Monday Book Review

Starting today I am changing this blog a bit. Every Monday I will be posting about books, poetry, or anything to do with writing, reading and reciting. This last week our family spent a lot of time (and probably more $ than we should have) at the bookstores around town. As April is National Poetry Month I will be sticking with that theme for April.

The first book I want to review is one of our recent purchases. Shel Silverstein's "A Light in the Attic" was one of my most favorite books of poetry growing up. I remember memorizing and reciting many of his poems in school (Messy Room, Captain Blackbeard Did What?, Rock 'N' Roll Band, etc.). Since we bought this book last week my kids have been reading it to each other and giggling non-stop. Mr. Silverstein's poems are fun, surprising, clever, and sometimes (to my slight chagrin) bathroom-humor-themed (much to my kids' rebellious delight). This is such a great book to get your children into poetry reading and recitation. I think every family needs one of Shel Silverstein's poetry books on their home shelves. Go check it out :)






And here's one of my favorites. After reading it my 8yr old said, "Ha! It's about you, mom; it's about you!". I would like to take issue with that statement but unfortunately, at this time, I can neither confirm nor deny his accusation.

Overdues

What do I do?

What do I do?

This library book is 42

Years overdue.

I admit that it's mine

But I can't pay the fine-

Should I turn it in

Or hide it again?

What do I do? 

What do I do?

Do you have a favorite?  Do you prefer "Where the Sidewalk Ends"?  Are there any other poetry books for young people that you would like to suggest?  Let me know.

Adventure in Alaska

I love Spring Break. It's so fun to have some time to get out and explore and play with the kids. Here's what we have been up to do far.

We went to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) in Portage. It was a beautiful (but COLD) day at the head of the Turnagin Arm. We got to see lots of animals too. We saw herds of Wood Bison, Musk Oxen (with babies!), Elk, Moose, and Caribou. We also saw some Grizzlies fresh from hibernation, some irritable Lynx, Great Horned Owls, Bald Eagles, and the kids' favorite, Snickers the Porcupine. If you get a chance to go there you should check it out. It's $10/adult and $7/kid over 5 (my friend had a pass) but with how much feed these huge northern creatures require I think it's worth it.

Lena and Eli (notice the snow depth compared to the roof in the background)

Lena and Eli with a wood bison in the background

the safest moose meeting we've had yet

elk with a real wild bald eagle in the tree (the black dot)

Musk Ox

Snickers the porcupine

slightly better view

wood bison in Portage, AK

it was a gorgeous day

We also went bowling at Northern Bowl with our friends, the Johnstons. It was a blast. It's the first bowling alley I've been to that doesn't reek of smoke. It was actually quite clean. It was Lena's first time and her antics while watching her ball slowly (and I mean seriously slowly) make it's way down the lane and (amazingly) managing to take out some pins was enchanting. The old-timers next to us clearly adored her. Eli and fellow class-mate, Samantha (Sam) enjoyed fierce competition and both did quite well. So I would have to say it was a total success!

Frozen yogurt at Beary Cool Frozen Yogurt in Wasilla was also awesome.

Let's Bowl!!

bowling with style

notice the feet

Eli sporting the double handed release method

little known fact - although poses and leaning do not actually affect the ball's trajectory, they are impossible not to do

and who doesn't love bowling shoes??

Yup. Spring Break Rocks!

Kid-Dates

One of my favorite things to do as a mom is the "kid-date". And the great thing about kid-dates is that my kids seem to enjoy them almost as much as their parents do. Since we moved up to AK I began to notice that we needed some quality one-on-one time with our kids and thus the kid-date began. The dates have ranged from the mundane to the rather extravagant (at least for us) and have all been a blast. Dan and I usually split up and each of us has a special date with one of our two children (another benefit of having just two!). For instance, when Lena and I went to see Broadway's Beauty and the Beast, Dan took Eli to the Porsche, Audi, and BMW dealerships. Both dates were perfectly suited to each couple and were a terrific success. Another date involved Eli taking me out to dinner and then to his school dance where we rocked the chicken dance, Mexican hat dance, heel-toe polka, etc. Meanwhile, little Lena and her dad had hot cocoa, played Barbies (Dan is seriously the best dad ever) and watched Barbie movies together while snuggling on the blue chair (did you catch what phase our 5 yr old is going through?). So why am I posting about this? Because kid-dates are so worth it. I want you to read this and feel like, "Yeah! What the heck? How does tomorrow night look?". I also have it here in writing in the hopes that I will never get too busy to remember how important these are to my kids. I love our date conversations, letting them have control over the music, and letting them know I truly care about them and what they are going through. So I hope to hear about your favorite kid-date ideas and how you squeeze them into your busy lives. Now get out there and enjoy!

