Some times you have to get away!!!!!

Okay I know I did my blog for the week but had to add this one for the grandparents.  Olivia lost her second tooth tonight and she let mom pull it out again.  Next top teeth;)

So everyone knows we go to Big Lake alot.  That is our get away from home (not to far but far enough)!  We decided not to come in until Monday afternoon Rick went to work and the kids and I just slept in and went out on the paddle boat to FUN!!!!!

This is the view when we got there Friday night @ 11:30pm so relaxing .  We put the kids to bed Rick and I just enjoyed the sun set.

This is what we woke up to on Saturday morning:(

But by 11:00 am  the sun was out and we were ready to go on a boat ride:) 

so were the kids hats and all LOL!!!

We always meet up with friends while we are there it is awesome!!!

and by the end on the day we always (get the dads) to build a fire and do SMORES

Its not just for the kids you know :)

Olivia loves being able to see all the wild life @ Big Lake and touching it, picking it up ;( were is my hand wash)LOL This was Sunday morning walking over to the other cabin.

and we saw a wild bunny. No! Olivia we can not bring it home

The kids have so much fun together!!!

They even did a Scavenger Hunt.  The list entailed; 3  sticks, 4 white rocks, 2 green leaves, etc.  

We even love caching up with every ones life's!!  Its like a family reunion!!!

Hunter Thomas Rodgers

Hunter was born on November 14, 2003(feels like yesterday).  He is now 4 years old and is the very upservent of a lot of things.  Unlike his sister(Olivia) who jumps right in with both feet and eyes closed.  Hunter is laid back and gets to know is surroundings but very sweet.  Any ways he has been asking alot about him being in my tummy and about the birth.  So the kids have baby photos of them self's which they love looking at.  For the past week now Hunter just site by himself and just looks thought is baby book just smiling every now and then(at times I think what is he thinking)but it makes me smile;) 

This is Hunter Valentine 2008 with Ronalyn

This was family photos 2007 with Ronalyn

Here he is dressed up like Mama's Cowboy 2007 with Ronalyn

So I thought i would share some of his baby photos from his album.

Time flys by when your having FUN!!!!

I HAVE BEEN TAGGED!!!

HERE IT IS TANYA;)

A: attached or single? Attached to the love of my life - 15 years in July 29th

B: best friend? My mom

C: cake or pie? Pie - I would have to say cake (the 7 layer chocolate cake @ Costco) YUMM!!!!

D: day of choice? Thursday 

E: essential item? my lotion (Mary Kay Night cream) and camera 

F: favorite color? Green is my color right now

G: gummy bears or worms? Bears

H: hometown? AK, the last frontier

I: favorite indulgence? My white Chocolate Mocha and chocolate

J: January or July? Again, agreeing with Tonya all the way  I live in Alaska . . . for sure July

K: kids? Two Olivia(6) and Hunter(4)

L: life isn't complete without? My family and God

M: marriage date? July 29th 1994 (went to Vegas)

N: number of brothers & sisters? 3 sisters and 2 brothers 

O: oranges or apples?I have to say Fuji apples 

P: Phobias? Roaches

Q: Quote? treat others the way you want to be treated

R: reason to smile? Watching Olivia and Hunter playing together 

S: season of choice? Summer time (is that a song?)

T: tag 3 people: Ronalyn, Bridget, and Paula

U: unknown fact about me? I ran a 5k one year

V: vegetable? I have to say I like all veggies but (eggplant)

W: worst habit? shacking my leg:0

X: x-ray or ultrasound? ultrasound

Y: your favorite food? sushi (need to ask)

Z: zodiac sign? NOT SURE

Play Dates Gota Love Them!!!

It was so nice in Alaska again we had to have a play date!!  We have a big yard that the kids have a ball but its better when you have friends to share it with.

This is one of Hunters friends (Will) they talk about animals and play safari together;)

The girls are so cute!!!

Then its time to bounce!!!  I found this @ a yard sale for about 20.00 bucks its the best!!

This is Will's sister Andrea she is sooo cute.  She was coming up to the deck and giving me flowers from the yard.

Then that night I have a baby shower to go to for a friend of mine.  She (Katie) just had the beautiful baby girl(Raylee)

Could not leave the shower with out a photo with the new mom!!!

Fathers Day!!!

