The Graves Family

New Years, Snew Years...

2012-01-06T09:09:00.001-09:00

Everyone has resolutions. I'd love to say mine include updating the blog more. Sorry, it's just not true. Life has been crazy for us and my time has been stretched thin. After trying for 9 months we finally have a house. The process has been a huge roller coaster. We won't close until February 10th and I will be holding my breath, crossing all my fingers and toes until then. I suppose it's time to backtrack...

We left Alaska July 1st and somehow the hubs talked us all into driving the Alcan. Yes, 3 kids, a dog, one massive trailer, the hubsters and I driving... forever... and ever. We didn't see as much wildlife as anticipated. A few bear, a few moose, a beaver (we think), TONS of horses, cows, and bicyclists. Yep, hardcore bikers. I couldn't believe how many people were literally in the middle of nowhere on a bike with a saddlebag or two. Canada was beautiful. It was so beautiful we got sick of seeing the scenery (I know, imagine that). Mountain after mountain, ravine, waterfall, river, mountain... all gorgeous... for about 2 days. By day 3 and 4 we were anxious for flat land. This may be in part to the most ~~dangerous~~ interesting roads this family has ever seen. It may have something to do with our slow convoy pulling our trailer up and down maxing our truck out. It may be for the simple fact that no one should ever cram 3 kids in a truck for a trip this long. Who knows, but by the time we reached the U.S. border we were just thankful to be alive. Here are a few more pics from our trip.

We to Sweet Home and spent time with family Oregon style. Next we drove to Idaho. After saying our goodbyes we loaded back up and started toward Vegas. Once there we immediately went to work finding a temporary house. We wanted to rent until our house went through which can take quite a while. We found a great rental in a good neighborhood, check! Next we looked at homes to buy. The hubs made a trip in April and after several offers nothing worked out. From that visit he had a pretty good idea about where we should settle down. Day 6 and 5,000 houses later we found the perfect house. It was love at first sight. We knew this house was a short sale which is a ~~nightmare~~ complicated process. We put our offer in knowing that actually getting the house might not happen. When you move the military gives you so much time in a hotel or temporary housing. On day 10 we were going to move into the rental. This would be the same day we would run out of temporary housing. Well, day 8 our realtor called to inform us that we couldn't move into the rental because it was just sold. What? We suddenly realized we had nowhere to live. The kids and I ended up driving back to Idaho and stayed with my sister. I'm sure she had no idea what she was getting into. Hubsters stayed in Vegas with a friend so he could still work. A month later we were able to move on post. Just for the record we ~~hate~~ don't enjoy base housing. We opted for a smaller unit so the wait time would be shorter. We kept all our stuff in military storage because moving was in our future. Why move twice if you can do it once right? Well, long story short... after months of going back and forth and being assured it was ours, we lost the house. We had our stuff delivered and got to work finding another place. The new house is 1561 square feet smaller than the other house so it's an adjustment. We are anxious to put our personality and love into it. Having a place that's OURS has been a dream for years.

While the house drama was going on we had the AF ball, birthdays, potty training, a new school, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Be prepared for picture overload...

We love and miss you all! Happy New Years!!!

Via Las Vegas!

2011-05-23T00:56:00.000-08:00

So it's been 9 months since my last post... I hope you weren't holding your breath. Once again, the military life provides us with a change of scenery. If you haven't kept up with us on FB, we are moving to Las Vegas. After my back incident, an ice-free climate sounds pretty good. This move brings us closer to family as well as a reunited relationship with many stores we have missed. Hopefully we can survive the blistering heat and enjoy our new surroundings. Despite it's reputation, we are VERY excited to go.

Now it's time for a little catching up... The past few months have whipped by so fast. We had an amazing vacation in Hawaii (check our our album on FB)

Addie turned 2, we sold nearly all our furniture, school ended for the year, and I survived numerous procedures on my back. While my health issues haven't improved, life is good. Reagan turns 8 next month and we can't wait to have family visit. It's hard to believe our little girl is growing up. We are looking forward to a summer full of camping, spending time with family, and finding our new home.

Busy Bee's

2010-08-20T00:14:00.000-08:00

Lately it feels like we are moving in super-sonic speed. This summer was a wet one which deterred many of our plans. We still manged to go camping, rent a paddle boat, and hit a few trails. If you are on FB, you probably already know all the details. If not, here is the readers digest version:

Moose, there are LOTS of moose in Alaska. This year we've seen quite a few black bear too.

This was our cabin... we could hear the wolves howl every night.

and the paddle boat on Otter Lake

We hit the Crow Creek Mine, and Winner Creek Trail - highly recommended!

If you go on the hike, beware of dogs with a bad attitude or you could get one of these...

That sucker lasted 3 weeks. Jon also had an "adventure" with the scouts. They canoed for almost a week

straight with nothing but their packs.

we attended the Arctic Thunder Air Show

my business has been growing like crazy... I'm much busier than I expected

We celebrated a few birthday's, had several bbq's, stayed up late, ate too many smores, biked, hiked, and soaked up every spare minute of sunshine. Even though the summer felt short, we tried to make the most of it. Now the kids are in school and Jon and I will be soon. Bring on the fall!

Crafty, Crafty.

2010-06-01T00:16:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been doing lots of little projects. I think those annoying little items that never get crossed off on my "To-Do" list finally got to me. I always sit on the floor to apply my makeup. I don't know why, but I always have. Let's just say more often than not my makeup doesn't get put away and Addison LOVES to get into my makeup, particularly my brushes. Like most girls I have quite a few brushes. I found several great tutorials for crayon rolls and decided to make one. It's nothing fancy, but it keeps my brushes safe from a curious 1yr. old who puts everything in her mouth.

