40th Anniversary

                                         Cheers to 40 years of marriage Mom and Dad!!

It's A Balancing Act

Playing with super hero masks

Look who is pulling up on things!

Puppy kisses

Helping with dinner

Trapped at the gate

Happy Boy loves food

Bath time

My Boys

Here were a few random pictures from the last week or so.  This time of year we all get inundated with every ones stories and pictures of their wonderful beach vacations.  I love to page through them and try not to be a hater.  This year we will not be going any where warm and sunny.  I know my time will come again to go on vacations- right now we are just a little kid saturated.  (Brian and I have been blessed and been on some really amazing trips together-I'll have to go through old pictures next time I'm being pouty) .  Life is a Balancing Act. At work we had a class on work-life balance.  It made me think about how we are managing things right now and reminded me that I should write them down because like all phases- this to shall pass- and some day we can look back and say we sure tried our best and hopefully it'll get easier!  Here is how we are doing things:
*We don't do any type of daycare right now.  This means that Brian and I work opposite schedules and cover the time between the two of us.  (every now and then Grandma Ann helps also)  Brian works Monday-Thursday 10 hour shifts and I work the weekend Friday-Sunday 12 hour shifts.  It's not the most ideal for Brian and I's alone time but it works great for the kids.  No daycare is Huge! We do get a few afternoon together at home- lunch dates instead of dinner.
*Not having daycare is good and bad.  It saves us a ton of money but doesn't allow for much 'free' time. (Not that any parent has free time).  One of us is always with the boys.
* My 'free' time is spent on school.  I am working on my Masters and hope to be done in about 3 years. (why does every thing good take so long?!)  One of these days I hope my life balance is more fun- like Yoga time or learning to play an instrument?  But I have decided to make the commitment to school and know once I finish I can get a more normal work schedule. No weekends, swing shifts or holidays. Nursing is a great job but the hours sure suck.  (but it has allowed us to do this crazy schedule for now)
*Brian's 'free' time is spent? It always seems like he is working on some house project for us or his mom- is that really fun free time?  I guess I would have to ask him but it just seems like boring adult need to do more then free time.  I am super excited that he has decided to get back into Golf.  He has lost his golf mojo for a while now and I can't wait to be a golf widow this summer!  I hope he can bring the boys once and while and I'll sit on the deck doing home work :)
* So this is our Balancing Act. For know it works.  I do enjoy having 4 days off of work every week.  I mean I almost feel like a stay at home Mom during the week but then I still get to challenge myself in a different way at work during the weekend.  I do believe that working in the PICU is less stress some times than staying home with three kids!

I Lost My Green Thumb!

These are the plants I used to grow!

This is my sad plants today!

I think I lost my green thumb! Once upon a time when I had no kids and empty rooms in my house I use to focus on growing orchids.  I had a room just for them.  The room had special lights and was warm just for my plants.  I would have orchids in different phases- ready to bloom and waiting to bloom.  I remembered to water them, feed them and watch them grow.  When I moved to Alaska I gave my Mom my orchids-which I think she still has a few alive.  I haven't been able to take them back because I just don't have the space for them.  I did how ever take my Christmas cactus back from my mother in-law.  She did so well keeping it alive for me when we lived out of state.  Now look what I have done with it!  The saddest part for me is that it came from my great grandma's plant. I was so proud to have a part of her plant.  It use to flower every winter for me.  Now look at it! I think I just noticed it today- sad sitting in the corner.  What has happened to my green thumb! I have a few more distractions these days :)  Note to self-  you only have one living plant in the house, try to remember to water it.  I think as soon as my focus changed to 'growing' children I forget how to focus on growing other things.  I mean seriously I'm surprised I don't forget the dogs some days.  Life is busy with different priorities.  Maybe I should add my sad plant to my list this of To Do's this year.  

