who is your best friend?
       Boo: William, Porter, and Peyton.
       Bit:  Mama!

13.  What is your favorite cereal?
       Boo: Special K Blueberries.
       Bit: Mama's cereal!

14.  What is your favorite thing to do outside?
       Boo:Winter: Build snowmen
              Spring: Pick flowers.
              Summer: Go to beach.
              Fall: Play in the leaves.
              He was very specific about breaking it down!
       Bit: Kicking ball.

15.  What is your favorite drink?
       Boo: Milk.
       Bit: Apple Juice.

16.  What is your favorite Holiday?
        Boo: Valentine's Day and Christmas.
        Bit: Valentine's Day and Christmas.

17.  What do you like to take to bed with you at night?
        Boo: Sheep, ya-ya, Sandy, Kobuk, and my Daddy 
                pillow.
        Bit: Ya-ya, Kiska, and horse.

18.What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
      Boo: Pancakes and cereal.
      Bit: Mama's cereal.

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?
       Boo: Pizza and birthday cakes.
       Bit:  Pizza and birthday cakes.

20.  What do you want to be when you grow up?
      Boo: A Ninja.
      Bit: Purple.


Too cute! Y'all remind me next year, okay?!

More Boo Speak

I was awakened Saturday morning by the sound of Boo shuffling to my side of the bed. I fully expected him to ask for milk or pancakes. Instead, our conversation went like this...
Boo: Mama?
Me: Yes...
Boo: I will only kill a rat if it's a mean rat. I will not kill one if it's a nice rat.
Me: (eyes still closed) Ok.
Boo: Because I'm a rat hunter ninja and I will use my ninja turtle staff to kill the bad rats.
Me: (eyes still closed) Fair enough, Rat Hunter Ninja.

Boo then shuffles out of our room.
I'm so glad we cleared that up first thing Saturday morning!