Weekend Lens

I feel like a bear that's crawling out of its winter den.

Christmas time around here is always super busy. I of course, always save everything for last minute. 

Ryan and I have been talking for a few weeks now, to make it to the cabin over winter break. On Thursday Ryan finally located the bolt he needed for the snow machine. It was located in Sunshine. An hour away, but an hour towards the cabin. So we packed up our gear and were on the road a few hours later.

Our family of 5 all climbed on the snow machine and made it into the cabin in 1 trip! There was a couple close calls of tipping and 1 complete tip over just as we neared the cabin. 

I have to admit it was the perfect way to wind down after all the hustle and bustle of the Holidays. 

We also enjoyed being together as a family unit with nothing else to do but play!

We enjoyed the snow.

Anika and Tanner joined us on Saturday and we enjoyed their company.

It was a great weekend escape and hope there will be many more opportunities through out the winter.

Jack the elf

has returned to our house.

The kids have been over excited about him being back. The hunt to find him in the morning is worth waking for. Nolan has been trying hard to make sure he is being good and is willing to report to the elf if anyone else isn't. The other day Naomi was in tears because she hadn't been listening very well and was even more upset knowing the elf was going to tell Santa that she wasn't being good. She was later seen telling the elf she was going to listen. It was something like this: "Elf, LISTEN."... "Elf, I LISTEN."

Also over heard this week:

Ryan to Nolan (after many attempts to get him focused on supper)  "Okay Vernie"

Nolan: "That's name calling and I'm going to tell the elf to tell Santa. He'll bring you a lump of coal!"

Ryan: "Yeah! I want a bunch of coal for Christmas. We could burn it in the garage and it would be way better than wood."

Anika and Nolan were writing letters and numbers.

Nolan to Anika "I'm writing nonsense words."

Anika little confused...

Nolan: "It's just a bunch of letters that spell nothing!"

Weekend wrap

Saturday was a full day at the Colony bazaar.

 I was a ball of nerves Friday night... nervous... excited. This was my first time being at a craft sale. I felt out of my comfort zone and was glad to sit and man the check out table. It was a little intimidated to actually be there and watch people look at my work. I felt like I was able to relax a wee bit more towards the end of the sale. It was a busy day. People said good things about all of our work. Overall the experience was great! I'm super excited to hit the sewing machine hard again for the next one in 2 weeks!

Sunday was family day. It started by snuggling with giggling little's in bed. Love that! Then onto a yummy breakfast of waffles and berry sauce. Then some more giggles shared. The skies were clear and we decided to take a drive up to Hatcher's.

 Nolan and Naomi packed all their snow gear expect their gloves. Ugh. They probably would have played a little longer in the snow if they would have had gloves, it was pretty chilly. They are excited to wait for more snow so we can go back and go sledding.

Just the start to the busy-ness of the holiday! I am so glad December starts on a Saturday this year. 

Black Friday

Yesterday we spent our day being thankful that could be surrounded by loved ones. We eat and eat and eat some more. 

Did you find yourself Black Friday shopping today? I snuck out the door this morning, dark and early to snag a few Christmas gifts at a great price. I came home to do a wee bit more sewing and got 3 hours in before the kids woke for the day! That never happens. 

This house a has been sew crazy these past couple weeks with me trying to cram in as many hours as I could on the sewing machine. 

Tomorrow I'll be hooking up with 2 crafty people, Leslie with L Designs and Frieda Schoon, we are  sharing a couple booths at the Colony High School Craft Bazaar. This is one of the Valley's biggest craft sales. Come find us in the last hallway on the right for a wide selection of children and adult aprons, lots of hair pretties, purses and clutches.

The car is mostly loaded and I'm almost ready. Just a couple last minute things to finish up. If you come by make sure you come and say "hi".

Girls room

This room is finally coming together.

On Monday I finished painting the cubbie shelves. Painting with 3 helpers and 1 that kept climbing over the barrier between them and the paint. Then trying to dip her fingers in paint is not recommended.

