Thoughts on my Mom

This morning as I was showering (crying and showering) after Mom left, I thought about why I miss her so much when she is not here. Then it hit me. My Mom is good for my soul. She is a fun, funny, silly, thoughtful, kind, and generous spirit that truly just makes me glow inside. She is fun to be around and always humming a little tune (or talking to herself...or the project she is working on...damn those curtains!). She is the kind of Mom that leaves a little box of chocolates under your pillow when she leaves. Or a little card on the counter with words of thanks and also a few words of wisdom. Inside this morning's card was "Devin and Colton are good boys. Don't give up. The end will be worth all the sweat and tears. I know, I've shed a few! Just love them and find something to smile about." She always says these things and I believe her. I know she is right. She ALWAYS finds the happiness in things and brings that little something to your life...ya know? That something that after being with her, you can't help but be happier. And at the same time she is one of those people that just says what is on her mind and also gives her opinion (even if you aren't really looking for it). She just be-bops through life with a huge smile on her face and a huge heart in her chest.

I enjoyed just dinking through my day with her. We must have dinked our afternoons away for several days and I couldn't have been happier to have her by my side. It might seem to the mere observer that we really didn't do much for 10 days but my soul is happier and I miss her already. I love you so much Mom! Thanks for being YOU! I am a very lucky daughter!

Bye Nana...we miss you already!

Mom's visit flew by! She was worried that 10 days was too long but it really went by fast! We had a very relaxing holiday and spent several days just lounging and napping over Christmas. It was very nice. On her last few days, we did turn it up a notch and made curtains for my room and Colton's room. They are beautiful! Thanks Mom! We also shopped a bit, watched a few movies and spent long evenings chatting about years past. On the last day, I bought some fresh prawns at one of the Harbors and we cooked up a great dinner. We thought about trying to pack some in her suitcase but just the thought of thawed out shrimp in a suitcase....ewwww!

We miss her already but understand that the sunshine was calling her home (ok sunshine and my brother Jeff and his family)! It was -4 degrees this morning when she left! I sure wished I was getting on that plane with her...brrr!

Christmas Slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Early Christmas

We had a very busy week last week with holiday festivities! Caden had a Christmas program at his Preschool. He was a shepherd and had to wear a robe. Grandma and Grandpa Mercer came and it was so cute. All those little 3 year olds dressed up and singing...well, all except Caden. He just kinda stod there in shock!

We had an early Christmas for the big boys who had to leave Saturday to spend Christmas with their Dad in Eagle River. We ordered pizza and opened presents on Friday night! Colton was sweet enough to give Caden his very own ipod shuffle loaded with kid songs. It was fast and furious and before the wrapping paper could settle on the ground, they were all off and running upstairs to play some new XBox games. Geeze...teenagers! It is sure quiet here now without them.

My Mom arrived today from Phoenix. We shopped the afternoon away and have lots more planned for the 2 weeks she is here.

Gingerbread madness!

This weekend was all about the gingerbread houses. A few weeks ago, Colton pestered me non-stop to buy a gingerbread house kit to assembly and decorate. A few days later, I received a postcard invitation in the mail to the annual UAS alumni gingerbread house decorating event! Perfect! Except....Colton was 1 of only 2 boys selected from the 6th grade boys basketball team to play "up" a division with the 7th graders in a tournament. YAY for Colton but that also meant that he could not attend the event. Caden and I went without him though and had a super time. Santa paid a visit and Caden was mesmerized! He truly thought that man was Santa. With a twinkle in his eye, Caden ran right over to him and asked him if he would bring him some presents. It was absolutely adorable. He truly believed! We brought an extra kit home for Colton to decorate later (after his team won the tournament!). He spent a few hours eating (err...decorating) that thing.

Also attached are some pictures that Caden took tonight after I finally got the boys to sit still long enough to get their Christmas card picture taken. Not bad huh? Maybe some hidden photographer talent there?

Bring on the season!

Last weekend we did the traditional weekend-after-Thanksgiving decorating. Caden and I made some pressed cookies...would you like some cookie with your sprinkles?? Colton put the angel on the tree and we strung the lights outside. It was a fun time, a traditional time and I sure love the magic and warmth it brings to the house.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day up here in Alaska. No snow and the sun shone through the clouds making it a beautiful day. We had appetizers at 2:00 and Caden was the first to put an olive on all 5 fingers. He had to wrestle Grandpa for those. Not sure who loves olives more...Caden or Grandpa! Ed's sister Caryn came with her family and his parents Ed & Barbara were here too. After everyone arrived, I handed each a leaf with their name on it. On the back I asked everyone to write what they were thankful for this Thanksgiving. Before grace, we all read the back of our card (I cried of course) and then hung our leaf on a branch in the middle of the table. It was very touching and very nice. After that, we ate and ate and ate (hay...that is what it is all about right...good food and family?). We watched "National Lampoons Christmas Vacation" and laughed and laughed. It was a very nice day. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Toot Toot!

Yesterday I heard lots of noise coming from the dining room and front entry way. I was in the kitchen and yelled, "what is going on?". Caden replied, "MOM! I am making a train!" I wandered over that way to find that, in fact, he had made a train out of our dining room chairs. There they were, all in a row. He even had a few friends join the ride. Elmo and the Big Dog are his latest pals he sleeps with and obviously he wanted some company for this big trip!

