Our Forever Family

Hillbilly Sledding

2009-11-07T18:47:00.001-08:00

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2009-11-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

2009-11-07T18:44:00.002-08:00

Its Tough Being Supergirl

2009-10-30T17:20:00.000-07:00

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Top Model

2009-09-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

Cayley, being the wonderful daughter that she is, was recently trying really hard to get something she wanted, she was giving me compliments like, "Mom you really look like your only 20" " what are you like 75 pounds?" "you should be a top model,(under breath)....for drunk people" (I've never been known for my gracefulness)...
So this being said, Rylie is our big poser, check out her latest shots and tell me...what kind of Top Model is she???? Jen and Kerrigan, lets leave glass sorting out of this!

Disclaimer: I'm not a drunk nor do I consume any alcoholic beverages..
and...Cayley DID NOT get what she wanted!

2009-09-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2009-09-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

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Ty's Stick

2009-06-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we had a few scouts camp out in our back yard. We served up Dutch Oven chili and Fritos (fun night in the tent with 3 boys!) and the traditional S'mores, which went something like this: "we got marshmallows, everyone find a stick (I mind you there is no shortage in our neck of the woods)"
Ty disappeared for a minute or so, reappeared "GOT MINE". The roasting began.

It's been awhile....

2009-06-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

Do you know that we here in Alaska are getting about 24 hours of beautiful sunshine? Did you know I can't see my laptop outdoors in the sunshine? Did you know I am trying to enjoy daylight as much as I can because I know what comes next?
The outdoors has become our home, I hope you understand.

Oh, the things to do when surrounded by ice......

2009-04-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

In Florida we loved it floating in our drinks, but it was gone all too fast, leaving us with an unfavorable less flavorable beverage!
This Spring ice is in abundance and we try hard to keep our drinks (and hands) warm. What is one to do when the ice is outside of the glass?

2009-04-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Ice, ice and more ice

Coltonator "THE BABYSITTER"

2009-03-18T18:08:00.000-07:00

Most mothers can relate to the excitement we had of having a built in babysitter, Colton took a red cross babysitting class back in October and is now a "certified babysitter". We love being able to go see a movie last minute, because we feel like it, running to home depot... because we can... without kids, shopping at sam's..kidless...
... when we return home the kids and dogs are all intact, the house could be cleaner and a bonus Rylie got dressed all by herself, and was waiting on the front porch for us (it was a cold saturday afternoon)...YAY US!

Some almost forgotten moments...

2009-02-08T18:23:00.000-08:00

It took my massive memory card giving me the CF full notice on my camera for me to realize I have alot of pics I would like to share..like something that happens right after Christmas that I promised myself, as a mother that tries really hard, to make just as special as all my other childrens celebrations....Rylies Birthday!! My baby is 2 ( I try to forget that everyday but its hard when she is lying on the floor kicking and screaming because I would let her paint the dog with toothpaste)....

Tea anyone?

2009-02-07T11:33:00.000-08:00

Copper

2009-02-07T11:26:00.000-08:00

The picture says it all...couldn't resist....I know, I know, SHOCKING..the Bruntz's have 2 dogs....

Tougher in Alaska?

2009-02-05T09:59:00.000-08:00

Okay...so we will admit that Alaska isn't for wimps, but if you are up for a challenge...... cutting wood in -45 to keep your house warm and pipes from freezing and exploding....gussying yourself up into several layers before taking a single step out the front door (adding several pounds by the way, women)eyelashes freezing together...I could go on with things we face everyday that are different than Florida, but so rewarding...when you can let you children run around knowing the only danger to them is the wildlife (which my loud kids keep frightened away). When your neighbors own several huskies , so worth it, a large moose eating off trees right outside our front window (kids safe inside and quiet)..worth it...watching the planes taxi down our road...WORTH IT! so if anyone is up for the challenge, were up for the company!!