Then yesterday I spent the day digging, collecting, organizing and cleaning. Still in my cleaning/ organizing mood I happened into the old craft room/ girls room.
Here is a before shot of the room. Gulp. It's not a wonder these girls were up to no good for a while. No where to play and lots to dig in. -please excuse the poor lighting in these pictures-

I think we can officially call this the girls room now.

Behind me in this picture is the doorway and a pack and play. So lots more room to play in this room now! 

Ryan and I went out of dinner last night, alone. Sort of a celebration to finally completing this chore. Afterwards he braved Joann's with me and we found 1 piece of fabric. Yup, we walked out the door with only 1 thing! The plan is to make a curtain that will hide a bit of the upper part of the shelf.  The curtain will have two purposes; one so it's not such a eye sore to look at the junk crammed in there and two out of site out of mind for the littles' that will be playing in there.

I still have some crafty stuff take down and move out of the room. Punches, stamps and a bulletin board.

We also need to re-hang the closet doors. They the mirrored kind and right now are gold trimmed. So the plan is to sand and repaint them a white to match the rest of the future trim. I can already picture the girls twirling in dress up clothes in front of the mirrors.

Adjusting

We have had a lot of changes in this house these last few weeks! I feel like I'm still whirling from all of them.

My morning routine has been changed slightly.  Instead of browsing the internet and blogging while sipping my morning cup of coffee, I now sip while driving Nolan to school an extra hour early. He is getting a little extra help to get him caught up with the rest of his class. I feared this would be a battle every morning and lots of extra tears. But the only major tears that have been shed, were because Ryan took my keys with him one morning and I wasn't able to bring him.

My sister has moved in with us. It has been nice to have her with us and she has been a tremendous amount of help. My girls have been hap hazard-ly taking up residence in the 'craft room' though.  Ryan has build some cubby shelves. They are awesome! Can't wait to paint and fill them. I also need to make the time to clear the rest of the craft stuff out of there. The constant digging and dumping is starting to wear on me.

Construction season has wound down for the year. This comes with a mix of new feelings. Ryan says he won't be going back to work for someone else in the spring. I am excited and nervous for him. I know he does great job at what he does. But there is a lot to learn on the business side of things! We have attended a couple business seminars and my confidences are starting to creep up a little.

A few months back I signed up to do a couple craft sales. I will be selling children and adult aprons. Maybe some crochet hats and headbands. The first sale is now only within weeks away. Time to get serious about focusing on sewing!

Time to make a small amount of time for sewing or crafting. Today might just be getting back into blogging and tomorrow a card. But if all I have is 10 minutes, I'll make the best of it! I'll soon share photos of the aprons I'm working on right now.

To Home Market..

To Home Market,
to buy crafty stuff,
To Home Market,
to Home Market,
to buy baked goods...

We have been busy gearing up for our annual Home Market craft sale.

*why I've been lacking on blogging*

Home Market, October 27th, 2012, 
9am - 4pm
Wasilla Senior Campus Center, Wasilla, AK.

Come explore our unique selection of modern, vintage, shabby chic, and primitive décor, furniture and children's items. 

An array of Finnish pulla and other specialty baked goods will be there for you!

In addition to the sale, we will be offering a delectable BRUNCH including egg bake, pulla (sweet roll), fru

it and a beverage from 9am-1pm. $1.00 off Senior discount .

“Like” us at www.facebook.com/akhomemarket
Contact: akhomemarket@hotmail.com
Proceeds benefit: Alaska Laestadian Church

This sale is for the sole benefit of our church and 100% of the proceeds go into our building fund. How cool is that! All furniture, decor and bake sale items are all donated. There are some extremely talented people that work so hard to make this sale so awesome!! 

We hope that you will mark your calendars and come on out to take a look at all the great items we have to offer this year.

Someone

Is learning to write his letters.

I'm super happy and excited to see that he learning. It sort of makes my heart swell just a little bit. However I'm not super thrilled that it's on the side of my car. We might need to find other ways to keep the learning fun.

Wordless Wednesday

Five

The class I'm taking right now is Kit-tastic from Big Picture Classes. In this class we are learning how to make the most of our kits and also how to put together our own kits. How motivating. You don't know how many kits I have still sitting in their packages. Waiting for the perfect pictures to use them with. Too Many! Week 1's challenges are break open an unopened kit and use it, create a layout with contrast, and use a sketch.

