Memorial Day Weekend Part 1

What promises to be a magnificent weekend here in Alaska has just begun, but those promises are just so enticing to anyone who endures an 8 month winter, that I will do a quick post on the weekend so far :)

Prepared for the weekend by "planting" our flags and even though we are several weeks behind the norm for this time of year, today I am venturing out for few plants and start digging.  It is suppose to hit 70!

Alaska's 60 feels 80, so we broke out the pool!

After 10 years and a baby, we decided to have a Garage Sale.  Things were out of control in our attic and since Saturday was a beautiful day....why not!  Alaska is known for their sales and  we pretty much got rid of all we didn't want to bring back in!  Figured a sale was best as we didn't want endless phone calls and visits to look at items if we posted on Craigslist ... that would have taken weeks...this took 6 hours.  It was actually quite fun.

More to come...enjoy your beginning of Summer!

Crafty Things

Not going to post about the weather ... not going to post about the weather...not going to post about the weather.  It snowed at least 6 inches Friday night.  There I said it.  Let us move on.

Due to the aforementioned, Amelia and I were a bit crafty this past weekend.  Thanks to a favorite blog, we did quite a few projects and a few turned out rather splendidly I think.

These were our watercolor stenciled cards (look for them in mailboxes soon!)  Amelia had no problem with doing them although I did tape her stencil to the paper.   I did the owls and horses with a bit of success.  Now we need more stencils!

Ok...Amelia really didn't help me with these, but I have wanted to do them for a long time.  We are preparing for a garage sale some nice Saturday (obviously not yesterday!) and had some books marked at fifty cents.  I thought why would I go buy thrift books when I have them here!  They are now one of several items I pulled from the sale bin that has been accumulating.  

I only had to glue one extra thick paperback, but I love how they look!  They had these in an Anthropologie ad in all shapes and sizes...great for Christmas decoration I think! Will think of other purposes shortly I am sure. 

I love them on the bookshelf too...Rob not a big fan. Can't please everyone! :)

A big day for Amelia last week...

THE NASTURTIUMS BLOOMED!  

A big day for Mom too...

An early birthday present!  Let the creativity begin!

The First Dance

I am pretty sure I was as excited, if not more, for Amelia's first dance performance.  

Armed only with my iphone, as parents had to be on stage too, I did the best I could at Rehearsal and Photo day.

Only 2 others from her actual class were in the performance...one being Cody (far right, who is quite shy and would only participate in the picture if Grandma was in it too) and Zoie, whom you'll meet later.  Her teacher, Becky, really does a great job with 2 & 3 year olds...and Amelia LOVES her.  It's not The American Ballet Theater School nor Alaska Dance Theatre for that matter, but it is perfect for our apparently previously shy ballerina want to be, who has really come out of her mom leg holding days :)

Truthfully, I had NO IDEA how Amelia would do at the performance.  At rehearsal she was magnificent...doing everything she was suppose to and I hanging out in the back.  She glanced for me from time to time but once spotted, continued about her business of following Ms. Becky.   Oh yes... Mom was pretty proud.

Now if she could only do this for the performance!  

Odds were getting better.

That afternoon we had our very first official birthday party to attend to!  Fellow dance student Zoie (and younger sister of Amity...Amelia's idol) celebrated her 3rd! 

Night owl pajama theme ensued, complete with owl making, animal stuffing (actually mom stuffed, as it stuck to her sweaty fingers) and pin the tail on the owl!

Amelia loved it and after a long day and no nap...it was time to go and get a good nights sleep for...

Performance Time!

We arrived early so Dad could have a good seat and get a few pre-performance shots :)

With her teacher Becky and Zoie's big sister Amity, her hero.

She did FABULOUS...even waving to Dad as she exited the stage to a bit of laughter and clapping :)  

She deserved her very first bouquet of roses.

What a mother's Day.

The Wonders of Living in Alaska

After the longest winter on record it seems...Spring is here.  We have been out with tank tops, playing in the sandbox and enjoying picnic lunches on the deck.  

Apparently all animals enjoy Spring.  

Two days ago we woke up to this:

I thought hmmm...funny two together...then their mom showed up.  I am pretty sure these 2 will be kicked out soon,  they were pretty big themselves.

I snuck out to get a couple shots without window glare. If looks could kill.  I hurried back in and tried not to bother them too much. A look like that is all I need.

 We kept checking on them making sure they were entertained...

Showed them our horses and toys. 

One actually acknowledged us.

Then at about lunch time Mom got up.

and the other 2 followed.

Later in the afternoon I spotted them across the street.  That night the 2 "teenagers" were back in the yard sleeping.

Next morning all were gone.  

The next day she spotted a bunny.  We have a lot of these...which I am kind of surprised as this AM we went for a walk and this time I brought my camera.  We have been hearing  "hoot hoot" for a couple months now and neighbors told us there was a nest of Great Horned Owls in their back yard and  one took a good swipe to their dog.  We spotted them on a few walks...but lacked my good camera.

Not this time!

Saw the nest but didn't see any babies.  I am sure they were there as Mom wouldn't be giving me those looks otherwise! 

They had to rope off their deck area to keep their kids away after the episode with their dog.  I kept Amelia behind me ... just in case Mom thought my camera posed a threat. :)

Whew!  I am a bit nervous to what we might spot next! 

Again...it has been LOVELY out and we are taking full advantage of it.  Amelia and I pinky swore we would have a blanket lunch out on the deck every nice day this summer.  

At long last ... Summer has come to the arctic.

Long live the Alaskan Summer.

Kites, Magnet Clips and First Dance Costume

I bought a cheap kite at Target thinking it might usher in a bit of Spring for May Day and entertain Amelia for a couple minutes.   It did...we (including Rob) couldn't get it to go any higher than about 30 feet. There was a breeze and it should have worked...however, we both decided it was the kite and to get her a better one and move on. :)  We actually have a pretty good place to fly as there are no overhead wires in the immediate surroundings.

In general she was pretty pleased and kept encouraging us to fly it higher.  She was a bit nervous holding it...so I guess the low flying kite was actually a good thing for her.  Will certainly post more when we get a new one...will have to google making your own too!

We were artsy as well this week...making magnet clips, among other things.  They are proudly displayed on the calendar on our fridge.  I used up some old lumpy acrylic on the red and green and Amelia made a few blues with the washable kind.  She made a few as gifts too with stickers and lots of bling.  

Like any three year old she gets discouraged (especially with tiny stick-on embellishments!)  I encourage her, but never alter or help when she is working on something uniquely hers such as a gift or artwork.  Even though she says "you do it! Mom Help me!"  To which I respond "then it's mine and not yours."  "ok ok" she usually replies and finishes it (generally).  

I also made a few with double sided tape and paper.  Cute for chips, notes, gift bags, lunches, etc.  Think I will make a bunch for Christmas to hold tags and ties!

Thursday, Amelia got to try on her dance costume for her first ever dance performance slated for Mother's Day.  It certainly brought back some memories of my own dance days...costume try on is a big deal!  Can't wait for  performance day...best Mother's Day gift that I can think of :)

I leave you with our Polly pockets on the sandy beach :)

as it's doing this outside: 

til next time.