Halloween 2007

We had a FUN Halloween....
The girls were able to bring a costume to school. Sydney was a witch!
Hailey's class, along with all the 2nd graders they had to choose a book character.
Which is kind of hard when you already have your costume and it was a vampiress!
Later, after the fact... turns out all we needed was some Scooby Doo Vampire book!
Oh well....She chose to be Tinkerbell at school. We already had the costume here for dress up! This year the school offered to Trick or Treat at each classroom door at night!


The PTA help put that on and I volunteered to pass out candy at a door for 1/2 hour.
It was all free, they just asked for candy donations.
The cousins came over before, we had pizza and went to the school together! Their dad came to the school and picked them up! After the school we went home and they begged to trick or treat some more. It was so warm outside and there was NO SNOW so Bill took them around the loop and got more candy. Still now today after Christmas we still have candy left over.



I dressed up for our Halloween Bunco too.... I was Waldo in "Where's Waldo" I made the hat. I was so proud of myself. Apparently, not everyone knew who Waldo was....!!! Some thought I was Cat in the Hat. Whatever! I thought everyone has seen a Where's Waldo book.... Oh well!

Sydney turns 6 years old in October

Once again I appoligize for waiting so long to post!
Here are the last few months in a nutshell!


Hailey and Sydney have wanted American Girl dolls for quite some time now!
I just wasn't willing to spend the $80 for each doll.
YES, you read that right!
So after some thought, I finally caved.
I thought all their birthday money would be added
and we would pay for the rest.
Sydney chose the doll she wanted.
She did a look alike one!



She had her party at the Alaska Club.... her and all her friends had a wonderful time! As you can see the theme she chose was
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL.
Her favorite movie...
She is always singing and dancing from this movie!

More on the Retreat

MORE yoga.... Mary Kay foot spas..... and a little Tai Chi
Holy Cow, Tai Chi was a lot harder than I thought! Either that or my body was so sore by the end of the weekend! I'd say a little of both!
Thanks Mary and all the instructors. I had an awesome time! Love the group shot and I am counting down to the next one! See above! HA HA!
I have a video of us doing Tai Chi, but after waiting forever for it to download, there was an error! I will try to upload another video a different time!

Yoga Retreat in September

Another successful yoga retreat... I was grateful to be able to attend. Bill was out of town, but grandma saved the day. I was at the B&B at noon, unloaded my car and Scottie and I chatted. We were the first ones there! This was the 4th retreat and we have been lucky enough to attend all 4. It's a fun packed weekend from Friday until Sunday! Filled with LOTS of yoga, relaxation, friends and positive energy! These retreats are every 6 months and I always count down the days and months until the next one! This time we enjoyed the first class of the weekend outdoors. The sun was so wonderful and not to mention the view!


The weekend was WONDERFUL.... here is group shot! I wish it wasn't blurry!
I will post MORE on the retreat, but there will soon be an outage in 5 min so I need to post before I loose everything!

Rainbows.....

How amazing are these pictures?
Living in Palmer, I don't see too many rainbows.
But, Eagle River..... they sure get some pretty ones!
Even DOUBLE RAINBOWS

The Alaska State Fair.... AUG & SEPT

I guess you could say, I have some catching up to do!
We don't have too exciting of a life, but I at least like to post pictures.
That is the best part about Blogging! Or so I at least think so!
We went to the fair twice this year. Once as a family, the 4 of us...and again after Bill went back to work. This time we drug Jennifer there! I had to go back, I didn't get to EAT everything I wanted to eat there! That is WHY I go to the fair. To get all the yummy food. Pathetic, I know!

The Pretzel place is always our first stop! They are the BEST. Homemade and fresh, hot and messy. YUM! We got 2. One for the girls to share and one for me. The girls wanted the traditional with salt and cheese, I got the cinnamon sugar one! Bill bought mini donuts right across from the pretzel booth. There went $10

We went on a Monday after school. Actually Sydney's first day of school. We chose to go that day because of the rides. It's zip strip day! And for those of you who don't know what that means.... it's one special ticket per ride. You pay a flat fee for so many rides. It's a better deal. We did realize that the kids are getting to big for the kiddy rides. So next year, we are moving over to the bigger stuff. Roller coasters and swings. They did get to ride the roller coaster but last year it was part of the kiddy rides, this year they bumped it up to the other section so I had to buy more tickets, cause all they talked about before the fair, was riding the dragon roller coaster! Here is a dragon ride, on the kiddy side.... I thought Sydney was going to loose it... she looked so scared for the first few minutes!

Sorry this picture is a little dark.
I couldn't wait to hold down the button long enough
I had to get this shot....
way up high.....
It's a no wonder Sydney was scared.
I don't think she rode this one last year.

