Memorial Day Weekend

We spent our Memorial Day Weekend camping in Homer Alaska. This was our view from out campsite. I love Alaska so much. There are not many places where you can camp right up next to the beach for a whopping 34.00 a night. The kids loved the beach. We spent so much time there that we didn't see much else. I had originally wanted to go halibut fishing but instead settled for this

It's not mine (it is not even real) but hey I can dream that I caught the big one. Instead of fishing we spent the time:

Combing the beach

Finding cool stuff like this:

Digging for razor clams....and actually catching one (boy are they fast!)

Flying a kite...

...And subsequently losing said kite. :( (it's the little dot in the distance)

Building a sand castle

And having a bonfire out in the midnight sun.

All in all a terrific weekend :)

What homeschooling is all about

Caution: dissection pictures included. Not for squeamish!!!

There is nothing sweeter than seeing your teenage son sit with his little sister listening to her read.
When your kids go to school you miss out on fun things like dissecting frogs, worms, fish, and grasshoppers.

Even the little pipsqueak likes to learn.

Someday he is going to be quite the starving artist!!!

I love how the older kids love to "teach" the younger ones. It is great for them too since it helps to re-enforce what they have already learned.

The #1 thing I have learned being a homeschooling mom: The best way to learn math is snuggled on the couch with your big brother.

It doesn't get any better than this!

The not me monster strikes again

This is what happens when you ask a 13 year old boy to take out the trash. Apparently it is too much to ask that one put on shoes before going outside to take out the trash. It is finally warming up here in Alaska and the ground is muddy.

I can't wait until the snow is gone and the ground is dry. Then I am going to have my carpets cleaned. They certainly need it with this kid.

You will laugh about this later

A comment made to me time and time again by older more seasoned mothers. Mothers whose kids have often flown from the nest. I have been uttering these words to myself for the past few days. You see my 13 year old is driving me insane. He is half man and half boy and I never quite know which one of him he will be at any given moment. There are time when he is so helpful, so thoughtful, so mature that I can't hardly believe it. Then there are days when he thinks it is a good idea to unzip the futon mattress and crawl inside. Just because. I mean why not right? My younger children who have used that bunk bed set before him never thought to do it. I guess it takes maturity to think to do it. I don't know. What I do know is that once you ruffle the filling inside a futon mattress it will never ever be sleepable again. It is in fact much like a cheap pillow that you wash and then dry. It all bunches into a ball and no matter what you do you can never get it to be pillow like again. And so I will have to say over and over in my mind that I will one day miss this. That someday I will have wished I took pictures (actually for the purpose of this blog I should have) and will laugh hysterically about it. Apparently grandchildren get a kick out of this sort of thing. Until then I will just have to breathe, count to ten, and pray a lot.

Happy Birthday Princess

My baby girl is now 7. Where has the time gone?

For her 7th birthday we had a family party at home with the princess cake. Then the next morning we had a crazy fun filled party at Chuck E Cheese. I opted for the 10 am party. I am very glad I did. It was crazy when we left and people where lined up out the door. At 10 am you practically get the place to yourself. Plus they give you an extra 100 tokens for booking early.

Nothing says I love you more than...

Cinnamon Rolls!!!

I finally got around to making my hubby and kids their most desired and longed for breakfast. To ensure that I would indeed make them DH told everyone at his work that I would be bringing them in Monday morning. Nothing like forcing the hand there LOL.

Recipe: here.

The biggeset baby

Living in Alaska gives the oportunity to see neat stuff like this.

Writing on the Wall

"My mommy is mean and she makes me wash the walls after I color on them. Why doesn't she like my beautiful art work? "

(note to self. always check the date on camera when changing batteries. He wasn't even born in 2004...lol)

Only In Alaska

I am seriously wondering if there is any other place that has a carnival in the middle of winter. I am not sure who is crazier. Them for having one or me for going....TWICE!!! *sigh* Put this on the list of crazy things I do for my kids.

I talked them into riding in the helecopter. At least this way they had some shelter from the snow/wind.

My daughter on the other hand didn't take my advice. LOL