Out and About

  

 Well, here I am. I found my blog. So much has been going on here in the Last Frontier. The biggest changes are that our oldest is moving away to start an internship with a media company. Never fear, he is still in Alaska. How amazing is that??? After his summer work on the river he will begin a one year internship learning about video production.  The other big change in our family is that I spent the winter working on getting my teacher certification and I have accepted a position as an advisory teacher with a school district and I will be working with home educating families. Yes, I will still be educating my children at home. Life will be a bit different as I will have the job responsibilities but this is just the fit for our family at this season of life.

Top photo: A waterfall in Valdez, Alaska

I attended a Math for Teachers Course at the end of May and one of our activities for the class was kayaking to Valdez Glacier. Alaskans do a great job when it comes to professional development for educators. 

Remembering

After voting on Tuesday morning I was driving into town for a meeting when I saw what looked like a rainbow, in November, in Alaska. I didn't think it could be, but it was. A rainbow. In November. In Alaska. 

I was shocked, I was amazed. Then I rejoiced and I praised God who sent a reminder that He NEVER leaves us and He keeps His promises.
What started out as a dreary day ended up quite a good day because I had a reminder of what is important, what is real and what is true and what is just.

One thing this election year yielded was an interest in what is going on in Our Country by my teens. They actually seemed more interested in the results than the adults in the house on Tuesday night. Our oldest Blessing also voted for the first time, what is up with that? Time moves on, quite quickly I do say. I didn't even take his picture at our polling place.

September Equals Fall

My view today. I took the day off and sat on the couch all day. 

My husband went on a sheep hunt.

His hunting partner got his first sheep. 

Their view from the hunt.

North Pole Fitness and Nature Trails

What does home education look like around our place these days? Well, we are down to three students. We have slowly started working back into our studies around here. I really should name our little home academy. 

Monday was the official day of daily school. The girls have started about 80% of their school and Benjamin is at 90. I am waiting for one more box for him. 

I am working on schedules for meetings, classes and Eisabeth has a two afternoon a week job and I have accepted a very part time job with our homeschool program as a K4 person. 

Today Benjamin asked if we could do the fitness trail in our little town of North Pole. So we did. This trail system has five stations in which one can stop and do various warm-ups, exercises and cool downs. Pretty neat. 

The oh so necessary selfie

Mom as the caboose with the crew up ahead

Beaver Springs Slough

I thought I smelled those highbush cranberries. 

I just learned yesterday that North Pole has this little nature trail. Where have I been???

After the outing we returned home to hit the books. Once I completed my teaching tasks I was out in the garden to harvest more green beans. 

We Are Camping

Valdez, Alaska was our destination on this July weekend. We made it and it is raining. We knew the forecast was calling for rain so we came prepared. We have a slide in camper so my husband put up a tarp awning. 

Our view

One of the best camping things we have ever bought is this Coleman camp stove. 

My husband has sung its praises for quite some time. Tonight I am cooking chicken enchiladas for the crew after they fish for a while.  

Things Never Go As Planned

Things never go as planned... 

and that's okay. Actually, that is life. 

When I looked ahead to summer I thought of all of the cleaning, organizing, books I planned on reading, swing setting while Benjamin played in the yard, chair sitting while Benjamin played at the lake, gardening, etc. You get picture. My summer book list has only one book marked off, and that is okay. I can read in the winter. 

I also haven't done much swing setting or lake sitting until this week because the weather and/or schedule haven't agreed with each other. This week has been a scorcher. The airport recorded 100 degrees yesterday. Now that is crazy hot! 

We went to Benjamin's friend's soccer game tonight, yes we chose a hot night for soccer watching. At 7:15 the temperature was 91 degrees. 

Benjamin loved his time at the lake. 

Even though I have not accomplished everything on my summer expectation list much as been done and we have had some relaxing days at home as well. 

We have a few salmon in the freezer, the man will have to go again to get us set for the winter. 