Taking Charge Day 1

So I have decided to start taking responsibility for my own life.  I am horribly out of shape.  I don't mean this as a comparison to anyone out there, this is purely about the "now" me vs. the "ready for anything" me.  And I have picked the perfect time to do it.  I am sick.  Right now as I type I am turning to the side frequently and coughing like someone who has inhaled pepper off their broccoli (long story...another post...maybe).  You may be thinking this is currently inadvisable but you'd be wrong.  At least in my case that would be an incorrect assumption.  You see, after my mother had amazing child #5 she felt the way I do, kinda frumpy and like your body is no longer taking its orders from you, so she started working out.

This was in the late 80's when women had giant hair, way too much eye make-up, and occasionally wore their leotards and leggings to the store (with a matching skinny belt, of course).  This is when my mom bravely embarked upon her "work-out every day!" campaign.  Every morning (or afternoon or evening occasionally when life and it's surprises would mess with her schedule) I would hear Bess Motta cooing encouraging instructions ad she encouraged you to do "4-more...".  And when that incredible 20-min workout got boring to do every single day my mom found other exercises and wrote up her routines on gigantic pieces of school paper that she tacked up on a wall in our garage.  Whenever I hear the Police, an image of my mom smiling and running in place with her arms flying springs instantly to mind.  And despite our giggles and laughter at how funny some of the exercises appeared or how when she tried to do jumping jacks or leg lifts we kids (truthfully the littler ones as I was already 8 and way to mature)  ran and dove through her kicking legs for ninja training, she persevered.  Not only did she accomplish her goal, she taught her family many important lessons as well.  She taught us not to give up.  She taught us that you can ignore and even laugh along with people when they laugh at you.  She taught us that just 20-min of exercise a day could lead to a feeling of accomplishment no matter how the rest of the day went (you can't control everything, right?).  She taught us that taking care of our bodies and staying healthy (even after you have babies and things don't line up or work quite like they used to) was really important and fun.  I am so thankful for her example.  So that is why I am turning over a new leaf.  No more waiting for the planets to align for me to say, "Enough is enough!  If I don't start now then when?".  And no better time to do so than the worst possible time, like now, when I am sick and overscheduled.  I have done my first workout today.  I have bid my chocolate stash farewell.  I have even kicked my hot sauce habit cold turkey (again, long story for another day).  So hip hip hooray for Day 1 of taking responsibility for my own health and fitness.  I always had the control, I just needed to remember the lessons from my mom.

Here's a link I used to do my mom's old workout on YouTube.  It's a classic.

ps - My mom worked out every day even when sick.  It took serious illnesses (such as a really bad flu or pneumonia) to keep her down.  I asked her why she still worked out when she was sick with a cold or cough and she would tell me that it helped get her better faster.  So I am putting that advice to the test.  We'll see how it goes.  Either I will be better or I will have pneumonia next week :)
pps - I love you moim!

Blogging Made Easy

Or maybe I should have called this "blogging made easier". Now I can blog from my phone which is what I use for a camera now anyway. So now begins my renaissance. I don't know if one can have a renaissance after only a year but it sure feels like one to me.
Hang tight cause I have a few posts I am dying to write.

