Feb. 8, 2010 - Winter Getaway

 

                                               

 

My suggestion for keeping your sanity when it's winter in Alaska and you have seven kids in the house?

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GET AWAY for a day or two!! 

 

 

                                                

 

Tony and I had the wonderful opportunity to "get away" this past weekend. 

 

My wonderful sister and sister-in-law helped watch children so we could have a "mini-moon"!  :)

 

 

                                               

 

Our drive took us a couple hours from home and gave us some time away from (most of) the children. Because Remi is still nursing, we took him along and always enjoy the time with just the baby. 

 

 

 

We LOVE taking road trips, and savor the scenery and the time to visit without the children listening or interrupting.  :)  

 

 

 This was on the way, about an hour from home.  Don't we live in a beautiful place!?  :)

 

 

 

 We really enjoy watching our local high school basketball teams, and our two favorite teams met "head to head" this past weekend, which was what gave us the idea to to watch their tournament.  It was in a small coastal town a couple hours from home, and the hotel we stayed at was RIGHT on the water!  It was SO PRETTY!  Here is the view from our hotel room.  This was taken out the window!

 

Unfortunately, while we were there, Remington got quite sick again.  We've been struggling to get him healthy (and KEEP him healthy!) for over a month now, and he has seen the doctor 6 times (two of those times were ER visits) in the last 4 weeks. 

Before we headed back home on Saturday, we took a little time to drive around and enjoy the beautiful town and scenery.  It was snowy and cold, but the view from inside the cozy car was SO enjoyable.  The time away from "real life" was great, and even though Remi kept me up most of the night, thew up on me at 4 am, and the drunks two doors down got arrested at midnight... it was actually quite relaxing!  ha ha!  That just goes to show you how chaotic my everyday life must be, huh?   :)

One more photo from our two days away.  :)

 Other than that, here's what we have going on:

* Homeschooling is going great.  Should finish up around May 1st.

* The two foster children we LOVE SO MUCH, may be moving away soon.  :(  That's going to be hard!

* Remi's health could use your prayers!  He's had pneumonia and some leg troubles.

* We just got fresh snow.  It's fluffy, clean, and annoying.  :)  I hate wet feet!

* We're already making summer plans for camping and boating.  SO excited!

* Only 3 months until we can go morel mushroom hunting.  I LOVE doing this with my awesome kids!

* Our 15 passenger van that we bought about 4 months ago has been GREAT.  How did we survive before?

* I'm SO lucky to be in love with my best friend, and to have such a wonderful family!! 

* GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME! 

Love ya!
~Leah

 

 

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Dec. 30, 2009 - Goodbye, 2009!

 

Wow, it's been a long time since I've updated my blog. SORRY!  (to the 2 of you who still stop by!)

 

Things are going good here at the Alaskan Jackson's house.  It has been 3 months since our two foster children came to stay with us, and everyone has adjusted nicely.  We have all improved in such areas as: helping out around the house, organization, punctuality, sharing, etc.

Having two babies in the house is always entertaining!  They are both such good boys!

"O." is 18 months old and as smart as any baby could EVER be! He is agile, climbs everything, dances like crazy, eats everything and anything, and intimidates Remi. :) Remington is learning a LOT from the older boy (R. is 14 months) and sometimes that is good, sometimes not-so-good. ha ha! Together they keep us all on our toes, and when we're not refereeing the two of them, we're usually laughing at their funny antics. It is so much fun!

Evelyn, Oliver and "A" (who is 7) stay busy with LOTS of fun activities! They color, pretend, dress up, play games, play "littlest pet shop", read books, go sledding, and argue. yep. :) It's never boring around here!!

Sully and Celina continue to be great helpers. They are cruising through their school subjects, while managing to help with babies, laundry, meals and diapers. I am always thankful and pleased with their willing attitudes and servant's hearts. It has been great to see them grow to love these two extra children, and watch as they learn compassion, empathy, and selflessness.

Tony and I have been SERIOUSLY enjoying Christmas break!! We've stayed up late watching movies, enjoyed a 3 day mini-vacay to the big city (with only 1 baby along!), taken the kids swimming, sledding, shopping, and much more. Each day is full, fun, and often funny.