My next project was actually for my sister. She wanted something for her kids. Kaydance's was the first, I have Aiden's nearly done, and when JoAnn's finally stocks more letters I will do Allyson's. I think they turned out super cute. I am amazed what spray paint can do... that's right, SPRAY paint. It's a revolution (just ask the hubs).

WARNING - Picture overload!

2010-05-25T22:58:00.000-08:00

Where to start... Addie has turned into quite the sneaky little child. I am constantly finding her "hiding". More than once I've been looking for her and opened a cabinet door to see THIS...

Thursday was the last day of school for both Reagan and Gavin. On Wednesday Reagan's class had a party. Here is a pic of her class at Orion Elementary.

Reagan and her 1st grade teacher Mr. VonGemmingen

Addie and her new fav. trick (waving)

We are so excited to start the SUMMER! As an early birthday gift Reagan and Gavin got a trampoline. This has already been so much fun. I love that I can send them outside to play and they have something to do (that will wear them out).

As promised, here is a pic of Jade with her cone of shame.

She is doing much better and we are ALL grateful the cone is gone! You will have to wait on the other pics I promised. Sorry, but time is short and I've got a bazillion things to do. If you haven't read about it on FB, we decided to re-do our 1/2 bath and that among all my other projects and orders has kept me pretty busy. Hopefully you are getting ready to enjoy your summer, we sure are!

Lots going on...

2010-05-11T13:53:00.000-08:00

On the 2nd we were out for an evening walk and that's when things got crazy. Reagan and Gavin were taking turns on the Razor, I was pushing Addie in the stroller, and Jon was walking Jade. We noticed a large lab mix off leash and made a mental note (this is a BIG deal on base). The dog came over to us, sniffed Jade, she sniffed him, and everything seemed fine. Jon started to walk away with Jade when for no reason the other dog snapped. Before we had time to respond he locked his jaw on Jade's head and threw her to the ground. I ran over and tried to help Jon pry the dog off Jade. She was yelping for help. I was punching and kicking the dog as hard as I could (he didn't flinch) and Jon was trying to pull him off. In the mix Jon's knuckles were bloodied up and Jade was bleeding pretty badly. The owner came out to see what was going on. After calling security forces and taking the kids to a friend's house we rushed Jade to the Emergency Clinic. They had to knock her out in order to stitch her up. She was in a lot of pain, but has been healing quite well.

Over the week Gavin started to get sick. He was coughing so hard he nearly threw up. Friday we had to take Jade back to the vet. She managed to open some of her sutures. Luckily they were able to just glue it shut. Armed with the Cone-of-Shame, we returned home. Addie caught the bug next. This particular bug included noses that POUR and have a disabled shut-off valve. Before long Reagan and Jon were hacking.

Sunday... ah, Sunday. After another night of no sleep (thanks to a so-snotty-she-can't-breathe Addie), 3 sick kids, a sick hubby, and a recovering dog, I was not expecting a great Mother's Day. Jon really is the best husband. He gave me flowers, let me nap, cleaned the house, cooked, made an amazing cake (pics to come), and made sure I felt loved. This poor man looked like death. It was a great day despite all the challenges.

On to Monday. Addie is at that age... you know, the age where she wants to be independent and get into everything. Yesterday she was pulling herself up on a chair when she lost her footing and whacked her head right on the corner of the chair. Yup, my 1yr. old has a black eye (also pics to come). On a side-note, she has taken 8 steps consecutively and is determined to walk. Crawling is so last week. Well hopefully you survived this long picture-less post. If time allows I'll get some pics up soon. Until next time!

Big Changes

2010-04-25T17:53:00.002-08:00

You may have noticed a lot of changes going on. With new church callings, recently opening a business, a school year coming to a close, and gearing up for a summer filled with camping and hiking there is never a dull moment for the Graves family. In light of our busy schedule, our blog will also be changing. Instead of having individual pages, we will now have one for our family. What better way to start things off, than with Addie's 1st Birthday! Enjoy the pics from her big day...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-24T20:53:00.003-08:00

Well, another AMAZING St. Patrick's Day has come and gone. Each year our celebration seems to grow. This was such a fun year thanks to our GREAT friends! Here are a few pics of the festivities…

Spring Break!

2010-03-10T22:51:00.001-09:00

For years I never understood why parents loathed breaks such as Spring Break, Christmas Break, or even the summer between school years. Now I understand... the constant bickering and arguing. This has never really been an issue for our family, UNTIL NOW. I love having my kids home with me. I love spending time with them. I even plot ways to keep them home from school. Now I am at my wits end trying to keep the peace and end wars. WHAT HAS HAPPENED to my CHILDREN? If we all survive this it will be a miracle. In an effort to keep our home a "happy" one we are trying to find activities for the rest of the week. If you have any suggestions let me know. Jon took the kids to Fur Rondy, we went to Arctic Oasis, and tomorrow is looking like a great museum day. Hopefully you are enjoying your Spring Break :)

In addition to caring for the previously mentioned three *delightful* (insert any antonym) children and trying to maintain a clean home, my business has really taken off. I have been working like crazy. Provided I manage my time efficiently, this is AWESOME. If you were wondering about the pic, it's Addie reminding me to let "come what may and LOVE it". Jon has been working hard, providing for our family. He (like the rest of us) can’t wait for the snow to disappear so we can dive into all the summer activities we love. Until next time…

Nothing Noteworthy

2010-02-07T22:27:00.000-09:00

You may have noticed our page hasn't been updated... well, there hasn't been much to update. Other than my boutique, we are just going from one day to the next. We are grateful we haven't had any "exciting" news and that things are slowing down. When we have something truly "blog-worthy" our page will once again be updated!

