Life As The Caldwell Family

Just Hangin...

2011-11-21T21:34:00.001-08:00

These past couple of week have been a lot off hangin out at the house since I was sick. Still don't know what the cause was but it went away and that's all that matters to me! I feel bad that it had to happen on Ryan's leave but at least he was there to help with the boys.

Ian loves playing games on our phones. It doesn't happen often but he loves it just the same.

Ian and Declan still love their Lego table Ryan made them. They have really gotten into Legos lately. Very Cool!

While I was babysitting for some friends we got to have another girl in the house and the boys are awesome with her!

We love love love little Miss Kinley!

Catching up...part 2

2011-11-09T10:57:00.000-08:00

Here's part two of the catch up. Hope you enjoy them.

The Zombie 2K Fun Run with Ian's (the ninja) and Declan's (the pilot) friend Roman (the pirate).

The family that runs together...has so much fun! I love my guys!

Declan's field trip to the Eagle River Fire Station! He loved it!

Declan the scooter master.

Ian coming into the finish line at his first cross country race! Don't mind my annoying voice, I'm such a proud momma!

Catching Up...part 1

2011-11-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay. I guess life took over and blogging took a back seat. So here is a brief catch up in photos. Hope you enjoy.

Monkey boys!

My little Steelers fans!

Batter up!

AK State Fair fun!

Ian and Ryan cuddle time!

The happy leprechaun!

Gorgeous fall in AK!

Declan and Skunk just chillin.

Declan and his buddy Austin.

Ian's first race at the Birchwood Cross Country Jamboree.

Ian lost his first tooth!

Ryan made an awesome Lego table for the boys.

Ian's first day of kindergarten

2011-11-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

Ian's first day of kindergarten! He was so excited until...

we got to school and then the meltdown began. This picture was taken right before he broke down in tears! Poor baby, but ended up having a good day!

First Day of Preschool

2011-11-08T21:40:00.000-08:00

My little Declan started preschool this year and was so happy about it!

One more thing...

2011-08-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

I just thought this was so interesting. The blackness of the pine trees and then the gorgeous fire weed. Alaska is so interesting and I never get bored of the scenery!

Our Alaska Vacation-Fairbanks

2011-08-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

This would be part two of our little vacation. This was our first time in Fairbanks and we made the most of it. We walked around down town and checked out the booming metropolis that is Fairbanks.

Then we went to the Ice Sculpture Museum. It was kind of weird but made me want to come back up for the Ice Championship in February!

Then we went to Pioneer Park (aka Alaskaland) and had a fun day checking everything out.

Monkey Man!

My two little old men! hahaha!

I'm not sure what is up with me and these picture board things, but I love them. And my family will appreciate it some day!

D was the only one that wanted to ride the marry go round.

Fun at the play ground!

Who wouldn't want to ride a giant salmon?

Checked out the AK pipeline before eating a yummy dinner at Silver Gulch Brewery.

This was the scene at our campsite unless we were sleeping. They had more fun collecting sticks and making up stories of fighting bad guys and hunting trips.

I don't remember what he was explaining to me but it was very interesting, apparently.

Our Alaska Vacation-Denali

2011-08-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting. I'll just claim ADD and move on from there! R and I decided to take a family camping trip before he left for JRTC in Louisiana. It was a tough decision but we ended up going back up to Denali and then to Fairbanks.

Our campsite in Denali was really fun great and much better than I imagined!

My little ham! I'm so glad one of my children don't mind getting their picture taken.

Photo by surprise! The only way to get one with Ian actually looking at the camera! Stinker!

My little National Park Rangers getting sworn in! They love this stuff!

D didn't want to give the hat back! He's such a character.

Mama and a baby moose. I love those things!

R and his boys! I just love these guys!

My little goofballs and I. It's so peaceful out there, even with the boys!

D looks like he's wrestling this tree down! He's so tough looking with that hair cut! And he likes it that way!

It's amazing how fast they grow!

I love it when my husband takes pictures when I'm annoyed or frustrated, it's so faltering!

Finally got to see something other than moose in Denali! You would have thought I was a kid at Christmas! Very cool caribou!

Happy 4th of July from Scar Face!

2011-07-04T17:10:00.000-07:00

There hasn't been a lot going on around here except hours and hours of scooter riding, bike riding, and super hero wars. Such is a lovely summer with my boys! Yesterday Ian took a header doing tricks on his scooter and this was the result. Thank God I'm such a stickler for helmets! I can only imagine what his face would have looked like without his helmet to buffer the coalition. It was a bit dramatic to clean but he was so proud when it was all said and done. In fact, he ran out to show his buddies his "war wounds". I love having boys!

Anyways, hope you all have a wonderful 4th and don't forget to thank a soldier! Freedom isn't free but it is worth it! Happy 4th of July!

Ryan's Big Fishing Trip

2011-06-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

Ryan and his friends took a fun little weekend fishing trip this past weekend and they did great! I mean, they didn't catch a 200+ lb halibut like a little girl did the day before but they brought enough home to make me happy! I still have to laugh a little because he doesn't even eat fish. I'm hoping this will change with time but not as of yet.

Wow, someone looks really sleepy. I guess the all night fishing excitement wasn't a great idea before a 5am fishing charter.

Aaron and Shane...Ryan's partners in crime! Such great guys!

Mighty proud fishermen! Hey where's Aaron? He seems to escape photos kind of like Ian.

The charter crew...they did great.

Halibut are really unattractive fish but they sure do taste good!

My New Toy

2011-06-26T23:49:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when I received a package in the mail. It doesn't happen everyday and it makes me feel like a little kid! I was so pleased to open it up and find this beautiful yarn bowl made by my very talented mother-in-law. And most recently aided me in the knitting of my first hat! I'll post pictures of that later since it's going to be a present.

Isn't the color stunning! Thank you Diane for sharing your talent with me! Love it!

Mayor's Marathon prep/race day!

2011-06-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

I've never been so nervous for anything, other than the birth of my children. The knowledge that I'm about to embark on something that will be painful and take time to recover from, but that will totally be worth it is amazing! I'm thankful to report that I did finish and my medal currently sleeps through the night, unlike my children!

It's an amazing process of training for a marathon, prepping for the actual race, and then finally race day. Team in Training is an amazing organization that really is a team! I felt some amazing camaraderie from people from all over the US! I spent about 7 miles of the race with Sara from the Arizona chapter and about 11 miles of the race with Tracy from the Monterey Bay chapter.

Because I wasn't caught up in finishing within a certain time I was able to have conversations with people and really find out why they chose to run. A lot of people are out there for more than just to run a race. Sara lost her dad a year ago in December and her and I both shed a tear or two at about mile 12 when we each told our stories. We both lost someone we love yet we chose to turn that into something positive! Tracy was having a hard day and was thinking about quiting, we encouraged each other and took our minds off the pain. I know I appreciated it as much as she did.

I will never forget this experience and I'm so grateful to all help I had along the way! Will I do it again? I know I will be signing up for more races, but no full marathons as of yet. I guess we'll just have to see. Running will definitely stick with me, I'm hoping for a long long time.

Just picked up my bib and timing chip and I am so excited! It's becoming more real!

My shirt is ready! It was a privilege to run in memory of these wonderful people! Running for a reason is awesome!

Sue, Krista, and I trying not to be too nervous!

Here we go! Getting ready for real!

Running strong into Mile 9 aid station with my teammate/friend Aprille!

Mile 13 aid station with Sara and feeling the love from my guys!

Mile 20 and enjoying the encouragement from my guys! Blisters are killing at this point!

Mile 22 with Tracy! Almost there!

