What's new with us.

We have been pretty busy lately, not to mention the medication I'm on has made me pretty antisocial the last few weeks. I still do not feel 100% but I'm getting there, cutting down my dose has definitely helped, it has also helped me lose 2 lbs. people may think that just because I was on Facebook chatting with people and leaving statuses that I am 100% myself because THAT is certainly not true. Michael and I have also had been arguing quite a bit, but that seems to have settled down now.

The last time I posted, I was excited because Michael had bought me a new bedroom set. I love it but the novelty and excitement has worn off since I've been getting bruises the size of lemons because I am not used to the bed frame yet:



yes, I know I am pretty much considered Alabaster in color. I am white as a ghost and unfortunately tanning doesn't help, and I live in Alaska which has more overcast days than it does sunny. so... just sympathize about the bruise and ignore my scary white-ness, ok?

we've also been making lots of yummy things for dinner...

Chicken and Broccli Fettuccine Alfredo:


Salmon, Cantaloupe and Roasted Zucchini and Squash:


Pumpkin Pancakes From Wildtree:


The pancakes are actually pretty delicious especially with Real Maple Syrup. I don't particular like Pumpkin but these are not overpowering in taste at all.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Ermine Frosting:


The Recipe for the cupcakes came out fine. I think next time I'll use a different Cup cake recipe I found. these are good, they just seemed a little off to me, but the post was for a cake and I'm sure that's maybe why. but the frosting is to die for. and don't worry if you don't have a standing mixer, you just have to beat the finished recipe a little longer to let all that it does come together. because of this I beat the mixture on high until I felt it was light and fluffy enough.


We've even had a Snowstorm on 4/22 and now it's been in the 50's and 60's all this week:




Now Cole and I have been out doing some yard work. he's quite the little helper. I even bought him his own gloves while we're out there. I am hoping Michael's friend can come down and help us cut trees down sometime this summer. I would be SUPER excited about that.

The boys have got some kind of virus and I believe I got it and it's turned into bronchitis, I thought I was losing my voice but I've been trying to stay well hydrated and I had difficulty talking yesterday but I'm doing alright today. which is great. I just cough every ten seconds and had to use my inhaler a few times since last night.

I go in for surgery on my eyes on Monday. I have Chalazion on all of my eyelids and my doctor at my eye exam told me it could be because I am blonde and have very pale Skin and so my skin is just extra sensitive, he also told me I could prevent them from coming back by washing my eyes in the morning and at night and making sure that if I do wear makeup to wash it off really well before I go to bed. so that is happening on Monday so I am definitely nervous.

Michael also goes in for his surgery on tuesday. he has Dequervain's Tendonitis. He cannot wait to get it over with. it is causing him a lot of pain. and I probably will be on hiatus next week after his surgery because I am going to have to be taking care of him and the kids and the dog and the house and the cooking...it is going to be a long ride...

anyways.. I should start getting dinner together.... and so I will leave you all with a recent picture of my two babies:

Anniversaries.

It is Mine and Michael's 4 year wedding anniversary today. 4 years. that's more than like 2/3rds of a decade... and I never imagined that I would spend more than year with someone let alone 4 years and then a lot more years together on top of that.

Michael and I have had a lot of ups and downs. we've been through a lot, we've put each other through a lot and we've been without each other a lot. But somewhere, we still found the love and the strength within each other to work through those things and work them out and here 4 years later, I can honestly say that I feel we're doing well together and that we're both truly happy with not only our lives, but with each other and our life together.

I Still feel the same exact way I felt about him when I first met him. he still gives me butterflies, when he's gone, I miss him and want him home, and rarely do I wish he'd go away, I love him despite how grumpy he acts the day he has to leave to go back to work, or how much he plays on Xbox or how utterly male and disgusting he can be sometimes.

I'm glad we found each other when we weren't looking for each other and I'm glad that I've found someone who loves me despite the fact that I am moody (sometimes), I haven't lost all the baby weight from my kids, I talk in my sleep, and cannot take a joke (sometimes).

he completes me in every way imaginable and I can't imagine my life without him..besides, he's helped me create two of the best things that have ever happened to him and I and the future Lamphere's we may or may not create.

I just love him...and I know for right now..that's enough.

Meeting Santa Clause...

So we met Santa last Saturday and my kids both didn't know what to think of him. they wouldn't go more than a couple feet towards him. I actually have one of lincoln screaming his head off. I'll have to find it. I'm kind of tired right now and I kind of have to go shovel the like foot of snow that we got today so I can wheel the trash down to the end of the drive way. so Enjoy!




This was right before Lincoln head butted me in the face...for real, he actually did.



he wanted nothing to do with Santa, but tells everyone that he loves Santa.



About as Close as he'd get to Santa.

Life is so funny..

It is... I mean, Really. it is.

Michael and I have thrown around where we want to live if we decide that Living in Alaska just doesn't suit us anymore. I don't know if that will happen for a long time. I'm meaning like when the boys are 7 and 8. we need to desperately pay off bills before we do any such thing, as moving from here, we'd take a HUGE pay cut. and we can't afford that right now.

I know Michael has been looking at jobs. but then again. he always is. I'm not sure we'll ever quite know where we want to stay indefinitely.

Obviously, with the way the economy in Vermont is going, there is no way we're ever going to be able to live there in the nearest future. unfortunate for myself and my Family. but we haven't crossed off other places on the east coast. I wouldn't mind Maine, but Michael said there is no jobs there. I also wouldn't Mind Massachusetts or New Hampshire. Honestly. if I could see my family, I would even consider living in NY and I don't LIKE new york. at all.