Christmas... better late than never!

2010-01-08T21:04:00.001-09:00

We woke up at 4 a.m. on December 16th and headed for the airport. After 3 connections (Juneau, Seattle, Portland) and a 2 hour drive, we finally arrived at Jon’s parents home. The next day was Jon’s birthday and we woke to hear news that his great uncle passed away. This was not the way we anticipated our trip to start. Later we drove to Albany and spent a little time with Jon’s Grandmother. We met up with Nick and Katelyn followed by dinner at Carino’s. I can still taste the Scallopini, Yum!

The rest of the weekend was spent wrapping up Christmas shopping, kicking back with family, and preparing for the week ahead. Jon, Nick, and several of their cousins had continual Airsoft battles. Monday we attended services for Jon’s great uncle. After the burial we had scheduled family pictures. We drove back to Albany and were notified Jon’s grandmother was not going to make the pictures. She was feeling very ill. Tragically she passed away that evening. We spent most of our trip tending to family, and ensuring Grandma’s things were taken care of.

We were able to spend Christmas Eve with all of Jon’s siblings, their children, and his parents. Our children were spoiled and had a great time. Christmas day was more mellow and calm. The kids were thrilled to find what treasures Santa left for them.

All too soon it was time to head home. Tuesday we began our drive to Portland. We left a few hours early, allowing time to hit Deseret Book before our flight. The weather took a turn for the worst and we were crawling bumper to bumper on slick roads. The typical 2 hour drive took 5 hours. Luckily we made our flight with time to spare. After a long 4 hour flight we arrived in Anchorage. We had a little trouble locating our car but made it home safe and sound.

Despite all the challenges and tragedies, Christmas was still one we will treasure. We were able to see loved ones, reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, and lean on each other through this difficult time. We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

For Updates

2009-12-12T16:12:00.000-09:00

For information about my progress/condition, check out my individual page. I don't want this trial to take over our lives any more than it has to.

"Never regret anything you have been through, because only with those trials will you become a better person the next day." – Crystal Hunt

We love you all and appreciate the overwhelming support, prayers, and service. Thank you!

Long Road Ahead - warning, this is a lengthy post.

2009-12-11T23:25:00.001-09:00

Well, I guess I better start at the beginning. About 3 weeks ago I had a “concerning” incident. Just after Jon and I put the kids in bed we were talking. I tried to say the word “probably” and couldn’t get it out. Suddenly I couldn’t speak. Then when I could speak, my words were coming out jumbled and I wasn’t making sense. Just as Jon was preparing to call 911, I started to make coherent sentences. My jaw was stiff and I had no idea what happened. I thought maybe it was a small stroke. The next day we went to the Emergency room and they ran a few tests. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary so we returned home with an appointment for Neurology a few weeks down the road.

December 4th Jon, Gavin, Addie and I were running errands. We had just started on a huge laundry list of things planned for the day. We had to run up to the Education Office here on base. Usually grounds are very well maintained on Air Force installations. As we walked in we noticed the sidewalks weren’t shoveled and the steps were icy. We took care of our appointment and left the building. Knowing that the steps were icy I was trying to be careful. I was holding Addie wrapped in a blanket. The next thing I knew my feet flew out from under me. Jon said my feet were about the height of my head when I fell. I protected Addie as best I could. I instantly knew something was wrong.

I told Jon to take the baby. I cried that I thought my back was broken. I couldn’t move and the pain was excruciating. He ran in with to have someone call 911. While we waited employees from the building tried to keep me warm by covering me with blankets. Remember, this is Alaska, it’s winter, I was only wearing a jacket and jeans. Finally the fire department showed up. They had to place me on a board and use the neck brace along with all the straps and place that on the gurney. By this time the ambulance arrived. They loaded me in and off we went. All in all, I was lying on the ground in snow for about 20 minutes which caused me to shiver and shake like crazy. VERY PAINFUL.

The EMT crew wanted to medicate me but I told them I was nursing and they didn’t know what they could give me. I had to tuff this one out. In the E.R. they took initial X-rays which showed nothing. I knew this hurt way too bad to be nothing. I knew something serious was wrong. They informed me I would have to give a urine sample. Trying to move off the gurney and sit up was so painful I blacked out several times and was shaking. The admitting doctor knew by this point something had to be wrong.

The rushed me for a CT scan and injected me with dye. The test revealed that I had a lacerated spleen and 2 broken vertebrae. Finally pain meds came. The morphine barely dulled the pain. I was admitted and sent to a room. The accident happened right around noon and the only thing I had a chance to eat that day was a bowl of cereal. By this point it was reaching 9pm. I couldn’t eat or drink anything because surgery hadn’t been ruled out yet. Finally at 10:30pm I was able to lie still and drink juice. I could only lay on my right side and the pain was so intense I can’t even come close to describing it.

I was turned into a pin cushion with too many needle pokes to count and after several failed attempts, 2 I.V.’s. Jon and Addie were troopers. Addie is still nursing and has learned to nurse in difficult circumstances. Jon is balancing taking care of me, and our 3 kids. On Wednesday I went to my scheduled appointment with Neurology. I didn’t even make it through the entire appointment before blacking out and dry-heaving like crazy. The doctor knew something was off with my pain meds. He had them switched and it made a huge difference. I had been battling pain and nausea until that point. I was in the hospital for a week and have enjoyed being home. It’s nice to be a family again. Words can’t express our thanks to the ward members who pitched in and helped in our time of need. We have had so much support and love. Being away from home is difficult and it’s nice to know we have friends to count on here. I have started to walk. With assistance from Jon I can walk to and from the bathroom. I can now lie on my back or side. I am also able to climb in bed by myself.

