Back to Packing

Now that are vacation is over we are back to packing up our last few things for our move. We have packed almost all of Neal's toys away (except a few things for the car ride) but it doesn't seem to faze him at all...what is more fun then boxes right?

Maui Sun

While in Hawaii we got to spend a 4 day weekend in Maui. This was our favorite part of our trip. The weather was amazing, the condo we stayed in was perfect (with an ocean view), and the beaches were practically right outside our door.


Every morning the sun was out and we would go outside and enjoy breakfast on the back deck, watch for whales in the ocean and listen to the birds sing.


The Beaches were just a short walk down the path from our condo and Neal loved the walk. It was fun to see him so amazed and excited about the waves. Tyler and Neal and Eli watched the waves cash on the rocks over and over again.



Once we made it to the beach Neal was not so sure about the waves...he was a little scared when the first wave rolled over his toes and he felt the sand move from under his feet.


He actually ran as fast as he could saying "no please" up the beach and as far away from the water as possible. We stayed at the beach for about an hour that first time and he eventually decided the water was actually quite fun.


The rest of the time at the beach and the next several beach days it was hard to get Neal out of the water. We had a lot of fun just playing with Neal in the sand/water and watching his excitement over the whole beach experience.




...and then, what's better then a good nap after a sunny day at the beach.

Pearl Harbor

If you are ever in Oahu you have to go and see the Pearl Harbor memorial. It was beautiful, amazing, sobering and educational.


We were able to walk around the visitors center and the museums with Neal in the morning. There have some submarine rooms you can walk thru and some guns from ships you can sit at and really see large they are.


That afternoon, during Neal's nap at our friends home, Tyler and I were able to go back and visit the USS Arizona memorial.


This was an amazing memorial and I am so glad we got to visit it. They ferry you across the bay to where the USS Arizona lies in the water and you can look and see parts of the remaining ship. There is so much history and stories of sacrifice and honor and it was definitely worth going back to see.





It truly is amazing to see and read about the stores of the men who made such a great sacrifice for our country.

Aloha!

We just got to spend a fabulous week in Hawaii on a little family vacation. This was the first time both Tyler and Neal have ever been to Hawaii and it was the perfect vacation.


We have some good friends, the Hams, who are stationed in Oahu and so it was the perfect time for us to not only vacation but also visit with them. Let me just say, leaving Alaska for a week in the middle of January for some sun, warm weather and the beach was the perfect decision.


Neal had a great time playing with his friend Eli. Eli and Neal use to hang out together when the Ham's lived in AK but haven't seen each other in over a year. Eli called Neal "Baby Neal" but when they saw each other this time Eli said "Baby Neal isn't a baby anymore".


The first full day we were there we got to walked down to look at the water before dinner. Neal called the ocean "boom water" because of the sound of the waves that crashed on the shore and against the rocks. He continued to call it "boom water" the rest of our trip.

Toes in the sand

Just the three of us, one plane ride, sunshine, water and good friends, all add up to a perfect vacation.


Lots more pictures and stories coming from our week away from the snow.

Snow Fort

I remember as a kid loving it when it snowed outside. My sisters and I would go outside and spend all day building snowmen or snow forts. The only thing about snow forts though was how long they took to actually build. By the time you finished your fort you were either to tired to play in it, to cold, or it was getting to dark outside and you had to go in. Well, in AK that story is different.



Neal spent the afternoon watching the snow plows come through and build up the best "snow fort" ever. That's right the plows push all the snow into the middle of the cull-de-sac and create this huge mountain of snow that makes the best fort! So even though it was only 5 degrees outside Neal and Tyler bundled up and went out to play in the newly built fort. Neal had a blast, filling his bucket with snow, climbing the fort, eating lots and lots of snow and just tromping around in the fresh powder. His cousins even came out to play with him and they all had a great time.


I on the other hand had a great time watching them play from inside the warm house - with a cup of coffee in my hands.

Eventually though like all snow days it was time to come in and get warmed up. There were a few tears of sadness to leave his snow fort but his cold little red cheeks definitely tell me it was time to come inside, at least until tomorrow...

My Fabric Collection

I decided to join in on the "Bloggers Choice Bundles" fabric giveaway that I found through a friends blog. What is this you might ask? Well, I got to choose a selection of fabrics that I like and create my own "bloggers bundle" which you will see below and then entered my collection choice into the drawing. I hope to be chosen as one of 3 winners because the prize is amazing.

This is the bundle I created...


As you may be able to tell it was inspired by my sons love for cars and bright colors...I think these fabrics would make a very cute quilt for Neal - something he can play with, use outside and of course cuddle under whenever he wants. I don't need much inspiration or incentive to start a new quilt, so needless to say this little possible quilt project was easy to imagine. Maybe I could even make a fun racetrack in the middle of the quilt so he can drive his cars around the blanket...

I guess we will see if I win. The 3 winners from this drawing will receive a half yard of each fabric in their bundle...can't get a much better prize then that huh? If you want you too can enter your own bundle, it's easy and really quite fun.

My New Nephew and Seattle

Neal and I got to go down to Seattle the beginning of December and meet baby Daniel, my new nephew and Neal's newest cousin. And let me just say that Daniel is adorable and such a cuddle bug of a baby.


We had a great time just hanging out with Grandma, Papa, Tia, Aunt Amie, Uncle Jon and all the cousins. I feel so blessed and lucky to have such a great family. Though I get to talk with my family quite often on the phone it is always more fun to reconnect face to face. My ideal visit with family is to stay at home, relax, drink coffee and let the kids play. This visit was just that type of visit...with one trip to Zoo Lights (which was awesome).


(Neal's first carousel ride - he didn't want to get off)

(helping push the stroller was his favorite part of Zoo Lights)

Neal and I had a great time in Seattle (though we did miss having Tyler there with us). It was fun to meet Daniel, go one a "sisters only date night" and just spend time relaxing with family and some great friends. There is just nothing like family...

A Very Merry Christmas

Neal's Christmas morning face (the lights were really bright)


We had a great Christmas this year with Tyler's whole family together. We spent the night Christmas Eve out in Palmer so we could wake up Christmas morning with everyone and allow Neal to open his stocking with GiGi and Grandfather. Neal was excited Christmas morning and was running around the house with cookies and milk making everyone laugh.




I was really looking forward to what Neal's reaction would be to Christmas this year. He was very excited at first and loved all his gifts however, like most kids the packaging was sometimes more interesting then the actual toy.



We had a beautiful white Christmas with snow falling almost all Christmas Day. The day was filled with lots family, coffee, cookies, laughs and Nintendo games (which Neal even got to play with Aunt Bud).


I think I love all of Neal's toys just as much as he does because they have kept him occupied and allowed me to get more packing done this past week.

Here are few of his favorite Christmas gifts this year...his monster hat and his train set.