My layout fit under the contrast, using an unopened kit and the sketch.

The sketch is from Pink Paislee, which can be found here.

I can't believe I finally broke open this kit I got from Paper Lovelies. Sad that they no longer are around. I really enjoyed the monthly challenge of taking what was in the kit and making cards. I really enjoy making cards. I made time for it every month. No matter how busy life seemed to be. Yesterday's card was the first card I've made since the middle of summer, sometime in June. 

This kit is Kaiser Kraft's Party Animals Collection. I used a few brads from my stash, along with some twine. For the banner I used my Stampin' up punch and punched various pattern paper from the kit. I also used a Fiskars small star punch.  

So excited to finally be scrapbooking pictures!

Love

This weekend I had a little bit of time to sit down and craft. I was able to make two layouts and a card for my current class I'm taking. This was right before the first kiddo started puking.

The flu bug finally hit us. We have been fortunate enough to sort of miss bugs that are going around church. Sure glad that these bugs are long. But at the time 24 hours feels long enough. I left all crafting supplies and table where they had been stationed and settled 2 kids in bed with me.

 But 2 kids + 2 buckets + mom + double bed = not enough room. I quickly moved into the chair to sleep lightly. Waking at every little stir, roll and snore, ready to grab the bucket and help direct the flow into it. The stomachs eventually emptied and we were all able to get some sleep. Naomi was hit the hardest. Poor thing. It took most of Sunday for her to regain her strength. Still napping lots.

Sure glad it's Monday and everyone is feeling better! Time to get busy washing laundry.

It's been

a busy week over there.

This past Saturday Ryan shot a small moose. So Monday and Tuesday were spent processing moose meat. I got to dig in and get my hands dirty too. We now have meat in the freezer for winter. Yay!

I did a few days of  both the drop off and picks up for the car pool this week. I usually just do the pick ups. Have to admit I would much rather do the pick ups. Loading up hungry, jammie clad girls in this wet, cold weather isn't something they enjoyed.

Had a friend over so we could plan our day circle lesson on Wednesday. We also got to catch up on each other's lives while drinking coffee and enjoying lunch. The kids also had a blast playing together.

And Thursday I also got to have a couple different friends over to make some crafty projects for our annual church craft sale. Again we worked while visiting and drinking coffee. Super fun!

Poor Nolan has had way too many late nights this week. This morning I had to drag him out of bed while practically dressing him while he still sleeping. Next week I will get him in bed a decent hour.

Right now I have been enjoying the busyness of life. It helps make these days fly by. I didn't find time to journal and record thoughts and other ideas rolling around in my head. Next week I'll have to carve out a small amount of time during my day to do just that. If I don't find the time during the day I'll do it after the kids are in bed. Oh and I'll blog a little more too.

Mission accomplished

On Friday afternoon I sat down to work on my goal to scrapbook. I got 4 layouts done! Yup, that's 4. All were done around the daily challenges from Big Idea Festival going on at Big Picture Classes. I hope I'll have more time today to complete a couple more before the class ends. But if not, I'm excited I was able to submit my work in at least 6 of the 14 challenges.

Click any picture if you'd like to make it bigger and read the journalling. 

Day 4: Create a layout or project recording goals, hopes or dreams.

I forgot about leaving room for my journaling so it got really small. You probably won't be able to read it.

 I've journaled about wanting to learn how to budget so our finances aren't so up and down with seasonal work to the winter lay offs. About wanting bigger priced things, such as a bigger piece of land. Wanting to be debt-free. Refinancing our house. Going from a 30 year mortgage to a 15 year mortgage. Lowering our interest rate 4%! Learning to leave my debit card and credit card at home and carry cash only. Learning to budget.  

Day 6: Use Cathy's free digital download to create a page that gets real. 

Day 7: Create a layout using a BIG photo.

Day 10: 1. Get in front of the camera and get some pictures of you!

2. Use a supply that you've been saving for the perfect layout on a scrapbook page today.

3. Think about something that's missing from your happily ever after. What steps can you take to make this a part of your  happily right now?

