Haircuts

So...I got my hair cut a few weeks ago and liked it very much...well somehow one morning I woke up and was getting ready when after I dried my hair I noticed I had two balls of hair, one on each side of my face, in the front of fried crazy hair. Not just split ends but these two masses of totally shriveled hair. Not fixable. So I did what any rational woman would do...I cut them off. Not too short in the hopes that my hairdresser would be able to salvage some of my hair. So today I headed to get it fixed and things turned out well. Neither of us can determine a cause since the rest of my hair is healthy and undamaged. Guess I'll just chock it up to pregnancy hormones. Well while Olivia and I were out she decided, rather adamantly, that she needed a haircut. Now if you don't already know, I didn't want to give her a trim last spring so I definately didn't want a haircut! But lately she won't keep any "pretties" in her hair and it is generally tangled and messy. So I figured why not...Kevin has been after me to cut it for a while now....so you be the judge. Here a few pictures!

Kirsten

Winter

So I guess I may never post pictures of the Caves in Missouri. Maybe I'll keep everyone guessing as to when they will be posted? I guess it's kind of funny that my break lasted over a month. I do like to blog but my days are only 24 hours long and I need more time!!! Well...winter has finally hit ND. I don't like it. You know in AK I never really got the winter blahs. Sure I wanted to go to somewhere warm and tropical in the middle of FEB but who doesn't no matter where they live. Except maybe those who live in the tropics, but I can't say they wanted to come up to the frigid north. Anyway....I have the blahs here. With -22 on the days without wind and -45 or more on the other days...we are stuck inside. Not exactly my favorite place to be. Well on Friday we got a weather service warning that a blizzard of massive proportions was going to hit us on Saturday night and continue on until Monday AM. Normally the weather man lacks the ability to be right so often, but with no geographical changes in the landscape here (read: flat as flat can be) anything that starts our way usually makes it with full force. So Saturday night we started getting wind. Not really snowy up by us but Minot got 11 inches so we expected something like that. Well Kevin was supposed to fly out at 3pm on Sunday to WA for the week and earlier sat we received emails saying that church was going to probably be cancelled on Sunday. The weather service site said to stay home and not travel and that the hwy would probably be closed soon. So Kevin left for Grand Forks on Sat night and made it just fine. The roads were still good at 10:30pm so we thought he might still get out in the AM. Well his flight got cancelled until Monday and he spent Sunday in a hotel. Not so bad for him I'd say. Me the the children (the dears they are) were stuck here in the house. Now I guess it wouldn't be so bad but after about 5 hours of knex, videos, dress up, etc...they start yelling and running and pushing and shoving and crying and whining etc.. you get the picture. Needless to say we made it through (barely) and awoke to a nice sunny Monday AM. We got ready for school (which was delayed an hour) and headed out. Now in ND with all the wind we get drifts that are huge and also deceiving. I looked out on the driveway where it usually drifts pretty badly, and it appeared that it would be passable. We load up and make it about 5 feet before I high center on a drift as deep as my knees. I get out and assess the situation. I get the shovel and start shoveling. I shovel and try to get the car out. Payton suggests I push while he drives. He simply couldn't understand why I wouldn't go for this. "But mom, I know how to push the gas". At this point, pregnant, cold, mad, frustrated, all I could do was laugh (or cry) and tell him I would just keep shoveling. So on I went for an hour. Each time I got in the car the boys would say "we said a prayer but our car is just a dumb car" or just yell "Hit the gas mom, Go like 30 mph. That will get us out" or "Mom, I don't want to be late for school" to which I said "then watch for the bus" Not realizing that while I was lying on the ground scooping out snow it had passed. So I know I sound like a cry baby (and that is what I felt like) but I really could have done without this trial. I guess I am thankful for:
1. We were home
2. We got out
3. And mostly...I'm not 40 weeks pregnant.
It was quite the morning. So tonight we have Payton's holiday concert. Given the morning, it should all go smoothly.
Kirsten

I need a break.

So as of right now I have been blogging for about an hour and a half. I will finish up our trip either later tonight or this week. Hope you've enjoyed our trip so far.

Day 3 Ted E. Bear Factory

After the Bass Pro Shop, we headed off to the Ted E. Bear Factory. It's kind of like a build a bear, or so Payton tells me. We were the only ones there so that was nice. Here is Olivia with the Pig she picked out.

So after they all picked out their animals they go over to this station called Hopes and Dreams. Here they get a cloud with sprinkles of their Hopes and Dreams. Then they get stuffed into the head of their animals and they get to whisper into their ears a wish. I have it on video but it's like 45 minutes long so use your imagination. Then they go on to stuff and vacuum and give their friends a name, complete with story.

Here they are with the finished product. Wallace the monkey, Pandy the Panda bear and Susie the Piggy. It was a great time.

Olivia was so tired out afterward. But we were not done. Off to the Fantastic Caverns we went.

