Alden in his church clothes 

All of us on Mother's Day. We all look kind of rough, but that was basically our day! 

Day #109

What a fun day today. I took Adam to the train depot here in Fairbanks. They were having a beginning of the season open house. We met some of our friends there. They had a train you could climb on, hotdogs and drinks, a band and of course the ever so popular train ride. Adam really wanted to ride on the train when he saw it, however as we made our way in line, he had second thoughts. He cried and cried until we actually got on the train and we started moving. He decided he liked it so much we had to ride again.

The weather was beautiful. "Green Up" is beginning. It's the time of year when all the trees and plants grow their leaves and everything turns green. Normally this would take several weeks to accomplish. Not here in Fairbanks. The whole process lasts about 2 or 3 days. The trees were just budding yesterday and today there are leaves on many of them. What an amazing time of year.

Alden enjoying his second train ride. He slept through the first one :) 

Both boys on the train 

The boys and I in front of the train before we took our last ride. 

Alden relaxing in his stroller 

Mommy and Adam on the train. 

Adam on one of the train's tractors. He loved all the tractors almost as much as he loved the train itself :) 

Adam eating his hotdog at the train station 

Day #108

What a busy day today. It started out pretty good. Alden slept through the night last night! Yea!! From 8:30 to 6:00. Not bad. Probably won't happen again, but it was nice last night. I would have been nicer however if Adam slept well. He was up and whiny. I think his teeth were hurting. Two of the molars have cut through and the other two keep coming up to the surface and then going back down. Maybe tonight he'll rest better.

We had some friends over for lunch. Laura brought her daughter Lea over and we ate, chatted, and played (well the kids played). Adam was having some difficulty sharing some. It's so interesting the new little phases they go through. Somehow I think the sharing issues will probably be more than a little phase :)

I was able to talk to Abrahm for a little while on Webcam today. We had a hard time playing "computer tag" today. We finally were able to get on line at the same time and chat for an hour or so. He's doing well. Tomorrow is his day off from flying. Mom and Dad (Mathias), Abrahm got your box in the mail and says thanks.

Then tonight I went to our Battalion's "Dinner Out." It was a semi formal dinner. Our guest speaker was Senator, Lisa Murkowski. It was a pretty good time visiting with new and old friends. But mostly it was nice to get out of the house for a while without the boys. A couple from church, Ross and Rachel, kept the boys. Adam was looking forward to Ross coming to play all day. He was so excited to have a male buddy to play with. They said both the boys were well behaved and ate and went to bed very well. It's always nice to take a little bit of a break.

Just one last thing. We want to wish someone very special a Happy Birthday. It was Mrs. Suzanne's birthday today. Mrs. Suzanne, if you read this, we have a little something for you, we just couldn't get it by your house today. We'll try tomorrow!! Good night!

Mommy and Adam before Mommy's big night out! 

Day #107

I guess it's time I post again. I can't believe I skipped two days. Let's play a little catch up.

Tuesday was super busy. I had an FRG meeting to get ready for. I spent most of the day running errands and trying to set everything up. At the beginning of the meeting I said I wanted to keep it short because I needed to get the boys home and in bed. I managed to keep the meeting down to about 45 minutes or so. But would you believe they all stayed until after 8:00 visiting. So much for us getting home early.

Yesterday to celebrate 2 crazy days we did nothing!!! We stayed in our comfy clothes all day and just played and relaxed. I managed to clean up a little, but mostly we had a quiet day (at least until the phone rang with another FRG issue). We were able to chat with Abrahm for a while too. That always makes for a great day.

Last night was horrible. Alden was up and down all night. I am not sure what his problem was. All I know is that I was so exhausted that we didn't make it to playgroup today. We did manage to meet our friend and her children at the PX playground for lunch and visiting. It was very nice. Adam enjoyed playing with the other kids and I enjoyed visiting with another one of the FRG leaders. It was good to have a little gripe session!!