Coming up to West High School track were the finish is! Almost there!

Running with my coach Sara! She is amazing and helped me run up "the hill" at mile 25.5!

Running for the big finish with my little guys! They rock!

I'm a finisher and Declan wouldn't leave my side! He's such a cute little dirt ball!

FINISHER check in! Team in Training ROCKS!

My awesome teammate, Sue! WE DID IT!

Hiking Mt. Baldy with the boys

2011-06-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

So Ryan and I have been dying to get out and hike Baldy (a little info about it is at the bottom). This is a local mountain that is very popular and a fun hike. We decided that we would see how far we could get with the boys in tow. I really didn't think we would get all the way to the top but once again those boys surprised me! The start was a little rocky with lots of whining and tears, keep in mind that this was about 200 yards from the car! But Ryan and I pushed them on and they really got into it!

This was about half way up and they were doing awesome! After all, Ian was "born to climb", or so he claims.

Almost there and complete with M&M stops!

They boys and I above Eagle River! Amazing and kinda chilly!

Cutie boys!

My guys! Love them!

Amazing views and great family time! One the way back down it was harder on us then going up the mountain. Toward the bottom of the mountain Declan was hitting his legs and saying that his legs were "cranky". Their poor little muscles probably never worked that hard. They were such troopers!

When we got home they wanted to play outside for a little bit and they both hobbled across the cul-de-sac. They are awesome and they continue to amaze me!

Trail Statistics & Information


Activity Type:	Hiking
Nearby City:	Eagle River
Length:	7 total miles
Elevation Gain:	2,700 feet
Trail Type:	Out-and-back
Skill Level:	Moderate; rough trail, alpine tundra
Duration:	4 to 6 hours
Season:	Best in the summer months
Top Elevation:	4,446 feet
Local Contacts:	Chugach State Park

Alyeska with the family

2011-06-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

Before Grandma and Grandpa left we wanted to get them out to Alyeska to hike on the Winner Creek Trail (which we love) and take advantage of the Groupon (also love) we got for the tram. It was a very rainy day but still fun and we learned that gummy bears and mini marshmallows help our boys move on the trail when they start to get tired! It was a 5 mile hike and the boys were champs! I love my little hiker boys!

Diane, Declan, and I up on the mountain in the avalanche zone...yep, it's June!

Ryan's parents in the misty mountains.

My super hiker boys!

The Dall sheep we saw on our way home! So close and so cool!

And this is were we ended our day and ate dinner! Yummy southern BBQ, fried okra, sweet tea, and banana pudding! OH MY!

Three Days Left!

2011-06-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

I'm having a hard time believing that I only have THREE days left before I become a full-fledged Marathon runner! When I look back at were I started this journey. I was really starting out of a way to deal with the grief of loosing a loved one but I have learned through this experience that it doesn't cure the problem! Each one of my teammates have different reasons to run and all of them has become motivators to me. Every Saturday we would have a team run a person would share a "mission moment" and the stories from different people about family/friends/coworkers (both sad and happy) have become my motivation.

Each person that reads this may have a different story from his or her lives and I plan on running for you also! Let me know a person/people's names and I will be glad to represent for you and them! I was thinking of something like this but I guess I'll see how many names I get.

I'm obviously not above stealing an idea from a past Team in Training member and I know that it's as long as we are all working together to find a cure it will be worth it! Thank you for all your support, prayers, and kind words! I'm so grateful that I have been given this opportunity and will continue to keep you all posted with how it goes!

You know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize. So run to win! All those who complete in the games use self- control so they can win a crown. That crown is an earthly thing that only last for a short time, but our crown will never be destroyed. So do not run with out a goal.

1 Corinthians 9:24

My Recent Knitting Projects

2011-06-09T17:14:00.001-07:00

So I've been knitting more lately and these are two of my projects I've finished. I have others but they are gifts and I don't want to ruin the surprise. I'll post after the baby shower!

This one I finished awhile back but just recently bought some buttons for it. I thought it was so cute and am hoping to find a little girl that will fit in it!

These are my first fingerless gloves. A very simple pattern and super quick to knit up! I love yarn on clearance!

Eklutna Lake with Grandma

2011-06-09T16:26:00.000-07:00

I honestly think that this is one of our favorite places to go hiking/hang out lately. The boys call it the beach. It saddens me that this is what they think a beach is like, but until I can prove otherwise it's what we call it.

I'm so glad it was such an amazingly beautiful day! I wish we had a canoe with us to go out on the lake. Maybe next time!

Ian wiggling his toes in the small little patch of sand. He is so my child!

Declan has this love of dogs! I'm sure I've talked about it before but I've been trying to teach him not to just walk up to dogs that don't know him. So this is him introducing himself to this puppy after saying "Owner, can I pet your dog?". This question gets asked a lot if we are around dogs!

Smiling Ian...I love that face!

Once again, the rock throwing commences!

Hiking up the hill to head back to the car.

Mr. Pouty Pants didn't want to leave the "beach"!

Check out my belly! He doesn't like when Ian's upset.

Thunderbird Falls with Grandma

2011-06-09T16:04:00.000-07:00

Keeping the boys busy while the men were on their hunting trip was key! Despite Ian's lack of desire to hike, we did it anyways and by the end he was having a good time. Grandma and he were kept busy by counting all the dogs they saw along the trail.

There is something with water that draws my boys to it and they have to throw something in it! Luckily it was just rocks today!

Grandma and the little hikers!

Yep, that's ice in the end of May! Ian had to make sure that's what it really was. I guess he thinks I lie to him a lot?

Play Date at Eagle River Nature Center

2011-06-09T14:40:00.000-07:00

While the men were on their bear hunt, Grandma got to experience a play date with Rohn, Max, and Max's sister Anabelle. Hiking at the Eagle River Nature Center with five kids under the ages of 6 makes for an interesting day. It was really a beautiful day and I'm so glad we got to get out and enjoy it!

Declan was searching for bears or moose but with the amount of noise we were making I would be surprised if we would see any wild life other than the kids!

Snack break for the mighty hikers!

My two little cheese balls! I love these guys!

Later that day we got to see this nice bull moose from our car. I never get sick of seeing those creatures!

Nice profile!

Grandma and Grandpa's Visit Part 1

2011-06-09T13:11:00.000-07:00

The past two weeks have been filled with exploring, hiking, fishing with Grandma and Grandpa Caldwell and a bear hunting. It was a wonderful visit and we already miss them!

Ian finally got his first archery lesson from Grandpa. He was so excited!

Fishing at Beach Lake with Grandma and Grandpa. I was so glad that they had some amazing weather while the were here!

How could you not want to visit here?! I never get sick of the scenery here!

Grandma and the little fishermen.

The serious fishermen!

And this was the soccer practice Grandma and Grandpa got to witness. Such a stinker!

So Far Behind...Catching up!

2011-06-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

I feel like life has taken over and I haven't been keeping up with the blogging so this is my attempt to get everyone caught up with our lives up here and what we've been up too.

Declan playing dress-up and the indoor play place while Ian's in school.

Ian's school field trip to the zoo to check out the polar bear exhibit. Declan decided he would try to go pet the bear while I was trying to get a picture. No Fear!

Ian, Isaac, Declan and Joseph checking out the wolves that were really interested in them also! The zoo is so amazing during the winter as long as you're dressed for it!

Ian's class had a little Easter party and I couldn't pass up taking a picture of Ian in his bunny ears!

Ian's first bus ride with his buddy Max for a field trip into Anchorage to see the play "Room on The Broom". Such a fun day!

More of Ian's writing from school. I love that he's learning so much!

Ian the veggie man!

My Easter center piece creation.