I Hereby Choose to Have the Best Year Ever

 It's funny how life works.  Well, at least my life seems oddly humorous to me.  My favorite number happens to be 10.  "What does that have to do with anything?" you ask.  It just so happens that 2010 was one of the best years of my life.  I celebrated my 10 year anniversary with the greatest guy on the planet.  I finally felt at home in my church and community.  I had the best vacation ever with my kids in MT.  I got to hang out with friends and family frequently.  It was sheer bliss.  Then came 2011.  I really struggled last year.  And you know what the crazy part is?  I had 2 surgeries in 2010 and great health in 2011.  My little sister got married to her tall, dark, and handsome pseudo foreigner in 2011 and I got to dance the night away with our families.  So why did I struggle?  There are a few reasons.  1) I forgot to enjoy the present.  Due to the big move, I kept waiting to be happy till things were "normal" and operated in a manic-stressed-out fashion for almost an entire year.  That's not to say that I didn't enjoy anything last year because I truly did but this gets into #2 which is: If I start focusing on the negative, I seem to forget all of the positive, both past, present, and future.  To anyone who had to suffer through one of my downward spirals, I pity you.  And finally 3) Events don't determine whether you have a good or bad year.  You do.

So, on that note, I have decided to reform my memory.  2011 was a great year :)  I got to dance with my sisters and mom.  My husband can now do the Argentine Tango with me (he still dances like a rigid Scandinavian but dancing is dancing, right?).  Another nephew was born with heart-meltingly cute cheeks.   I got to spend so much time with wonderful friends from Spring Creek (you know who you are and yes, you should get a warm, bubbly feeling in your chest knowing that you helped me stay sane and smiley last year).  My little girl went off to preschool where every day was "the best day ever!".  I got to ski in the half-pipe with my son.  Even though we were both first-timers, I doubt anyone could have done better or felt happier than we did that day :)  I got to watch as my precious son was baptized by his father with all our family in attendance.  I got to coach two awesome soccer teams that gave their all and made me proud.  I was able to enjoy and record the wonderful chatter/banter of yet another fantastic Lee/Neuffer Thanksgiving.  I got to take 2 romantic getaways with my husband!  One to go skiing and the other to house hunt in AK.  I have learned a ton about house-selling, house-buying, and coordinating a cross-country move.  Did I mention I can reliably paint now?  Well, houses and big stuff that is, not complicated, multicolored works of art or anything.  Yet.  And to top it all off, I got to enjoy my first White Christmas ever (at least in my memory, and to qualify as a "White Christmas" very strict requirements must be met).  I am truly thankful for all the joy and blessings from 2011.

And now it is 2012!  Dan is predicting that this will be our best year ever as his favorite number is 12.  Although his New Years fortune cookie was disappointing ("Some fortune cookies contain no fortune."...Seriously??) things are starting off well.  We live better than kings :)  They didn't even have indoor plumbing to freeze, light bulbs to blow out, or cars to be banged up out on the ocean ;)  And have I mentioned that Alaska is GORGEOUS!!  It is.  It looks like we live in a national park.  There are stunning mountains with glaciers pouring out of them, big rivers with beautiful blue water cascading over their own ice dams, perfectly charming little old farms at the edge of pristine snowy meadows that back up to forests full of birch, willow, cottonwood, spruce, and fir.  Snow completely blankets everything.  All the evergreens are bowing under their snowy load and each and every little twig and branch is highlighted by many inches of snow.  The sunsets are amazing.  They last for nearly an hour while the whole world turns pink and my little daughter just smiles and nods as if she knew that it was meant just for her.  After all, who doesn't love pink!  The wildlife is equally invigorating.  Hares, foxes (and yes, it is foxes, not fox or foxen, I checked), moose, bald eagles, chickadees (I think, I need to get a guide book) and disturbingly large and undaunted ravens abound.  Contrary to what I thought before, moose are actually quite graceful and fast.  We haven't had any bad run-ins, thank heavens, but the moose have certainly made our little jaunts to and from the bus stop more exciting.

"And how is the skiing, sledding, etc...?" You ask.  That is for the next post.  And also cause I need to wrap this one up.  It's -18 outside and Lena and I need more hot cocoa.

Welcome 2012!  We are ready and willing for whatever you have in store.