This shot, I LOVE it.....Look at their hair!
You might have to click the picture to see it larger!
This ride stays in the kiddy section so I am not sure what we will do
next year about buying tickets. We may not be able to do the zip strip.
We may just have to go on a regular day and pay tickets per ride.
It just kills me, how expensive it is. $1 a ticket and each ride is 2-3 tickets.
Times that by 2 kids.... UGH! Onto Bigger and Better rides.....

The Orient Express the famous dragon roller coaster! I rode this thing last year, holy cow it goes fast. I didn't think the kids would like it, and they did. Hailey rode it a second time by herself. I on the other hand was NOT able to do it again. I felt sick. I just can't do rides like I used too!

Hailey and Sydney are in the back, it's a cute picture. I was kind of bummed they put another girl in there with them, but I guess they needed that extra body so they weren't sliding all over the place. I am telling you, this thing goes fast. They wanted to ride again... but we said no. All the tickets were gone!

We did learn about a NEW booth this year.... hair extensions!
The 3 of us girls all got one. It was tough deciding on 3 colors. They last for a few months so it was hard to choose! The blue is a little too blue for me, so next time I won't go blue. Hailey and I are still wearing ours... but Sydney's pulled out this last weekend.

It's fake hair that they put in.... and they use some kind of glue to attach it to your hair, right near your scalp. I did not expect it to last this long. I am impressed for $10 We even had to experiment when I colored my hair. We (Jennifer) wrapped it in tin foil. Worked....!!!! I enjoy the fair every year. It's so rewarding as a parent to see your kids get so excited! From rides, to animals, food, shows, exhibits! Man, I love the fair!!! It is an expensive little venture but so much fun. Lot of exercise too! We do so much walking! Well, basically I have too..... all that eating! Whew!

Sydney's Turn....

My baby is in KINDERGARTEN... WOW!
It's so hard to believe, the weird part is, she is almost 6.
It's having that "late" birthday. She is older than most of her friends, but they are all starting Kindergarten the same year! I am ok with it! I am sure in HS she will be too, when she will be driving before all of her friends! Uh, I can't think that far away, what was I thinking?
Sydney was so excited for school, it was finally her turn to go! She did the preschool thing, but this was different. Now she could ride the bus like her big sister. She also wanted to ride the bus on her first day! So, I told her I would meet her there, like I did for Hailey. Hailey said she would take her to class! It was the sweetest thing.... when they both walked in the double doors, I was waiting with camera, and they were HOLDING HANDS!
I am pretty sure, even now, a month into school, Hailey still drops her off everyday!
I love it when they get along! They are both so protective of each other! Makes me smile! Once inside the classroom, they were able to choose any table to sit at! Of course Sydney chose the table with the girls and the Playdoh! I stayed long enough to do the Pledge of Allegiance! Then I thought it was time to go, I didn't want to linger too long! I picked her up after school, poor thing.... she was so tired! It's hard work to learn! Overall, she loves school! Then there is me, I am already, tired of packing cold lunch for two! Oh well, it's the price to pay for FREEDOM! I'll take it!

First Day of School - Fall 2007

WOW, is all I can say! I can't believe Hailey is already in 2nd grade! And the work that she is bringing home. It's like I am going to school all over again! Hopefully, I can keep up and help her with the homework! Poor Sydney, she couldn't go to school yet! Kindergarten didn't start for another week. She went back in the house, with Daddy while I drove to school and met Hailey in her classroom! I asked her, and she wanted to take the bus, on the first day.... so I just followed in my car. If you click on the picture, you can see, the bus is WAY EMPTY! Most parents took their kids to school that day! We are almost the last stop too!
Hailey was very excited to be in her class. She saw lots of her friends. I was doing my normal mom thing, by taking pictures, and she was NOT wanting to pose, saying, "Mooooom" in that voice that means, STOP taking pictures, you are embarrassing me! I was hear broken. I told her just a few more, and I would leave her alone! What is 3rd going to be like? Will she still want me to come to school? Oh dear, I can't even think about that right now! I left class just a few minutes before 9am and drove to Eagle River.... it was time for YOGA!

Summer at the AK Zoo

The Alaska Zoo, it's one of our favorite places to go in the summer here in AK! I must admit, it's not the fanciest zoo, but the kids love it and it's great exercise to walk around! We buy an unlimited zoo pass, so to us it's worth the money! We had to see Maggie again, the elephant! It's the TOP animal we love to see! Soon, before winter, Maggie is being moved, possibly CA! She fell, and health wise they thought it would best to move her. Honestly though, once she is moved, I don't think she will the same again! Most animals don't do well during travel! The one good thing that may help her is, if she goes to CA, she will be in a place where there will be other elephants (4 and all African like her)! Maggie will always hold a special place in our heart.... we have lots of pictures of her!
Every year near Maggie are flowers.... they are so pretty! This year, I actually took some close ups! The sun was shining on them so beautiful!