The Easter egg hunters!

Easter breakfast...pancake bunnies.

Easter kisses!

My boys and I!

Chocolate Easter Bunny pops from the Pearsall's! YUMMY!

Ian's questionnaire about me for Mother's Day. I'm only 15!

The new girl members of our family! This one is Ian's little guinea pig named Skunk. How appropriate!

This is Declan's little guinea pig named Bear. The name creativity my children have is amazing. Hahaha!
Fun at the park with the boys' friend Jacob. Such a gorgeous background to play!

Ian the photo avoid-er was captured by my larger lens up on the hill. Such an amazingly beautiful blue sky!

Ian's first soccer practice. He did awesome!

My little biker boys!

A little rain doesn't stop these boys from playing outside!

Declan is my sushi partner! First avocado now sushi, I knew I liked that kid!

Declan's first soccer practice. He did so well and really had a lot of fun!

Look how little they look. It's so funny to watch and I'm so impressed with the patience of their coach!

Hope you enjoy all the catch up photos and I plan on doing much better at keeping up with the blog so my family and friends far away can see what's up. Have a great one and visit again soon.

One step closer...

2011-06-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

One step closer to race day and I'm feeling more motivated by fear than anything! This journey has been a really good one and I've never looked forward to crossing a finish line so much!! I've learned more about myself than I ever thought possible. I've learned that I'm way harder on myself than I need to be (I'm working on that). I've learned that running is sometimes more about the mental rather than the physical (sometimes!). And finally, it's better to be under trained and healthy than to go in to the event over trained and injured (not sure how many times the coaches said this but it is permanently in my brain).

I'm excited to report that if feel like I'm fairly well trained and healthy! As long as the next 16 days go smoothly race day will come and go, but our fight for a cure will still be there! The more you can help the better! I'm excited to do my part for the fight against leukemia and lymphoma but I couldn't and I still can't without the help of my friends and family. Any little bit helps! I have a link to my fundraising page if you would like to donate online or feel free to send me an email and I will give you my address. Thank to all!

Recycling Musicians

2011-03-27T19:55:00.000-07:00

The other day I was attempting to cook dinner with Declan underfoot as usual and he saw that I pulled out the recycling to take to the garage. Of course he felt the need to dump it and said "I can use this stuff!". I wasn't really sure what he was up too but I knew I should get the camera. I'm so glad I did. He turned over all the cans and began to play the bongos!

He's so fun! And as usually "hey Ian, come here" was shouted. Ian found a bottle and started making music his way before he dropped it and took off when he saw the camera!

Kids have such great imaginations and I love to watch it happen! And I'm glad I clean out my recycling before I put them in the bin!

Ian's Learning

2011-03-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

So, I'm so very proud of how Ian is doing in preschool and I love getting reminders (like this one) about how much he really is learning. He's writing phonetically which is the first step! I love my boy!

"He throws snow balls."

Ryan's Big Project!

2011-03-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

Ryan and I have been looking for a new setup for the playroom/family room because the current one is just a little shabby (not in a chic way either). Apparently I was so embarrassed about the set up this was the only picture I could find with some of the furniture in it. We still have the little table and chairs for coloring and such but the scribbled chest of drawers and pathetic tv stand are GONE GONE GONE!

Ryan found what he wanted in a Pottery Barn Kids catalog and so the search was on in local stores here for the same idea. We found one that kind of fit the bill but it would definitely be "settling" and my mom didn't raise me that way! Ryan felt like he could build it for less than they were asking and we could stain it whatever color we wanted. With two boys that are rough on furniture I was willing to let him do it and the words "less expensive" were music to my ears!

I was a tad apprehensive due to the fact that the last thing I saw him build was this desk that was a little "over built" in my opinion, but what the heck! I didn't know if he would have the time to finish it but boy was I wrong! One thing about my husband that I'm constantly learning is that if he puts his mind to something, he's going to follow through every time! He's so awesome! Ok, that's enough of that. I don't want him getting too full of himself. ; ) Anyways, here was some before the stain look.

With the stain. I got to pick out the color and I'm super pleased with how it came out. I did want it darker but this was a good compromise between Ryan and I. It's very similar to our living room furniture color!

The whole set up just brought in from the garage! I'm so proud! We got a new tv too on killer deal with built in dvd player! It looks a little dwarfed surrounded by the shelves but it's still bigger than what they had before and way more safe!

I have special made bins on order for the upper cubes from etsy.com and I can't wait to get them! I love etsy.com!

The many looks of Declan

2011-03-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

So lately Declan has been really into imaginative play and dressing up in whatever he can find. And "fishing like Grandpa" is a very common past time here in AK!

I had no idea that Grandpa fishes with measuring tapes. ; )

In case you didn't know...he's THREE!

Training Week #8

2011-03-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

This week I have been really enjoying running outside! That says a lot when it's still in the 20's or colder here most of the time! It's the amazing sunshine that I feel so excited about! I didn't realize how much I love sunshine even if it's still cold outside and it's a major mood booster for me lately! I guess that's good considering I ran 15.5 miles this week and a personal best for a 10k (6.2 miles) at 77 minutes! I'm sure for you super speedy running friends of mine that's nothing but for me it is amazing!

The photos for today's post is from my run on Saturday. I'm sure it's some sort of training party foul that I'm taking pictures but I just can't help myself. I'm making it a point to enjoy this training experience instead of being too serious about it. Having fun doesn't mean I'm not trying my hardest, it just means that I am determined to appreciate the beauty of my surrounding and being thankful for every mile I'm able to run!

(along the Glen Hwy. heading toward Ft. Richardson)

(leaving Ft Richardson on Arctic Valley Rd.)

Northern Lights

2011-03-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

So this was from the other night when I saw them but I had to repost this picture just because I think it's so beautiful and I'm so blessed to live in Alaska right now!

Training week #7

2011-03-07T22:31:00.000-08:00

I can not believe I've been doing this for seven weeks already! I know I've come a long way but I still have a hard time calling myself a runner. I have noticed that if I don't run I get a little antsy! I guess that's a good thing considering that I'm due to run a marathon in June! With more running comes some different issues. I'm learning how to dress for a run in icy, snowy, and freezing weather. I'm learning that if you don't start out with hot water in your water bottles when it's 0 degrees then when you need that drink it will be frozen! I'm learning that it does matter what you eat and drink before a run. It's amazing what you learn about yourself when you're running!

It's amazing how a team seems to keep me going strong especially on the longer runs! This includes my friends and family that have been a constant encouragement on my posts and Facebook! Speaking of long runs...I surpassed my previous record of longest run this past Saturday! I ran just under 8 miles and I didn't die! It shouldn't amaze me still, but I am every time! It's such an awesome feeling!

The 2011 Iditarod in Willow, AK

2011-03-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we decided to check out the start of the Iditarod in Willow, AK for the first time since we got here. It is quite an event and something we just had to experience! I'm so glad it was an amazingly beautiful day and warm for this time of year (27 degrees!).

It was quite a hike from the car to the starting point of the race so we opted for the sled for the boys. They loved it! Made for much less whining!

The characters there were fun to watch! Check out the guy behind me with the fur hat! I'm sure the anti-fur people would have had a nervous break down here! And check out the next picture! That is what I thought was Chewbacca but it's just some guy in a fur suit! Oh Alaska!

Of course...the dogs!

Riding in style. The limo of snow machines.

This was the only musher I could get a good picture of. It's #3 Ray Redington Jr. from Wasilla AK. He's currently in 6th place.

They boys squeezed a spot to watch the mushers go by.

Did I mention that this is all taking place on a giant frozen lake! I think that's so cool!