After lunch, Adam got his hair cut. He cried the entire time, but it's done now. This afternoon Adam entertained himself for an hour or so with an old egg carton box, his plastic Easter Eggs, and a pot. That gave me some free time to quilt. It was so nice to sit down at the sewing machine for a little while. The FRG is making a quilt for the soldiers for Father's Day. Each family made a square and we're putting them all together. Hopefully I'll have it done in time. It's not too complicated, so I should be able to.

Well hopefully we have a restful night. Tomorrow will be a crazy day. We are having another one of the spouses over for lunch and then I have a "mandatory fun" semi formal event to go to tomorrow night. I can't wait (yeah right).

Adam "cooking" his eggs this afternoon. 

Alden smiling in his bouncy seat this afternoon. 

Day #104

Whew!! What a past few days. I added up all the calls I have received over the last 3 days. It's somewhere in the neighborhood between 50 and 60 calls!!!! I've been trying to help a spouse get home on emergency leave after her husband's grandmother passed away. It has been challenging to say the least. Let's just put it this way. Her husband has made it back from Iraq a whole day earlier than her!!
It's times like these I run to my mailbox looking for a paycheck :)

Fortunately the boys have been behaving themselves. Alden has had a good couple of days. He entertains himself playing and trying to bat at his toys while laying on the floor. He is quite the chatterbox! Must get that from his mommy. Speaking of chatterboxes... Adam has decided he can talk. He says everything now. He repeats whole sentences and asks for anything. Which is why Alden ended up in the wagon!! "Mommy put Alden in wagon please." Who would refuse that request? Poor Alden. This morning he woke up and said "I want juice please". That's the first time he's used a whole sentence for something he wants. It does have its heartbreaking moments thought. Everynight before bed we sit in the rocker and read a book, sing a song, say a prayer for Daddy and have "cuddle" time, or as Adam says "cuddles, cuddles please." Tonight as we were cuddling he said out of the blue, "I miss Daddy." "Daddy come home." All I could do was say me too.

Alden saying "Go Adam, Go Adam!" 

Adam lugging around Alden in a new wagon one of the ladies from church brought over. It's supposed to be for Legos, but Adam quickly realized his brother would fit!! 

Alden in the wagon laughing at Adam. (It's a good thing he has a sense of humor) 

Both boys playing together 

Looks like he's up to no good :) 

Adam hauling Alden around in his new wagon. 

Alden holding his rattle. Today was the first day he tried to chew on it. 

Alden in his stoller without the carseat.  

Adam playing at the indoor playground at the PX today after church. 

Day #102

A big day for us today. The boys got new carseats. Well Adam got a new carseat. Alden just got Adam's old one. Poor kid, already living on hand me downs :)

I cleaned out the car and installed both seats this afternoon. What a job! I sure wish Abrahm could have been here to do it. But somehow we managed to get both installed (even properly, I think!). Adam wasn't sure about giving his old carseat to Alden. He had just figured out how to climb into it on his own and buckle the top strap by himself. Now he has to start all over again. I am sure he'll have it mastered in no time. Alden was also unsure of his big boy carseat. He likes being up higher with Adam though. He just smiles and laughs at him. It was tough when he wanted to go to sleep though. So now the new adventure begins. Since I no longer carry him around in the carseat, I have to hold him everywhere. Espcially places the stroller will not fit. He's not quite big enough to sit up yet, so it's definately going to be challenging for a while. I guess we just won't go anywhere we can't take the stroller :)

Alden had a rather rough night and day. Just more grumpy than usual, not wanting to eat normally, and he had trouble sleeping. I don't know what the problem was, but hopefully he'll have a better night tonight.

This evening was spent on the telephone trying to get one of our spouses home with her husband on emergency leave. He came back from Iraq because one of his family memebers is not doing well in the hospital. We're still working the issue, so hopefully we can get her on a plane in the next 24 or 48 hours.

Alden all smiles while we ate dinner tonight 

Adam eating his corn on the cob. Delicious!! 

Alden's not quite sure what to think about his new carseat. 

Both boys in their new carseats!