Fun times

Like I said in an earlier post, Kaylee has been the source of a lot of fun moments recently. I can't count the number of times she makes me laugh or smile in a day. Athough, it's not all fun and games. Parenting has proven to be a lot of work and sometimes I have to drag myself out of bed when I hear her first cries in the morning, but it's moments like these posted below that I try to remember when I just want to curl deeper into my down comforter.

Here's a little glimpse into some of our fun moments...

Being silly at the store and trying on an Eeyore costume.

Gettin' dolled up

I'll put a bow in Kaylee's hair every once in a while, but they only last a matter of minutes.

However, the other morning when I was getting her dressed, she handed her bows to Brandon one at a time, holding real still while he put each one in. She was so proud and kept striking poses, not ever touching a single one. She thought it was quite fun.


And Mama doing crazy exercises (handstands) is always fun (or funny) too

Even when we were feeling a little under the weather, we still had fun.

Kaylee has started copying and helping with more and more of what we do.

I've realized her receptive language is growing and growing, which is wonderful.

She is great at blowing when I ask her to and she's even caught on to how to blow her own nose... I'm just not sure the distinguishing between what is and is not a Kleenex is there yet.

Learning to eat by ourselves is definitely fun as well.

And of course, there were many fun times while Grandma and Grandpa were here earlier this month. 

They were a lot of help in so many realms and we definitely enjoyed our time with them. They were troopers, even with all our projects and changes in plans that took place due to the rainy weather. 

                         We've also been having some fun opportunities with the youth in the community.

 There are a couple of us adults who saw a need to deliberately reach out to and pour into the lives of the youth here, so we have starting meeting on a weekly basis to get in the Word, play some games, and hang out with them. With the younger kids we also plan to do some tutoring and Scripture memory. There really is not hardly anything else for them to do here. I have always been somewhat intimidated by working with teens because I couldn't always relate to them even when I was that age myself, but I've been enjoying it! All you gotta do is love on 'em. (And feed them. haha).
(The picture relates because it's the Bibles we got for them to use when we meet)

Other "fun" things we've been doing...

Building stairs from the garage to the house 

For the 30+ years before we came, there was a step latter that you climbed up to get into the house.

Although not as full of character, I appreciate the steps. 

Installing a wood stove

When we arrived, there was an oil stove right here. (Alaska heats with fuel oil)

Heating costs average around $700 a month here, which hurt just thinking about it.

Because of that, we decided to replace the oil stove with a wood stove. 

However, to make this set up work, there was several tweaks that needed to take place, 

including extending the existing hearth. (My dad got to join in on all that fun! Thanks Pa.) 

In addition to putting in the stove, we've also been cutting a lot of wood. (We= mostly Brandon)

Our new stove

(When the final part comes, hopefully I'll have a picture with a blazing fire in there!)

Brandon has also been working on installing a new garage door in his "spare" time. Most days, his spare moments are slim to none, though, because they have been working him quite hard over on base. It's been a learning season to say the least.

We've had three snow falls so far. None of them have stayed around or measured up to much but it definitely lets you know winter is coming. Up here, I definitely sense more of the scurry that animals feel in preparation for the cold. There's a rush to get the house in good shape to brace the cold, make sure our family is set with proper gear and food, and get the cars ready to go so they'll start on the -40 days and have good tires to face this frozen tundra that we are about to experience. We'll report on how it goes as the winter progresses. Right now, I'll enjoy the brisk mornings and beautiful fall leaves... and this fun little girl, of course.