Nothing like some hot dogs to make the day even better for the boys!

The mountains of snow in the parking lot were totally irresistible to the boys!

Gorgeous mountain view on the amazingly clear day! BEAUTIFUL!

Eagles in Eagle River, AK

2011-03-06T11:33:00.000-08:00

So we were leaving Eagle River (where we live) to go watch the start of the Iditarod yesterday and at the VFW they had been feeding the eagles and WOW was it a sight! I'm pretty sure there were about 50 or so of them! I love the eagles here and like the mountains, I never get sick of seeing them! I finally had the good camera with me when I saw them and we stopped to get some pictures! Such beauty and power in a bird!

Training Week #6

2011-03-01T18:02:00.002-08:00

This week, to be honest, did not go as planned. One of my coaches recently lost part of his family to Burkitt's Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (I'll include some info on this if you're curious) and I didn't think it would affect me the way it did. For those of you that don't know, we lost my step-dad almost a year ago to this same disease and it's amazing how a simple email to share with the team about her story can still effect me so. The lost feels so recent yet so long ago. I'm blessed to know that he's in a place with no sickness and no pain! I know I'll see him again someday, but until then I will live my life in a way that would make him proud!

On a more uplifting subject, I am that much closer to the halfway mark in my fund raising! That means that if I can raise $470 more by March 19 I get a really nice Alaska Team In Training hooded sweatshirt! I am so grateful for those who have already helped me on this journey and those of you who are planning one help me reach this awesome milestone in the upcoming weeks! You are all appreciated! I'm just really having a lot of fun with this training and really excited about this summer! Thanks for your support!

Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Burkitt's
Burkitt's lymphoma is a very fast-growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma that originates from B lymphocytes. Burkitt's lymphoma can develop at any age, but it is most common in children and young adults, particularly males. Unlike other lymphomas, Burkitt's lymphoma has a specific geographic distribution: It is most common in central Africa and rare in the United States. Infection with Epstein-Barr virus is associated with Burkitt's lymphoma.
Burkitt's lymphoma grows and spreads quickly, often to the bone marrow, blood, and central nervous system. When it spreads, weakness and fatigue often develop. Large numbers of lymphoma cells may accumulate in the lymph nodes and organs of the abdomen, causing swelling. To make the diagnosis, doctors do a biopsy of the abnormal tissue and order procedures to stage the disease.
Without treatment, Burkitt's lymphoma is rapidly fatal. Intensive chemotherapy, which includes chemotherapy to the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord to prevent spread to these areas, can cure 70 to 80% of people.

Fun with the boys!

2011-03-01T18:02:00.001-08:00

I feel bad about slacking on the blogging lately but we really haven't been up to much lately. Most days I'm really happy to make it through without anybody killing someone! Cabin fever has been a bit of an issue if we stay home more than two days in a row. I'm very thankful for the abundance of indoor play grounds up here! I am also thankful that the temps have been a little warmer (I'm talking above 10 degrees) so we have been able to do some xc skiing too!

School has been a big focus for us. Ian is doing amazingly and Declan can't wait to go! We do workbook stuff at home and it seems like we are reading a lot more, which is awesome! We purchased an egg from Michael's the other day and it was to sit in water for 48 hrs and see what would hatch! Ian was so excited and watched it intensely! It was really slimy and weird when it was fully hatched but Ian didn't seem to care. I love having kids!

The boys decided to make things with my canning jars since I wasn't using them at this moment. They put something different each one and built towers with them...

Used them as musical instruments...

And they made awesome monster sounds when they growled into them! These boys are so much fun!

Dry erase markers are a wonderful thing in our house! Ian is practicing writing his name and Declan's name. I love how these things are getting easier and easier for him!

This was him writing his "doctor list". Apparently he already knows that doctors' writing is illegible.
And one last funny! My little ham or Captain America...JUST LIKE DADDY!

Training week #5

2011-02-22T11:22:00.000-08:00

So this was week five in our training and it was absolutely beautiful! We got at least 6 more inches of snow so it made our run on Saturday a little challenging, but it was so worth it! Granted, I ended up walking more that running simply because I kept twisting my ankle on the snowy trail. It was still better than running on the treadmill and way more exciting! I took some pictures with my phone since I was walking most of it and I'm so glad I did. The above is a picture along the Bootleggers Cove and that is totally ice! It was amazingly breathtaking!

As far as my mileage this week was just short of 10 miles even and I'm looking forward to upping that soon! I believe the slow gain of sunshine is helping with that! I'm really looking forward to running more outside and less on the treadmill!

OK, back to the exciting run on Saturday, we had some excitement when we ran right past a resting moose right off the trail and then as we were heading back to the lagoon we ran into another one right on the trail!

Just one of the trials of trail running in Alaska! I love this place! It is cold, it is a little on the dark side sometimes, and I definitely haven't been this pale in a long time but it is all worth while! The views, the animals, and amazing people make it all worth it! By the way, did I mention that I'm becoming a runner! Bring on the run!

Training week #4

2011-02-16T10:50:00.000-08:00

I know this isn't me but I wanted to give you an idea of what it looks like when running outside here! This is my fourth week of training and it was much better than last week. It's amazing how easily life can get in the way if you let it. I logged about 11 miles this week and I'm learning that the main battle is definitely in my head (as on of my lovely coaches has told us).

Saturday was one of my proudest moments! When you never really consider yourself a runner, distances can be really intimidating! I have be rather consistent on the treadmill running about 3 miles in 30 minutes but this past Saturday was our group run. Group runs are really important for me since I don't really get a chance to run outside until we get a little more sun in the evening. Anyways, Saturday I ran almost 5 miles in 50 minutes! This might not sound like much if you are a runner, but it's the most I've ever ran at one time...EVER!

Now that you understand the craziness that is this goal of mine, running 26.2 miles may sound crazy but I feel more confident today than I did yesterday! Each day is something new I'm learning about myself and truly learning to stick with my training or more importantly not making excuses to get out of running! Whether it's running or eating better or even being less negative, no matter what your goal is sometimes we need to learn that sticking to it is half the battle.

Ian's Birthday/Super Bowl XLV

2011-02-16T10:49:00.000-08:00

So we all know how this day turned out for our Steelers and it's taken me this long to get over it and enough emotional strength to post again. hahaha! Just kidding, I've just been a little busy as usual so I apologize for the delay. Even if our team didn't win it was still fun to watch and looking forward to next season! Ian had a sweets fill birthday with presents and friends and he seemed to be pretty happy with the day!

Ian's first present of the day was from Nana and Uncle Andrew! He was super excited with it, can't you tell.

Yummy Smiley cookies from my wonderful friend Erin! She's so awesome to think of us!

The birthday/Steelers table before more food came and filled up that table!

I did cupcakes for Ian's class and used a couple for his day too.

And the presents from Grandma and Grandpa begin.

Flies made by Grandpa, of course!

And Ian's first bow! Brace yourself! Now locked safely away in my closet until hell freezes over! hahaha! Just kidding, just until Ryan can supervise him in a year or too. ; )

Training Week # 3

2011-02-08T12:13:00.000-08:00

So this week was tough since I was fighting a chest cold and the fact that my first born turned 5 years old on Sunday! This birthday thing included a lot of pizza and cake and stuff that really doesn't make you feel like going for a run, but Ian had a great birthday and that's what really mattered this past week! Running basically took a back seat but now is the time to get back to reality! My mileage for last week was just over a whopping 7 miles and I'm ready to move to the next week!