Tuesday when we went to the lake I got a little too much sun. Since I am avoiding all sunscreen today I had to use a hat, clothing and an umbrella to protect the parts that were over exposed on Tuesday. 

Even though things have not happened to my expectations the summer has been a good one and most days are productive days. 

Woah, What Happened???

I liked the list method of posting so here we go again: 

1) I did not take any pictures of my week in and out of the ER, doctor's offices and the hospital outpatient waiting room and maybe I should have. 

2) We saw a urologist on Monday and on Tuesday morning my husband went in for  laparoscopic surgery. 

3) Wednesday I took Benjamin and a friend to $1 summer movie at the theater to see Peanuts. I am cheap like that.  Yes, the day after surgery. This was Benjamin's first every movie theater experience. He loved it. 

3) $3 admission cost and way too much for icees and popcorn. I did not partake of the movie theater snack bar offerings. 

4) Benjamin contracted pink eye two days later. When the kids get pink eye my eyes itch for days. Then they never itch again until I am in the presence of someone with pink eye. Same with lice. 

5) Rain, we had lots over the weekend. 

6) Chickweed, my enemy. We fight daily. 

7) A window in my van shattered and is no more. Tomorrow I go see about getting it replaced. For now it is duck tape and cardboard to the rescue. 

8) This girl turned sixteen. Sigh.

9) Chocolate zucchini THM cupcakes. Then for the 4th of July we made Strawberry Trifle. This whole THM lifestyle is soooo depriving 😂😂😂🎂🎂🎂. 

10) An island, we have finally found all of the pieces to complete the island I wanted. Guess how much we have spent so far?? $0. Yep, total recycle center finds. I will paint the base and strip and stain the top and that will be our only money in this project. I may have had to wait for my husband to scope out the correct parts over the last few months but I will have the island I want. The base is super sturdy and well built. The thing is on casters, which was a huge priority because I wanted a moveable island so Benjamin can play basketball here. Looking forward to many morning breakfasts, group meal preps, friends around the island, school lessons done here and so much more. 

Goodbye from the Last Frontier, the home of the midnight sun. 

State Conference, Mom Weekend, Ravi Zacharias

A friend organized a trip to the state homeschool conference in Anchorage. All I had to do was pack and bring money, ya can't beat that. 

We realized it must be summer because road construction has begun on our Alaska highways. 

We happened upon a tiny house on display so we toured and took a selfie. 

Trips to Anchorage mean eating in restaurants we do not have in Fairbanks. How about Texas Roadhouse with anAlaskan  twist? Great service by the way. 

I left with two to go cups, one water and one tea. 

Anchorage has a great homeschool store with exceptional service. Love Chickabiddy Books! 

After closing down the store we went back to the hotel to research what we needed because we were going back the next day to complete our shopping. 

We hung around for the Sunday not going service at a church in Anchorage because Ravi Zacharias was speaking there. I am so glad we did. 

Then we loaded all of our stuff into the car and headed home. Looks like we did some shopping while there. ☺️

We saw Denali on the way home(right under the cloud). I also bought a selfie stick which came in handy for Denali pictures. 

I had no idea how much I needed this trip until I was on this trip. I was in great need of Mom refreshment.  

The Fourth Annual Cookie Swap

Our annual cookie swap went down Friday night. We swapped cookies with eight other Mother/Daughter teams. 

Our family makes gingerbread cookies every year for the swap. 

Our ten dozen cookies baked, frosted and packaged to go. 

The cookie sample table. I tasted not one cookie. 

The hot cocoa 

The cookies waiting to be swapped. 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you, thank you for ready my very sporadic and very eclectic blog posts.

A screenshot of our Christmas card picture

Benjamin has been waiting a whole year for the Candlelight Christmas Eve Service. 

Merry Christmas from Our Home on the Last Frontier!!!!

Happy 7th Birthday

Benjamin had a great birthday, he made his cake the day before. 

The house was decorated after he went to bed

We partied all day long. Sigh, our baby is growing up.