20 More to Go

1 Merit Badge Down. 20 more to go.
On Saturday, the boys and I went out to find snowprints of 10 animals. It was a BEAUTIFUL winter day and were enjoying the wonderful [for us it is heavenly] 35 degree weather. I didn't even bother to wear a coat or gloves.

While searching in the snow we saw this. . . probably about 150 meters away.
The boys thought it was a rock . . . I knew it had to be something. . . ALIVE.


So we went and snuck up on it . . . as much as you can with three boys and snow boots. We were delighted to discover that it was a Beaver who happened to slip into this hole before we could get a picture of him.

False Alarm

[warning: the pictures below are horrible]

This year I dragged my feet on putting up the Christmas tree. I was sure that Captain Destructo [aka Mudge] would destroy everything. I had visions of finding him pinned underneath the Christmas tree that he has pulled down on himself. I was just sure he would try to take a bite out of ornament or two. . . or at bare minimum that he would try to pull off the lights. And when Eric mentioned, in response to our kids pleading, pulling out the train I laughed. If the tree couldn't survive there is no way that the train would.

I'm happy to report, on all counts, that I was wrong.

Mudge didn't even seem to notice the tree at all. And he loved the train but respected it, for the most part, as a "no touch." It was really cute to watch him do a little excitement dance every time it came around the corner.

The boys always decorage the trains with "good guys."

Enough Said

Make My Day

Here's a little gun slinger.
Won't say a word and will only sign for food.
But he can load and fire a nerf gun.

W&M

Warner loves to sing.  He's learned a few Christmas songs this year. . . his favorite, Christmas Bells Are Ringing.  His 3-year-old rendition goes as follows:

Christmas Bells are Ringing

Hear what they say to you,

JESUS IS BORING [born]

in Bethleham,in Bethleham

Mudge is our first kid with his own theme song.  Inspired by PBS' Super Why, we came up with.

Mudge, Mudge, Mudge

Mudge-a-riffic, You're Terrific

A New Twist on a Old Tradition

When I was younger I always wanted games for Christmas. Murder She Wrote, the game, stands out as favorite.

My sister Michelle has always LOVED a good puzzle. I remember searching the shelves, for her Christmas gift and carefully selecting what I thought would be the trickiest and most exciting puzzle. The trickiest aspect was for my sister, the exciting aspect was for me. I don't have nearly the puzzle talent that she has but I'm happy to sit right along side her during a good movie add my one piece to her twenty.

I love those memories. Of course those memories are from when I was a young teenager and through college. So as a young mother I thought I would carry on the tradition only to met with frustration as little hands grab for pieces or worse, little mouths would eat pieces. So for the past 10 years we've resigned ourselves to the 24 piece variety: Toy Story, Cars, Blue's Clues, Winnie the Pooh, Dragon Tales. . .
It was time to break free. . .

This year, as our way to announce the boys BIGGEST and hopefully BEST present, we thought we'd try doing a family puzzle again. It took us a couple of movies and a couple of days to complete it, but I think everyone was thrilled. The boys then took a black light and were able to decode a secret message we had written on the puzzle invisible ink.

On May 30-June 6 we are going to Disneyland. The boys are beyond excited and I think I am even a tad bit more excited than that.

2010 Christmas Loot

We celebrated Christmas on Tuesday, December 2st. Why? Because we can. And because Christmas break is typically one of the coldest times of the year and we want our kids Christmas Loot ready and available.

Santa came through with the much coveted Lego Motorcycle set (his #1 Christmas pick. . . and it happened to be $9)

Christian's gift of Dungeons and Dragons is definitely a family favorite.

Hyrum got a gerbil which he has affectionately named Golf Tank.
The boys also got Wii Party from G&G Bacon. The song We like to party has been forever changed to Wii Like To Party. . . Wii like, Wii like to Party.

A cheer went up when Tanner opened the Percy Jackson books.. . .the boys have read the entire series at least four time each and were excited to start again.

A Few of My Favorite [Christmas] Things

My Mom sent this ornament in a Christmas care package. Not only is is warm and fuzzy-- everything a good holiday should be-- but I especially love the detail of the ornaments.

This came from my Dad on another day. This has become a very LOVED and much anticipated holiday tradition. Each year my folks purchase little puzzle boxes with our Christmas money hidden inside. We've have everything from mazes to trick hinges that range anywhere from five minutes to five hours to open.

Hyrum drew this in art class. I love it. You cannot see the glitter paint detail on the Nutcracker's uniform, but it is there.

I Double Dog Dare Ya. . .

Last week I got a call from the school.  It was Mrs. Jordan, Hyrum's Kindergarten teacher.

M. J.:  Mrs. Bacon it's Mrs. Jordan.  I just wanted to let you know that the boys will be a little later than usual getting home.

Me:  Thanks, I appreciate the call.  (I just assumed that C or T had forgotten little H.  and had double backed to pick him up.)