I am making progress, it’s slow, but I am grateful for any improvement. Please be patient with me. I will try to keep things updated but I move quite slow now days. Thank you for your continued love and support!

Sabrina

Smok'n Hot!

2009-10-31T22:54:00.002-08:00

This Halloween started off with a bang! Jon was a smok'n hot detective from the 70's

I was his partner

Reagan went as "Super-Girl" and Gavin was "Spider-Man"

Our ward had a great Halloween Party complete with a Carnival and Trunk-or-Treat. The kids scored so much candy they could barely lift their pumpkins.

With the assistance of the Moses Family we created a "Balloon Room" for the little kids. It was a huge hit.

Who doesn't love a great big set of wax lips?

You may be wondering, where is Addie?

Well, Bat-Girl was tuckered out for most of the festivities.

just as things were wrapping up...

somebody woke up

All in all... a GREAT night!

Gymnastics

2009-09-30T22:44:00.002-08:00

Oh how we love Thursdays! On this particular day of the week both Gavin and Reagan have gymnastics. I can't brag enough about this place. Not only do the kids have a blast, but it makes me want to go. I know the pics didn't turn out very well, but here is a glimpse of what they do in class.

Gavin's class bouncing on the long tramp

Reagan's class getting ready for the beam

Time to stretch

Balance beam time

Reagan doing a forward roll off the spring board

Gavin getting ready to hang from the bar

I think this kid is part monkey

Just a few more hours and we will be at the gym again having a blast!

The Alaska State Fair

2009-09-07T23:45:00.000-08:00

This past weekend the weather was BEAUTIFUL. We decided to get out and enjoy it before the snow hits. This prompted our outing to the Alaska State Fair. If you can't tell by the pics, the kids had a blast. The went on several rides, played with animals at the petting zoo, watched friends perform on stage, caught a few musical acts, and just enjoyed all the vendors.

School

2009-08-31T21:29:00.000-08:00

This past week left us wondering, what happened to summer? Is it really gone? Things have already started to pile up. Our laid back, lazy summer days are long gone. BOTH Reagan and Gavin started school on Tuesday. So far they are enjoying it (lets hope the trend continues).

Reagan is in 1st grade and her teacher is a newbie, Mr. VonGemingegen (that's a mouthful). Gavin is doing part-day preschool Mon-Thursday just down the road.

In addition to school, they started gymnastics on Thursday evenings. I can't brag enough about this place. Where else can an energetic 4 yr. old hang from a 15 foot pole and drop into a foam block pit? What 6 yr. old wouldn't love to jump on a massive trampoline or springboard onto a ginormous mat? Seriously, I want to go to class.

Jon is working hard and I am still taking classes at UAA. The house seems quiet with just Addie and I, but I am hoping to use the time productively. With school, gymnastics, work, church callings, and our online store we are definitely keeping busy. At least we won't have time to be bored...

Idaho Rock's My Socks!

2009-08-05T22:07:00.016-08:00

Our trip to Idaho was such a blast. I have so many great pictures it's hard to choose which ones to post. Things got off to a rocky start. Our flight was late coming in which delayed us. This caused us to miss our connecting flight in Denver. The next flight to SLC was 10 hours later than our original flight. Luckily I have family in Denver that rescued us for a few hours. Eventually we made it to SLC and picked up our car. We drove to Sugar City and pulled in just after 12:30 Wednesday morning. Whew, it was rough but we were glad to be there. A couple of hours and a Jamba Juice later, Doug McBride took our family pictures. He did an excellent job and we loved being a family again. Here are some of the pics we snapped in between the professional photos.

Thursday we spent at the Tautphaus Park Zoo with the Gallup's, Meikle's, and Niederer's. Natalie made the boys tie-dye shirts and the girls bandanna's. We grabbed a bite to eat and shopped until we dropped. We ended the night with dinner at Johnny Carino's yum! I can still taste the Italian Nachos and Chicken Scallopini.

Friday we spent time at my Grandma's house and farm. The kids couldn't get enough of the livestock, tractors, and toys. Gavin has decided he wants to be a full time cowboy and live in Idaho. After fun in the sun we hit Heritage Park for the 1st part of my 10yr. reunion. I know, I know... I'm getting old. It was fun catching up with old friends and letting the kids run wild. We couldn't forget our Sugar City tradition of picking out penny candies at Schofields.

Saturday we stopped at Cal Ranch and picked out a hat for Gavin. He felt right at home. For lunch we went to Olive Garden. Oh, how we have missed good Italian food. My Mom, her fiance' Gary, and Denae joined us as we scarfed down our pasta. We ran to Vickers and picked out boots for Reagan and Gavin. Gotta have all the gear right? Next we cruised home where the kids were dropped off with Grandpa to learn about milking cows.

Jon and I (and Addie) went to the 2nd part of my reunion. We had dinner, watched a slide show, and enjoyed catching up.

Sunday my Dad blessed Denae's baby. What a day. After a great blessing my Dad shared his testimony. He is such a wonderful person. I am lucky to have him in my life and to be blessed with the knowledge that no matter what, he loves me and my children. He has had difficult trials but still continues to be focused and driven to do what is right. Most of our family attended the blessing. It was a moment I will cherish forever. After Sacrament meeting we attended a luncheon at my Dad's. Several extended family members and friends joined us.

