9 and just fine



 This kid got to celebrate her birthday all week! Before dad left we let her open her present from Heath (so she could wear it to sing in the primary program) Every time we went to the mall she would check on this dress, and then say it's still not on sale, then when she saw it was on sale she was so excited but it was still too much money, she was pretty disappointed. One day I was with Heath and it was so cute he went over to the sales rack and said "mom its Ria's dress" I checked and finally it was reasonably priced so, I asked Heath if he would like to get it for her for her birthday. He was so excited to give it to her and even asked a few times if I remembered where it was, & requested just to see it, then he would exclaim I'm so excited; she is going to love it!



When Brant left he had an 8 year old daughter and we he came home she was 9! She cracked me up that morning I made her breakfast with her favorite (sausage & bacon).



While she was having breakfast she said "So I've been tempted for a year now right?" It took me a while to get what she was asking then I answered yes, Satan has been able to tempt you. To which she responded "I'm doing a pretty good job" Yes, Ria you are doing just fine, but there are more years ahead and hopefully every year you can respond with that. How grateful I am for this girl and her reminders. For me there have been some good years and some not so good years but with the Lords help I too am just fine!

I also took her class doughnuts and chocolate milk for her birthday. She was excited that her birthday came on crazy hat day at school.



Then I took her and a friend to the mall (most of their time was spent at Claire's, they picked out magnetic earrings and a mood bracelet.

I let her open a few presents sent to us thanks grandma Mary and Sienna!  She wanted to save some for when dad got home!

After dad got home with his surprises he brought the kids Alaskan huskies (stuffed animals) the kids were thrilled and then too add to a late night she couldn't wait to open her Alaskan birthday present from dad (porcelain doll)!



She also had no idea she was getting a real cowgirl hat. (From the boot barn, she has wanted it for a very long time).

With the dress, cowgirl hat and boots crossed off her wish list, who knows what she'll want for Christmas. She was so sweet and expressed her gratitude.



She wanted a bubble gum cake;



we let her invite 4 friends over for cake and ice-cream.



Hailey, Ria, Ginger, Ashlee



They had a good time playing bubble gum, bubble gum in a dish!



She is officially 9! She is the most helpful kid I know. I don't know what I'd do without her, especially while Brant was gone. I love how she says "mom don't mop the floor let me do it when I get home". Or how she asks if she can make dinner all by herself. She is a great big sister; I can't tell you how many mornings I got up to find Heath had climbed in bed with her sometime in the night. I see where I rank in the comfort giver for that kid ;). Her faith amazes me. She is so smart and I love how she always takes care of her homework without any reminders. 

clapping out the candle's

She looks like her dad and reminds me so much of Grandma Brown (a genuine care taker). She is a kind and thoughtful kid. Her teacher told me that once a month they get a "happy day" they can go to lunch early and take one friend with them. On her happy day she chose to take a little girl with special needs that was in a wheel chair. The teacher said it made the little girl very, very happy. (I cried happy tears, I was so proud of her)



Brant’s Alaska trip

I was able to go to Alaska again for work this month and it signifies the end of my travel for work. I have accepted a new position within my office as Assistant Director for Transfer Credit Evaluation. It will be a lot different from the recruitment stuff I have been doing for the last 4 years but I think it will be a good change. If I am lucky they will ask me to go to Alaska again since I now know the ropes. It was a great trip even if it was very tiring. I was able to visit several different cities which was awesome.

Ketchikan…The Rain Capital of the United States

  



On the ferry with the airport behind me.



Ketchikan really does get more rain than anywhere else in the country and as you can tell I got the true experience. I was only there for a day but it rained the whole time. Still it is a beautiful place. I don't really like seafood much, but I promised Jana that I would at least try some Alaskan Halibut while I was on this trip so I got that out of the way on the first night as I went out to a local restaurant and ordered a halibut BLT. It was actually pretty good. I also had fish again the next day while in Ketchikan for lunch I had some yellow-eyed rock fish which is another white fish and it wasn't too bad either. I am still not a seafood lover, but I think Alaskan Halibut is not too bad. I did have some other seafood later in the trip and I can tell you that I still don't like shrimp.

Sitka

They say that all of southeast Alaska gets a lot of rain, but the day I spent in Alaska the clouds parted and I was able to enjoy a beautiful crisp fall day in Sitka. I really enjoyed Sitka a lot. Sitka is where they held the ceremony when the U.S. officially bought Alaska from Russia. It was interesting also to see the Russian influence that is still there. Sitka actually has a Russian Orthodox Church right in the center of town. I enjoyed learning a little more of the history there and of course having some time to walk down to Totem Park where they have 11 standing totems in the woods and just enjoy the beauty of the area.

