A farewell to winter.

Spring is just over the horizon. The sunlight is extending its rays across the Alaska tundra, melting away our frozen white landscape and leaving a golden glow on every surface it touches. And in some places if you look really, really, really close, you’ll see the tippy tops of grass blades peeking though, reaching towards the sky.

We enjoy this time of year, the merging of the seasons. The earth awakens with all things new and fresh, like spring’s first rain and baby chicks hatching and cherry blossoms blooming. Of course, at the moment this isn’t happening in Alaska, but the wildlife is making its way down the mountain and feasting on anything it can get its hands on --that is a sure sign that spring is, indeed, on its way.

In honor of our soon-to-be spring, I’m going to wrap up our February and March winter photos that didn’t quite make it onto my blog.

Dashing Through the Snow

This winter, Krysta was part of her school’s cross-country ski team and she loved, loved, loved it! My girl has been zip-tailing it around the bend and kicking up snow as she took long strides with her outrageously long skis. Doesn’t she look fast?

Ballet

Krysta has also been a busy ballerina. The girls have been diligently toe-tapping and tutu-swishing like graceful little swans, all dancing in rhythm of the music.

We have a dance recital coming up in just 7 short weeks; you can bet your hiney that there will be more photos to come.

One word that describes their recital costumes, swoon.

William on the GO

William has been up to his own little happenings. He has taken up a huge interest in books. Sometimes he chews on the books. Sometimes he attempts to rip them. But mostly, he flips through the cardboard pages and rubs his fingers across pictures of fluffy sheep and spotted puppies.

I’m harvesting his love for books by taking regular outings to Barnes and Noble. We did this when Krysta was a toddler --Outback for dinner, Barnes & Noble for lattes, followed by Thomas the Train and books for the kids-- I’m pleased that we're carrying on with our little tradition.

Supermoon

On March 19th, the “supermoon” appeared. The last time the Supermoon came out, I was 11 years old and didn’t give two flips about seeing a moon. Now, 17 years later, I gave way more than two flips about seeing that over-the-top moon. This was a real treat, you guys. Spectacular!

There were some badass photos (pardon my French) taken of the gigantic moon that night. Click here for your viewing pleasure.

Awards

You’re going to have to keep me grounded when talking about my girl’s academic award because I’m simply over-the-moon giddy about this one!

This was her third academic and outstanding citizenship award this year. All of her hard work and all of our hard work pushing her to be-the-best-she-can-be, paid off.

Krysta was just as ecstatic --if not more-- as I was.

Her confidence is soaring high.

overjoyed

This just about wraps up our winter happenings. It truly has been a blessed one.

Here's to a fantastic week and a Happy Spring!

 it's like an upside down ocean

Happy, Go, Lucky

 I feel like I’m ordering my days through the line at Subway.

Why yes, I’ll take the busy wheat bread of life, topped with dance class, XC Ski Team, appointments, grocery and post office runs, commissions, and just a sprinkle of stress and time management and a sleepless teething baby for good measure.

Would you like your sandwich toasted?

Nope, no time. I’ll just indulge in it right now, thankyouverymuch.

Why the food analogy? Because I started a diet this week, and food is all I can think about! I will say this, I’m kicking ass. I’ve been tempted, oh believe me, temptation was mean and strong and knocking at my door, but I defeated it. Heck yes!

Moving on.

Lately, I’ve been a “happy, go, lucky” girl. Life is good. So good that it’s overflowing and bursting-at-the-seams. I’m fulfilled to the rim.


As I sipped my morning coffee and starred out my window with a fantastic view-- pure white snow that shimmers through the light of golden rays hugging the snow-capped mountains that are surrounded by a bright blue backdrop-- I couldn’t help but to feel blessed. Blessed in so many ways. There’s so much good happening in my life right now, that I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it all.

So what does a girl do when she’s constantly giddy from her ears to the tips of her toes?

She wears sparkles, of course!

Mr. Golden Sun has been shining down us and it has been nothing less than divine. I bundled up my babe in his over-stuffed-marshmallow-looking snowsuit and happily jumped outside to bask in the light. After a very cold dark January, this felt like heaven.

Happiness Factor= Very High

Gah, how can you not eat his fluffy cheeks? Nom Nom Nom.

Krysta joined the Cross-Country Ski Team and is rocking it out. Her confidence has soared to a whole new level. And that makes my heart swell 4 ½ times its normal size.

This also means, our evenings are extra busy- especially Thursdays. After school she goes straight into skiing until 5pm, then rush to dinner, then it’s off to ballet, tap, and jazz until 8:30pm…. then it’s homework and bath.

Um yeah, I know it’s a lot, but Krysta really wants this, so I say “go for it”! Who am I to tell her she can’t, when she’s feeling so ambitious, you know?

And her ambition doesn’t stop there. She constantly wants to help her dad shovel snow.

snow in face= daddy fail! oops.

Even though we’re slammed packed with extra activities, we still take the time to slow down and enjoy the little things in life, like freshly bathed babes.

Bath time is one of my favorite times of the day. It’s our chance to put the chaos aside and just be. William is 100% a water baby. He freely splashes around and pops lavender scented bubbles that fizz in the water.

We play until the water shrivels up little fingers and toes.

Bath times are fun times. Sometimes Krysta will sit on the toilet seat and tell William stories. Sometimes we pretend to be pirates who like to eat mermaids. Sometimes we’re ocean monsters and we whack shampoo bottles off the edge of the tub. But sometimes we like to sacrifice animals, such as a goat or a lamb or… er, a calf?

Sorry calf. You’ll now be dunked in the Tub of Doom for my baby’s enjoyment.

In non-sacrificing news: Spring is coming. I can feel it. Krysta can feel it too. Her obsession with the color orange proves it. She only wants to wear orange, eat only orange foods, drink only orange drinks…you get my drift.

William, on the other hand, will eat anything and everything and in any color you put in front of his face. He’s a human garage disposal, downing anything from goldfish to magazine pages.

We’re nothing short of busy. My house officially looks like a daycare- a happy daycare at that.

Toys are scattered over every inch of the floor like confetti; there’s no doubt a baby lives here and we’re pretty content with that.

I’m going to wrap this post up now. I gotta a wee one waiting for me to play blocks.

Happy Tuesday!

~Em