Cancun, Mexico

Hi Everyone,
Click on the link to the right...
Shelley's MySpace
I have added LOTS of pictures from the trip that Scottie and I took to Cancun!
It was a wonderful trip, I would totally go back!
So much to see and do!
6 days was not enough time!

Enjoy... and let me know what you think!

Chopsticks

If you know me.... or have been around me lately, you will know I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Japanese Food. Aka, SUSHI! My favorite place is SHINES in Eagle River and they now have one in Wasilla. A few weeks ago, it took a long time for the waitress to bring me my "fork" and since I was starving I could not wait any longer so I had to "try" and use chopsticks. To my surprise and Jennifer's.... I could actually use those things, with a lesson of coarse!
So we snapped a picture to prove it! Now, it only lasted through the salad and some sushi, the main coarse was noodles and rice and there was no way I was going to have patience for that!!!

A Little Behind!

Opps... I am not sure why I am not better about posting!
I look forward to reading everyone else's Blog.. so why am I not better about updating mine? I think because when I do sit here, I go on and on!
It's never anything small!
June 25th was the first day the girls took Mary's "kids yoga" class! OMGosh, they LOVED it! They could have kept on going.... 45 minutes zipped by!
They also have class tomorrow and they have been talking about it all weekend!

The 4th of July we spent it as a family at Scottie's dad's house out in Wasilla. It was a lot of fun.... we BBQ'd, had ribs & sushi among many other goodies. Everyone was still stuffed when we went home. Since Scottie's dad lives on Memory Lake.... Scottie and Rodger brought their kayaks. Bill and Rodger took turns being the taxi drivers and gave all the kids a turn in the kayak.
I am assuming we will be doing this again, so when I was at Costco I found life jackets for the girls. This way, we have our own. The best part is, these jackets go up to 95-100 lbs. so you know they can use them for SEVERAL years to come. HA HA! Bill had to return back to work on the 5th of July... so that meant Jennifer came over on the weekend of the 6th and we scrapbooked! Needless to say, I still call myself a beginner. All I have done were ABC books. Those are small... 7x7.
I finally finished Sydney's ABC book... she was so excited and so was I to complete something that I took so long to do. I just needed to make more time! So my mission that weekend was to start another few 12x12 books. Hailey has a special book for "The School Years" So I successfully did Kingergarten and 1st grade. The book looks so GOOD. I did learn though, I printed too many pictures. So, I know this for next time. Oh, and that was NOT all... .I also started scrapping 2007 in a 12x12. I had to stop at our Hawaii trip because Costco misplaced 36 pictures.. but I have them now, so Jennifer and I need to plan another weekend SOON! I am on a roll! Needless to say, it was a WAY PRODUCTIVE WEEKEND! Thanks Jennifer for another FUN weekend!

Next is Bear Paw... Eagle River has a festival every year. MOMS Club has participated in the parade for the last 2 years. The girls and I rode/walked. It is a lot of fun, but I forget every year how FAST you have to keep up. This year was crazy fast... next year, I am going to watch. It wasn't fun to have to run to keep up. It was fun, smiling and handing out business cards. Hailey had a blast handing out bubble gum coins. Sydney was lucky and got to ride on the float!! This years theme was, "Pirates of the Bear-A-Bean" So it was easier than normal to decorate and be in costume!

This club is so wonderful and it disapoints me that we did not have a bigger turn out for the parade. 2 years in a row, low particapation. I hope the board reconsiders this for next year and chooses not to do it. It's too much work for those who do want to help. They can't always be the ones to do everything.
I was the only one in the group who was not invloved in decorating. I just came to walk. I was very surprised to see not more than 7 moms total there! I very impressed with the AWESOME job they all did. Our float rocked. Those ladies really pulled it off. The coolest part was, they did all the decorating at 9am. Since it was raining like crazy the day before. After the parade we went to Jennifer's and she made us lunch (fresh crab from Juneau on a yummy bed of salad with all the fixings) it was so YUMMY! After a full belly we were all pooped though!! I felt like I just ran a marathon! Since Jennifer and I were together again, you know what this means.... more scrapbooking!!! So I got to start another
12x12 book ... a special "Christmas Book" so I started that book in 1999 when Hailey was born... if you all can belive this, I am up to date current on that... I scrapped 8 years of Christmas! WOW!
OK, so what did I say about sitting here typing forever!
Man, I am so bad! Sorry this is so LONG...
OK, a few more pictures from Bear Paw weekend....
Check out this FIREWEED... I had to pull over and take some pictures.
Enjoy...



That's all the posting for now.... I am getting ready to leave for Cancun, Mexico with Scottie. It's just the 2 of us going. We are both so excited. We are finally using our trip we won from Tastefully Simple. I can't tell you how much I need this break right now... 6 days just the 2 of us and know one calling... MOM,... MOM... I'll take lots of pictures and share them when we get back!