Wes's New Past Times

So a couple of weeks ago Wes came home from school telling me that we had to go to the public library here in town and get a book at 5:30pm. He told me over and over again. I didn't really understand what he was talking about. All I got out of his rambling was, "The guy at our assembly told us to be there at 5:30 to get the book. Be sure to be there." It was very important to Wes for some reason, why? Because a strange man at school told him to be there, so he needed to be.

So we ate dinner, he was a good kid after school, and we went. On the way there, I called my mom to ask her what she thought about this weird thing, and she thought it might be an author and a book signing, which made perfect sense.

So we get there, and I have no idea what style of writing this author writes or who he is, but I see a family that is from out neighborhood and tons of kids Wesley's age through high school and even adults. He writes everything apparently. Wes was thrilled. We bought a book, Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians and Brandon Sanderson even signed it to Wes and everything. It was everything Wes was dreaming about that very afternoon. Now he has something to read this summer.

Wes has also become really interested in baseball. So Dave has put aside his dislike for the sport and is learning about it and having fun with Wes. Wes was fun to watch the first time he picked up the bat. We thought it was going to be the most hilarious thing ever to watch, if you know Wes, he isn't a sports kinda kid. But he did great. He hit both Dave and myself with the ball! Just watch the clip below. I hope it works. He has even gotten better in the past week. Now, if Dad will send one of our gloves down!

Oreo Truffles

Hmmm...these are yummy! I found this recipe from Bakerella, they are really easy to make. I would say the hardest part is dipping them. Partly because I don't know how to dip chocolate. She makes them with other cookies as well, like Nutter Butters, hmmm, those would be so good too. Anyway, I just halved the recipe because I didn't want a ton for me to eat. Try them...

1 box Oreos, minus 7 cookies
8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temp
dipping chocolate (she didn't say how much, so your guess is as good as mine!)

1. Crush Oreos in a ziplock until a fine crumb.

2. Using a strong wooden spoon stir in cream cheese. It really wasn't too hard, only took a minute or two.


3. Spoon into 1-inch rounded balls onto parchment lined cookie sheet and place in freezer for about 10-15 minutes. This will help when it comes time to dip, helps them keep their shape.


4. Melt chocolate as instructed on wrapper. Dip truffles and place back on cookie sheet. When finished place in fridge to finish setting chocolate and enjoy!


Becky, my sister used Vanilla Bark instead of Chocolate Bark to dip hers in. That is what Bakerella uses too. Also, Bakerella has some other instructions on making other shapes with hers, like chocolate kisses and heart shapes.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day has been fun so far. I tried really hard to get to church on time, that didn't work! We did get there in time for the talks and for the Primary kids to sing, which is what I really was looking forward to. In my class, we made cards for the girls mom's. And Wes and Brooke made cards and flowers for me out of skewers, Mother's cookies and gum drops (which were all eaten by the time we walked home). All women 18 and over received a cd with beautiful music on it. I thought that was a really nice gift (I don't have to worry about watering it!)

So yesterday Wes found this empty box in my room and asked if he could use it to wrap my present. I said sure and then he brought it to me, completely excited for me to open it. I told him I wanted to wait until tomorrow, Mother's Day, to open it. It drove him crazy. But he managed. So after church, we go home and had some lunch and I got it out of the cupboard (I put it there so he would forget about it).

I had Dave take the pictures without the flash, so they are a bit blurry. I also want you to notice why there are two pictures, not because of Brooke...

but because he put two pictures on either side of the box and labeled them. "My durty toes" and "Leaf Man". Look how proud he is in the top picture. He could hardly wait for me to open it. Now for the good stuff, what was inside: enough tracks for a circle for a hot wheel to go around, a hot wheel for the track, a marker, a colored pencil, an erasable crayon, and an aqua doodle marker. He had no money and no car to go to the store, so he got creative! He built me the track and now we can play together.

Brooke picked out a card for me when we were buying cards for Gramea and Grandma. She loved it because there were tons of shoes on it. And Dave gave me some shirts and a membership to Gold's Gym (I have been wanting one). Looks like I am a gym junkie again. It has been 4 years since I have been! I am excited to start the yoga and spin classes there. They have some other cool classes now.