Christmas was busy and great. We had to put our tree up on the kitchen counter to keep it safe from the babies, but it worked out nicely and even kept most of the presents from their curious little hands. Christmas morning was peaceful and fun, with all 7 children enjoying giving as well as receiving. My folks stopped in, we ate a big breakfast, and lots of cocoa and See's candy! We opened each gift one at a time and made the gift opening last two days.

We have had a couple different get-togethers with cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents, with GREAT food, funny games, and wonderful conversations. I love being surrounded by family and friends. This week we'll celebrate the end of another year, on the same day that Tony and I celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary! :) We'll enjoy a gathering of friends and family at my folks' house, complete with way too many sweets and treats, and a sky full of fireworks. It's always one of the highlights of the year and the kids are already looking forward to staying up until midnight. Don't tell them, but I might skip out and bring both babies home by 9. Hey, we've got a good sleep routine going, I'd hate to mess it up just days before we get back to school/work/schedule!

SO, that's a very overdue and condensed update from the Alaskan Jacksons. I think I will only include this one more photo, since most of them include A. and O. and legally I am not supposed to share their photos. This is of Celina (15) and Remi (14 mo.)

If you think of us, please say a prayer for them, for their parents, and especially for their future. I don't know what God has in store for them, but I pray each day that He will guide them, guard them, and continue to show Himself to them. We're very thankful for each day that we get to love on them. They are wonderful children and we love them very much!

SO with that, I'll say goodnight, and goodbye to 2009.

In His grip!

~Leah

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Nov. 6, 2009 - November, 2009

 

 

Wow, what a wonderful autumn this has been!  Having lived here in Alaska my whole life, I have seen many snow-filled winters arrive far too soon.  This year has been an absolute treat, however!  Here it is, November 6th, and there is still no snow in our yard.  The children are still enjoying playing on the lawn, riding bikes, and playing with Winchester (the rapidly growing "puppy"). 

 

We've been taking walks, using the double stroller to haul the two babies around (still have the foster children with us), and staying plenty busy with the extra activities that having two more children creates.  School activities, birthday parties, visitations, doctor's appointments, etc.  It's very busy around here, but every day is full of laughter, schooling, meals, games, and plenty of crayons.

 

Tony has been working on getting a roof on the barn, and the shed-roof finished so the boat is safely tucked away.  The weather has held out so nicely, but there have been a few VERY windy days, making it hard to handle sheet metal roofing.  :) 

 

 

I really struggle with the snowy weather making me feel depressed in the winter, so the dry, sunny days have really been a blessing.  Nothing lifts my spirits like dry grasses in the sunny breeze.   Add a smiling boy to the scene, and I'm in heaven!! :)

 

 

School has been going great and everyone's enjoying the freedom we have to learn our own way.  Oliver has been doing GREAT learning his multiplication facts while Evelyn is doing AWESOME with her reading and writing.  Celina is working through geometry and biology while Sully focuses on his mandolin, history and math.  Of course, those aren't our only subjects... but you get the picture. :)

 

Nothing much else to share at the moment.... or I'm just too sleepy to be able to think of anything!  :)

We're healthy, happy, and so very blessed here at the house of the Alaskan Jacksons. (+2)

If you happen to think of it, please pray for the family of the two foster children who are in our home.  They are such neat children, and I believe that God has big plans for their family...

 

In Christ's Grip,
Leah

 

 

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Oct. 24, 2009 - The New Ride...

 

 

 

 

We've been looking for a bigger vehicle for a while now.

 

And since our other vehicles are already HUGE (Suburban, 8 passenger station wagon, and a vw van!), there are very few vehicles that qualified as "bigger".  ha ha

 

Tony and I took a little trip to Anchorage to look at this van.

And we decided it was the right one for US!  :)

We're really happy about it, and even though it's an older vehicle (94 Dodge 15 passenger van), we feel like it's the EXACT one that God planned for us to buy.

 

The details all worked out perfectly, our friend Jackie watched the kiddos, and voila!

Here she is!!

:)

 

 

 

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