Gangster Snowman

2009-01-08T09:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I walked into the elementary school to pick up the kids, Rylie on my hip, as proud as can be dawning her bare scaly new arm, anxious to show it off to her brother and sister, the weapon she had used against them for the past couple of months gone...when we arrived outside of Ty's classroom. While we waited for the kindergarteners to get geared up for the extreme cold ( I don't envy the teacher one is hard enough to get ready) we admired the new art on the wall...lovely snowmen each created individually by the innocent lil 5 year olds, they were wearing hats, scarfs, carrot noses..but wait what was this one wearing, a chain around its neck..oh and 2 letters coming out of his mouth YO... what kindergartener created this odd snowman? In tiny letters in the bottom right hand corner it was revealed to me, horrified I saw TY. Just as I had made my discovery, he came bouncing out of his classroom smile from ear to ear, and proudly pointed to his creation "he's a gangster snowman" and as if that was not enough, he also let every other parent know as they walked by which one was his and that it was a "gangster snowman".
I looked back to see his teacher in the doorway and didn't quite no what to say, I just apologized for my son's creativity and wild imagination and she let me know, that if she didn't know us, and belong to the same church, she would question what kind of family he was from! we both laughed, but I drilled Ty the entire way home, questioning where he gets the gangster talk and why everything has to be "california style"(according to him), and he said the obvious, " I'm CRAZY TY"...
Was it our year spent in Holly Hill , Fl(because we are so not a gangsterish family) or is our son truly CRAZY??

Catching up time

2009-01-06T10:38:00.001-08:00

The kids are back in school and it is -50, so its catching up time.
Laundry, emails, thank yous, eye brow plucking, shave legs (even thought they won't be exposed for at least another 5 months), you know the things we mothers don't get to sometimes when the lil ones are here 24/7 and not going to bed on schedule....
and blogging..We were blessed to be able to have the Mother-in-Law here with us for a week (although I think Alaska scared her away for good)we went to the ice sculptor garden, sledding, and pretty much stayed inside the rest of the time...which isn't always a bad thing I have come to learn..family time is the best and I think sometimes we all could use some -50 days.

2008-12-23T09:36:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Mac is Back!

2008-12-18T10:13:00.001-08:00

After several exploratory surgeries, we found out what mac needed to be revived and he is back and better than ever!I was excited to open him up and see all the memories I had stored in him, unable to get to for the past 4 months.I want to share with you all some of the photos I came across that I wasn't able to post while Mac was unconscious.

2008-12-18T08:49:00.000-08:00

The APPLE of my eye (can you believe she is almost 2! and oh so terrible...) she even savors the core!

SK8R BOY

2008-12-18T08:48:00.000-08:00

The one who has yet to break a bone in action.

Anyone who has spent anytime around Ty knows he is not content swinging on a swing sitting, or going down the slide feet first, or the stairs for that matter..he turns the simplest of task into an X game. Here he is doing what he does best. (thanks go to Tony Hawk for promoting helmet safety)

Hockey

2008-12-18T08:26:00.000-08:00

Whats the happening thing to do in Alaska on a below zero dark day??

Take in a hockey game....

It was very entertaining, the kids loved it,even Rylie, if you haven't been to one we highly reccommend it, I believe Colton is the newest biggest fan!

... Anchorage VS Mercyhurst.... then the big one... UAF VS. Maine.

....Checkout wild Rylie's (post hairbow removal trauma) face in the background!

And the award for worst Mom of the year goes to...

2008-12-03T18:36:00.000-08:00

Here it is my plea...to not be nominated worst Mom of the year...

I promise to pretend to eat all the play-dough meals my kids can make, making gulping sounds and enjoying it! I promise to let them wear what they want, like my mommy did, even if it's cowboy boots and green shorty shorts, and put their thumbs through make-shift holes in their sleeves if they so feel the need. I promise to look past ill-made beds, because little hands can't make military-style made beds (I may still remake them later). I will do endless loads of laundry even if half of it was worn for maybe 5 minutes, tops.. and ignore my childrens best attempt to put their clothes away, in the wrong drawers and unfolded (again, will probably have to correct it unbeknownst to them) but will praise them the same because they are learning to be independent.

I will kiss all boo-boos even the 1mm ones not visible to the human eye, I will keep calm when they continually get out of their bed with something extremely important that they have to tell me at 9pm that will eat them up if they have to wait until morning... but.... I may not be able to put my dear lil monkeys in cages to protect them from all their attempts to grow to be circus stars... so heres to many more accidents to come (or hopefully not) if I am the worst Mother of the year, My only wish is that my kids will still love me..

2008-11-25T19:53:00.000-08:00

I am thankful, that I made it through High school even though I can't spell Sergeant....

The Husband

2008-11-25T16:37:00.000-08:00

I am greatful for my eternal companion. For the memories we have made and for many more to come. I couldn't ask for a better husband (ask me again when he is back home and I am cleaning up after him).

The SEARGANT takes good care of us, and is an amazing FATHER.

More Thankfuls...

2008-11-25T16:11:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for the beauty of this earth for a warm HOME because a house is a house but

when its warm and filled with LOVE its a home. ( I know it's hard to love in a cold house)

My Thanks-given....