This newly re-arranged area works great! Nolan and Naomi have been happy to sit on the floor and cut up and stamp on construction paper. Staple it and cut it some more. There's even enough room for Nolan to play games on the computer while I'm crafting.

My littlest helper has been enjoying dumping stamps and other lower items. I put the harmless dump-ables lower for this purpose. It makes her happy and makes me happy I can craft. There is one slight problem. The small fold up table I use as my surface to work is a little too low. She can reach up and grab anything that's on the edge. I didn't discover this until she had confiscated several of my tools. I got up to get coffee and when I rounded the corner I busted her sneaking off with another items. She knew she was guilty and tried to run away. It was too funny! The surprised expression of getting caught on her face was great! Oh, and she finally discovered the paper stand full of paper. Right away she tried pulling the paper out of the shelves. I did put a stop to that one. That one's off limits. I'll have to push the chair back in front of it.

I can't wait to be able to sit down and try craft a little every day! Weather it's journalling, a card or a whole scrapbook layout.

This weekend my friend Elaine helped me make a bookshelf. It's put together, just needs a light sanding and a clear coat of finish on it. I'm excited that it will be added to this little crafting corner. Phase one to the desk over haul that will hopefully be a work in progress this winter. 

Boot camp letters

Do you remember me telling you that I signed up and am taking some online scrapbooking classes?

One class I am participating in the Big Idea Festival class going on at Big Picture Classes. The best part it's a free class. Every day there is a different teacher sharing their big idea about scrapbooking for a total of 14 days. It has been a wonderful experience so far. I am so inspired. The ideas are rolling around in my head. Today I made a goal to actually try work on some of the challenges and upload some of my work in the challenges as a chance to win a prize. I not the one who wins these types of things but I seem to be motivated by a challenge.

Day 1's challenge was: 'Make someone's day by putting pen to paper in the form of a personal note, letter, or handmade card then send it on it's way'.

This challenge seemed a little easy for me. 1. I have been writing weekly to my sister, Anika who is going through boot camp training right now. I try to add a little bit of me to her letters by embellishing the lower right corner before I send it on it's way. And 2. because I still love to send mail to my family. Plus I love when I receive mail back. I love the feeling you get when you go to the post office to pick up the mail and find a letter or card. Sure bets the never ending bills and junk mail that seem to fill the box up.

Do you write letters? Send someone happy mail? Do share.

12 months

Last week our baby turned 1.

Where does time go? I wish I could take the clock and make it turn a little slower.

Evelynn has 2 teeth that poked through the skin just before her birthday. 

She is trying walk. Taking little steps here and there. Almost looks like she wants to take of running.

She can be dramatic and stubborn.

She is busy. Always moving.

She dumps the kitchen cupboards, pulls laundry off the couch and empties the drawers in the bathroom.

She is quick to give mom and dad a smile. 

Begs dad to pick her up the moment he walks in the door from work.

She's a climber. Every time I turn around she's climbed up on something else.

She likes to think she's the boss. Pointing her finger & shouting in baby talk.

She loves here siblings. She is excited to see Nolan when he comes home from school.

She is such a joy and blessing. 

So thankful we have been blessed with her in our lives.

Hunting

For those who know us, know that Ryan is a hunter. He will always choose to hunt first over fishing or anything else.

If I think we need a bigger house for reasons regarding a bigger living room, more closet space and a crafting space that isn‘t in one of our needed bedrooms. Ryan would probably think we need a bigger house so we'd have more wall space for trophies. 

After spending much of the year out of town, in which he had time to reflect on our life and wanting to come home to spend more time with me and our family. Now add construction season that is in full swing. When this years hunting season rolled around, he didn’t know if he wanted to go. What!? A first for him. Ever. His heart was torn. I promptly stated that we should go together. He was over the moon that I wanted to go with him. So that is just what we did.

Let me tell you, it was an amazing experience over all.

I say over all because our first day out wasn’t all too pleasant. We started our day in the rain and ended in the rain. We were cold, wet, tired, did I mention we were cold? With the crumby weather the animals simply weren’t moving and we didn’t hardly see anything.

We came home. Showered. Warmed up and set off to get the kids thinking the whole weekend was going to be filled with bad weather.