This was a difficult day. I knew we would be heading home for Alaska in the morning. I tried to fight back tears as we packed. I knew it would be a long time before I would be with my family again. The next morning we loaded up our things. My Dad offered a prayer and we gave tear filled goodbyes. Our trip was too short, but definitely worth it. I love my family and can't wait to see them again.

Birthday Bash!

2009-07-19T21:16:00.002-08:00

Friday we celebrated Reagan & Gavin's birthday's at House of Bounce. We had pizza, cake, and more inflated fun than you can possibly imagine. Here are pics from our fun filled day.

A big thank you to the Hartzell, Smith, Adams, Bentley, Quinn, Martin, and Eldridge Families for driving all the way to Eagle River and spending this day with us.

Happy Birthday Gavin!

2009-07-12T21:16:00.001-08:00

Gavin is growing up so fast. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. Here is a tribute to our big boy.

Summer Fun

2009-07-05T20:08:00.006-08:00

This past week has been a busy one. On Friday some of our friends joined us for a pre-4th of July gathering. We had hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, salsa, potato salad... and well, you get the idea. After hanging out with friends we went with the Adams to see fireworks in Eagle River.

Fireworks have been bittersweet for me ever since we moved from Idaho. I miss the Melaluca freedom show. I miss sitting on the greenbelt and watching the sky lit and hearing the music play. Even though the show here was small, it was still fun.

They STARTED at midnight and you can still see how light it was. Alaska summers definitely complicate things.

Check out Reagan's face in the pics. She was more interested in posing than watching.

Saturday was much more relaxing. Jon went to see Transformers while I stayed home with the kids. Sunday was another beautiful day. Last summer was a hard one but this year has made up for it. After a walk we decided it was too hot (AK has ruined us it was 74 degrees).

The kids put on their suits and turned on the sprinkler. It doesn't get better than that.

Family and Fun - Part 1

2009-06-14T17:54:00.004-08:00

The past two weeks have been filled with family and fun. My dad was the first to arrive and we made use of the little time he could spare. The week started off with a hike to Flat Top.

We went sightseeing around base and Anchorage, worked on projects for our yard, watched movies, and enjoyed each other's company. Early Saturday morning Jon's parents arrived. We went to the Sour Dough Mining Company. How many times can you say you ate grub in an old mine?

We shopped and checked out the reindeer before filling our bellies with a good ole' fashioned dinner. Let's not forget the 2000+ lb chocolate waterfall that had all of us licking our lips. Afterwards, we headed home to prepare for early morning church.

The blessing was beautiful and given with love. It was so special to have both grandfathers and close friends in the circle for this ordinance.

After church we held a luncheon for all our friends and family. The turnout was better than we expected and nearly everyone we invited showed up. This was the most amazing day for several reasons; not only was the weather gorgeous, but it's the first time we have been with family in 2 years! The food was good but the conversation was better. Thanks to everyone for your friendship and support! We appreciate everyone who helped out.

Monday the boys headed out for a special Father's Day treat. They went on an aerial tour and not only experienced Anchorage from above, but also glaciers, wildlife, and breath taking scenery. When they returned we heard nothing but excitement from everyone but Jon (who apparently tossed a few cookies). We took a stroll around the dog park and tried to ward off all the mosquitoes. This was also a sad day because my Dad had to return home. We hope he had as much fun as we did.

She's Finally Here!

2009-04-29T21:27:00.002-08:00

After what seemed like forever Addison is finally here. She was born at 3:35 pm April 24th, 2009. Our little bundle of joy was 7 pounds 5 ounces, and 20.5 inches. We did have a battle with Jaundice but three days later we were finally released. She is such a wonderful addition to our family and we are loving her more and more each day. Here are pictures from the past week.

Easter

2009-04-16T21:14:00.004-08:00

Yes, we are just getting around to sharing our Easter details. Things have been a little hectic lately with Jon's schedule, church callings, life... oh, and did we mention the anticipation of our newest family member? Nope, she isn't here yet, but soon... very soon.

Our Easter activities started on Saturday morning. Jon volunteered to help set-up so we headed to Hangar 5 for the base egg hunt. They do things a little differently in the Air Force. Rather than hide eggs, they simply dump boxes with hundreds of plastic colored eggs on the floor of an airplane hangar. When the bull horn blows, the kids are released and chaos begins.

Jon plans his strategies very carefully. He consults with the kids to make sure they know "the plan". I think he is worried we won't have enough candy. We ended up with a surplus of eggs so we gave some to other kids who were less fortunate. Apparently the strategy worked a little too well. Here are pics from the egg hunt.

After the base festivities we headed to a friends house for more fun. The kids decorated eggs, went on another egg hunt (which produced even MORE candy), and had a great dinner. We headed home with some exhausted kids and hit the sack.

Sunday morning we rushed downstairs to see what the Easter Bunny left in our baskets. Not only was there candy (like we really needed more), but all sorts of great things. Reagan had a cupcake decorating kit, a coloring book, umbrella and a wii (which she refers to as the "wii-d") wheel. Gavin had a coloring book, umbrella, cars, a movie and a wii wheel. After a great breakfast we headed to church.

We returned home ready to eat. After lunch we worked on a cupcake project. Reagan was able to use her new kit and we created cute little baskets. We dyed a few more eggs and made sure we were completely sugared out. It was a great weekend that not only allowed us to enjoy family time, but also to reflect on our Savior and the sacrifice he made for each of us. We hope you had a great Easter with the opportunity to reflect on why we celebrate this day. Hopefully our next post will be filled with more excitement and good news. We love you all and miss you!

Green Eggs and Ham?

