Our Splendid Seneca Nation: January 2010

Hike and a Half

1/30/10

Want to know a really great way to get in a decent work out without having to listen to Jillian Michaels' irritating voice say stupid things like, "Your neck is NOT invited to this party" or "This is your last two minutes of cardio! I want you to feel like you're going to die!"? Let me suggest hiking up a giant mountain while hauling two kids on sleds and continuously catching yourself before you slip off icy hills of snow. Feel the burn!

We had a great time hiking up Bear Mountain this morning. We wanted to get there early enough to catch the sun rise but blueberry pancakes and coffee were calling our names. With full bellies and warm clothes, we headed out for a full on sweat session....and a promise of a delicious fruit leather when we got to the top.

Check out my studly husband. Stuuuuuuuud.

Look at these punks. And check out that view! Needless to say, Colin and I were hunting for info on lot prices...hmmm......Beautiful!

There they go! Colin gave me the side eye when I suggested he ride with Claire to balance out the weight, but look! They're flyin! This little hill was probably the smallest one we rode down. Scaaaaawy.

Poor baby has to haul her own sled. Not really. This, my friends, is what you should do when you want to take an hour and a half to go 10 feet.

Halfway to the top and Bubs is King of the World!

Claire: "Wuss at calt?".

Daddy: "Those are moose nuggets, Honey".

Claire: "I don't like at".

Trent: "Yeah, she doesn't like spiders either".

This is what we were reduced to as we crested the top of the mountain....Claire had to be carried, I hauled the sleds and raced to the top and Bubs was...well, ridiculous.

Finally! We made it! Yes, we may be dripping with sweat and cursing our non-traction boots, but we made it!

Time for a picture with Mommy.

And to enjoy that promised fruit leather. Num num num num....

On the way back into Anchorage, Daddy wanted to stop at Boondock's, his favorite gun store. Here are the kids and I amusing ourselves with a book called, "My First BB Gun". Bubs has already requested it for his birthday.

It was a really cute book. Check this out:

I thought this was especially great.

You know I love my husband for many reasons....but I especially love him for the fact that he's giving our kids the gift of being Alaskan badasses. :) It's reassuring as a Mom to know that my kids will respect and know how to use firearms, hunt, fish, camp, and skin an animal...all while I wait patiently for them to come home by painting my toenails and watching Bravo. HA!

We stopped by "Mike's Quality Meats" in Eagle River and picked out a big, fat, delicious cut of prime rib for dinner. On the way to the car, I got a big fat kiss and an "I love you!" from Colin. Note to Self: hiking, gun stores and meat really make Colin happy.

Know what makes Sissy happy? New clothes! She wanted to model her new bathing suit we got for our trip to Texas in June. I know you're having a hard time concentrating on the pattern of the suit because you can't stop staring at THOSE KNEES!!!! I am salivating, is that weird? I just want to squeeze them and bite them and pinch them all day long. I love it!

Can't forget a shot of the back. I started to put the camera away and she screamed, "NO! Do this, Mommy! Do this!". Okaaaay.....Cover Girl.

And this, my peeps....brings us to my Warrior Mom Moment of the Day. This is what results when you steer yourself into the giant sharp, jagged tree so your firstborn won't be impaled.

I couldn't even feel the gangrene set it because of this little exchange between myself and my oldest, yet largest baby:

Bubs: "I'm having so much fun with you, Mommy!".

Me: "Me too Bubs! We're going super fast on the sled, huh?".

Bubs: "Yeah! We were holding hands too. It's like we're on anudder date!".

Deep Thoughts

1/29/10

The great thing about having a sordid love affair with my camera is that I get to capture all of the beautiful moments of spiritual growth... intellectual feats....the soul-baring moments of my two babies. It's heavy stuff, man. There's a lot going on in the noggins of 2 and 4 yr. olds. I'll show ya.

But first...I think you should probably learn how to "blow bubbles like a puppy, Mommy!" first:

My kid is weird.

And what is my oldest doing during Claire's drenching of herself and the stairs? Sleeping like the sweet, little chunker he is. I want to buy them ponies and give them chocolate shakes when they're like this. Sweet, sweet silence. Unless you're in the noggin of Trent Seneca.....then you're probably floating through Lightning McQueen Land.

Girl, you are crazy.