Juneau

This was the best stop because I had an extra day to enjoy the area. Thank you so much Natalie Shumway for putting me in touch with your relatives there. They were awesome to show me around. Rick took me for a hike near Mendenhall Glacier along with his friend Bud who is pictured with me near the waterfall. This waterfall is actually just a small one. There is a much larger waterfall near the base of the glacier but we decided to hike around the top of the big waterfall and see the glacier from a different perspective. It was so much fun. Of course, a trip to Alaska isn't complete unless you see a bear so lucky for me just at the head of the trail we hiked there was a black bear cub sitting right there just off the path digging for grubs in the foliage.

Anchorage

I didn't have as much time to explore in Anchorage but I was able to go down and find the temple. When I went back in March I had more time in Anchorage and got this picture of me in front of the Cook Inlet.

Fairbanks

While I was in Fairbanks I was able to go to Chena Hot Springs which is about 1 hour northeast of Fairbanks. I did get in but I will spare you the pictures of me in the water! It was pretty fun though especially because as you can see there was snow on the ground there and I was sitting in a hot pool even if it did smell like sulfur. It was pretty cold in Fairbanks, 12 degrees the morning I left.

My arrival home

I was very excited to get home after being gone for a week and a half and the kids and Jana were very excited to get me back home. Next time I get the chance to go to Alaska I am definitely going to take Jana with me although not to Fairbanks in October (she would freeze for sure). Hopefully it will be on a real vacation where we get to truly enjoy the trip and each other. I was very surprised to see a welcome home sign when I got off the plane. Isn't my family the cutest thing you have ever seen!

Man I miss...

This Big Guy

Brant has been traveling a lot with work, which will come to an end next week as he settles into his new position. Then maybe we can settle into our new home!


Maybe there is some security in having some big guy lying next to me, snoring loudly. I just sleep better when he is home. I’m a better mom and as Ria pointed out I’m happier too! I like me better when he’s home too. Maybe it is good to be reminded of the things I take for granted.
I never see him as a detail man but with this Big guy gone I realize it is the little things I miss.


I miss how loads of laundry magically gets switched and end up folded. Children bathe and go to bed effortlessly. Even family scripture study just happens. There has been no small pile of books for me to pick up in the morning. I miss hearing his deep voice reading stories to the kids. I’ll even in admit I miss falling asleep as he reads to me too! I miss waking up with an extra blanket on me. I even slightly miss those nights when he takes my covers or tries to cuddle with me when I’m a sleep. I miss talking about nothing or anything I am still so grateful for cell phones! (it is just better in person). I miss watching football together.


We went down to watch Brandon a few weeks ago! 

 I miss how the bills get paid and the checkbook balanced. Rianne’s hair is easier to do when he’s home too, it must be that it gets combed out better :). I miss how Heath’s shoes get tied, and breakfast & lunch just happen. I even miss packing his lunch. I miss squidgy marks on the shower doors and the smell of old spice body wash:).

I miss sleeping through the night; he is the upset tummy, nightmare relief, doors locked etc. night watch guy. Look what I find when Brant isn’t here to put the kids to bed, he's in Rianne's room 


Yes, that is a flosser hanging out of Heaths's mouth

I miss cleaning up dinner and doing the dishes together. I miss loading that one dish in the sink with the slightest bit of ice cream remains. I miss the way he comes up behind me when I’m working on something. I miss him coming home from work and instantly engaging in our family, from wrestling with Heath, helping me with dinner. He has even been known to help with homework (usually mine). I miss his expressions of gratitude for the few things I do, especially dinner. I miss that he takes care of the leftovers.


Brant taking care of the weeds

I miss someone asking me what I want done and the easy compliance to my time schedule. I miss “my time” and “our time”. I miss having extra help on my to do list. I miss that when I bite off more than I can chew, he is right there to chew with me (even if he warned that I was taking on too much). I miss how he sometimes has to make me take care of myself, although I am still getting the “are you taking care of yourself” questions. He is the most selfless man I know! 

Happy doing yard work

 I miss our inside jokes and how we can look at each other and easily interpret the look. I miss his smile and those reassuring blue eyes! I miss how forgiving and patient he is, when I ask him the same question or repeat the same story. He is patient with my weird quirks and secretly enjoys a few of them. I miss his easy laugh.


Brant's trip to Alaska back in March

I miss not getting to share this adventure—someday we will see Alaska together right? He will be here for other primary programs and birthdays. I’m sure I missed some other little things too! I really miss my very best friend, which I am lucky enough to be married to!


I miss how he always puts our needs first. The night he was packing to leave he was working in the garage moving boxes and stacking things, (I got slightly annoyed). Only to find out, he was clearing the way, so if it got cold I could park in the garage. Thanks for taking such good care of me.


It is amazing how the little things add up.  How do you do it all Brant? I don’t tell you thank you enough, I miss you and love you very, very much!

Is he growing up?

 I got Heath's 5 year old pictures. Why?
Here is the 4 year old picture

Now 5 doesn't he look the same?

And his 3 year old ones don't seem too far off either.

He is growing up, I promise, well at least growing out of clothes. I guess I'll just keep on loving his baby face as long as it stays that way J