I've found that when I go a day or two now without running I feel it, both physically and emotionally. Those endorphins are a wonderful thing and I look forward to them before every run! When I was running in Georgia for my first 5K, I don't remember this feeling as much. I also was training by myself and really the only other runner I hung out with was my husband, Ryan. As much as I love him and how supportive he is of me, it's not the same. I have quite a few friends through my church that are runners and now this whole team of people training for one goal! We each have our own reasons for doing this but it's important non-the-less! It's amazing how motivating that can be!

Ian's 5th Birthday (part 1)

2011-02-05T22:40:00.000-08:00

After months and months of begging, Ryan and I gave in to the will of Ian and he had his birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. We survived, I was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly it went! Besides Ian being traumatized by Chuck E. and the loud singing I would say it was a success.

This was before Ian realized that "the mouse" was right by him and the freak out ensued!

Declan, the brave guy he is took one for his brother in the Ticket Blaster!

Food...Yum!

2011-02-05T22:11:00.000-08:00

Last week my friend Cherie was talking about this really easy chicken and dumplings recipe she tried and how good it was. After that conversation I couldn't get it out of my head so I got the recipe and away we went! I was planning on taking pictures when it was done cooking but I was so ready to dig in, you just get pictures of the leftovers. It was super yummy!

And for desert I busted out some Chocolate Raspberry cupcakes. I love food! And I have no recipe for this because it came from a box!

And last but not least, a tribute to my beloved Primanti Bros. Best we can do in AK, but it worked for me! And the Steelers are one step closer to that 7th Super Bowl ring! Here we go Steelers here we go!

Fun Creations

2011-02-05T21:45:00.000-08:00

So the other day the boys were playing oh so nicely in the playroom and I was enjoying some peace for that brief moment! This doesn't happen very often so I began to wonder. The next thing I knew they both were running into the living room to show me what they created. Ian got Trio Blocks for Christmas and they have been really into building stuff lately! The pride on their faces was priceless! I love these boys!

My Team in Training Update

2011-01-31T11:55:00.000-08:00

I have completed my second week of training for the Mayor's Marathon in June and I'm still thinking that I'm a little crazy for taking this on! I am completely proud of my motivation because I have people that have already sponsored this endeavor! Words can not express how grateful I am for that motivation!

Last week we had our Kick-off party and got to meet all my team mates from the area as well as our special honored team mate! Seana is an amazing 16 year old with Leukemia and just another inspiration for raising money to fight for a cure against this horrible disease. She has made it her personal goal to encourage and cheer up the nurses and doctors that she meets on each hospital visit. If only we could all have such a positive outlook while going through such a tough time.

We also had our first Team Run on Saturday and I was so nervous. Nothing like working yourself for no reason! It was a wonderful experience and I'm so looking forward to the amazing support from the coaches, team mates, and friends who signed up with me! This was my first run outside in the snow and it was much less intimidating than I had made it in my head, just a little cold! : )

Most of you know that my step-dad lost his fight with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma last year and I would love for my children to grown up to see a cure for all cancers, God willing! We all have something on our hearts that motivate us and we find worth fighting for and this is one of mine! Any support either in the form of a positive word, a prayer, or financial support I will be grateful! Help me fight this, one mile at a time! Thanks for checking in with me and I'll continue to keep you all updated with my progress. JUST KEEP RUNNING!

Skiing Kincaid and Russian Jack

2011-01-23T12:13:00.000-08:00

So, I found these on our other camera this morning. This was our second attempt at taking the boys our skiing. Keep in mind that it was maybe 7 degrees outside without the wind chill and we should have just found something inside to do. But we so wanted to take advantage of Ryan's day off!

It was beautifully clear, check out Sleeping Lady! So gorgeous!

Declan was his normal self, pushing through the cold and skiing with daddy!

Ian on the other hand was not that easy going! Thank God only one of them have a meltdown at a time! But this is how Ian spent most of this outing and then continued to have a fit in the van. Talk about trying my patience!

Yesterday was very, very different and quite a success if I do say so myself. First off, the temperature was about 27, which is significantly warmer than the past two ski outings with the boys. Secondly, we did snacks before we went out rather than after. Last but not least, the promise of sledding after we were done skiing was rather a good one! Thank goodness!

Declan was a trooper as usual. I think he skies better than I do with no poles! But when he's done, he really enjoys falling on purpose and trying to teach them to get up on their own is trying, to say the least!

Ian's still trying to get the hang of getting up on his own, but at least he's happy doing it this time!

Even if we stop for a minute, Declan will just keep going. This time he was waiting for us. Such a sweet boy.

Since I got a good video of Declan the first time I figured I'd try to get one of Ian this time. He was in such a good mood and enjoying himself! Of course, Declan has to ask his usual question of every place we go! Enjoy!

My Crazy Boys!

2011-01-23T11:20:00.000-08:00

Just another day with my crazy boys! I love being a mom to these boys. They are definitely not lacking in the personality department!

Mr. Muscle Man showing off his "tattoos" just like Uncle Zach. He told me he's a man now that he has tattoos. So what does that mean for your dad, he doesn't have any? hahaha!

The next think I know they bust into a yoga routine. Downward facing dog for Declan.

Cobra pose for Ian. Actually they were just playing around but it still reminded me of yoga they have seen me do a couple of times.

And when I need a little peace, this is what I go to! I love that this is my backyard! PEACE!

Fresh Snow!

2011-01-22T20:41:00.000-08:00

Friday we got some fresh snow and the boys were thrilled that it was above 0 degrees and that I was willing to let them play outside! My boys are definitely outside boys! They played around while I shoveled the driveway and then Declan wanted to go for a walk.

Ian on the other didn't like that idea. I had planned on taking them to the playground down the street anyways to it worked for me and Ian fought me the whole way!

When I say fought, I'm talkin full on temper tantrum in the snow bank fighting! But I love him!

Declan was so not caring that Ian didn't want to go. I think he would have gone without either of us if he could get away with it!

The swings started to change his attitude and a large amount of prayer on my part!

We ended up having a lot of fun and staying until someone had to go potty! It was so much fun to hang out with the boys and be outside! Thank God for fresh air above 0!

Trip down memory lane...

2011-01-18T11:17:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that Ian's about to be 5 years old and I'm really missing those fun times with him. I have no idea what the next year holds for him but I know that no matter what, he will always be my baby! I just thought I would share some "little Ian" videos. Hope you like them.

My Dad's Bday Present!

2011-01-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

So today was the first step. I had my first meeting with the Team In Training group and I'm excited! I'm going to be running the Mayor's Marathon in Anchorage, AK this June 18th! It's a big step of faith on my part! I am running in memory of my step-dad (Glenn LaMarca) and I feel very strong about doing what I can to honor him! I just hope I can make him as proud as I was to have him as my dad!

I'm going to be training with a amazing group of women from my church. Strength in numbers is what I'm thinking! I have my very own website for fund raising, so if you feel like supporting me or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society please do so here. I will be keeping you all posted on my training process and progress.

More Knitting

2011-01-11T11:25:00.000-08:00

So, I've been taking full advantage of my new Harmony Wood Knitting Needles I received for Christmas from my in-laws (which I love love love! Thank you guys!). I completed my first dishcloth of the new year and am working on two other projects. One is the crimson friendship shawl that I had been wanting to do forever, but because it takes concentration without interruptions I've been putting it off. I know that's hard to believe. The other night I decided to take a crack at it and only work on it after the boys go to bed. So far so good!

Lastly, I'm working on my first felted project. I'm actually winging it here! I'm just doing a straight knitted, mindless thing here and I'm just hoping it turns into something that I can use. I'm hoping for some sort of bag, we'll see. I'm actually excited to see how it turns out and this is something I can work on and not worry about having to set it down to break up a fight or anything else that my crazy boys come up.

