The Moses Family

Break Up

2011-03-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

Here in Alaska when all of the snow begins to melt it is a wonderful thing. Everything turns this grayish brown from all the sand that has been dumped on the roads all winter and your car will never stay clean. can you hear the sarcasm? And....all the ice and snow begins to disappear, which really is awesome! It's the best part! If you live near a lake or creek you can even hear the ice crack as it breaks apart...hence the term break up.

Well, it was finally warming up enough that I got all excited and ambitious about ridding my driveway of all snow and ice. I spent three days spreading ice melt(salt) and chipping away with an ice shovel, and ooooh did it ever look fantastic and beautiful. I had never been so proud of something as i was my clean driveway. Well, at least not this week. And this morning, I woke up to find that it had snowed again. Mind you, I just finished yesterday.....So, what did i decide to do? I'm blogging instead!

We are all well here. Nathan almost has his teeth through. He's been gnawing on anything he can get his hands on and drooling on everything else. Even though hes cutting teeth he is still so happy, i love it!!! Abram has taken up napping again which is both awesome and terrible at the same time. Nice to have the time to myself, but terrible if we can't make it home in time. Jon decided it must be because he is growing. For this kids sake I hope so, he is so little compared to the other kids his age. And Anya is curious about everything. She wants to know what everything says, how to write this and that, and will constantly ask me what this plus that is. we are so ready for school! Shes so excited she can hardly wait!

Jon and I are both really busy, but loving life. I recently started teaching a few students for voice, and just yesterday I was asked to teach two more people piano. This could be fun! And my Mother-in-law is coming out in May!!! I am so excited! We have missed her. Enjoy the photos.

cont'd

2011-03-14T17:17:00.001-07:00

whats not to love?

2011-03-14T17:06:00.001-07:00

where did the time go?

2011-03-05T10:20:00.000-08:00

recap of the last 9 months? it got cold, it snowed, i had a baby, life got busy and that is all.

enjoy the pictures. and i promise to be better about blogging!

anya the model

2010-06-12T15:49:00.001-07:00

so our good friend and neighbor here in alaska makes and sells these fantastic flowers online. anya was asked to take some pictures for her website and i was in awe. every mom thinks their child is the most beautiful kid on the planet, but until i saw these pictures it hadn't really hit me. so here are some of anya...and one of abram trying to get in on the action :) if you're interested in buying them here is the link to her etsy page. and its not just flowers...she sells a ton of stuff from baby accessories to ties, watches to diaperbags. go check it out....
http://www.brinababe.etsy.com

life is good

2010-06-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

well, where do i start. i never seem to be able to keep up with this blog, but i will keep trying. we are expecting our third in november for those we haven't told yet. anya got a bike and loves to ride it although shes not completely proficient at steering. and last but not least jon took his DLPT and got 2+, 2+. hes really excited as this will give him an opportunity for the immersion trips his squadron does. so thats all, nothing else too exciting here, just living and loving life in alaska. have a mentioned how beautiful it is here?

its a moose

2010-03-06T19:48:00.001-08:00

i have gone insane. that pretty much sums up this picture. this is what i do in alaska for fun.

it's snowing...again

2010-03-06T19:46:00.001-08:00

the iditarod had it's ceremonial start off here in downtown anchorage today. the kids had a blast watching the dogs. anya informed me that one day she would have a dog too. little does she know that it will not be while she lives at home. it's snowing again, like crazy mad, so i knitted another hat while my kids ate sugar. sounds like fun right? here it is pictured on my very own live in manikin...my husband! abram is talking like crazy. he will mimic almost everything we say including words like nugget, but not always in reference to food.
anya has become the regular little story teller. she has a red dinosaur that is only as tall as she is and she is a vallet dancer. thats code for ballet.

slacking off

2010-03-02T21:03:00.001-08:00

i have been doing nothing but slcking off and staying up late watching too much tv. as of today i am back to blogging and i will be better. so for a picture of what i have really been doing here you go. more to come. knitting is my new obsession...it's great!!!

happy thanksgiving!

2009-11-23T07:53:00.000-08:00

a ton has happened since my last post. i slacked off a lot. we ended up coming to idaho for the holidays, very last minute. anyway, it seems like everything is being thrown at us at once. jons dad is sick, my kids got pink eye, anya has bronchitis, and my poor husband is stressed to the max. so i figure i should take time to say what i am thankful for instead of complaining;, that i got to fly nearly three thousand miles for free and be here with my family for thanksgiving. i have the best husband any girl could ever ask for, he puts up with all of my shinanigans. i have beautiful children that love me and want me to hold them and cuddle with them, even if it is only when they're sick. yes, i can be thanksful for a lot of things. happy thanksgiving!

need a good laugh?

