{13} looks good on you, {baby} girl!

I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living,
My {baby} you'll be.

From a child to a young lady.

Just like that. 

We are so very proud of you.

Immeasurable love 

to infinity and beyond...

jan {i}photo challenge: week 1/366

suppose it shouldn't come as a shock that i'm doing this cute photo challenge a bit different.  beautiful {more organized than me} peeps are doing this as recommended via instagram.  but i'll just go for the whole sha-bang, at once. it's not too late if you want to join in the fun.

that's my continuous goal.  

simply... 
what works for us.

balance...
in all things.

hey, it can happen.



1. me    
2. breakfast. organic eggs.
3. something i adore. hugs.
4. letterbox. and the 11 yo's first time to try out the key.
5. what i wore.



6. makes me smile. hardware completed in the kitchen. hot tea. my sleeping children. learning on the go. girlies that still ride on shopping carts. messages from my babies letting me know i'm still needed... even if only to fix breakfast.



7. favourite. not one, but two family trips to ikea!  a few of our purchases... 2 chandelier {top row} for girlie room makeovers, two embroidered pillows, and shelving... with baskets for storing those pesky shoes that seem to fall off of little people's feet upon entry to our home.

it's what works for our family.

i'm purdy sure we started a new year

our last homeschool year seemed to blur into the next.  it wasn't quite planned that way, but when unexpected summer plans throw you a bit off... and you plan a lil' getaway... 

well, let's just say... life happens.  

we schooled light through the summer, now we're easing back into a routine, as best we can.

we've started our new history.  we're rollin' right along in math {lordhelpme}.  we've memorized all 53 prepositions.  states and capitals are nearly down, as well.  the girls have read various versions of oliver twist.  science... it's a work in progress.  we've enjoyed anatomy, but i guess we must crack open the new book.

our newest venture?  sewing.  by hand, so far.  {be afraid, be very afraid} we fit all this in, best we can, between a crazy theater schedule, piano lessons, and dance.  

oh, and there's picking up dry cleaning, buying a leotard, cooking groceries, airport runs {yes, it's just us gals this week}, driving through gas stations, looking for a lost sewing needle only to discover it wasn't lost, taking out the trash, picking up mama's hair color to give the appearance of youth, vacuuming, mt. everest piles of laundry... you know, the usual.

so, it would be understandable if our official back-to-school pictures were delayed just a tad, right? 

okay, good.

*ehem*

in that case, here's our new 6th and 4th grader.

brace yourselves for the abundance of pictures.

 

that one in the middle, bottom row, is not in 6th grade, but might as well be.  mama is re-learning a lot!  or maybe i'm learning some of it for the first time?  who knows. 

i know.  she loves that silly dog.  getting one dog and one cat were the best-pet-fits for our wee lil' family.  {i passed on accepting 8 rabbits today.  you're welcome, schmoopie.}

oh.  and jasmine is happy, too.  cooler temps.  hallelu-yer!  {shout out to madea!}  that means more car rides.  and snout art on the windows.  but who can resist those big-{old soul}-brown-puppy-eyes?

*sigh*

as soon as i get all of my ducks in a row, i'll give you a heads up on what we're using this year. ;)

photos: mama.

cuteness: girls.

backdrop: thanks to neighbor's {overgrown} willow tree hanging in our back yard.

school year:  2011-2012  {holdme}

our last day of exploring in the mountains

after a full week, we were tired, y'all.  so we slept in.  past the hotel's breakfast time.  hubs told me about a place that sold pancakes bigger than your plate, so i had to see it for myself.  crazy, right?  hubs and i split one.  they were pretty yummy.



next we took another short road trip along the scenic seward highway from anchorage to the wildlife conservation center.  a center caring for orphaned and/or injured animals. 
 
although... i did wonder how they accumilated so many deer skins to sell in their gift shop.
were these animals they couldn't rehibilitate??
inquiring minds want to know.
or maybe we don't?
*gulp*



we watched this orphaned kodiac cub play in the water
like any clumsy house pet we've ever owned.
so stinkin' cute.
but no worries.
you won't find me feeding the bears.



there is a tiny wire fence separating us from most of the animals.
we watched this moose eat for quite some time.
he didn't let us disturb his lunch.

when getting eye level with one of the big caribou,
i was reminded just how tiny the fence was.
he must not have liked that.
when he stood up, inches from my face, i suddenly realized this lil' wire fence wouldn't hold his massive frame back... if he really wanted to come after me, that is.