I'm truely enjoying knitting more and more everyday! I have such a desire to be creative and this is working for me now! Love it! Have a great day!

Bee Hunters and Other Fun Stuff

2011-01-11T11:14:00.000-08:00

Declan is definitely more into pretending than I remember Ian being into and his favorite accessories are straight from the kitchen. This day he was a "bee hunter"! To see how his brain works would be amazing and probably frightening at the same time! Nothing like trying to clean and be productive when you have such a creative child to distract you.

After he was done he decided to help me clean! If only I could get this much cooperation with the picking up of their toys!

Ian saw us having "so much fun" cleaning that he needed to be a part of it too! I'm telling you, this is such a freak act of cleanliness that I am so glad that I took pictures to prove it actually happened and it wasn't just a dream I had!

And this is the scene when it's time to put jammies on! Any given day it varies who is doing what but this particular night it was Ian the muscle man and Declan as Mr. Whiney Pants.

Hangin Out with my Boys

2011-01-11T11:08:00.000-08:00

The boys and I needed to do something so I decided to make rice crispy treats with a twist. The boys were so into it! I just wish I would have taken more pictures.

Declan wasn't terribly thrilled with patting it down in the pan but Ian was all about it! Just an excuse to get stuff on his hands he could eat off!

Declan kept trying to pick out the berries. Fun stuff!

This was our creation and the twist was making it with this cereal rather than the old fashioned rice crispy cereal. The berries made it very yummy, but a little sweet for me. I think I'll try a peanut butter version next time we use this cereal. Still yummy!

I just had to add this picture of our nightly double piggy back ride up the stairs to bed. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to do this. They are getting a little heavy for this! I totally can't believe how big they are getting!

not missing much!

2011-01-11T10:55:00.000-08:00

So since the new year we haven't done a whole lot of exciting things but I felt some pressure to put up some pictures of the beloved grandchildren! It amazes me how well they are starting to play together. And I just noticed that at least Ryan was on the treadmill doing something productive! Good for him! Love you sweetie!

As we were putting the Christmas decorations away we found the "Krabby Patties" the Santa was suppose to put in the stockings. Dang Santa and his memory! Apparently they still taste just as good not from the stocking. I find it funny that Ian isn't actually eating them in this picture but just hugging the box. Such a cute kid!

I came downstairs one morning and Declan had gotten up earlier than everyone else and this is what he was doing. Just hangin out playing with his fire station, fire truck, and fire fighter hat. He is such a independent little guy and really growing up so quick! Where is my baby?!!!

Rosetta Stone Homeschool — you can WIN a Level 1 Homeschool program

2011-01-07T16:47:00.000-08:00

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Spikey Boys

2010-12-27T23:34:00.000-08:00

The boys got hair cuts yesterday and they opted for the spikey do. They loved it! Declan kept saying he was a triceratops and head butting everything. He's such a trip! I love these kids!

Fans

2010-12-27T23:30:00.000-08:00

Two of my very handsome/serious Steelers fans! Thank you Tony and Elise (and the kids) for the jerseys, they are awesome!

Frosty Alaska

2010-12-27T23:10:00.000-08:00

With all the East getting smacked with snow we are getting very little snow (for us) but the below 0 temps have made things very frosty. I popped out for a little bit to drive around and check out the mountains/stare in awe of God's creation. I love living here! It really makes me realize how small I am!

I love how the heaviness of the snow causes the birch trees to bend. It just amazes me.

This is just above where I live and you can see the line from where the sun actually shines and where it doesn't. By the way, it's like 3pm when I took these pictures. I'm so glad the darkness doesn't bother me, but I really could use a healthy dose of Hawaii!

Merry Christmas From the Caldwell's

2010-12-26T20:59:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from Alaska! This was our first Christmas in Alaska with solely the four of us and no other family. It was actually a little weird for me since I'm so use to the craziness of the LaMarca family Christmas Eve extravaganza and then opening presents on Christmas morning at my parents' house and then traveling to Ryan's family's house. The busyness of this season is something that I missed but at the same time it was really peaceful to spend time with just us and then later with friends for dinner. The boys had so much fun and really loved all their gifts. Thank you all who sent love and gifts to us in the freezey north and we have been greatly blessed this year!

Our beautiful Christmas tree that we finally took out of the box after purchasing it 3 years ago! It was well worth braving the day after Christmas sale at Target all those years ago!

Presents!

Christmas eve Ian made sure we left cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer! The next morning we found a letter from Santa sealed with Santa's wax seal.

Ian and Declan both got their Pillow Pets that I really didn't want to deal with but they separately picked them out for each other. How could I say no to that?

It was a very Lego Christmas at this house and I'm sure I will regret that in a few days.

Cabelas' fun action sets from Grandma and Grandpa. Ryan enjoyed them just as much as the boys did. You'll see proof of this later.

Space station for Ian and fire station for Declan from Nana and Uncle Andrew.

Hunter Dan from Cabelas' set up by Ryan.

Lovin the space shuttle!

Future "fire fighter man" as he puts it.

Uncle Zach got us all gifts from the different countries he visited and Ryan had a little fun with Hunter Dan and Ian's elephant.

One more Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy Birthday Jesus from those of us at Fort Rich, Alaska!

Fun with Ian

2010-12-23T13:19:00.000-08:00

So last week I finally had my hair done and came home to a very startled Ian. I decided to go much darker than usual and Ian just kept staring at me. He also said I look like "Baylee's mom" cause she has dark hair too. But when I was trying to take a picture of the new do Ian was all about being in it! He's so fun and I love him and my new dark hair!

Ian's growing up!

2010-12-23T13:12:00.000-08:00

So the other day Ian was wanting to read one of his Christmas book so the obvious choice was to sit under the tree to read. He's so stinkin cute! I'm so proud of him and the little guy he's becoming.

The other day Ryan and I were in the kitchen and Ian comes running in as proud as he could be and said "look what I wrote!" He's getting so big and I can hardly believe it. One proud momma here!

First time XC skiing with the kids!

2010-12-23T11:21:00.000-08:00

I just have to say that I'm so proud of my boys! (In case you didn't know that yet.) Ryan has been xc skiing for years and I'm still learning but we both love it and really wanted to share that with the boys. We decided to use some of the Christmas money for some new skis for the both of them. The excitement at the REI as we picked them out was so fun to see! Better to get them started sooner rather than later. They did better than Ryan and I could ever imagine for the first time on skis! The excitement was bursting from them, oh wait, that was Ian whining about EVERYTHING! Once we got to Beach Lake in Chugiak they were ready to go!

Declan waiting for us to figure out how to adjust his skis. He didn't seem to mind.

Once those skis were on them there was no stopping them unless they took a spill.

He started out with his poles but they were too distracting so we left them in the van.

Once again, Declan was eating snow. I'm not sure why he likes it so, but he does.

Declan's first spill on the skis!

And I had to do some movies of them. I couldn't get in front of Ian without ditching Declan so I will try again next time. Hope you enjoy!

Cookin' up a storm!

2010-12-17T13:45:00.000-08:00

I have been really loving the cooking thing lately, mostly things that aren't a real meal but non the less it's fun. I received this recipe from my friend Laura and I just needed to try it out! Brace you're self...Carrot Cake Jam! For someone who loves loves loves carrot cake this was a given! I'll add the recipe at the end so you can try it too.

Guess who is getting some jam for Christmas! Feel the love my friends!

Can you see the yumminess in there! Oh my goodness! What is jam without some fresh baked bread, oh yes I did!

