Can you guess what Caleb just did? I happened to have the camera when Cannon said "Oh no!!" Caleb had just had a bath and they were watching Dukes of Hazzard reruns...

Tagged: Indulgences

My spunky aunt Julie tagged me, (unless she was referring to another Kathryn--in which case I'm still posting this because it was fun to think about), on her blog. She listed 3 INDULGENCES. Here are mine:

1)Working out, especially skate skiing (skis are on the rack, ready to go).

It is more tricky getting to the fitness club or trail with a little one. It means getting up earlier than anybody should have to get up or skipping out after dinner...or later, keeping faith that daddy will get baby bathed, read a book and in bed before I get home late. Cannon is very good about this. And some days are more exhausting than others and when an hour on the trail or at the gym is needed most, there just isn't any way to get away! So at this stage of motherhood, working out definitely feels like an indulgence.

2)Painting my toes.

The day I can give myself a pedicure is a great day. Life isn't the same for me when my toes are chipped or the polish is worn. I have the colors I like with jewels and glitter and all the tools to make my toes shine! Salon pedicures are fun, but doing it myself is something I really enjoy because it requires time to myself without Caleb's curious hands rifling, dumping or shaking the polish supplies.

3)Buying hair products from a salon, rather than the grocery/drug store. My make-up is mostly Cover Girl and Wet n' Wild..go figure!

Also, reading fu-fu magazines, buying gouda cheese and chocolate milk, Victoria's Secret lotions and potions, making jewelry and sewing* (again, time to myself) and finally, shopping at Title Nine. My most favorite store of all time. Don't get me started...I love it so much, I hate it, because the models are real live super women and the clothes are exactly my style but expensive...I could write a thesis on why I love and hate Title Nine.

*If anyone, even 6 months ago would have told me that I would enjoy sewing and consider it an indulgence to shop for fabric, I would have given myself a hernia laughing in their face. Lolly started it and Heidi perpetuates my new project ideas with her wonderful creations.

I'm TAGGING: Lolly, Heidi, Amy, Collette, Holly, Heather, my aunts and especially Grandma Hillam. But I'm going to be hopping on everyone's blogs so post 3 indulgences right now!

Whatever...

Nursery to clean (notice that Caleb threw everything out of the crib before finally falling asleep)...
Laundry to fold...

Dishes to do...

I'd rather eat this homemade chicken soup sitting in front of me and blog hop.  Is there anyone else feeling the need to procrastinate on this lovely Monday?

Crafting

I decided to pick up a paintbrush after years of being too busy. I'd love to get a little studio set up with an easel and some supplies but that is just asking for trouble. Can you imagine what little ones could do in mom's art studio with expensive brushes, paints and canvases? For now my painting will be relegated to small chalkboards like this, where I can write a quote or quip and add a correlative painting.

I also made up a simple idea for a Valentines wall hanging. It turned out alright, considering that I'm using a $5 sewing machine (garage sale) and limited skills. It was fun and added to the house decor. It looks like paper, but it's fabric! I'm so clever!
You will notice the black bear figurines. I have them placed throughout my house. I'm not generally one for kitsch art and everybody's-got-one home decor...but these Big Sky Carvers Bearfoots Bears strike me as endearing objects which I find most befitting in our Alaskan home. I like collecting them.

Oh what do you do in the wintertime, when all the world is cold?

40 Degrees in Anchorage

This is what warm weather does to Anchorage.  The streets/driveways are thick sheets of ice. We've been housebound all week.  The ground is so cold that the runoff and rain freezes on contact.  Amazingly, Cannon has made it to/from work unharmed.  

Spaghetti Dunking and Drinking

We were thoroughly entertained at dinner last night. He ate quite a bit and when he was done, he drowned the rest of it, slurping up a few noodles here and there. We were on the edge of our seats wondering if he would actually drink the water. He didn't disappoint. I was barely able to catch it on video and he was thrilled to be grossing us out!

Before the dunking and drinking...

This pic is for Heidi! He loves the magnets you made! Thank you!

It is good to be home

We have been home for 3 days and it is really nice to be back in our comfort zone. I have unpacking and laundry to do but it is snowing and overcast...Caleb is down for a nap...and I'm going to curl up with a good book.
We truly enjoyed spending time with our families over the holidays. It will keep me going for a long time...especially when I get to missing them. Looking back on 2008, it has been a tumultuous year and that might explain why it was such a relief to land in Anchorage on Saturday and know we were home. About a year ago we were going through the stress of finding a job as Cannon was finishing his graduate coursework. I was a brand new mom, learning how to transition to life at home after years of working in an office. We were renting a home and trying to decide if we should buy it or not. There were many decisions to make, but mostly a lot of waiting. I'm not a "waiter". I'm a "doer"..so it was an uncomfortable, precarious time for me. We got a job in Oregon and said goodbye to our families. After arriving in Oregon, and only 2 weeks into his job, Cannon received his "dream job" offer in Anchorage, AK. I absolutely loved Oregon but I absolutely love Cannon more and this job was exactly what he wanted. Three months, almost to the day that we left Tempe, AZ, we landed in Anchorage, AK. We were starting fresh again. I was the logistics coordinator for both moves and it was pretty intense work, but we got through everything and landed in a little house with a great yard and close proximity to work, church, school, grocery store, parks, post office and fitness gym. Up until now, we've been settling into our new life in Alaska. We love it here and we are looking forward to this new year. As we become more comfortable and familiar with Alaska, we hope our friends and family will feel inclined to visit. There is something about the grand beauty of this place that gets to you and it never goes away.

A few of my favorite pics from Christmas in AZ

Papa Jeff showing Caleb how to run the train on Christmas morning...

Grampa Jeff looking out over the beautiful Sedona landscape with Caleb...

Grammy Mellie playing hide n' seek at the Fiesta Bowl parade and waving at the floats with Aunt Lolly...

Playing at G&G Stoddard's house, especially with the John Deere tractor...

Caleb learning to share with others at the Phoenix Children's Museum...

Lots of cousin time at the Mix house. Heidi was especially attentive to Caleb, what a sweetie!

Some of the Mix gang gathered and ready for the gift exchange...

Gramps showing Caleb how to aim his new Red Rider BB Gun (Gramps got the gun, not Caleb!)
I have many, many more and what I don't have on video or pics, I've got in my mind--warm memories (literally) that will last forever. And they may need to carry me for forever because I don't know the next time we'll travel from and back to Alaska during the wintry Christmas season again! Too many flight cancellations and too much stress!

Arizona

We've been "holidaying" in AZ and in a few short days, we'll be back in Anchorage. We are looking forward to coming home even though we've been "home". A few highlights thus far: Playing Scrabble with family; going for a walk with Grandma Chris and having the neighbor stop us with bags in his hands, offering to let us pick as many lemons, ruby red grapefruits and tangelos as our bags would hold; the super cheap gas ($1.45), the super cheap groceries (especially milk, and produce); sunshine all the time; playing Scene It Seinfield with our friends; Cheesecake Factory with my sis; Caleb running to the swingset as soon as he wakes up in the morning; Cannon flexing his household/mechanic handyman muscles with the whole family around to pat him on the back. It's been fun!