he didn't seem to mind me reaching in to touch his huge antler, though.
i couldn't resist the temptation.
it felt soft and fuzzy.  kinda like kiwi.
good thing they shed those occasionally.
the weight of it would have me dragging my big head around.
for sure.



so after reading this sign...
do you notice anything funny about this picture below?



i was kinda hopin' the fence was left open on purpose.
yeah.
that makes me feel better.

wood bison.
they're pretty important to alaskan history.
between the fur, to keep you warm
and the fact that they are great grazers. 

after visiting and reading about the animals that reside here,
we headed over to girdwood to visit the alyeska resort
and ride the tram up the mountain.



it was the warmest day, yet we found ourselves standing in snow.

 

crazy, right?

so much fun.

but you had to be careful up here.

there were drop offs and hiking trails.

not to mention the bears.

we saw a black bear from the tram on the way back down.
apparently, it's not uncommon to find one roaming the resort.
ummm... i'll pass.

hubs made me move for fear that i would fall down the mountainside,
trying to capture the perfect shot.
*giggle*
we headed inside for a bite to eat with these crazy beautiful views.
apparently many are great for skiing.
that's something i've never tried.
maybe one day.

we headed back down to anchorage to meet up with friends
at the glacier brewhouse.
yummy.

friends that loaned us their car for the week.
again, so thoughtful.
and generous.
one of the many blessings that made this trip affordable.

{day 1}
{day 2}
{day 3}
{day 3 part 2}
{day 4}

the day in which we wore every jacket in our suitcase

the 127 mile stretch from anchorage to seward is quite breathtaking.  unlike many places in america, you will often find large 'nooks' off the side of the road for parking.  picture taking is expected.  and a must, at times. 

it also serves those adventurous souls who enjoy the numerous hiking trails or rock climbing within mere feet of the road.  we didn't stop.  the purpose of our adventure was to explore kenai fjords. 



so we loaded in a small boat with a handful of other adventurous souls.  some of them booked this expedition through a travel agent.  so, i guess we got lucky... because i simply found them online.  it's a family owned business, but they have two ladies manning this lil' ship.

all in all, it was a great experience.  i'll let the pictures do most of the talking...

flying in a boat + glaciers = glacier water = freezing one's fanny off.

this is a 95 foot boat.  this is a big glacier.

 

when it calves, it sounds like thunder.
everyone is quiet...

taking it all in.
amazing.

we saw humpback, fin, and {of course} shamu. ;)  unfortunately, they were all a bit shy... so they didn't breach the water.  we forgave them.





this lil' guy was checkin' us out.  i think he regretted leaving his camera at home.

after an entire day at sea, we were all looking like these little guys...



apparently, we were lucky.  they say that the weather isn't always so clear, and the glacier so active.  we saw eagles, whales, puffins, otters, sea lions, dall sheep, lava rock... and lets not forget the glacier.

before leaving, we witnessed the weighing of several halibut that had been caught.  the winner was a young lady.  her fish was 50 lbs.



it's a different world there, y'all. 
simply amazing.

a couple more of these posts and i'll be done.  promise.
i mean, my everyday life is much more entertaining anyway, right?
you don't have to answer that. ;)

{day 1}
{day 2}
{day 3}
{day 3 part 2}

sisters: photoshoot of 2011

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.  --Marion C. Garretty



It was nice growing up with someone like you - someone to lean on, someone to count on... someone to tell on!  -- Author Unknown



If your sister is in a tearing hurry to go out and cannot catch your eye, she's wearing your best sweater.  -- Pam Brown



Of two sisters one is always the watcher, one the dancer.  -- Louise Glück



An older sister is a friend and defender - a listener, conspirator, a counselor and a sharer of delights. And sorrows too.  -- Pam Brown



What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it?  --Jenny DeVries

  
When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us?  -- Pam Brown



The best thing about having a sister was that I always had a friend.  -- Cali Rae Turner

Our roots say we're sisters, our hearts say we're friends.  --unknown

*****************************************************************

 

girlies photographed by yours truly.
oh, my mama heart.
i could stare at their lil' faces all day.
still.

there's pleeeenty more sister pix where these came from.

my computer's hard drive is begging for mercy.

did i ever tell you that we secretly wanted a {girl} with our second miracle pregnancy?

simply so that sisters would be living under our roof.
so close in age.

and no, granny, i didn't wear the tutus this year. 

tempting.

maybe next time. ;)