Springfield, MO Day 3 Bass Pro Shop

So day 3 started nice and early. Kevin was not feeling well, sinus, chills, sick sick sick. He was a trooper though and we got 3 of our 5 outings done on day 3. First, need I explain why, we headed off to the largest single store I have ever been in. The Bass Pro Shop. It was crazy. There were sections of that one store that were bigger than some other single stores. We made our way to the Golf section where the boys figured out the size of clubs they need. (Kevin is really hoping to get a golf partner since I don't do the whole golf thing.) We missed the fish feeding but got to see the aquarium with all the fish. There are pools and pond and waterfalls all over the store. Here are the boys taking a sit.

Olivia and Gavin checking out the fish.

Gavin smiling kind of weird.

Here is the large bear and my roaring children.

We also found the shooting arcade where Kevin and the boys tried target shooting.

It was a fun stop on our trip. After all that looking we left with a token bag of $.99 gummy bears. To funny!

First Road trip.... Day 1&2

So first I should apologize. I don't find blogger to be that user friendly when it comes to text/picture layout. The fact that I like things to be just right also gets in the way of just getting on with the post...so...I will try to do my best and keep this in some kind of organized format. Well back in July, Kevin and I decided to take a road trip to Springfield, MO for Scott Turkington's wedding (Joy's brother). Springfield is a mere 922 miles south of here and being the adventurous (read this as poor and bored) types we are we decide we could pack up the kids and drive on down. How cool we thought! In AK we could drive for 900+ miles and still be in AK (right?) Anyway you get my point. So we figured we would, for our sanity and the safety and well being of our children, divide the distance in half (or there about) and drive about 460 miles per day. That meant 2 days down, 2 days there, and 2 days back. (All kidding aside, it did turn out to be one of the best experiences we have yet to share as a family). You also realize that I have now been home for about 9 days and the initial trauma has become fuzzy. (As it does after childbirth...you know what I mean). So we started out 13 miles from the Canadian border about 8:30 am. Kevin had an appt in Grand Forks at 10 for about an hour, I ran some errands then we headed on. Here is the picture of us hitting SD some 275 miles later.

Half way for day 1!

Okay so this picture above is out of order. This was actually taken the morning of our second day of driving in Sioux City, Iowa. I just thought the OLD buildings in the industrial part of town were cool!

Okay so here we are at the first rest stop in South Dakota. Probably only about 10 miles from the last one we stopped at. lol. No the kids did well, but only because we have taught the boys to use empty water bottles and Olivia travels in a Pull-up. Okay well Gavin is a bit crabby as you see here. He had $2 that his Grandma Noni sent him and it was burning a hole in his pocket. There were of course vending machines in this rest stop and he bought some jolly ranchers (good choice because they last a long time and he could share). Well then he had one lonely dollar that must have wanted to find refuge in the vending machine, but this dollar had never met "the meanest mom ever" and was forced to continue tormenting Gavin. If you look closely you can see the "said" dollar in his hands. So I kept taking this same shot hoping to get one that was postable. Not happening as you will see below. If it wasn't one it was another plagued by "the meanest mom ever."

He's wondering why the other two are being nice to me and not scowling as I say "ready!"

Hold on...I think a bit of a smile is peeping through. Olivia still doesn't get the whole bunny ears thing.

Oh yeah, wait. I am still mad at that lady.

It's hard to keep a straight/mad face when Olivia is around. Funny Girl.

So we continued on our way through SD and spent the night in Sioux City, IA, right on the border by NE. The morning of the second day we visited Council Bluffs IA. It is the place where the Mormon Trail, Oregon Trail and Lewis and Clark all converged. Winter Quarters is also in Sioux City. We stopped at the visitors center and had a picnic. The kids liked it and we were able to see the historic exhibit inside. It was all about the pioneers, the Native Americans and other historic facts about the area.

Payton succeeded in catching this HUGE grasshopper then it didn't want to hop away.

This was the outdoor monument

We drove on the second night to Springfield, MO and got in about 10 pm. Not too bad for 2 days of driving. On to my second post and the adventures we had in MO. xoxo Kirsten.

Catch Up...

I am so sorry I haven't blogged in a while. The kids are getting big and I am getting busier by the day. Payton is enjoying second grade and has started Boy Scouts and Kevin is his den leader. Gavin is in preschool and is doing very well. He is so excited to know how to write letters and is constantly writing on any paper he finds. Olivia is growing and thinks she is a little princess. (I wonder why?) She is funny and says some funny things and I wish she would stay 2 (almost 3 can you believe it) forever!! Or at least until I am like 50... So here she is being crazy. This summer we used our clothes line outside and she had this love of clothes pins, as you can see....

A few weeks ago I had a primary presidency meeting in Grand Forks and Olivia came with me. Gavin didn't want to go so we just had a girls day....(the first of many I hope) We did errands after the meeting Target, oil change, etc...and she found a bracelet, her crown and a slushy (sp). She is so fun and loves to have her picture taken.

It also has been getting colder and fall has been wonderful. My apple tree was overflowing with apples and we have been enjoying them. We had a hard frost on Sat night so I need to get the rest off the tree but here is a picture of the beauties.