Fathers Day

 I think I should start at the beginning (as I get the box of tissue out).   Fathers Day was not a subject that I really liked talking about because not only did my birth father leave my mom at the age of 17 but I did not get to know him at all.  My step-father (well thats another story to tell at a later time) did not have a good relationship with him.  So I did something that was hard for me I did not try to look for my birth father but I still had a hunger in my heart to have a dad in my life.  I thought about it all the time.  As a young girl I thought about the day "my dad" would walk me down the aisle, and who my kids would call granddad.  I had girlfriends that were close to their dads I would think "how could that be?" or "how does that feel to be able to just call your dad on the phone and just talk?"  This is what I struggled with all my life then I gave my life to Christ and gave it to Him.  God became my "DAD" and I was okay with it.  God had filled that void in my heart.  But little did I know He had a better plan for me.  My mom got a divorce from my step-father and after 4 or 5 years I called and told her she was going to get married again. I thought she would come through the phone and chock me. But with a big NO my mom told me she was not going to do that again.  Then she met and married Ronnie the man I now call Dad.  We met before they married and we hit it off right away.  He has 2 sons from a previous marriage and always wanted a Daughter. I told him I always wanted a Dad so we adopted each other and now I look forward to Fathers Day.  We call each other just to talk or just to say Hi.  He makes me laugh all the time he loves telling jokes even thought they are not funny all the time but I love him so much like he was my Dad.     

This is he and I when he came to visit me this past fall.  Don't we look alike!!

Now my kids have a granddad in there live.  See what happens when you give thing to God.  He blesses you more then you can ever imagine.  Now to talk about another Father that is in my life (my wonderful husband) I could not have asked for a better Dad for my kids how blessed they are.  He is the one that will play "Duck,Duck,Goose" with the kids in the block.LOL!!    

We started out this morning by cooking his favorite meal (Olivia's also) grits and eggs.  After breakfast the kids sat on his lap while he open gifts and cards from everyone.

We decided to do Father's Day a day early so we could have all day to spend.  Sundays are pretty hectic with church and all.

This is what I got him for Father's Day he loves it.  Oh did I mention he like to cook too;)

So we took Rick to see Kung Fu Panda (Hunter's idea) it was a good and funny movie.  Its a must see;)

After the movies dinner to The Brewhouse (Olivia's idea)

Rick is not a sweets person but he likes him some "Bread-pudding" but only here.  I don't care for it but I had a few bites and my goodness it was good as you could see Hunter could not wait.LOL

What a Dad.  Not only is he a loving father to the kids but I think he puts me to shame at times.  I love that he is the apple in Olivia's eye and the hero that Hunter looks up to.  I love you Babe Happy Father's Day hope you enjoyed your day;)

Bike Ride!!!

I wanted to sending out a BIG special thanks to my girlfriend Ronalyn for taking the time to take photos of me and my mom while she was here visiting last month.  She picked out her favorite but this is mine;)  

So today the kids and I went for a long bike ride.  I was really proud of them they did good Hunter was ready to go back after this hill.

Having fun in the sun!!!!

Annual Work Picnic @ the Zoo

My husbands job (Alaska Spine Institute) has a Annual Work Picnic for Families and friends @ the Alaska Zoo!!  What FUN this year the ladies there out did them self's this year.  They had so much for the kids it was not even funny.  When we got there my wonderful husband got a gift certificate for being with the company 5 years (I'm so proud of him and everyone there loves him)!!  GO RICK!!!!

Someone took a picture of us and it looked nice (finally).  You know sometimes you give some else your camera and you get a jacked up photo!!  LOL

This is one of the Doctors son with his face painted too funny!!!

Even Rick and Hunter got in the bouncer to race:) 

Olivia and Hunter got there faces done too!!!  The ladies did a great job!!!

There was a Juggler, Magician, Face-painting, Games, and Dressed- up Characters (like moose, black bear, and a tiger) 

Oh!!!  I have not even covered the food as you can see there was Carmel/Candy apples, brownies, Big Cookies, and Shaved Ice

This is  one of Olivia and Hunters good friends she is a great girl we love her.  Not only is it a work picnic but its also a time to see those you don't get to see all the time.  Its like a BIG family reunion.  Its great FUN!!!!! Thank you Alaska Spine:)