Claire's had a lot of monumental learning experiences in the last couple of days. Here she is discovering the joys of my back massager. See, Claire? It's even better when you don't pile a bunch of toys on it or try to drag it into the shower!

Contemplating the best way to get a piggyback ride from Daddy....

And trying to figure out what she has against her bed....

And she's mastered the best way to take a nap in the buggy at Old Navy....all you need is a binky, Mommy's coat as shade and a 1987 edition of "Berrisen Beers".

Bubs too. Oh, Bubs. Lots to ponder over french fries and grilled cheese.

"Mother? Why do I love you so? It is because you waddled around with giant ole me in your belly? Is it because you always give me breakfast when I sweetly request oatmeal in my hot, toddler breath at 7am even though you're not a morning person....?".

"Num, num, num....is it because you've watched 'Lightning McQueen' with me 7200 times and build me race tracks out of cardboard boxes? Is it because no matter how many times I say, 'Mommy! Look at me!" so you can see me twirl in the air or burp my name, you always look and give me a round of applause?".

"Oh, I know! It's because you take me to Dairy Queen!".

"Now shut it and quit it with the picture taking so Claire and I can get back to business".

These animals needed to relieve the stress of philosophical revelations with some hardcore jumping around and sweating at Bouncin Bears.

Blurry shots galore!

Pure, blurry Bubs joy.

And here's some AK action for all you people. Taken outside my passenger door on the drive home yesterday. Yes, my camera is my lover. Deal with it!

Crafty Animals

1/25/10

January in Alaska = finding ways to stay occupied without getting in the car, heading to the store, and spending money on crap you just don't need. It's a vicious cycle, people.

So instead of dragging our family to the door of destitution by buying 36 packs of chapstick or glitter glue (something about glitter....it draws me in, man) we have had a fun couple of days just doing crafty things around the house. I found these really cool window crayons and the kids have been going crazy! We had the markers in our arsenal but crayons are more realistic in this house....no ripping out my hair at seeing ink marks on the walls, window casings, 2 yr. old's legs...notsrils....bellybutton...yes, it's happened. The crayons are great and everything is wiped away with Windex. Perfect.

Check out that sun. My son made a sun! Yes, it's winter delirium. You were warned.

The beaks were out in full force.

Every morning at breakfast I ask the kids what they want to do that day. Inevitably, "playing outside" is mentioned with an afterthought of "hot chocolate when we're all done and we come inside. Alright?". Sigh. Don't judge when I tell you that some days (ahem, most days) I just don't have it in me to load them both up in the winter gear, stuff their tiny little fingers in uncooperative gloves and trudge through the snow.
My poor, abused punks.

So you know what I say? Let's make cookies instead! Then they forget about going outside and before you know it, we're all fat and happy and they think I'm the best Mom EVER....just in time for naps. Leverage is a powerful thing, my friends. I'm really going to miss it when they learn how to spell and their short term memories improve.

This is Claire's reaction when we saw that Bubs was sneaking bits of dough after their Mother Dearest specifically asked them not to. I love the outrage! Love it.

Who, me?

Busy little bees.

We threw in a little Playdoh action this morning after breakfast too. Claire has insisted on not sitting in her high chair when any non-food-related activities are involved. It's a psychological thaaaang.

I would now like to treat you to a Seneca jam session. I especially like that they're holding hands. Do you think it's because of their substantial emotional bond or because of fear of their mother's obsessive use of the camera?
I'm going with the former.

Alien Invasion!!

1/23/10

Have I mentioned that I love Saturdays? Love em! It's my favorite to have the kids bounce into our room at 9am (9am! Glorious!) and ask for oatmeal. Every day, no matter what, rain or shine....this is what Bubs says:

"Can I have breakfast? I can eat cereal and if I'm still hungry, I can have oatmeal. Alright?". Alright!

Then Colin and I sit on the kids so they can't get up and then we flip a coin for who's going to make the coffee.

This morning, Colin needed to go into the office to get some work done. Bubs loaded up his dinosaur lunch bag (thanks, Bob!) with 6,000 Lightning McQueen cars and off they went. But not before I snapped a picture. At this stage in the game, Colin has learned to succumb to my picture-taking (poor thing) with a grin and solid side-eye but Bubs still thinks he gets a choice! Ha! I'll break him down eventually. I've only been at it for 4 years, after all.