2009-03-23T22:19:00.004-08:00

Saturday we held our annual St. Patrick's Day party. We played games, learned about our family crests, went on a treasure hunt, colored, and ate way too much. There were 17 kids so things got a little crazy, but we had tons of fun.

These are the green eggs and ham.

Some of the other goodies...

Some of the kids who managed to sit still for a few seconds.

Balloon war anyone?

Why we build temples

2009-03-18T12:38:00.003-08:00

I found this on a friends blog and wanted to share it. With all the craziness going on lately (Prop. 8, HBO airings, and protests) I find it refreshing to see something wholesome and uplifting. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did.

Fur Rondy Part 1

2009-03-02T20:55:00.003-09:00

Because we had so much fun last year we decided to go again. Festivities started on Saturday and will run for another 2 weeks. More activities will be posted as we attend them. On Saturday we hit the carnival rides, crab races, and did a little shopping.
In all the state fairs and carnivals we have attended, this year we had a new experience... snow. As you can see, it was really coming down. We dressed pretty warm and the kids had a blast. Unfortunately nearly all our tickets fell out of Jon's pocket (some kid must be in heaven) so we weren't able to play nearly as much as we wanted to.

After that we headed to the "Crab Races". Not knowing what to expect, we headed to Phyllis' Seafood Cafe. For $2 you could "rent" a crab to race. Reagan picked crab #10 and named it Lilian. Gavin picked #8 (a huge monster of a crab) and named his Red Racer. Basically they pile all the hermit crabs under a cake dome set on a large wooden table. Painted around the outside of the table is a yellow circle. The first crab to get its entire body outside the yellow circle wins. Oh, and they spray the crabs with water to irritate them enough to get moving. Reagan's crab was far more fiery than Gavin's was (his could have died and we never would have known). Neither one turned out to be a winner. Well, there is always next year.

After that we did a little shopping. Reagan bought some styl'n shades which you can see in the pics when we headed back to the rides for round 2. It was fun to see the kids enjoy themselves and look at all the vendors. If you want a fur coat or hat this is the place to go. They don't call it the "Fur Rondy" for nothing. All in all, it was a long but enjoyable day. Hopefully we can get back out this weekend and see the mushers for the Iditarod.

And the envelope please...

2009-02-17T21:00:00.004-09:00

Apparently we left quite a few people hanging with our "Christmas Surprise". Here is a picture of baby #3, also known as Addison. We were lucky enough to have the 3-D ultrasound last week and here is a pic of HER. SHE is growing and getting stronger each day which is obvious with the kicks and somersaults SHE enjoys. We expect HER sometime around mid-end of April. HER middle name is still to be decided so feel free to send any suggestions. Until next time...

Our latest adventure

2009-01-25T21:50:00.003-09:00

For Christmas the kids both received sleds from Santa. The weather has been less than cooperative (either -27 or rainy) lately so this is the first time we have been able to go out and use them. Just down the road is a nice little hill perfect for first time sledding. While we were sure Reagan would barrel down the hill without a second thought, Gavin surprised us with his daredevil enthusiasm. He not only wanted to go fast headed face first, but he wanted to go over the jump every time.

Jon gave in to his inner child and dove down the hill. Unfortunately he maxed out the weight on the tube and slid much too slow for his taste. Jade enjoyed running up and down chasing the kids as they slid past her. The days are growing longer so hopefully we will have more opportunities to go out and play before breakup starts. Until next time...

A tribute to our snowman

2008-12-26T14:37:00.000-09:00

Some of you may have wondered, "what happened to the snowman"? Well, We thought it was time to share. As you can see his head fell off. We were expecting his body to topple next but it froze rock hard. After a few days we had more snow (sort of expected in Alaska) and more snow, followed by MORE snow. Some cruel neighbor kids stole one of his arms and this is what is left of our poor snowman. Hopefully an opportunity will arise to perform surgery and give him the care he desperatly needs.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-26T13:23:00.010-09:00

Even though we couldn't be with family and friends, we still had a great Christmas. The kids woke up around 9 and we headed downstairs to see what Santa left. First we opened the stockings and then headed for the tree.

All of us were spoiled and recieved more than we probably should have (pics will be posted later of the kids with their gifts). After presents and our traditional egg-nog french toast we popped in a few new movies and enjoyed the peaceful day.

We had dinner around 5 and it was divine. Our feast included turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, cranberries, potatoes and gravy, and baked corn. We had plenty of tasty treats around for dessert but NO ONE had room for it. We had phone calls with family and friends as well as happy kids reveling in their new toys. Most importantly it was a day to remember the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We hope that as a family we can always remember the true meaning of Christmas. The bright packages and beautiful decorations help this time of year sparkle but the true light only comes when we acknowledge our Redeemer. Hopefully you had a Merry Christmas and are as blessed as we are. We love you and Happy 2009!

Meet "Baby #3"

2008-12-07T22:05:00.005-09:00

On Monday we had our last ultrasound. We decided to take this opportunity to share pics of our new addition. Everything looks healthy and appears to be developing on schedule. We are planning the arrival sometime in April. We had the ultrasound technician write the gender down for us and on Christmas we will open the envelope to find out if we are having a boy or girl. Hopefully you can make sense of the pictures. The first one is a picture of the baby sucking on it's fingers.

As you can probably tell, this is the profile shot.

This is a picture of babies foot.

Just around the corner...