2008-11-25T10:18:00.001-08:00

I am Thankful for........My wonderful family each and everyone of them, on Earth and in

the spirit world each has touched me in someway or another, even my

Ancestors

(redhair,freckles, and abnormally large nostrils,better to smell with).

I am thankful for all the cute babies

our family has produced (check out Miles blog for the newest addition).

I am SUPER greatful for Temples, so that My wonderful family and I can be together forever

because this life is too SHORT.

Elmo says Es divertido ir al bano solito!

2008-11-08T22:25:00.000-08:00

Being the multicultural-multitasking family that we are (grumble grumble ) we have decided to potty train and teach a new language at the same time! Rylie fell in love with the Elmo potty at the furniture store today (yes, furniture store????) so we brought the sucker home, holding it on her lap, out of the box the whole way... we quickly took it upstairs and she had her pants, thermals,onesie,off in a matter of seconds (thats our girl) and sat, and sat, and sat...and listened to Elmo encouraging her in SPANISH???? the manuel is in Spanish and English so we can translate for her what elmo is saying, it has a phrase page. We have high hopes that she will be going on the potty and speaking spanish by her second birthday, no doubt!! (bytheway.she did go #1 and #2, YEAH!!)

HALLOWEEN

2008-11-03T10:01:00.000-08:00

What an extreme change from Halloween 08' in Florida... last year the costume possibilities were broad and on the other side of the spectrum, something to keep cool in no hat and gloves required (unless is was a costume accesory). This year we spent it in below zero temps, our costumes had to fit over snow pants, jackets and had to work around wearing hats and gloves. Ty's was easy, he wanted to be chewbacca a warm furry thing that had a mask and gloves (although the mask was too big so we used facepaint and hat) we found a deal on a mouse costume at Old navy it was warm with extra padding, had a hood and built in mittens! Cayley decided that since Rylie was amouse she wanted to be a cat. I had to use a clown pattern so that it would be nice and roomy for her winter gear to go underneath and her black gloves and Dad's black knit hat did nicely.

We trick or treated on base because the houses are duplexes and close together so more doors less walking, less time outdoors! I still think they should move trick or treatingto a day time activity in Alaska when its not so cold!!

The kids had fun though and we didn't hear any complaining, I guess it was worth it for the candy!

We are already thinking next year we will be a family of bears!!!

skipping stones on ice

2008-10-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

One of things we discovered on our walk is how cool it is to skip stones across the ice covered slough (a slow moving river) not to mention the awsome sound it makes, with just a thin layer of ice on top it make an undescribable hollow kind of sound?? We couldn't get enough and ended up spending all the time playing and didn't get a whole lot collected for the project....

A family walk in Alaska

2008-10-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

Cayley is learning about the Athabaskans in school and had to build her own model of an Athabaskan shelter. Although we have great resources in our own yard we thought we would take a walk to find items to build the shelter, or should we say a slide... the kids loved running and sliding in the snow, which was now packed down tightly on the roads..Ty thought it was great fun to let sally pull him on hs belly!I know it looks cold but it was actually very refreshing. I brought the camera because you never know what you will see around here, but we didn't run into any large creatures (I think we were way too loud and disturbed nature).

Winter is amongst us!

2008-10-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

White surrounds us, our breath is visible, we must allow extra time to go anywhere, start the car ahead of time (not to cool it off anymore), slick roads, and lots of extra clothing...MOOSETRACKS IN OUR FRONT YARD!

Although, I am pleasantly surprised that 15 F is not as cold as I thought and is very tolerable. In fact I probably felt it colder in my yearspent in FL! Check my blog often to read my thoughts on -50F!!! We are excited to go to Birch Hill, just up the road to go skiing, snowboarding (not me) and tubing : ) The kids are driving us crazy to go, even after our 1st inch of snow!

2008-09-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

Our New Dog, Sally, The Welsh Springer Spaniel

2008-09-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

Last Monday night, we surprised the kids by taking them to a dog rescue for Family home evening.....Eric and myself were both very hesitant about getting a pet, but went open minded, to LOOK! We never thought we would find the perfect dog the first time! Right when we pulled up (all packed tight in Eric's pick-up) we saw her, she jumped up on the roof of one of the kennels and just stared, while all the other dogs were madly barking trying to get out, looking like they wanted to eat us for dinner. The super nice and knowledgable lady, got her out for us right away and she ran to us and wanted to be loved :) The kids loved her right away as she chased them around and licked the spaghetti sauce that I missed on Rylie off under her chin.