2009-11-01T18:01:00.000-08:00

so my friend sent me the greatest link a few days ago and it just made my day. for those of you who remember annie this is even funnier. still without knowing her it's pretty hilarious....just watch.

lots of pink

2009-10-18T20:56:00.000-07:00

so from the pictures we can deduce that my child is a girly girl and she loves pink. i got really ambitious and made not only her cake, but her tutu as well....and i did a pretty bang up job, even if i do say so myself. so now i have a three year old and she is the best thing. she is so sweet to me, even when i don't always deserve it. i can be grumpy with her and she just looks at me and says...mommy, i'm sorry i made you sad, i love you....and it never fails, i completely forget why i was upset. i was truly blessed with this one.....i can't believe she is already three. where has the time gone?

recent happenings....

2009-10-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

it's pretty here

2009-08-31T10:38:00.000-07:00

so we've been here a little over a week and a half and honestly we still haven't done a whole lot. it seems everyone has been sick. we've gone on a few walks and a few drives and the scenery is spectacular. we have a moose thats lives behind my house and apparently hes very friendly...we've seen him standing in the middle of the road a couple of times. we all like it here...and speaking for myself, i'm very anxious for the snow! all anya can talk about is how she is going to build a snow man, "member, i get to make a no man a morrow mom?" well, not quite tomorrow, but soon. these are a few pictures that jon took on his way here and while he was fishing with julian at the russian river.....enjoy!

home at last.....

2009-08-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

well after much ado and almost nine hours in an airport with two kids under the age of two all by myself.....we have arrived safely in alaska! it is so good to be in a place of my own again. we had a lot of fun visiting family, but i have come to the point that i am ready to be alone surrounded by only the screaming of my two small children. my house is wonderful...as is my husband who had it almost entirely set up when i got here! i don't have any pictures of anything yet, but give me a couple of days to settle in and we will be on our way...for now, just know we're here and happy.

soon....very soon

2009-06-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

the house is empty except for an air mattress and some dishes, we have a little over a week left and jon is taking a really big test today. i don't know how he does it every day, but i'm glad he does....it makes it so i can sit at home and play.....thats what watching kids is called right? we are doing well and anticipating the move, but have ahd a few minor set backs. we all had to be cleared medically in order to move to alaska, but because of anya's asthma they haven't approved her yet. we go in on wednesday to talk to her doctor and see what she thinks. wish us luck....if this doesn't go through, we could be in texas for two more weeks. so we're all praying it happens fast cause then jon will get more time off to play....and i think the poor guy really deserves it......

no more monkeys jumping on the bed

2009-06-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

i awoke to some major giggling the other day as i was trying to nap. it would seem my children have discovered the joys of jumping on the bed....only this is a small airmatress. like maybe a twin size, if that...so of course you have a lot more wiggle with the bouncing action. so heres how it goes: abram will climb onto the bed in a half crouched position and wait patiently for anya to come running from the other side of the room. she then belly flops onto the middle of the bed, barely missing abram's head, thus launching hin into the air and sending him flying onto the floor.....where they then both collapse into fits of uncontrollable laughter. and when the laughing subsides, they start all over again. i tell you if that deosn't give you a heart attack the first time you see it i don't know what will....but they seem to love it and when they set their minds to it there is no stopping them. plus, who wants to interrupt a happy kid!?

.....and we're leaving soon!

2009-06-14T14:49:00.000-07:00

so, the other day as i was in the bathroom attempting the dreaded morning primping, my sweet little girl came in talking about her new bug friend. so i started into a lengthy five minute conversation with her about her friend as i finished my hair.....well, show him to me! and what did she walk in with? a big old nasty cockroach in the palm of her hand!!!!!!! needless to say, we only have three weeks and five days left in texas and i am counting down the days. in the next few weeks we will be going to the doctor, the dentist, and then idaho....i'm so excited! i can't wait to move.....and the bug is only my current reason!

i do it...

2009-06-03T09:50:00.000-07:00

so lately anya has been really into doing everything by her self....her hair, dressing herself, dressing abram...you name it. so here are a few pictures commemorating the events...enjoy!

we love the bathroom sink.....