A New Year

Another year has come and gone. Time really does fly!  Some times I feel caught up in the rat race of life and the same patterns each day or week.  Then all of a sudden a year slips by.  The house is still a mess, the kids are growing like weeds and I feel busier every day.  Here is a short recap of what we were up to this year.
1.  I started and finished my first year of Graduate school.  (Not to toot my own horn but I also finished with a 4.0!)
2.  We had a baby!  Ansel B Rapp.  Our third son.  We would not be complete with out you.
3.   I reached my goal weight after having a baby.  Love getting back into my 'regular' jeans.  
4. Brian and his sister Tracy became owners in the business Infinity Plastics.  Very proud of you guys!
5. Our dog Jazz died.  I still struggle with this one. She was the best dog ever.
6.  Found a new mole had it looked at by the dermatologist.  I was told it was only an age spot.  Yes, thank you that was super reassuring.
7.  I organized one closet.  I know it doesn't seem like much but it feels amazing.  It has stayed organized too!  When I get over whelmed in life I open the closet and it makes me feel good.

Goals for this coming year:
1. Stick with school.  Keep on keeping on and I'll be half way done at the end of this year.  One class at a time.
2.  Try to find more time for me.  Not sure how I fit this into my schedule but I'm going to try.  Even just finding more time to read, try to get back into Yoga or go for a short walk.  Something not school related would be nice.  :)
3.  Get in shape.  Okay I reached my goal weight after having the baby but things do not look like they once did.  Maybe this is a part of finding more time for me.  I don't care about loosing weight but more of a focus on healthy choices and feeling better each day.
4.  Get more organized.  Brian likes to say that if I'm not organized now that I most likely I won't get any better at it.  I would like to prove him wrong on this one and hope to become more organized the older I get!
5.  Slow down and enjoy the moment.  Life really does fly by and I don't want to spend it in cruise control.  Enjoy each moment I have with my kids and husband.  Try to be a better Mother and Wife to them each day.

I don't like to do new years resolutions but like the idea of a list of To Do's for the year.  I'm sure it will change but putting some thing down in print helps me have a focus point to start with.  Cheers to another year.  May we all have health and prosperity!

Ansel 10 months

Stink Face

10 Months- Ansel

Watch out brothers- I'm on the move!

Ansel:
What you are up to this month-
*Crawling every where and getting very fast.  You are so busy and get into every thing!
Opening cupboards and reaching to the top of the coffee table.
*Sitting up all by your self and playing with toys.
*Like to feed your self food and starting to work on a sippy cup.
*Starting to get stranger anxiety.  You really notice when some one new is around.
*Sleeping about the same-still getting up about once a night. You take a bottle and go right back to bed. (most of the time- other nights you like to fight sleep for about an hour, you like to be held or have your hand held)
*You are so curious and love to explore in your brothers rooms.
*You have become a huge challenge to change on diaper on.  You do the alligator roll over and over!
Can't believe that you are only 2 months away from being a year old.  Sure has gone fast with you.  

Axel turns 7!!

Axel the 7 year old 

1st Birthday

 I can't believe that my first born is 7 years old! I was going through old pictures- here are a few memories that Axel has had.

The Cabin

Duluth MN

Iditarod 

Still one of my favorite pictures!

Alaska

All dressed up

Eagle River, Alaska

So little

Glaciers

Moab, Utah

Axel at 7 years:
This year you started 1st grade.  You enjoy school and learning but struggle with talking too much.  When I say talking to much it may be an understatement!  You have always been one to talk- very articulate and well spoken just some times you don't know when to stop talking.  You starting spelling and reading this year.  You are my adventure kid.  Always open to trying some thing new or going some where new.  You have become a better eater this year.  You used to be very picky but you have grown a taste for trying new food- with lot's of encouragement.  You are the leader of your brothers and at this point they will follow you any where.  You don't like me kissing you in front of any one you know but still like to sit with me in the recliner to watch cartoons.  You have become tech savvy and help me when I can't get my phone to work!  You like to do science stuff with Mom.  You collect rocks, feathers and shells.  You like to build lego's.  You are still in to dino's and want to be a paleontologist when you grow up.  Favorite color is blue.  Favorite food- pizza and cake.
Love you Axel!!