Another big deal for us, Payton is able to mow the lawn now! (Kevin is so grateful!!) Kevin was out the other day mowing up the leaves and Payton wanted to try. Off he went and he does a great job. Kevin figured he would have to at least start the mower for him but he surprised us again and started it himself. He is getting so big. I can't believe he is going to be 8 in 2 months.

Kevin volunteered (I volunteered him when he was at work) to be the den leader for Payton's Boy Scouts and they have been busy. Last night was his Pack meeting and Payton won 3rd place for is pumpkin. He did a great job carving (with a bit of help) his wolves. He thought that it would be appropriate since he is a wolf. Smart kid that one.

Then, last Saturday, was our town Halloween parade. The kids had fun and the weather kind of cooperated. It was in the 50's and nice but the wind picked up a bit and it cooled right off. They had fun walking in the parade then after we went to the local businesses on Main Street and they got some candy.

Olivia did wear a jacket but she wanted to take a picture in her ballerina outfit, complete with crown!!

That is about all for now. I guess I should also mention to those of you who don't know yet, we are expecting a boy in March. Olivia is a bit disappointed (she wanted a sister) but the boys are ecstatic. Thing are bound to only get busier around here.

xoxoxo Kirsten

Sorry We Missed September

Well, September came and went without a blog. It didn't mean nothing happened, quite the contrary. We were just very busy. Please forgive us. School is in full swing, Kirsten is working and everyday just seems to get longer. It is now "Sugar Beet Harvest" which means for the next 2 weeks, the big trucks will be flying down the roads carrying the cash crop from around here. Twenty-four hour shifts, non-stop pulling beets from the ground to the piler and then onto American Crystal Sugar where we get our sweet cravings generated for another year! I am attaching some recent photos of the kids. More pictures of camping and then some from the homecoming parade last week.

September Pictures

First trip to Canada

Well the day before school started we (the kids and I) took our first trip up to Canada. It was a good day and we spent the afternoon at a public pool in Altona, just over the border. The pool had a big slide, a small slide and some overhead flowers and things that were like sprinklers and waterfalls. It was fun! as you can see from the pictures. So the reason for the delay in visiting Canada is because every time Kevin goes across for work he has issues coming back. He more often than not, gets pulled into secondary search and basically has no patience for the whole line and paperwork thing...me, I don't really care. But really up until recently, I still had AK plates on my vehicle, (I just didn't want to let go...!) and I have a CA birth certificate and an AK marriage license and a ND drivers license...you get the picture...I didn't want to have an issue coming home. Well now that I have ND plates on my car (they say AKGROWN!) and my ND license I wasn't too worried about the other papers. So away we went and had no trouble of course. But on the way back my friend who took us, called Kevin at work and harrassed him. She told him that she got through just fine but as she looked back we were all out of the car and being searched. His response...I told her something like this would happen. We all had a good laugh at Kevin's expense...and it was a great trip as you can see from the pictures. We will definately be making the trip a few times next summer! ....Kirsten

Altona

2nd grade already...!!

So...August 21st was the day. I can't believe Payton is in 2nd grade and almost 8....it's like yesterday I was having him with the 10 + audience...you all remember! His teachers all say he is a joy in class...good thing! So the night before school he went to bed at 8:30. At 11 pm he calles out...
P: mom is it really only 11 pm.
M: Uh yes payton...have you been awake this whole time.
P: Yes.
M: Payton you need to sleep or you will fall asleep in class.
Then when I got up to go to the bathroom at 3:45 am...
P: Mom, is it only 3:45?
Needless to say he was a bit anxious and tired his first day of school. His teacher this year is Mrs. Bigwood. She is a nice woman and very animated and fun. This year should be fun for him. We took the below pictures before & after school. The boys are showing off and started this whole "rock on" thing with the addition of Guitar Hero for Payton's DS. So there are some pictures of them "playing guitar" CRAZIES!! Gavin is such a camera hog.... Gavin was a bit dissapointed when we took Payton to school and he didn't get to stay. He's been ready to leave me since he was 2....He is doing preschool 2 days a week and liking that. He and Olivia play costumes (it's not dress up for boys!) and are still playing outside (it's still in the 70's) on the swing and dome. We are all staying busy and getting ready for fall. My apple tree has it's branches bending down to the ground full of apples. I will try to get a picture and post it. I am so excited for fall, but not for winter. Hopefully winter is short!!! ....Kirsten

First day of School

Camping

Little Gavin

So I thought I'd share some of the pictures of Gavin I've taken lately. As most of you know he LOVES costumes. He is always (no matter the season) asking me to go buy a new costume for him. He doesn't understand, nor does he want to, that costumes are seasonal. Well...we were at our friends house and he found this gem in the playroom. He really wanted to take it home but settled for a picture. Then one day he had spikey hair and wanted it documented. Actually he just likes to look at pictures of himself. It's pretty funny. Then the last is him with the remains of a delicious smore from our camping trip last week. He sure is a special little boy and I am thankful for all he teaches me....patience especially!

Kirsten

Gavin