I hope Gramea is having a great day, knowing how much your kids love and appreciate you. I have been thinking about you all day. Thanks for silently teaching me all along the way. I love and miss you.

You Know You're From Alaska When...

Before you read this, just know I was laughing when I saw it. Some of it is really true, at least for my family!! How sad is that. The list was much longer, I shortened it by about half. I want to know about you other Alaskans or even you Jim, how does this compare to "Escanaba in Da Moonlight"?

You've worn shorts and a parka at the same time.

You know the real meaning of slush.

You know who Binki was and were sad when he died.

You know several people who have hit a moose more than once.

You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit so you can take them trick or treating in a blizzard.

Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.

You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.

You find 10 degrees 'a little chilly'.

Your relatives/friends think you live too far away for them to come visit you, but keep asking you to come see them more often.

October is the month of your highest income.

Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a camper on the highway.

"Vacation" means driving to Chitna to dip net.

You go to McDonald's and order of the $1.50 menu because it's equivelant to the $0.99 menu everywhere else.

You where appalled by the Carrs/Safeway merge afew years ago.

Everyone you know gets cabin fever, and Hawaii is the only apparent cure.

The municipality buys a Zamboni before a bus.

You've ridden the school bus for an hour or more each way.

Your kids catch the bus in the dark and get off it in the dark.

Your school classes aren't canceled because of snow. Your school classes were cancelled because of ice.

The last thing you do before going to bed is plug in your vehicle.

You own three modes of transportation: boat, 4-wheeler and 4X4.

You think it is safe to drive as long as you can still see the snowplow's flashing light ahead.

Your wardrobe consists of polar fleece, Gortex and wool, and nothing really matches.

You think Bald Eagles aren't that great.

There's nothing like Matanuska Maid.

You get an attitude when you have to pay sales tax in the lower 48.

You sleep through an earthquake like nothing ever happened.

You own moose nugget earrings.

You know who the Sleeping Lady is.

You know that the phrase "the kings are running" has nothing to do with royalty.

Half of your friends own a snow machine and you think people that call them snow mobiles are insane.

You can spell and pronounce words like Chatanika, Venetie, and Kuskokwim.

We wait until 2am to light fireworks on the 4th of July because it's the dimmest part of the day.

You know a tail-dragger is an airplane, not a bad day at the office.

You know going "outside" involves a whole lot more than opening a door and walking into the yard.

You have learned to never say to your kids, "Be home by dark".

You know that the term "Break Up" has more to do with the weather than personal relationships.

You have washed your car while there was still snow on the ground.

You learned to swim indoors.

You leave your Christmas lights up, year round, because as soon as it gets warm enough to take them down it starts getting dark enough to put them up again.

You know a "white out" has to do with winter conditions not correcting fluid for typos.

You've taken your kids trick-or-treating in a blizzard.

You frequently clean grease off your barbecue so the bears won't prowl on your deck.

You know which leaves make good toilet paper.

The trunk of your car doubles as a deep freeze (or your front porch).

You attended a formal event in your best clothes, your finest jewels and your Sorrels.

You can play road hockey on skates.

Shoveling the driveway constitutes a great upper body workout.

Wes Lost a Tooth!!

Saturday night we went to dinner and Wes wanted Dave to pull out his tooth, but it was too attached in the front, so Dave just told him to keep wiggling and twisting it.

So Sunday, during Sunday School, Wes came into my class and got me out and was telling me that his tooth was hurting and he was afraid it was going to come out during church. Well I wasn't going to pull it out! So I peeked in the door and luckily, Brother Barson was standing right there. A retired dentist. I asked if he wouldn't mind slipping out and helping me! He came out and we got some paper towels out of the janitors closet and he yanked it right out! Wes had his friend Savannah and her mom watching and cheering him on. Brother Barson said he had pulled thousands of teeth before, but this was his first time during church!

Wes went and rinsed his mouth out with cold water and went back to class sticking his tongue out his new whole in his mouth showing all the kids. He couldn't wait to see what the tooth fairy was going to bring him...a $2 bill!! Which he had to wake up at 6:45 am to see. He NEVER gets up that early. He must have been so excited!!