Straight From Santa

Straight From Santa, originally uploaded by northpolemama.

This is a new business Pete (arkworld) and I have started.. He has been busting his butt to get it up and running for the holidays.
Personalized letters from Santa postmarked from the North Pole. Make great Christmas gifts and it helps spread the Christmas cheer. :) So if you have young children or know anybody who does, give us a try. And help spread the word. We'd greatly apprecaite it! Our Web site address is:

www.straightfromsanta.com/

*on a side note, if you happen to find anything wrong with the site (i.e. out of place graphics, text, misspellings, etc.) please let Pete know. Thanks! :)

I'm all about the change!

just vote, originally uploaded by northpolemama.

You have no idea! I'm just gonna put it on out there okay? I'm getting my second divorce of 2008. There, it's there. Judge away. You told me so. Is that way you were gonna say? Yeah, heard it before. I should have known better? MmmHHmm. Too quick to jump in? Ya think? But you know what? I'm ok. I'm glad I went for it. Yes I closed my eyes to some things, but I opened my heart to love, and I hope that my heart never ever is to frightened to love. At least I can say I went for it. It wasn't a failure it was an education. And I'm on to bigger and better things. Period. All I'm gonna say :)

Halloween Time!

October is the "official" kickoff to the holiday season for me. When I first had my own family I would start decorating October 1st, I've settled down a little since then. I just decorated this past weekend. I always make hot cider (yesterday I had a little Brandy in mine) :) Then I light a pumpkin scented candle and go to work. We haven't carved the pumpkin yet, we'll probably wait until next weekend for that, it's way to messy to get into the same day as decorations. Then we'll bake the seeds and sprinkle them with cinnamon and sugar. Smells heavenly. I was pulling for the littleone to be a hotdog this year. He is 6 and I figure it was my last chance to try and influence the costume at all. My bad. He's going to be a ninja. Isn't that sweet? I believe the numchucks are an add-on. makes your heart melt doesn't it?

The Three Amigos

It doesn't always seem that way. There is fighting and pouting and the "he looked at me" "she's breathing toward me" that goes along with it too. But they love each other and that is what is most important. Your siblings are really the only ones you have with you, somewhat understanding what's going on in your life, for your whole life. You have the same roots, you come from the same tree, and even though every leaf is different at least they have some understanding of what the others may be going through. My favorite thing? When they all three get to laughing and giggling about the same thing. My heart actually melts at those exact moments. I know that people who don't have children lead full, happy, wonderful lives... but me? I could not imagine a world or a life without these three smiling, laughing, irritating, screaming, giggling, loving hearts in it.

I am so excited about the future and I truly can not wait to see what lies in store for me right around the corner. Every day is a miracle that I am truly grateful for. Sometimes.. like when my 6 year old is throwing a temper tantrum in Wal-Mart because I won't get him a bag of candy that he picked up off the shelf and I have to physically pick him up and put him in the back of the shopping cart, I need a little reminder of the magic in that. But... There is magic in every moment. He won't be little and making the entire mega Wal-Mart turn and stare at us for ever. Those moments are ones to be cherished. They go so fast. I mean his big sister, who is now 17, hasn't done that in at least 6 weeks. The truth is that at 37 I can handle those moments so much better than when I was 25 going through them with her. We live and we learn and we grow... so is life. Thank goodness!

Autumn in Alaska

It doesn't last long, but it sure puts on quite a show while it's here. I got out today sans husband or children. Just me and D (my camera) and the Alaskan colors. The temperature was perfect, the walk was perfect, the music was perfect, and I enjoyed every perfect minute. I am headed to Montana next week and I have a feeling when I get back the colors will be gone and snow will be right around the corner, but today, right now, i'm just going to enjoy the fabulousness that is Fall.

Is this what 17 looks like?

Oh My Lord!, originally uploaded by northpolemama.

Because I keep thinking back to when I was 17 and I am pretty sure I was NOT driving. OK, that's not entirely true actually, but my parents were crazy to let me. Crazy I tell you! When I think about the things I did at 17 and I think about my daughter, now 17, I can't imagine her even knowing about some of those things. And I was a really good girl. A good daughter, responsible, didn't get into any trouble.... but still. Ands he is a good girl, very responsible, never gets into any trouble, straight A student, and "girl" is the operative word here. Seriously, she is still my baby and I am not ready for her to grow up yet. So there you have it, and that is how it will be.