She is a big puppy,they aren't sure exactly how old she is, but she still has her puppy teeth and has awkward puppy movements. She belonged to a military family that had to move and couldn't take her with, but they did a very good job training her, she is already housebroken, doesn't beg for food (the kids have dropped food right in front of her and she doesn't even attempt to get it, she eats her own food only, we were amazed. She found the front door right away and when she wants to go out, she goes to the door and touches it with her front paw. We have still yet to hear her bark, Cayley said she did when she had her out the other day, but no one else has heard her yet. Even when someone comes to the door, her head perks up, but thats it! We are all still amazed , waiting for her to do something wrong.... but she is perfect, the only slight-ish complaint I have is she follows me around all day, but so does Rylie so I have just learned that I am the leader of the parade! She loves raw hide bones and that is the only thing she has ever chewed on or even put in her mouth besides her food and her tennis ball. The lady who had been looking after her at the rescue said she had only had her for a little bit, but was sad to let her go, she said she was such a sweet dog, very loyal and just wanted to be loved and to please. She called us yesterday to see how she was and wasn't surprised to hear how wellshe has settled in with us!

Cayley's blog

2008-09-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

http://cayleybird.blogspot.com/
Cayley made her own blog, I will try to supervise it, but I apologize in advance for anything crazy, embarrasing, or overall out of control that she may post!

Cayley's Birthday

2008-09-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

Cayley's Birthday came as fast as it went this year, poor thing: (

Amongst all the settling in and work to get ready for winter (we have been told its just around the corner, like any day now) we didn't do much. I tried to make it just as special for her, but nothing like we have done in the past. She had whipped cream for breakfast with some pancakes and chocolate syrup on the side (you know Cayley) and had a friend sleep over, we watched a movie on the big screen and had popcorn and candy, an icecream cake from coldstone, YUM! Oh and we went bowling, gosh I guess we didmore then I thought, it sounds like alot as I'm typing it, but went by really fast. Her friend who slept over name was Rylea. Poor girl everytime I was yelling forRylie she came running. The morning after she sleptover I was callingfor Rylie tocome and get her hair done, it went something like this "Rylie come here so I can do something with that mop on your head" she came to me in the bathroom with a sweet look on her face and said "okay". She must of thought I was crazy,because first of all she has the straightest finest hair in alaska, and what was this women talking to her like that?? So Cayley decided she would be Rylea and Rylie would be Ry-Ry.

"The Home"

2008-09-12T12:12:00.000-07:00

Well alot of you have emailed me for pics of the home...we are having our first day of rain, and it is cold! If it clears up this afternoon I will take some of outdoors, right now I have these few of the main floor. The other rooms still have boxes, I try and keep the main rooms clear so I can keep my sanity! If you go downstairs, there is a family room, office, bathroom, and utility room, then down again is the basement. If you go upstairs from the main living area, there is the bedrooms, bathrooms. ALOT of stairs! I have been putting some of the kids summer clothes away as I am unpacking, storing them in the basement, wel going to the basement from the bedrooms means 3 flights of stairs, so I am getting my workout! We are loving having the open plan on the main floor, It hlpes me keep an eye on the kids while cooking, cleaning, and we seem to all be together everynight, Eric and the kids in front of the TV, me cleaning the kitchen....we haven't even used the family room, I'm sure we will start to get sick of it and start using other areas more, especially when we are stuck in the house this winter!

The Others

2008-09-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

The rest of us enjoying the outdoors..

"Rylie" Our New Beastly Outdoors Girl

2008-09-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

Okay now we (those who had the pleasure of spending time with Rylie in FL) know Rylie has some animal instincts in her (eating food off floor, out of garbage, dog bowl) lying with the dogs in there bed, letting them lick her in the face, while she attempts to lick them back...

As pretty as a lil gal she is, she loves the outdoors and becomes like an animal, running around, picking up sticks in her mouth, wallowing in the grass, leaves, and dirt..I think the pics speak for themselves, these were taken last weekend when we cooked our dinner over the fire in our back yard and had s'mores afterwards!

Haines, Alaska

2008-09-10T14:06:00.000-07:00

We got off the ferry in Haines, Alaska. Talk about a welcome, it was beautiful! We couldn't wait to see the rest of Alaska. The kids still bummed about not seeing much wildlife in Yellowstone were pleasantly surprised when just down the road from our port, we came across a couple of moose, how exciting, little did we know at the time that moose would become an everyday occurance here in Alaska!

More of our Ferry trip

2008-09-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

More Ferry fun...

The Ferry

2008-09-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

The last part of our trip..Final destination...North Pole, Alaska!

