Santa in September

This Labor Day we drove north to spend some time with Uncle M and Auntie B.

Lil' Monster has been ecstatic for a week knowing we were going to spend time with his hero.

He couldn't wait to see him; it's been a few months.

He was so surprised to discover that instead of celebrating Labor Day they would be celebrating Christmas.

Uncle M is deploying very soon to Afghanistan and

wanted to celebrate Christmas with us.

Lil' Monster could not have been happier with this.

His dream came true: A true blue Monster Truck.

He also, received dart guns;
but Pabbi and Mamma had the most fun with those.

Pabbi trying to hide from Mamma on the couch.

Mamma outwitting Pabbi, who thinks she is still sitting on the couch.

And she got him too!!!

Thanks Uncle M and Auntie B for a wonderful Christmas Surprise.

Mr. Golden Sun

     

Mr Golden Sun,

...for coming out to play today.

For shining so brightly that you brightened my day. I know, in years past I sometimes thought you were the enemy; I thought you were trying to cook me alive. I believed you had only wanted to deprive me of needed moisture. I felt you only wanted to make me sticky and uncomfortable, merely for fun.

Little did I appreciate how your hot rays actually warm not only my body, but my soul. Your brightness brings a joy unparalleled. Little did I know my own spirit droops low without your welcome relief of light.

Thank you for again dropping by to visit. It was so unexpected...and yet so appreciated! It has been so long since I last saw you. It has been months since I have seen you for any extended period of time. My husband, son, and I have missed you terribly. We miss seeing your bright smiling rays on a daily basis. How glad we are that you popped by to say "Hello."

Please know, you are welcome to stay for an extended period of time...if you like. we wouldn't dare drop an utterance of complaint if you should. Please, don't stay down in the south where no-one appreciates your glow.

I do.

I DO;

to never again complain of your presence or power.

Your friend and admirer,

Mamma Sass

On a Sunny day, this is a familiar view for us.

Mt. Redoubt

School Days

This year Lil' Monster is

education is coming from our favorite curriculum:

We are doing the P4/5 (Pre-Kindergarten):

Exploring God's World

  It is very exciting.

In addition,  

to a more focused homeschooling for our dear little preschooler,

he now has his

own special space

right in Mamma's office/schoolroom.

In our loft there are two large but odd sized closets under the eaves.

We transformed one of them into a play room just for Lil' Monster.

It will be nice, because he can be close by while Mamma does her work without being on top of everything or anyone.

 Also, there are doors that can be shut to block some of Lil' Monster's noisy distractions. Nevertheless, he is not sequestered so far away that he feels isolated and lonely.

He' has no idea what is behind those closed doors.

Shocked to know this space if just for him!

Lil' Monster was thrilled to show off his new space to Pabbi.

Here is my bucket of cars.

Yay!!!

I think we have a happy camper on our hands.

May the new School Year Commence....

POST UPDATE: (August 29, 2011)

I am thinking Lil' Monster really loves his new space.
While I was working, it went quiet in Lil' Monster's play space.
This is what I found:

 
Sleep Sweet Baby!



...How Does Your Garden Grow, Now?

With all good intentions we planned our garden growing to start indoors and then proceed outdoors.

Sometimes, as parents, our intentions and perfect dreams don't come about.

So we learn to improvise or make due.

Due to the condition of our new home,

digging and planting our indoor garden, outdoors didn't happen.

Instead our pea plants grew and grew and blossomed indoors and then started to die.

We got a couple of pods with some peas. But no more.

So we enjoyed the "practice" bounty albeit meager.

Lil' Monster is reaping what he sowed.

It was small - like him = Perfect!

He was NOT pleased.

He put it in his mouth,

bit it,

and promptly said,

 "I don't Like it."

Maybe next year we will try again with better results.

Pabbi and Mamma 

enjoyed the three other peas.

Bald Baby



July 2009

Haircutting Day is usually spontaneous (when Mamma is feeling creative) and we try out lots of new styles. We haven't done "Bald" in a while. The last time was back in 2009. It was a first time. The boy had the cutest afro and then we had some fun carving it out. But the bald look was the final result. This Lil' Munchkin was impressed for all of but a day. He would rub his head all the way around and say, "Where's my hair?" Then once he reached his eyebrows he would say, "There it is!!"

BUT  WE HAVE SOME NEWS!!!!!!

BALD is BACK,

BABY!

He loved using the shaving cream.

Not only all over his head,

but squishing it on his fingers and

wiping it this way and that

(shaving cream is good like that).

July 2011

Look at this beautiful bald boy!

He thinks he looks just like Uncle M. our military soldier,

and a friend of ours, Brother W: (an incredible man from our church)
who happens to be bald.

We got some beautiful shots of this beautiful baby.

Dancing in the Sun with Joy!

How DO You Mow YOUR Lawn?

How do you mow your lawn...

With a HUGE obstacle

that refuses to move,

and gives you the evil eye the whole time?

Use the Moose to mow your lawn.

Mission Accomplished!!!

Less sweat spilled

-as long as you keep your distance!!!

This moose about scared Mr. Elskan to death!

 He was comin' round the corner and saw

the moose standing bold as you please,

in the late afternoon, in the middle of our back yard.

Then it settled down and began eating.

Home(r) of the Brave...



Lil' Monster enjoying his Independence Dinner

Being newcomers to the area, holiday traditions are having to be reinvented and remade based on our surroundings. When Mamma was looking to plan something special she found lots of options to be explored. The cities and towns here all had something planned, it we just figuring out what to do, and what the weather would allow us to do.

So, the decision was made, Pabbi would take Lil' Monster to an early parade in the neighboring city of Kenai - while mamma prepared at home. That afternoon the American Legion Post # 18 in Ninilchik was hosting activities and an Independence lunch/dinner. After that we would drive to the farthest town south on the Kenai Peninsula, Homer, for their late afternoon parade.

When the Fourth arrived, we were astounded by the beautiful weather and couldn't wait to get out in it. The "Guys" went to the parade and collected some sweets. Then we all headed south. Instead of going straight to our destination in Homer, we stopped several times along the way marveling at the beauty of the Kenai Peninsula.

Homer Parade

Don't eat it, darling!

Trying to figure how these work.

Yeah! He did it!

Look, Mamma! Candy!!

Vehicles and candy were the favorites.

Who's coming?

 What parade is any good unless without a special guest appearance?

Santa was a highlight of the Parade.

What a wonderful day it was.

We took so many photos.

It makes living here feel just a little more like home.