2008-11-25T09:42:00.007-09:00

It's that time of year again. We just received our annual Christmas cards and are preparing to send them out. If we don't have your current address makes sure to send it our way. Unfortunately we won't be able to spend the holidays with our family and friends this year. We love you and miss you all. Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-26T15:13:00.006-08:00

Friday night was our ward Halloween party. We had dinner, played family fear factor, and ended with a trunk-or-treat. Even though it was only 16 degrees out, we still had a great time. We dressed up as the Toy Story family with Jon as Sheriff Woody (with Bullseye), Sabrina as Bo Peep, Reagan as Jesse and Gavin as Buzz Lightyear. The kids had a blast and are looking forward to Friday for even more fun.

Once there was a snowman...

2008-10-21T12:05:00.003-08:00

A week ago when we had quite a bit of snow we built a snowman. He was doing good until the sun came out. After a few days of warmer weather and sunshine he started leaning. Now we aren't sure if he is praying for snow, or suffering from heat exhaust but we thought we'd share a few pics.

What happened to fall?

2008-10-13T12:21:00.003-08:00

Well, we've had snow, snow... and more snow. Here are pics from the kids playing outside today. I guess winter is offically here.

Are you kidding me?

2008-10-06T07:41:00.002-08:00

Yesterday we had quite the surprise. We looked out the window to find it dumping... SNOW! That's right, snow, in October. Our yard was transformed into a winter wonderland. When we woke this morning we checked to see if it melted. For the most part it's still there. AHHHH! So not ready for winter to be here.

Fishing 101

2008-09-11T10:12:00.002-08:00

Fishing is the "Thing To Do" in Alaska. Tourists and Locals are obsessed. After Jon twisting my arm for months, he finally convinced me to go. The kids were ecstatic to get their own poles and "catch some fish". Well, we opted to stay on base (rules can be pretty strict on what/when/where you can fish) and headed to the lodge lake. Right next to it is a great playground and rental boats. Jon instructed the kids on how to cast and reel in the line. We didn't bring any bait and the fact that rubber fish are attached to the ends of the kid poles hindered our ability for a real catch. After half an hour the kids were ready to hit the playground. As you can see from the pics the weather was perfect. This summer blue skies and sunshine have been rare to say the least. We had been playing at the playground for about 5 minutes when all the sudden it started to pour. The sun was still shinning and we got soaked. We ended our day and made a break for the car. Even though our day was cut short, it was still fun while it lasted. Here are the pics from our latest adventure.

2008-08-09T13:36:00.002-08:00

Gavin has begged all year long to "climb a mountain". Jon pointed out we couldn't climb the mountains because they had snow on them. This didn't deter Gavin in the least. He continued pleading until all the snow was melted and Jon ran out of excuses. Well, we finally "climbed the mountain". This particular hike is called Flat Top. There were quite a few hikers and dogs which was a nice change. Thinking that Gavin had his hopes set high... maybe too high, we borrowed a backpack. We were certain he would tire out long before we reached the top. WE COMPLETELY UNDERESTIMATED HIM! He was the little engine that could. Not only did he walk all but the first 5 min. (when he whinned to get out of the pack) but he didn't complain once. Every time we tried to head back he pushed us to finish what we started. He was a trooper. This was the opposite of his 5 year old sister. Reagan whinned and complained the ENTIRE time. Her feet hurt, she was tired, she had to pee... it never ended. Funny how sometimes your kids surprise you. Here are pictures from our adventure.

Birthday Bash

2008-08-08T18:37:00.002-08:00

The birthday bash started 2 years ago when we combined Reagan and Gavin's birthday party. Reagan's birthday is June 12th and Gavin's is July 12th. Rather than plan 2 parties a month apart and invite the same kids to more than one party, we opted to simplify. We still do a small celebration (cake/ice cream) at home on the actual birth date. This has worked so well it's become tradition. Chuck E. Cheese was the location of this years festivities. Although it was loud and there were a million kids... the party went very well. It was fun to see everyone running from one game to the next collecting their tokens. All our Alaskan friends were able to attend and it was a party we will never forget. Here are some pics from the special day.

Memory Tag

2008-08-07T18:30:00.003-08:00

1. As a comment on our blog, leave one memory that you recall with any member of our family. It doesn't matter if you barely knew us, or if we were joined at the hip. Anything you remember is fare game.
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory about us, we'll assume you're playing the game and return the favor on your blog.

EAGLE RIVER HIKE

2008-08-07T00:54:00.005-08:00

As you may have noticed, our page hasn't been updated lately. Jon finally took some much needed time off. We have hiked trails, climbed mountains, been sightseeing and still have big plans for this weekend. Bear (pun intended) with me as I try to bring you up to speed. We decided to pay a visit to the Eagle River Nature Center. This is not only a great place for hiking but you can learn all about salmon cycling (similar to a hatchery) and enjoy the majesty of Alaskan wildlife. In case you wondered... yes, we were in bear country... and yes, we were completely unprepared. Jade is very good at alerting us but the entire time we were hiking bears were on our mind. In several areas we were the only humans in sight. We found out a week after we were there, a woman was mauled by a grizzly in the same area. She is in critical condition and hopefully will recover. Let's just say we won't be going back without firearms. Gotta love Alaska. Here are pics from our day in the country.

Stop to smell the daisies

2008-07-02T23:16:00.003-08:00

Just the other day we noticed a patch of wild daisies growing near our house. We decided to go for a walk and enjoy the sunshine. Finally it's beginning to look like summer and thank heavens for that.

Alaska turns 50

2008-07-01T13:33:00.003-08:00

The state of Alaska put together a celebration commemorating its 50th year of statehood. We attended a free Wynonna Judd concert and had the opportunity to attend a Thunderbird Air Show. If you've never been it's a fantastic event. The show began with Paratroopers jumping out of a plane with banners and smoke. The day continued with trick planes, historical planes, military planes and races. At one point an P-38raced a rocket powered car. Oh, and did I mention we were able to climb in planes, helicopters and jets all day? We had a great time exploring and strolling from vendor to vendor. The pictures don't do justice to the amazing things we experienced. Here are some pictures from our incredible day.