We were excited that this part of our trip we wouldn't be doing any driving, we were taking the Alaska Marine highway! Aboard a ferry..the Columbia to be precise...

We wished for better weather, but it was still amazing. The views were great, though cold and wet. We enjoyed each others company, staying busy watching movies, playing card games, the kids liked the arcade, we had a wonderful buffet dinner one night (the other nights were pretty much fast food) and did some whale watching.

Washingtonian Family!

2008-09-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

We were very fortunate to get to visit my sister Jennifer and her family while passing through Washington on our way to the port to leave on the ferry to Alaska. We were only able to stay a couple of nights, but wish we could of stayed longer, it was very nice there, Jennifer has a beautiful home and we enjoyed their company : )

More Yellowstone..

2008-09-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

Yellowstone

2008-09-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

Wonderful, Wonderful Yellowstone...

We were so excited for this part of the trip, it is something we have always wanted to do with our children! We didn't arrive at Yellowstone until almost noon, so we were told that is probably why we didn't have alot of luck with seeing wildlife (just a couple of buffalo and elk), but the scenery was still amazing! Hope to go back one day and spend a little more time, we had to do it in just an afternoon.

Cody, Wyoming

2008-09-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

Cody, Wyoming..Rodeo Capitol of the world, thought it was Cheyenne, but goes to show how much I know about Rodeos..

We went to the Cody night Rodeo, only a few minutes from our hotel, and enjoyed some good ol' BBQ and a great show!

Thermompolis, Wyoming

2008-09-10T11:24:00.000-07:00

The World largest hot spring?? The worlds stinkiest spring...

This was actually a really nice place and it was alot of fun for the kids, but you have to get past the smell of rotten eggs left unfound from Easter 12 years ago...

We were able to swim in it, yeah!

It was just a quick stop to get the kids out of the car before staying in Cody, Wyoming for the night.

Grandpa Rons House

2008-09-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

We Spent Sunday at Grandpa Rons (Eric's Dad), it was our last day in Nebraska before we started the next leg of our Journey across the USA..

Grandmas Tree

2008-09-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

AKA..the photo tree.. Just outside Grandma Janes house in Gering Nebraska is the picture tree, the kids love to climb it, we love to take pictures of them in it, I think it started with a few good pics while Colton and Dillon were playing in it when they were just toddlers, and now it has become a place to throw a kid on each branch and take pictures... we got a few this time..but it was harder with so many kids to get them each on a branch that we could see them all at one time...

More Nebraska

2008-09-10T10:41:00.000-07:00

Nebraska

2008-09-10T10:24:00.000-07:00

Okay.. so we did have a lil break from hotels..we made a stop in Erics hometown of Gering Nebraska to spend time with family, we had alot of fun with Grandmas, Grandpas and cousins. While we were there we stayed a weekend at Fort Robinson, we stayed in cabins and had a steak dinner in the bluffs, went horseback riding, tubing and had BBQ's and smores! We also spent a night in Cheyenne and were able to See our friends Stacy and Amber. Colton and Amber were playmates from the time they were just under 2, it was funnt to see them all grown up together, Amber tried to throw in a wrestling move, but Colton was too shy...

More Nauvoo..

2008-09-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

This is so easy..why didn't I do this before, I'm totally into this, It took me this long to start one because of my experience with computers behaving badly, but how simple is this?? Come on everyone get on board, I'm telling you if I can find time (I'm cleaning, doing laundry, making grocery list and blogging at the same time) anyone can! And the more pics I post the more time I have to do housework (and a quick board game with Ty) during upload!

Anyway..more pics of Nauvoo...

Nauvoo

2008-09-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

Nauvoo...what can I say what a place...I always wanted to visit and I am so happy we did!

We were able to see the pageant the first night (a must) and walked around the sites the next day before we had to be on our way. We stayed in the Woodruff Hotel, which was wonderful and I highly recommend!

What a delightful time, a very spiritual experience can't say enough.. something to put on your list to visit in your lifetime!

Tennessee

2008-09-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

We didn't make our first real stop until Tennessee..just a few gas potty breaks along the way. We stopped at a beautiful rest area where the kids were able to run around and get rid of some stored energy! The decided a race would be fun (you know my kids, everything is a competition)!

Destination Alaska

2008-09-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

We finally made it! 3 weeks of being crammed in a car, tears and homesickness(it was REALLY hard to leave family), alot of wiggles, Barney, pacifier searches, living out of suitcases (some packed for summer, some for winter) and alot of fun and new experiences! What a trip!

I'm going to post as many photos with captions as I an, so keep checking back...