A Few Of My Favorite Things

~JANUARY~

1)Afternoon Tea. 2)Fondue. 3)Fitness Apparel in the Mail. 4 & 5)Road Trips. 6) Birthday Cake. 7)Baths. 8)Lipstick. 9)Hula Hooping. 10)Muffin and Smoothie. 11)Lego Snowmobile Trailer. 12)Baking. 13)Matching. 14)Brothers. 15)Green Smoothies. 16)Homemade Freezer Jam. 17)Art time. 18)"Momma I'm a flower".

Jammin'

We've had wild raspberries hidden away in our freezer since this summer. I finally got the courage up to make some freezer jam with them. We had almost six cups of berries, and once crushed we had four cups. I read lots of recipes online, talked to friends and family and finally went for it. I knew that I wanted to make a lower sugar jam so I started with one cup of sugar and added until I liked the flavor.

Tanner loves raspberries.

Little hands hard at work.

Berries. Sugar. Lemon Juice.

Berries and sugar cooking down.

Thickening up beautifully.

Perfection

Delicious with Greek yogurt and chia seeds.

I had to make some 30 minute rolls for Brandon to try the jam on. Yum.

 

 

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Minot AFB

One week and a day after our final base "Dream Sheet" was submitted, Brandon received notification that our next base assignment would be Minot AFB. We can leave AK on July 28 and Brandon doesn't have to be to work until September 11.

Brandon and I are both happy that of the 3 positions available to us, we got our number one pick.

I'm looking forward to getting to spend the summer here in Alaska. We love the camping and fishing here. July is the best month as far as weather goes, so having the month of July here is such a blessing!

It'll be nice to spend some time at home before going to North Dakota. I haven't seen Montana since December 2010. It's time to go get in touch with my roots again!

Where Will We Go?

On the 9th of this month the listing of bases, that Brandon is eligible, for came out.  The ones open for a Tech Sargent, during the time that we are due to leave here are;

Three Positions open in Minot AFB near Minot, ND
One position open in Barksdale AFB near Shreveport, LA
One position open in Homestead AFB, near Homestead, FL

That's it. That's all that's open.  These three places are bases that never crossed my mind when I spent hours upon hours dreaming of where we would make our next home.  Three out of five positions open are at  Mintot.  The odds are that's where we'll be going.  It is the only base that we have any real opinions about.  Our initial reaction was... Minot is the last place on earth we want to go!!! Both Brandon and I are from Western Montana.  North Dakota is close enough that we've heard of how flat, cold, windy it is.  We have had our fair share of long cold winters here in North Pole/Eielson AFB, AK for the last 7.5 going on 8 years.  We keep hearing how the oil boom in North Dakota is bringing in all walks of life, which is causing the drug and crime rate to go up, not to mention the cost of living is outrageous. 

After talking to friends of friends and doing some of our own research, we aren't scared of the prospect of North Dakota anymore.  It would only be a 12 hour drive back home.  There is hunting, fishing, camping.  We made ourselves stop researching the area for the time being, though.  We won't know for another 2-4 weeks where we'll actually be sent, and it's not doing us any good getting our hopes up too high, betting that we'll be going to North Dakota.  That unknown date can't come soon enough. 

Well Child Visits

Both boys went in for their check ups today. I had spaced out bringing Tanner in after his 3rd birthday until I called to make an appointment for Dillan's 12 month. I was worried about bringing them both in at the same time because they are such handfuls in public, but they did relatively good.

This was the first year Tanner had to have an eye exam. He thought it was so fun getting to shout out UMBRELLA. APPLE. HOUSE. as the figures were being pointed at. He also got his blood pressure checked with a cuff, which was "like giving his arm a hug". He was very shy around Dr. Short, but did as he was asked. He will not have to be seen again for another year.

Height ~ 37.3 inches 50%

Weight ~ 33.0 lbs 38%

BMI ~ 16.24 58%

Dillan was EXTREMELY shy with the doctor. He didn't want to look at him and squirmed away anytime he was touched. He'll be back for another well child visit in 3 months.

Height ~ 29.72 inches 47%

Weight ~ 19lb 13oz 10%

Head Circ ~ 45.5cm 24%

 

Both boys got shots today. Tanner got the flu shot and Dillan 5 different ones. He'll have to go back in 30 days for his booster flu shot and to get his finger pricked to check his iron levels.

Waiting for shots.

Sad little legs.

 

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Birthday Celebration

We ordered a cake, a pizza for kids, and made fondue for adults. Invited family over and declared it a party fit for our one year old!

After feasting, we opened gifts and ate cake. Dillan had a lot of fun opening his presents and loved all the attention he got.

Look at that smiley boy!

He's ONE!

Photo by Bridgett

Dillan got his own cake. He started with just eating with one finger but quickly moved on to using his whole RIGHT hand.

Photo by Bridgett

Photo by Bridgett

Photo by Bridgett

Cleaning up in the sink.

 

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Happy 1st Birthday Dillan!

2 weeks. 1 year.

Today my Littlest Love turned a year old. We spent the day in jammies. The boys both have yucked up noses and coughs, so comfy was the name of the game.

We ate, played, opened presents, and cuddled the day away.

Opened one tiny piece at a time.

Tanner and I made carrot muffins so that we'd have something to stick a candle in. They were delicious. We will have cake and ice cream on Saturday when we celebrate Dillan's birthday with Brandon's sister and her family.

He never did get the candle blown out.

Dear Dillan,

Happy 1st birthday baby boy! You are learning and growing so much everyday that its hard to keep up with you!

On this day you are soooo close to walking. You can stand up on your own and take a few steps before you sit down and crawl the rest of the distance.

You have 9 teeth and you're currently working on four more. You don't seem to have too many problems when teething... You get a little fussy and lots of drool happens. But nothing that can't be handled.

You are Tanner's little shadow. You love copying his movements, playing what he's playing and eating what he's eating. As time goes on, and you both get bigger, I know you two will be even more inseparable!

You use the signs for all done, more, water and eat... Though water and eat look and sound a lot alike.

You love to say "Hi" when you see someone, especially when daddy walks into a room or when we are on FaceTime.

You are handsome, funny, smart, and one heck of a little mimic. I love nursing you and holding you while you sleep. You are so very special to me.

I love you.

Love, Momma ❤

 

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