Canoeing 101

2008-06-22T18:50:00.002-08:00

Life preservers... check, sunblock... check, oars... check, 2 squirmy kids in a easily tipped canoe... check check. Jon finally convinced me to take the kids canoeing. The Holt family accompanied us to Otter Lake. The scenery was beautiful (although very overcast). I was paranoid the entire time. Gavin kept leaning over the edge trying to touch the water. Reagan wanted to row. Neither of them could sit still for more than 5 seconds and I was sure the day would end with all of us swimming back to shore. Jon found my paranoia entertaining and had great fun in rocking the boat. Eventually he decided that was NOT a good idea. We covered most of the lake and Gavin was ready to move on to something else. We pulled up to the dock long enough to let Gavin and I head to the playground. Reagan and Jon stayed on the lake with some of the Holt's for a little while longer. The boys went to work making the fire while we got all the fix'ns ready for hot dogs and smores YUM! It was a great trip. No one fell in the lake, caught on fire or was eaten by a bear. Maybe canoeing isn't quite so bad.

Ready To Roll

2008-06-16T21:31:00.004-08:00

Big, small, fast or slow we love our bikes. Hopefully the Alaskan summer will cooperate so we can ride often. Here is the gang ready to hit the road... well, maybe the kids will stick with the sidewalk.

Camping

2008-06-01T22:10:00.002-08:00

When you have the privilege of spending the summer in Alaska, you must embrace the great outdoors. Camping is something Jon and I loved before our kids were around. I am a wee bit paranoid (fire, rivers, wild animals... the list goes on). Jon convinced me that we could go, have a great time and above all survive. Most people who camp here are smart enough to have an R-V. Not the Graves, nope, we roughed it. The last time we set our tent up was 2002. I kept reminding Jon how small our tent was. He kept assuring me everything would be fine. We arrived at our campsite around 4pm on Friday. Jon had the tent set up by 4:30 and came to the conclusion that our tent was indeed too small. Determined to make the best of it we started our fire and had delicious tin-foil dinners, hot dogs and of course SMORES! Daylight is a tricky thing here. The days are long in the summer and the sun begins to set around 11pm. Most the pictures taken were at 6am or 10pm and you can see how light it is. Once we finally got the kids to sleep (near midnight) we woke to the blinding morning rays. I asked Jon what time it was... only 4:30 AM. Well, we tried to go back to sleep and finally got up around 6. The forecast showed a chance of rain so we packed up early and were home by 9. Even though it was a short trip, it was fun. We made memories our family will forever cherish. Hopefully next time we can do it in a larger tent. Here are pics from our latest adventure.

Service Project

2008-05-07T12:58:00.003-08:00

Jon's ALS class was asked to volunteer service for the Palmer baseball field. Months of snow took a toll on the field and surrounding areas. The dugouts were filled with mud, the field was flooded and all the concession areas needed a good cleaning. Rather than spend another Saturday away from his family, Jon suggested we all participate. The kids were happy to stomp in puddles and help Daddy shovel mud. After a few hours of work we were treated with hot chili and hot dogs. Hopefully this summer we can attend a game and appreciate the clean park. Here are some pics from our eventful Saturday.

Happy Easter

2008-03-23T22:15:00.003-08:00

What a beautiful Easter Sunday. The sun was out and the mountains were glowing. Our morning began when Gavin climbed into our bed. We woke Reagan and immediately the kids started noticing eggs scattered through the house. After gathering armfuls of plastic eggs they eventually found the baskets left by the Easter Bunny. Aside from the chocolate and other goodies bubble guns and "magic eggs" were a huge hit. After a wonderful breakfast and several chocolate items we dressed for church and headed out the door. We appreciated the thought and preparation our teachers presented for this special day. The spirit was overflowing through the church. After our meeting we headed to a friends house for egg coloring and a great Mexican dinner. The kids were able to go on another egg hunt that produced more candy than we can consume in the next lifetime. We made our way home and the entire family was exhausted from our eventful day. The kids fell asleep early and Jon headed for bed (the night shift takes it's toll) leaving a quiet house, full bellies, and happy memories. These are a few pics from our wonderful Easter.

Fur Rendezvous

2008-03-02T20:54:00.003-09:00

We had a great Alaskan weekend. The past 2 weeks have been full of celebrations in Anchorage. "Fur Rondy Days" are a huge part of the culture and history here. We went to ice carving contests, snow sculpture displays, the Iditarod, railroad shows, a carnival and several other activities. Here is a slideshow of us "experiencing Alaska".

OUR MANY HOMES

2008-02-26T00:49:00.017-09:00

For those of you who move often, you can appreciate this. Here are pictures of some of the places we called home.

Not Pictured - Sugar City, ID

St. Anthony, ID

2003-2003

Rexburg, ID

2003-2004

Monterey, CA

2004-2005

San Angelo, TX

2005-2006

San Antonio, TX #1

2006-2007

San Antonio, TX #2

2007

Anchorage, AK

2007-current

THE BIG SWITCH

2008-02-25T20:23:00.003-09:00

Due to issues with our previous blog, we have joined the "Blogspot Band-Wagon". For 5 years angelfire was our choice registry. While it was frustrating to leave all that work behind, we are confident that our new blog will be worthwhile. We hope you will enjoy reading and keeping in contact with us.