Sunday morning we woke to beautiful weather. Ryan phoned his mom to see if she’d want the kids back so we could again head back out. She agreed and we franticly were trying to get our somewhat still wet gear back together.

We got to where we wanted to be, set up camp and started looking for moose. We saw lots of them! It was so exciting to see and watch them. There is nothing more peaceful then to be in the middle of no where. No electronics, No internet, just you and nature. We finally spotted a legal bull moose. We were eager tucked in for the night and get a good nights rest.

Monday morning we woke bright and early. Ryan again spotted the moose we saw the night before and made a game plan to get to it. It was freezing! Frost on the ground. I added lots of layers. Which I was later regretting. After we started hiking I was pulling them off fast! We did a stalk on the moose. We got nice and close to it. I drew up my rifle to shoot and the lens caps were on the scope. Darn! I started fumbling. The moose fever settled in and that big bull got away. 

Reflecting back now I can see how lucky I am to have gotten that close to a moose. We did a successful stalk. I can admit I was really, really disappointed.

 If the opportunity was offered to me again, I’d go in a heart beat. And with that being said, if any of my friends had the opportunity to head out with their husband I’d willing watch their kids so they could go.

I told Ryan I’d love to do that again not in hunting season. Just to get outdoors and shoot nature through the camera lens.  

We had a wonderful time and I look forward to doing it again some day. 

Direction

Do you ever get to a point where you feel like you've lost your direction or your traveling in a direction you don't want to be heading?   

That seems to be me.

I've been so disorganized. I've been slacking on house work. I've been avoiding crafting.

A couple weeks ago I signed up for some scrapbooking classes online. 

Journaling has been my biggest milestone to actually creating layouts. How do you document life's stories? How do you tell a story? I've used that as my crutch as to the reason why I haven't started yet.

I have learned a lot from these class already. Although I feel like I'm not fully participating in the classes, doing the layouts and challenges that go with the classes. I've been blaming it on time. 

One teacher made a big impact on me with time. She said people have made comments to her that she must have all kinds of 'free time' to be creative. She pointed out to us that everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. We all choose to spend our 'free time' differently. You might spend your time watching TV or connected to the internet or even going shopping for new clothes. She would rather take her 'free time' to be creative.

Wow!  This made me really stop and think. Yes, we all do have the same 24 hour in a day.  I need to stop making excuses or reasons as to why I am not doing the things I love to do.  I don't need to try create layouts and cards like the ones I see online or in magazines. 

There are no guide lines to crafting.

I don't need to compare myself or try measure up to anyone else. 

I am doing this for myself right? 

Then why am I so concerned to feel like it's not good enough? The teachers and classes have been so motivating. So inspiring.  I feel like I have the tools to start being creative again. 

This week I've been trying really trying to keep focused on what's in front of me. My house and the neglectful state it stands in, isn't really me. I'm in the process to getting this house back to my own clean standards. I have made lists. Not to long as to where I don't want to do them. But a realistic amount to tasks to complete in a day. I've been productive. I don't want my house to suffer any longer. It will come first before anything else! Wait... my kids actually come first and house second. 

I'm ready to take charge of my life. I'm grabbing the steering wheel and I'm going to be in control. I have also been thinking, reflection and trying to journal & record  life's happenings and my feelings.

Welcome Fall

Fall has arrived in Alaska!

The air is starting to get chilly and carries that crisp, clean feeling.
Fall makes me want to drink coffee, lots of it.

I am seeing signs of fall.

Fall makes me want to work on the yard.

I am excited to welcome fall.

Fall makes me want to start getting busy.

Fall makes me feel motivated.
Fall makes me start to think about Library hour.

Fall makes me start thinking about our annual Home Market craft sale. Makes me want to get busy creating projects to add to the sale. Our sale is to help raise money for our future church building.

Fall makes me want to dust off the tennis shoes and move.

Fall makes me want to awaken new possibilities.

Fall makes me think about the Holidays ahead.
Fall makes me want to start planning.

Fall makes me see that we are past the half way marker of construction season and the long shifts.

Fall makes me want to start pulling out the paper crafting supplies.

Fall makes me happy.

Welcome Fall!!