Courtesy of my mother-in-law and the New York Times I made this No-Knead bread (recipe also at end). I made it with whole wheat flour instead of white flour and it was fabulous!

This would be really great with some hearty soup or something like that but since it's 10am I'm going for some of that delicious carrot cake jam!

Warm bread and fresh jam, how could I resist taking a bite before I photographed it. Such is life.

It's almost that time so I figured I would post another picture of the advent calendar of love from Grandma-in-law! The excitement of it all is so much fun ad I can't wait till Christmas morning when the boys come downstairs and spending time with friends! I can't wait!

Carrot Cake Jam

1 ½ cups finely grated peeled carrots (4-5)

1 ½ cups chopped cored peeled pears, very ripe (about 3-4)

1 ¾ cups canned crushed pineapple

½ cup shredded coconut, sweetened

3 Tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground nutmeg

¼ tsp ground cloves

1 package of regular powered fruit pectin

5 cups of sugar

1. Prepare canner, jars and lids.

2. In a large, deep stainless steel saucepan, combine carrots, pears, coconut, pineapple, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat, cover and boil gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and whisk in pectin until dissolved. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently. Add sugar all at once and return to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil hard, stirring constantly for one minute. Remove from heat and skim off foam.

3. Ladle jam into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Remove air bubbles and adjust head space, if necessary , by adding hot jam. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to finger tip tight.

Place jars in canner, ensuring they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil and process for 10 minutes. Wait 5 minutes, then remove jars, cool and store.

Yield: 7- 6oz jars.

No-Knead Bread (found in the NY Times)

Adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery
Time: About 1½ hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.

cold day in...

2010-12-17T13:02:00.000-08:00

So yesterday was a very cold day for us here in Alaska! While I was out and about trying to wrap up some last minute Christmas stuff I looked down and noticed the temp outside was COLD!

This isn't the best picture but if you can look closely you can see the moon over the mountains. This place never ceses to take my breath away! Beautiful!

And once again I looked down and discovered that it was even colder! At this point it was about 2:45 in the afternoon and it was definately not warming up.

I took the boys to get their hair cut but ended up sitting in the car for a hour while they took a nap. When we got home it was even colder. I'm just thankful we aren't stationed in Fairbanks, where it's been -20's and -30's! CRAZINESS!

And no matter how cold it is there is still more cool things just around the corner! I love it!

Ian's School Christmas Party

2010-12-17T12:13:00.000-08:00

Ian had his Christmas party at school and it was so much fun but I was too busy helping the kids make bird feeders to take pictures until the class did there little caroling part. These are the bird feeders we hung up on our back deck. It's so freaking cold I don't know if any birds would even bother but I guess we will see.

Anyways, back to the Christmas party. Let me tell you, I did all that I could to not bust out laughing! Oh, that would be my kid alright! Sorry if it's not the steadiest video in the world but I had to move to get a clear picture of Ian. Who is this kid? This would be the same kid that cried when my friend and her daughter sang "Happy Birthday" to him in the mall two years ago!

First Ski For Me

2010-12-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

I finally got a babysitter last weekend and we got to go out, just the two of us! It was awesome because Ryan has been going skiing by himself and I would stay home with the kids. So this was my first ski outing of the season and it was the perfect day! There is something about being outside here that is truly amazing to me! It is truly a winter wonderland here!

The Beauty of Alaska!

2010-12-13T13:07:00.000-08:00

My neighborhood is in that lovely strip of fog there. Regaurdless, it's still amazing here!

Little computer nerds

2010-12-13T12:51:00.000-08:00

I love my boys, obviously, but my husband's genes are strong in these two! The computer madness has started and I'm slowly loosing my computer to my children! I do love that they are interested in learning new things and I just pray that they continue that desire for the rest of their lives! We are so blessed!

Wants for Christmas that Santa won't bring!

2010-12-12T23:28:00.000-08:00

While Ian was in school Declan and I took a leisurely stroll around Walmart terrorizing the toy department like those Walmart employees love so much (sorry Elise). He is so about motorcycles and this little thing would never be purchased by myself but what's the harm in letting him try it out, right?

He just happened to find a dirt bike helmet too! At least he knows how to be safe! He's so fun!

Decorating Cookies!

2010-12-12T22:58:00.000-08:00

YEAH FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!! The other day we had our friend Rose and her kids (Baylee and Jack) over for some Christmas fun! I made some sugar cookies and the kids went to town decorating them. It was seriously so much fun and the kids did such a good job! I didn't know that it was possible but I'm totally loving Christmas so much more with the kids getting older. They're into doing fun stuff like decorating cookies or making ornaments which I love love love!

SUGAR!!!!!!!!!!

Declan's masterpiece, partially eaten of course.

Baylee's lovely cookie art.

I love Baylee's face here! She cracks me up! She has a hard time keeping her eyes open for pictures so she opens her eyes as far as she can get them and it is hilarious!

This takes some serious concentration!

Ian's seriously iced cookies! Beautiful!

I know we are a little farther along now but I just wanted to show some love to my Grandmother-in-law that made this lovely advent calendar for me! She is awesome, such a blessing, and I love her! Thanks Mary!

Declan's Big 3rd Birthday!

2010-11-29T11:50:00.000-08:00

First off, Ryan had been joking with me about how I was "in denial" of my baby turning 3 and now that its been a little while, I realized that I totally was. Does my husband know me or what! It just makes me so happy to see Declan growing into a healthy and happy little boy, but it's definitely true that he is just no longer my baby (as he repeatedly tells me). So, now that I'm at least recognizing my issues, I can post about his day! It was mellow and in upholding our traditions of not having a full on birthday party until they turn 4, we just had a day to do what Declan wanted to do. We went to church, where he officially got to be in the "big kids class/Ian's class" and for lunch he chose McDonald's (surprise, surprise). Ryan asked him what kind of cake he would like, and he decided without a second thought mind you, "chocolate cake with chocolate icing and a motorcycle on top!". This kid totally knows what he wants most of the time, it's impressive for a 3 yr old! Then we asked what he would like for dinner, and he said "pasta with sauce and meatballs". Is this my kid or what! He is such a sweet boy, and I'm just so blessed that I have him in my life!

The birthday table before the fun started.

The requested birthday cake! Yum!

Getting ready to eat dinner! I just love Declan's face here! hahaha

Ian had totally been such a sweet big brother all day! Over and over reminding Declan that it was his birthday and just getting him pumped about it. So stinkin cute!

YUMMMY CHOCOLATE ICING!

A little birthday hug after we sang "Happy Birthday" to Declan.

Chocolate high smile before opening presents.

Remote control motorcycle from Ian.

Fire truck for my little fireman to be!

Stinky the garbage truck.

Toy Story 3 Color Wonder color set from Nina and Uncle Andrew.

Toy Story 3 book from mom and dad.

Declan picked out "Santa Paws" for the movie of the evening, and we all cuddled on the couch to watch it. I don't recommend it, but Declan enjoyed it, and that's all that matters I suppose.

All in all, it was a great day, and I think Declan really enjoyed being able to make all the major choices for the day. They are growing up so quickly, and I just hope I don't take for granted these early years of complete cuteness!

Black Friday, not so crazy

2010-11-27T11:32:00.000-08:00

This morning was so gorgeous! It snowed all day yesterday and we got about 5 inches of snow that covered up all that crazy, dirty ice that we had. Just another thing to be thankful for!

After a purely lazy morning I decided today is the day to decorate! YIPPIE! I have been so excited to actually get to decorate for Christmas this year, since we will be staying up here this year. We've had a full size Chrismas tree for 3 years and this is the first time we are pulling it out of the box. Thank God it works! I love Target and all but I don't think their return policy extends that far!!