So proud to be the chosen one. Claire was ready to bust outta here in her Pull-Up and Crocs. I had to promise her an hours-long tea party to get her to stay. Is it bad that you have to negotiate with a 2 yr. old? What happens when she turns 13?!
Umm.....I'll retire.

We had our own fun while the boys were gone. I think the highlight was getting stuck behind the couch, face-first. I did it last week so you can't blame Claire for wanting to give it a shot.

After haircuts and a side-trip to Sally's Beauty Supply for new shampoo (where, curiously, while Claire was reaching for hair weaves for the 30th time...I whispered to her, "Fight the urge, Claire. Fight it"....some lady heard me and laughed hysterically. I couldn't tell if it was out of nervousness or the fact that my angel-on-the-shoulder comments to my 2 yr. old actually work), we sneaked in a Costco run.

Just the essentials, my friends. The essentials to my punks are Skinny Cow ice creams and cheese. Staples in the Seneca house.

After naps and a quick Shred we headed out for date night with our babies. Only $3 tickets to Bear's Tooth to see Planet 51!

My description of the kids' reactions cannot do the experience justice. For the first 10 minutes of the movie, Colin and I giggled (okay, I giggled. Colin chuckled with maybe an ocassional guffaw) at the kids and their faces. Backs totally erect, sitting on the edge of their seats with their mouths hanging open.

I took this before the movie started. Slightly excited to get this party started. It didn't hurt that a special teenage hippie waiter delivered pizza and fruit smoothies too! Heaven for babies.

More than once during the movie, Claire shouted things like "I like this fun!" and "This ice is cold!" and the gem of the night, "THIS IS MY FAVORITE MOOBIE!!!".

While brushing his teeth tonight I told Bubs that I hoped he had a great time and that I sure liked sitting next to him in the theater. He said, "Yeah. You're welcome".

Colin enjoyed himself too. 12 feet from his seat -----> beer on tap.

As for me, I enjoyed a tasty Thai chicken wrap and Diet Coke....with a little side of Bubbers. Yum.

Grateful, Thankful and Blessed

1/22/10

Yesterday was a bit traumatizing for the Seneca Nation. We spent the late afternoon in ANMC's Emergency Room, getting Claire checked out for what we thought was a concussion.

After our experience, we've learned several things:
1. She is just fine, Thank God.
2. My kids really, truly, totally, adorably love each other.
3. We walked out of their doubly thankful for our lives together and our health, especially after seeing all the tragic situations some people were in.
4. Everything is okay in my mind once I feel Colin's arms wrapped around me.
5. People just love Claire's blond curls, sassy attitude and squeaky voice. Can't blame em.
6. Was reminded, yet again, that I am NOT your go-to-girl in a crisis, especially one involving my babies.

Colin took this picture in the ER. Bubs asked to sit next to her and rub her head. He kept whispering to her, "When you gonna play with me again?". I was a mess.

We were playing at Arctic Oasis when Claire slipped in her socks and fell hard on the back of her head. We iced her little bump and she kept on playing and was acting fine. After an hour, she started to throw up so we raced outta there and met Colin at the ER. Bubs held her hand and sang to her on the way there so she didn't fall asleep. Poor Claire puked all over Colin, the reception area and the triage nurse. They led us right back and got her a CT scan within a 1/2 hour. Bottom line....the doctor was awesome, so thorough and said she was good to go. After several popsicles, stickers (for both of them, of course) we came home and I just sat on the couch and snuggled my babies. I am so thankful they are healthy!

Before the chaos, the kids were having a great time! We met the Ryders and had lunch and played and played.

Bubs was quite the climber:

Claire enjoyed the slide and shaky bridge....more than one time she yelled out, "Mooooooommy....I'm stuuuuuuuck". It was a work out for all of us!

Slip, Sliding....having a ball....

They paused long enough for a picture with Bella. Too cute.

Yesterday was also "PJ Day" at preschool. Bubs had really been looking forward to it and was thrilled and ready to go in what he calls his "Moose Jam Jams". They got to bring their sleeping bags and have waffles for snack time and watch "Veggie Tales"....love that it's a Christian-based cartoon. Look at that face! I'm pretty sure this is his new smile.