M. J.:  I have Hyrum here in Nurse Cottle's office.  While waiting at the parent pick up, Hyrum stuck out his tongue and it got stuck to the pole.

[here is where I'm sure she expected concern and empathy]

Me:  Laughing.  Laughing.  Laughing.  More Laughing.   I just could get the image of my Hyrum's tongue frozen to the pole, the panic in his eyes, the funny sounding pleas for help.  It was all to Christmas Story-ish for me.   When I finally stopped laughing I commented, "Mrs. Jordan, apparently I have failed to educate my Kindergartner on proper cold weather etiquette."

M. J. laughed:  Don't you worry, we'll be going over all of that first thing tomorrow in class.  

The Nurse did her magic and bandaged him up and a few minutes later when the boys arrived home I heard the story told and retold and retold again.  My favorite part from Christian and Tanner, "And Mom, we went back to to spot, and guess what?  Some of Hyrum's tongue was still there.  It was so cool."

Hyrum, of course, is not the first to get his tongue stuck on a pole at Ravenwood; but to his credit he is the first to keep it there long enough for the Nurse to run into the school, get some warm water and return.  

When I questioned him later about his choice to stick his tongue out he replied, "Mom, it's not the first time I've stuck my tongue out on things, it is just the first time its gotten stuck."  Hopefully it is his last.  If not, next time I want a picture!

Kowabunga

We bought snowboard sleds on a Christmas Eve whim last year. They quickly became one of our boys favorit things. They do a great job down steep hills and can even take jumps.

The Magical Word

Mudge isn't one for words . . . but we finally got him to "talk"

Christmas Bells are Ringing

Tonight was the Ravenwood Elementary Christmas Concert. It started out with the Hand Chimes Choir. They played A Little Bit of Bach [which Tanner pronounces Batch]. They did a phenomenal job.

Tanner, Grant, Christian, and Harry
The boys and their best friends. Harry played the bass guitar for one of the choral pieces.

Grant is a cool kid. He's military and just moved to AK this year. You can't tell from the picture but he has a mohawk. He is in Mrs. Campbell's class with C&T, does choir, hand chimes, and active kids club with them.

My three little singers. Oh how I loved listening to them sing. Mr. Lum has the choir singing two part and three part songs. It is amazing to me and I'm sure I'm the classic proud parent beaming from ear to ear.

Seriously?

Seriously, what kind of mother forgets one of her kids on the family Christmas Card. Lucky for me Warner can't read.

O. . . the frailties of man

Bacon Family Health Update:

Eric-Mastering GF Cooking.  Wednesdays, while I volunteer at the school, he stays home with the little ones an makes bread, tortillas, pizza, breadsticks, and cookies.  His patience has paid off and his food is delicious.    I am so glad that he's taken the initiative to learn how to make so many essentials.

Mudge-Still anemic & smart enough to recognize his iron supplement no matter how hard I try to hide it. . . but really, how much can you hide liquid nails??  One of the biggest challenges is that he has to take it in something acidic and the other boys are suffering from severe juice envy.

Me-Went in for a Lasik Exam, only to be told that my corneas are too thin and I'm probably suffering from Keratoconus.  [(Ker-a-to-co-nus)Keratoconus, often abbreviated to "KC", is a non-inflammatory eye condition in which the normally round dome-shaped cornea progressively thins causing a cone-like bulge to develop. This results in significant visual impairment.] No Cure.  Surgery not an option.  Glasses not an option.  Soft contacts not an option.  What does that leave?  Special Fitting Gas permeable contacts.  Ugh.  I grew up in a house of Gas permeables. . . expensive little things that quickly turned into your worst nightmare in a wind storm.  (Luckily we don't really have wind in Alaska.)  I cried.  Just sad for myself, and mostly shocked.  Eric was speechless.  That is probably the fourth time he's seen me cry--EVER.  A minute later I was done feeling sorry for myself. .. . I've got friends with cancer and friends who can't have kids and friends who husbands love pornography more than them . . .  seems silly to be sad about bad eyes.  Someday I hope to pop my contact out, slobber all over it, and pop it back in with as finesse as my Mom!!  Here's to gas permeables

Green

I love Green.  It is my favorite color to wear.  Not the deep somber greens, but the light and playful shades.  Green is the best. .. except for when it is paired with that ugly envy word.  Unfortunately I've been green inside and out lately.  I've been consumed by the envy monster, which I'm convinced is the nastiest shade of green out there.   Sure I've wanted things before. . . but never like this.  And the hardest part, I'm reminded of it EVERYDAY!!!  Sometimes four or five times a day.  I sit in my living room and STARE at it.  I dream about it.  I say I don't have time for hobbies, but this envying thing has squeezed itself into a full-time hobby.  

What is so tempting?  So consuming.  Four walls, a door, a garage, some carpet, and a heater.  Just a house.  A little silly man made house.  