Day in the Life

Was hoping to have an uneventful weekend, but no! Is it EVER uneventful? I am beginning to wonder. To start us off, Caden came down from nap with a rather interesting design in the front of his hair. He found scissors (or something) just in time for holiday pictures. Aunt Erin....we need you!

Colton got some new goldfish to replace the ones that Caden, umm, "set free" down the sink last weekend. Yeah...I could blog about that incident all by itself.

Finally, I made a double batch of pumpkin bread to freeze for holiday gift giving. I had soo much batter that it came up over the top of the mixer in my kitchenaid. I was frantically trying to figure out what to do when Colton walked into the kitchen to assess the situation. He just gave me a look like, "what are you doing Mom?" and walked off. Thanks for the help! I figured it out and even split the batter and added cranberries to one half and chocolate chips to the other. Smart or what?

Like I said...never a dull moment around here. Caden himself keeps us all hopping!

Oompa Loompa

Halloween at my workplace is all about the costumes! This year my office decided to be Oompa Loompas from the movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". It was great fun pulling the costumes together and we really didn't get the final touches done until the day before! We even practiced a short "skit" for the event (dance moves and all). Needless to say, we won the "Best Work Unit Theme" category. Too fun!

Fall Festivities

Over the past few days, we have been up to lots of festive fun! On Saturday, Caden, Colton and I went to a Halloween party and Caden got to wear his costume for the first time (out of the house, anyways!). He was so excited! He is such a cute spidey. He and Colton both won goldfish that Colton has since named Lucky and Keegan. Caden got his face painted, won a cupcake at the cake walk and felt some gross things in a guessing box. This little spiderman had so much fun that he crashed on the way home.

Last night we finally all carved pumpkins. Caden really got into the spirit and was right in there digging those seeds out. Devin and Colton abandoned the "pattern" and went with the "homemade" pumpkin look. They came out great...especially Colton's. Ed plugged in the traditional Halloween movie with Michael Meyers and a spooky time was had by all.

3 more days until real Halloween fun.....hahahahahahahahahaha

Vegas Baby!

Last Sunday, Ed and I went to Las Vegas for 4 days. I actually had to go for work (an HR conference). Ed had never been to Vegas so he tagged along. After 24 days of rain in Juneau, we were VERY excited to just get into warm weather and see the sun. We, in Juneau, are starting to doubt the sun's actual existence!

We stayed at the Flamingo Hotel (where the conference was being held). While I was attending conference sessions during the day, how did Ed spend his time? Well, of course he found the Bass Pro Shop first thing Monday morning! Tuesday, he took a tour bus up to see the Hoover Dam and on the last day, he took a taxi to an Outlet Mall. At night, we walked and walked and walked! We went to the Shark Reef at Mandolay Bay, the Roller Coaster at New York-New York, the Pirate show at Treasure Island, the water show at the Bellagio, and lots and lots of tourist stores. On the last night we went to see Elton John at Caesars Palace. It was incredible. We had great seats and he put on an awesome show! Most of the songs were from his early albums and he had some pretty interesting stage props, but he has such an incredible voice.

We left for home Thursday morning and all went smoothly until we were about to land in Juneau. Weather here was terrible with very high winds, so the plane had to turn around and head BACK to Seattle. We saw a friend in Seattle who said that winds like those are called "hurricanes" in Florida and "October" in Juneau. We had 4 hours to wait so we took a cab to the Southcenter Mall. Just what we needed, more walking and shopping! We finally arrived home around midnight and crashed.

Thanks to many friends and family for watching the boys and being so flexible at the end when weather just did not cooperate! It was a nice break for Ed and I. Just being able to take a shower without little people banging on the door was a HUGE treat. I know all the parents out there can TOTALLY relate!

I love Fall!

Fall is my favorite season. I love the colors, smells and holidays. What are my fall favorites? Football (isn't Colton cute?), my Mom's pumpkin cookies, and pulling up to my decorated house at the end of the day. It just makes me smile. Happy Fall y'all!!

Happy Birthday to me!

Yesterday was my 38th birthday! It is really hard to believe. Talking to my brother Jeff today, we both just can't get over how time flies. It seems like just yesterday we were waiting for the big milestone of "16" (and FINALLY able to drive!) to arrive. It it felt like an eternity! Now here we are in our 30's (and I'm quickly approaching the milestone of "40"...YIKES!). So, what did this 38 year old do on her day? I slept in late (thanks Babe), got present delivered from Renee (thanks for the CUTE jammies and dragonfly), ran some usual weekend errands and went to the usual weekend football games! We also had my favorite pizze - Chef's Mistake from Jovany's and a Costco cake...princess no less! Ed got me a new coat from REI (love it) and a digital picture frame, the boys got me a book light, itunes card and fluffy brown coat. I got a People subscription from MOM....yahoo!, clothes, jewelry, and more gift cards. It was a great day and now I am glad to be back to normal today. Thanks everyone for making my day very special. I love you all!

Happy Birthday Colton!

Colton turned 12 yesterday! He had an entire day of favorites...Favorite breakfast? I made him homemade chocolate chip pancakes. Favorite lunch? Ed picked him up from school and took him to Subway. Favorite dinner? Beef stroganof, fruit salad and flaky layer biscuits. For the cake he wanted chocolate with chocolate icing. Family came over and we had a pretty low-key few hours. Just cake and PRESENTS! Colton only wanted a few things this year but everything seemed like a big ticket item. Ed and I surprised him with a DC jacket and a cell phone. Colton was shocked! I think he had a most favorite birthday!