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-27T10:31:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving turned out to be an amazing success, if I do say so myself. I know, modesty, but I was so freaking out about this that I was up at 3am just cause I couldn't turn the brain off! I made decorations with the boys. Ok, well, Ian helped for about 30 seconds and then I did the rest. Maybe next year they will be feeling more creative or atleast willing to do craft projects with me. The 20.5 lb turkey was beautiful and done! I made 5 cheese mac and cheese, homemade cornbread and sausage stuffing, braised fingerling potatoes with rosemary, cranberry/pomegranate sauce, whiskey-glazed carrots, ginger snaps, pumpkin pie, and apple tart. Jackie brought super yummy sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and toll house pie! We were quite gluttonous and I loved every minute of it! It is truly killing me though, that we didn't get any pictures of the food or decorations or our guests! You all will just have to take my word for it. What the heck was I thinking? But I did get a picture of Declan and his busyness while the grownups were still sitting around the table talking. I can't complain, since he wasn't whining or hurting anyone. He was just making an enormous mess and loving every minute of it!

I am so very thankful for my family (both near and far) and friends to make this Thanksgiving wonderful! We are truly blessed beyond belief and I'm striving to remember this everyday!

Canning Salsa

2010-11-27T09:55:00.000-08:00

So I was feeling my domestic diva coming out the other day when I tried my hand at canning for the first time. I made some salsa trying to recreate my beloved Giant Eagle salsa with cilantro! I'm not joking, that stuff is amazing and I have yet to find its replacement, but mine comes pretty close (if I do say so myself). So needless to say, I made a double batch and canned some of it. I was a little nervous since I didn't know if I was going to be able to eat that much salsa if it didn't work out, but it was a risk I was willing to take! It worked and I was shocked at how easy it was. What was I so afraid of? I will definitely be canning again and I'm so looking forward to it. Now, just deciding what to make next is the big question.

Four lovely jars of deliciousness!

Oh, I forgot about the 5th jar, that we busted into last night with dinner! So yummy!

Can you see the cilantro? I love it and I piled it in! I made this batch more on the mild side so the boys would be willing to eat it, but I will definitely bring the fire in the next batch!

More pictures...

2010-11-27T09:27:00.000-08:00

I was so pleased with how Ian's pictures turned out I emailed Allie Litterer to see if she could actually do some for Declan too! Luckily she was doing a makeup sessions for the kids that missed school that day and was more than willing to include us in that session too! Declan was a little excited when we got to her house and I was wondering if he was going to cooperate with her but it ended up turning out great! Declan is also wearing a sweater that Ryan's Grandma made for Ian when we lived in GA and it was never the right weather for it before he grew out of it! Thank God it worked perfectly for Declan now!

This picture of the two of them was unplanned! Ian was just being a good big brother and showing Declan how to lay on his tummy and she caught it beautifully! The last time we had pictures done and the both of them cooperated seems like forever ago! I can hardly believe how quickly they are growing up!

Ian's first school pictures!

2010-11-27T09:10:00.000-08:00

We recently had an opportunity to get Ian's school pictures taken. Needless to say, I was very doubtful that they would turn out because of how uncooperative he tends to be around a camera. I guess that's just for me! When we got the proofs I was more than overjoyed by what I saw! The photographer, Allie Litterer, was amazing! She handled the kids amazingly and was so interactive with them and not just focused on getting the posed shot! For Ian's first school pictures, I couldn't have asked for anything better! Thank you so much Allie!

Oh Declan...

2010-11-26T23:31:00.000-08:00

For those that don't know, Declan is going to be three years old on the 28th and, well, he is a bit of a stinker! He's sneaky! I could be in the same room and he will do something that other kids just wouldn't think of. He is the tester of patience and the pusher of buttons! I love him more than words can express! Thank you GOD he wasn't twins!

Some how Declan got into my makeup and found a rather dark plum eyeshadow that I forgot I even had. He, being the mischievous little guy he is, decided to put some on. Obviously he hasn't watched me do my makeup enough to know that eyeshadow does not get applied as a Hitler mustache! I love this kid! How can you get mad at this? God definitely knew what He was doing when He made Declan so stinkin cute!

First Sledding of the Season

2010-11-15T21:12:00.000-08:00

We decided to take advantage of some of the snow and take the boys sledding for the first time. When I say "for the first time" I'm referring to really going to a big hill just to sled, not just sledding down the driveway like they've been doing since last winter! Ian was so excited the whole way there and then he saw the hill when we got there. He was not having it! Declan on the other hand was so excited but would only go down the hill with Ryan or I until the very end. It was so much fun and eventually we talked Ian into trying it and he was all about it after that! I see a lot more sledding in our future!

Ian was totally going down the hill by himself after going once with Ryan! He was lovin it!

I love that he carries his sled back up the hill like this. Like a seasoned pro!

Declan decided to try it by himself and it was too funny!

He decided to bail before he even reached the bottom!

I had to include a video of the boys going down the hill together! I love that they are really becoming great friends! Oh, and don't be surprised at the obnoxious laugh at the end of the video either!

Still practicing!

2010-11-15T19:49:00.000-08:00

I kinda got behind in my last KAL (knit a long) so this one made up for it. I still have to finish my Halloween one but I will get to that later (story of my life). I really need to start on something more useful like a hat or something but I haven't found the motivation or quiet time just yet. I just thought this little guy was so cute and super fun to see it come alive as each row is knitted!

OMSH in Winter Wonder Land!

2010-11-09T12:00:00.000-08:00

I love doing stuff outside with the boys and ever since I did a "Flat Stanly" project with my friend Jackie for her niece I have loved the idea. When I came across this while I was checking out recipes I had to do it! I love showing people the beauty of Alaska and involving the boys as much as possible. Any time coloring something and going somewhere is involved, the boys are all about it! So this was our adventure while Ryan had to work on Saturday! I wish he could have been there, but one must keep the crazies busy regardless of who is in attendance! It makes for good night sleeps!

Welcome to Eagle River Nature Center and my love of taking pictures with signs! haha
My little monsters in full effect with the OMSH monsters they colored.

Gorgeous! My pictures can't even begin to show you the amazing beauty of this place! I'm still learning to take decent pics!

The Chugach Mountains sign! I love the Ian is starting to try to read all the things he can. It's still a learning process but he's getting it and I'm reading a lot of informative signs! I'm so proud of him!

"Hike hike hike, we're walking through the woods. Hike hike hike!" I love when they sing on our hikes!

Eating snow...this is how he spend 75% of this walk. He can't get enough of the snow! I don't know how many times I've said, "just don't eat snow that isn't white!".

"Wait up Declan!" That kid is a little tank!

A moment of peace and quiet! A very short moment!

My snow eating monster. Seriously, he wouldn't stop!

Such a cutie!

Look at those eyes!

Ian was so done by this point he was a total Mr Pouty Pants the rest of our hike!

snow!

2010-10-28T20:14:00.000-07:00

I'm playing catch up if you haven't noticed and I laugh because this was quite a few "snows" ago! There is not a lot of things that are more exciting in our house than the first sticking snow! It just means that we are one step closer to cross country skiing season and that is such a fun time! We are so looking forward to getting Ian on skis this year for the first time and maybe even Declan. We'll see how it goes! Yeah for snow!

Fun with a Laundry Basket or "Kitty Prison"

2010-10-28T20:02:00.000-07:00

This post is totally for the Caldwell side of the family, but can be enjoyed by all! Declan loves when he can get a hold of an empty laundry basket (which is very rare in our house!). No kitties to put in prison so the next best thing is Declan! Love it!

I SEE YOU!!!!!