Our next door neighbors are selling my. . . oh, i mean their house.  Funny things is. . . it is a cheaper, smaller, older house.  And yet, I want it. . . real bad.  And even though my brain tells me it isn't going to happen. . . my heart just yearns.  This is the very same house we wanted four years ago.  The same house that went under contract the very day we got up here for our house hunting the trip.  The same house with a BASEMENT family room, a game room, 600 Sq ft. of walk-in storage.   I'd even give up my kitchen for this house. . . and that is saying A LOT because I LOVE my kitchen.  

Funny how one moment you are perfectly content and the next moment you're green.  

watch for icy roads

Here in the Last Frontier, school doesn't get canceled for snow, or bitter temperatures like you would think, oh no it gets canceled for temperatures that are too high.  Take today for example, above 30, it rained and rained and rained .   Some would say a heat wave . . . but most of us Alaska would say bad news because inevitably the temperatures do drop and everything turns into a crazy ice rink.  Cars sliding off the road.  Trucks jack knifing.  Buses filled with children gliding into street posts.  

And after a night of raining, raining, raining the temperatures dipped again around  6 AM  (well after the usual cut off for canceling school).  Luckily the boys walk to school, so unaware of the danger we sent them slipping and sliding their way to school.  It turns out that no class in the school had more than TEN students show up . . .the roads were that scary.  

We've already received the good news that school is canceled tomorrow.  I love surprise home days.  I'm banking on a good sleep-in, a day of games, snuggling, reading out loud, movies, and popcorn.    Heaven.  

Re: posting on two blogs at once

seeing if this works

Sitting here. . . it is 18 degrees. . .and had fun looking at these.  What a great summer.  

All those little pieces

Most days the clutter annoys me.  I wonder how I've failed to teach my children to pick up after themselves.  I count the trips I make upstairs to the lego bucket to put away a forgotten mini figure.  And I shake my head. .. a lot.  

So I was surprised today. . . 

I was in the entry way sweeping. . . and amidst the usually dirt and rubble I found. . . Stroke 1:  A Playmobil Ax.  Stroke 2:  A Playmobil Sword.  Stroke 3:  A Playmobil Battle Ax.  

I smiled.  Today I thought it was cute.  Today I thought of the little hands playing with those toys and the little imaginations that where creating new worlds and conquering foes.  Today I didn't mind the walk up the stairs and I cradled those little toys in my hand and thought about how much I love it when my kids play together, with their hands, and their minds, and all with all those small, sometimes annoying, little pieces. 

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trail

Tongiht was Pack Meeting. 6:45 PM, bedtime.

But I'm trying to be a good mom, so off we went, some in uniform, some
in pajamas, and some wishing for pajamas.

Me and six little boys amongst organized choas . . . several Bacons in
Heaven. . . while the rest of us. . . well, I'm trying to stay
optimistic, afterall, I've only got 10 straight years of cub scouting
left.

Sam received a handful, literally, a handful of belt loops. He loves
stuff and cub scouts is just up his ally. The easiest earned award. .
. the video game belt loop. Can you believe that is really an award?
LIke I said, little boy heaven.

C&T, in all their silliness, earned their Arrow of Light. Don't you
worry, I took my camera to capture the entire thing. Yup, took the
camera, but happened to forget the battery. Luckily my VT was there,
and I took her up on the 'ole "Is there anything I can do for you?"
offer. She came through like a champ snapping pictures of C&T all
painted and silly and in heaven.

Hard to believe that my baby boys are in Scouts. Big, Tan shirt
wearing, Merit Badge earning scouts.

Tonight as Hyrum said his prayers I overheard, "Please bless Tanner
and Christian that they got their faces painted." Only 10 more years.
. . 10 years of seeing my boys eyes light up with each award. . . only
10 more years of face painting, and kisses on my cheek. . . only 10
more years of seeing them giggle as they sing the silly songs or yell
the silly cheer. . . only 10 more years of my little boys loving being
little boys. Bring it on.

Duet

I love little moments like this. Of course the picture doesn't do the moment justice. . . you cannot hearing the other kids noisely playing in the background, the toys pretending to be the bombs, the lights switching on and off and amidst the chaos this cute moment. Tanner, who naturally is so tenderhearted and nurturing, adores Talmage. I think the admiration is mutual.

What Makes A Home

They say that loves makes a house a home. If that is the case, then we are over the top on the home title, especially with the addition of my recently received birthday present. In August, I called my Mom and asked, begged, pleaded with her to help me finish this star quilt that I had started and never finished. When I pulled out the star squares from my sewing bag I found a pair of training underpants, from when I was potty training HYRUM over 2 and a half years ago.

My mom came through like a champ, which if you ask Warner is the highest title of honor in our home. The wall hanging is perfect. I had originally planned on hanging it by the piano but wanted to be able to see be able to see if from the kitchen. It is such a symbol of cheer and love.