2009-05-12T12:56:00.000-07:00

it turns out my kids think that the bathroom counter is the coolest place in the world to hang out. most mornings i get up with the intent of getting ready and doing my hair so i look presentable, but within minutes all my good intentions are gone and i am taking care of my kids instead. so one morning out of sheer desperation i sat children in the sink and continued with my efforts of beautification. abram liked lounging in the sink and chewing on anything he could get his hands on and anya may have drank some strawberry flavored toothpaste.....but you know what? i got ready today and my kids thought it was a game!!! so there.....

another day older

2009-05-12T12:48:00.000-07:00

so for jons birthday on the 4th i tried to be really sneaky and plan a surprise party for him. so come the night of his birthday i sent him to the store with instructions to get a prescription and came right back. he left, everyone come over and when he came back....ta-da, you get the idea. well, i was so proud of myself for pulling it off until later that night i asked if he was surprised and he admitted to knowing about it for about a week. it seems some one got onto facebook and asked him what time the party was...it turns out i am not as sneaky as i would like to think, but my husband is a good sport and played along anyway.....

older

2009-05-02T17:14:00.001-07:00

so in the the past week we have gone to the circus, attempted to decorate cakes, gorged ourselves on frosting, found out abram has asthma, gotten a year older and gone from blonde to brown. jon still isn't used to it yet, but i love it...thanks for the birthday money! i put it to good use!

not maryland.....alaska

2009-04-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

so yesterday jon ran into the master sergeant who was in charge of deciding where his orders where going to send him. well, to make a long story short.....we have spent the last month and a half thinking we were going to maryland and as it turns out we are not.....we will be moving to alaska in september instead!

jon's so excited he can't quit smiling and i am still reeling from the shock. i haven't quite decided what i think....but it's hard not to be excited because jon is. so if any one has been there or has good stories or advice....i'd love to hear it......anyhow, alaska here we come!

and the explaining!

2009-04-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

so the past month has been an adjustment, but things are settling down finally. anya is getting into a phase where she will tell me stories. i'm not sure i should call them lies because i'm sure she doesn't know the difference yet, but they are some pretty far out stories. "mom, aber a pee a foor!" translation...mom, abram peed on the floor. really, abram did that? are you sure? "um, uh no. daddy pee a foor?" translation.....um, i don't know. did dad pee on the floor? yeah, that was a good one. one day she also caught a blue ladybug, but it flew away before i could see it becuase it was hungry. also we went to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist last week and they have finally agreed with me that she will need to have her tonsils and adnoids out. hopefully we can get them out and healed before we leave in july.

abram has become a speedy little beast....i can't take my eyes off him. he will grab anything he can get his hands on....including my food at dinner! he has three teeth and is working on three more. he is such a happy baby, now if only i could convince him to stay out from underneath the computer desk (where all the cords and flashing lights are :))we'd all be happy.

jon is doing well from what i can gather. i don't know much about whats going on, but i know hes passing his tests so thtas good....i guess. texas is warm and sunny, and personally i can't get enough of it....

more pictures.....

2009-04-15T06:01:00.001-07:00

pictures....

2009-04-15T05:57:00.000-07:00

Texas..............

2009-03-04T17:04:00.000-08:00

so no pictures, but heres a quick update. our amended orders finally came on tuesday, the movers cam on thursday and friday. we checked out of our apartment on friday by about 4 o'clock and drove we arrived in san angelo, texas on sunday at around 10 p.m. we stayed in a hotel for a couple days and were able to move into our apartment on tuesday.....and i am just now finding time to tell everyone about my incredibly boring goings ons. so we're here, it's hot, and everything is dead and brown, but i like it....give me a few more days and maybe i'll get some pictures up here....

oh, by the way when you move to a new state, there are so many stupid random things you have to buy that it will blow you away. so word of the wise, for those of you getting ready to move......put some money aside for little things like toilet paper and a new garbage can and new groceries. who new i'd be broke after i moved into a cheaper and smaller apartment...go figure.

dress up?

2009-02-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

so anya has become very interested in wearing things that a princess would wear. she routinely chooses to wear her sunday dresses over any other item of clothing. well it should have been no surprise then when after a few minutes in my bedroom she came out and announced she had found a princess outfit. well i tried not to laugh as i explained to her that she couldn't wear the particular item in public and that was not for her. however, i couldn't help taking a picture, so heres a good laugh....

our car

2009-02-12T13:12:00.001-08:00

so here is a picutre of our new car. about a week ago we traded in our nissan and our subaru and bought a bigger and might i add...better car.

on to the promised land.....

