Kids are so funny!

Hi everyone! This week we are staying at our friends' house (the Hansens) while they are in Utah. Thanks guys! It has been really nice to take a real shower. Anyway, Aaron wanted me to blog what happened last night, and he usually doesn't show much interest in the blog either way, so I decided I had better put this down. Last night while we were making dinner, Aaron was standing in front of the fridge, stuck his belly out, and asked Chloee a question. Now I need to preface this by saying that Aaron is NOT fat by any means, but he goes through these phases every few months where he thinks he has gained weight, and puts himself on a diet. Personally, I don't find his few gained pounds very humorous right now as I am almost 7 months pregnant! Anyways, moving on...So he asked Chloee, "Chloee, what do I need to go on?" She looked at his pushed out belly and said, "Ummm, Biggest Loser?!" Needless to say, Aaron was expecting her to say "diet", not a TV show for obese people! We got quite a laugh at this one.

Also, we had to share that our sweet Jolee has now found her voice in this world, at times it's a screech, but she has been quickly developing her vocabulary. She has said the dinner prayer the last two nights with help from Daddy. She is a little shy when she says it, but it is the sweetest thing you ever did see! She loves it when all the other kids clap after she says Amen. We will try to stay updated on the house, but most likely will be in the motor home next week. Can't Wait For That!!

Summer Fun

We are almost moved out of our house and I don't know how much I will be able to blog during our time of homelessness, so I wanted to get one last post in before we are out. Just a quick update on the move: we are officially out of the house this Sunday, even though we don't close until the June 27th. Our goal is to be in the basement of the new house by the end of August while the rest of the house is finished up. Aaron is currently painting the top bedroom floor of the new house and it's looking great. We are really excited to be enjoying our new house soon. Thanks to all of you who have helped us in this huge process. It has been quite stressful, and I don't know how we would have made it without all your help!

Despite our business with moving, this summer has been too beautiful to not enjoy, so here are some pics of our summer fun thus far. We enjoyed an awesome 4th of July at our "beach" at the lake. All that sand you see was actually dug out of our lot. It is so soft, and truly better than Hawaiian sand!

It has been so warm out lately, that the kids use the slip and slide almost every day. Alaskan's are so for global warming!!

Hopefully we can keep everyone updated with our crazy life, but if not, we will see you on the other side, that is if I can maintain my sanity!

Goofy Grins

One of Chloee's budding, new talents is photography. We got her a Fisher Price camera for her last birthday, and she LOVES taking pictures of everything she can get to hold still. Fortunately, Jolee likes being her model so we have gotten lots of shots of her. One of the features on Chloee's camera is adding cartoon images on her pictures and Chlloee surprised us with these hilarious pics of JoJo. They were too cute not to post, but I think this looks like future blackmail to me.

It's Great To Be Eight!

It's hard to believe, but our J-man is 8 years old. Jaron has been a pure joy from the day we met him, and we are so grateful that he came to our family. His big, brown eyes and goofy grin always bring us a smile and we are constantly waiting for him to do or say something crazy. 

The best thing about Jaron is that he is everyone's friend. This kid knows no strangers and makes friends wherever he goes, and not just with people his own age. And if you know Jaron, you understand what I am saying. 

Being a goofy goober himself, Jaron has an affinity for Sponge Bob Square Pants, and while maybe not the most appropriate of children's shows, I must admit, I think it is hilarious. Jaron loves to use his "imaginaaaaaatiooonnn" (you have to see the movie) just like Sponge Bob, so we decided to throw him a Sponge Bob theme sprinkler birthday party. It was a HUGE hit, and luckily, the weather cooperated. My friend Angela, is an amazing cake decorator, among other things, and my Brady is an aspiring chef/baker. He has long wanted to learn how to use Fondant icing, and fortunately, Angela agreed to make Jaron a SpongeBob cake and taught Brady how to do it. He had such a good time and was so proud of what he made for his brother. Look at this amazing cake!!

It was too awesome to eat it, but the kids managed to cut into after many oohs and aahs.

 

Jaron is pretending to blow out the candles because it was a little too windy for the candles to stay lit. Before cake, presents, and ice cream, the kids played and played! We did a water relay, SpongeBob slip and slide, whack a mole water game, water gun fights, and of course, a water balloon fight.

 

Nice form Jaron!! This kid loves the water. 

We ended the day with an awesome bubble display (thanks Auntie for the bubble machine). The kids, and even Bruno the dog LOVED chasing all the bubbles. Even the little 2 year olds got in on the fun.

 

It was awesome to see a big yard full of kids chasing bubbles.

Look at the concentration in Chloee's face!! Get that bubble girl! This party was one of the most fun we have done, and while the timing wasn't great with us moving and all, we were happy to create such a special day for Jaron! Happy Birthday JJ! WE LOVE YOU!

Moose on the Loose!

One of the many perks that come from living in Alaska is the amazing wildlife that we see on a daily basis. This moose decided to munch on the very expensively maintained shrubs outside Aaron's office. This guy was right outside Aaron's window. 

Aaron tried to get a shot of this moose with his Residential Mortgage sign in the background, but it wouldn't cooperate. The funny thing is the bakery that is next door to Aaron's office is called "Moose is Loose" bakery and has become somewhat of a landmark around here. Maybe Bullwinkle will stop in for a doughnut next.

Let's Get Rocked!!

I haven't posted on the progress of our new house lately, and we have some exciting things going on. The exterior is almost done being sided, and one of the few remaining features is the stone accents. Our mason is one cooky guy, but very talented in laying stone. Here he is striking his best mason pose.

This the front face of the house with the main entry door and the arched window is to the little girls' room.

Our siding is cement plank siding and has not been painted yet, but will most likely end up some slightly darker shade of beige...one more decision I have yet to make.

The interior rock, otherwise known as sheetrock, is going up quickly. Since these pics were taken, they have now started mudding and taping. There are a staggering 800 sheets of sheetrock in this house!!
 

Here are some views of the basement, one out of the playroom to the lake, and one out of the gym to the playroom...to the lake. Hi Jaron and Chloee!!

 

Jaron is heading downstairs to the basement. On of my favorite features is this curved wall that also carries to the wall in the main floor above.

Here is a shot of the arched balcony looking up from the main floor to the top floor. I am still trying to design a rail system for this area, so hard! 

This is it for now, but since we are homeless in less than a month, we really hope to have speedy progress from here on out. Stay tuned.

Deep Creek Fun with Family

Last weekend, Aaron's grandparents, Grandma Mary and Pop Pop, came for their every other year summer trip to Alaska. It has become somewhat of a tradition for everyone to head 45 minutes down the road from our house to Deep Creek campground, mostly because Pop Pop loves to fish for halibut and Deep Creek is a beautiful place to hang out at the beach. The kids had lots to do with their cousins like playing in the sand, searching for shells and other beach treasures, chasing bubbles, and packaging up the freshly caught halibut. One of my favorite things to do at Deep Creek is to sit by the fire late at night and watch the eagle families soar through the sky. We had a great time with everyone and can't wait for the next time. 

 

 

Jolee and Bruno loved chillin' by the fire.

Sydney is always up to some adventure, that's when she wasn't holding my mom's dog, Beau.

The fish packaging crew hard at work. Uncle Brian was so patient with Jaron and Addie running the vacuum sealer.

 Lynnie getting some snuggle time with Mac by the fire, and yes, this was at night. Gotta love the Alaskan midnight sun.

 Being 5 1/2 months pregnant, there wasn't a lot for me to do, so I entertained the kids with bubbles while the men put the fish up. Good times had by all!