2009-02-04T08:03:00.000-08:00

so after what has seemed like an eternity of waiting, we finally have orders. drum roll please.....we are going to....fort meade, maryland. still...you'd think they could have told us back in october when they told us we'd be doing russian since our orders haven't changed location one little bit. anyway, enough with my rant...i'm excited! and i'm ready to be going even though i'm sad to be leaving friends behind. we will be going the end of february, so please excuse me while i go and scream out of sheer terror. anyone have good advice on how to keep my two year old occupied on a cross country roud trip? i am open for suggestion....anyway, enough craziness. just wanted to say...see ya, cause i am so gone!

yes, we're still here....

2009-01-15T13:29:00.001-08:00

for those who have been asking we thought we might should just make it clear...as of today we still do not have orders and are still in monterey waiting on the military. abram is cutting teeth and ready to run, or so it would seem because if hes not standing he's not happy. anya has perfected the art of smiling and her newest response if she dosen't like something is to growl like a animal. i know i shouldn't laugh, but i can't help it... so thats our news, at least for today.

random photos

2009-01-05T13:35:00.000-08:00

the classic anya look

2008-12-11T10:31:00.000-08:00

what can i say, the look says it all....this has become the face she gives us when we try to get a photo. nothing new, just sitting and waiting. happy holidays!

2008-11-30T15:46:00.000-08:00

just more pictures...

Fremont Peak

2008-11-30T14:37:00.001-08:00

we went to fremont peak yesterday with nate and brenda evans. they have two boys named dillon and cameron. the hike was tiring, but the view was amazing and the kids had a blast. it was really pretty and the weather was great.

2008-11-24T16:29:00.000-08:00

anya has finally made a really good friend that she actually gets along with and of course, with our luck, they are moving. cicily and anya had a great time burying their feet in our backyard and looking for airplanes.

Halloween

2008-11-22T15:37:00.000-08:00

anya went as little red riding hood, however, once we got the cape on this was the only picture i was able to take because she got so excited and she wouldn't sit still any longer.

air force ball

2008-11-01T13:51:00.001-07:00

so back in early october we went to the air force ball for the first time. i got really lucky with my dress because at first i could not find anything that fit, having just had a baby. so of course what do i do? i called my sister sarah and by the next morning she had made a dress and had it in the mail on it's way to me. anyhow, since i had such a fabulous dress i decided we needed pictures. we got my neighbor vickie hinds to take a few for us. the ball was a total blast...but i think my favorite part was the food. also, on a side note...a much more important side note, jon will be a russian linguist and we will be out of here finally by about february at the latest. we don't have our orders yet, but that is immaterial...we are leaving, it's official, and we couldn't be happier!

just pictures

2008-10-26T15:03:00.001-07:00

so lately there hasn't been too much going down...just craziness. anya found some markers the other day while i was otherwise engaged and abram smiles at almost everything. we celebrated our anniversary earlier this week and are still not so patiently awaitingnewsa on what we will be doing. we're told weshould know by the end of the month,

but of course we've heard that one before. we're keeping our fingers crossed though, just in case.

and she's two

2008-10-20T16:54:00.000-07:00

well, anya is offially two...but it sure doesn't feel ilke it has been that long. we celebrated her birthday on friday at dennis the menace park with cake and icecream and a few friends. anya was more excited about all the slides than she was about opening the presents...that is until she saw what was inside. then it got interesting.

still waiting.......

2008-10-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

well, life with two kids has caused our house to become a real circus! so i must apologize for the huge lgs inbetween posts...and i will try to be better at keeing the world informed. we are still here in monterey just waiting for the air force to decide what to do with us....in the mean time we won't complain because this really isn't that bad of a place to be stuck! we'll keep you informed....

Still here

2008-06-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

This was taken at Carmel beach. I didn't quite get the marks I needed. It's not too heart breaking though. 85% of DoD arabic linguists aren't passing this test. So with that, we are still here and we are making the most out of it.

2008-06-13T21:01:00.000-07:00

Anya sees a dog, and gets excited.

Let my people go

2008-06-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

Moving? Maybe

Hannah and I have now lived here in Monterey-Seaside, Ca for almost 2 years. It's been a good time, and it has been a wonderful place to visit and to have fun. However with the added gas prices and the cost of living, it has become difficult to live here in this "paradise". Next week is my DLPT, or final test, and "In Sha' Allah" when I pass, we will be out of here in a jiffy and on our way to Texas and then Maryland by the end of the year.