Honestly, if I would want to settle anywhere it would probably be Colorado. Colorado is gorgeos and it's a lot like both Alaska and Vermont. Best of Both Worlds. and if we were to live where there is an air force base. I would be 11 hours and 7 hours from two of my best chick friends. we've been trying to get together and have a girls weekend for the upside of like a year and a half now or whatever and it hasn't happened. if we did that. I could!.

It's amusing that my motivations for wanting to live in Colorado are because of two of my best girl friends I have. LOL. I could fly to Reno for 280.00. How AWESOME is that? I can't even get a ticket under 500 dollars from here to Reno. it would be easier for us to do Vacations as well. like...we can DO vacations here to like Seward and Homer and stuff but... how many times can you do something like that before it is just the same? Also, we could fly home for 416 dollars Each...... it's like 700 a piece to fly home from Anchorage to Vermont.

Ah... Decisions, Decisions..... we see where my motivations are... I even found a house I like in Colorado LOL... what else am I supposed to do while the kids are napping and the chores are done?

Family Pictures...

These are the Family pictures we got on Saturday. My friend Sarah took them. she did a pretty awesome job for being an amateur photographer :)

My kids make Amazing Faces huh?


Well there it is. a Family Photo. Oh, how I have waited for one as cute as this. maybe next year. there will be no funny faces lol.

Today is AWESOME!

In 11 Short hours, my husband will be coming home from his two month long TDY trip to Missouri, and for the record, EVERYONE, he IS bringing a puppy back with him. I know. I am an idiot. but a patient Idiot so I guess that is okay!

Anyways. I must go. My to-do list isn't getting any shorter messing around on the computer!

The Aftermath Of Falling in Love.

I found this quote searching for a new quote to update my Blog with and I came across this:

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."
-St. Augustine

The Quote itself is from the movie Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

Recently, people around me or that I'm close to have had to stand tests and trials when it comes to their marriages with their spouse, they stand up to things that after quite awhile make things seem almost unimaginable. further more, I am surprised at the amount of people who set these relationships up for fail with their comments, as my friend said, commenting about what seems inevitable at that time, yet not commending people for their decision to work it out between each other.

There have been for sure times that I thought, our marriage was going to end, and since I am not much on going into personal history, as I do not know who reads my blog, the people who know me well enough know what trials my husband and I have had to face when it comes to our marriage.

I am over playing blame on who's fault those almost dissolution's were. they still happened, no matter whose fault it was. but I'm also glad that those things had happened to us, because it has made me stronger, it has made my husband stronger and it has made our marriage stronger because of it.

I've never been so sure of wanting to grow old with someone in my entire life. there is no one on this earth, who makes me feel the way that my husband makes me feel and I am incredibly blessed that he came into my life. we have given each other happy healthy children and a good life so far.

I know I am still young in my marriage and so my "In Love" feelings with my husband are still there. but I know in the future, when our children have left, our credits are paid off, and we have no more obligations to anyone but our marriage and each other. I know that we'll feel the way that this quote expresses. I have found my soul mate. the person I am going to spend my life with, through those thick and uttermost thin times and it's times like these, when some people are through turmoil, that it makes me cherish, the love my husband and I have for each other. I hope through the end of this tunnel we called life, there will be a tree, with our blossoms all around us and we are intertwined as one.

Updates and Pictures, Oh My!

So it's been awhile, yet again. Things have been hectic here. we're winding down until the time Michael has to leave and my parents are coming to see Alaska. My Sister and Dad will be seeing Alaska for the first time. I'm sure I will have tons of pictures since we have tons of adventures planned for while they are here. so I will not be posting much from 7/30 to 8/8, as they will be here, and we are going to enjoy the different attractions that Alaska has to offer! :D

We are in the process of re-financing our house. we will be able to skip 2 house payments , Which will give me a lot of leeway while my parents are here and we're also rolling a few of our higher interest credit cards into the mortgage so we're going to do it. to be able to get away from the strain of those bills will be nice. and we'll be able to start saving to do the work around the yard/house like we wanted to. it's obviously not going to get done this year because my husband leaves for Missouri in 12 days, but next year as soon as the breakup happens we should have enough stashed away to do some yard work! YAY.

I would love to be able to add the curb appeal to this house. it really needs it. and also doing it next year will give me enough time to read from flower/gardening books that have flowers that are best suited for Alaska. I also want to start pricing everything. I'm pretty sure we'll be replacing the lighting and a few interior things this winter which will not cost a lot (hopefully)

Now. onto the pictures! I'm not going to lie. some of the pictures have incorrect lighting. I made Fathers Day Gifts for my Dad/husband and I can't post those pictures either until the end of the month as I don't want to ruin it for my dad, who has not had the pleasure of seeing it yet as he had to leave before my package got to him. but anyone who frequents me on here, can also look at Those on Myspace.









These are all from my friends house. we had fun that night. my favorite is the picture of cole in mid air on the trampoline! :)

Picture Sunday....Lots of Pictures

Happy Easter Everyone! I hope everyone is doing well! sorry I haven't updated. I have not been a good blogger. My son is going through the "STOP TAKING PICTURES OF ME... KAY!?"

I don't really have much to update on. I have found a solution to my daily headaches. Naproxen is my friend. I ♥ it! and I have seen a big improvement not only in my headaches and how I feel during the day but also in my hand. when I went and saw a physical therapist and they said I was in the beginning stages of carpal tunnel. but I've noticed a huge improvement since using the brace and taking the naproxen.

I'm pretty sure next year, we will be trying for another baby. and adding to our crew. I'm excited but also scared. I don't want the same thing to happen that happened with Lincoln.























New Additions to my Walls:

Looks so much better than that stupid heart shaped shelf!


Above the Fireplace! :)

I hope you love the pictures. I gotta update in another thread the easter pictures! :)

Don't Have Much To Update On..... (Yeah Right)

So This Last week has been a little weird. I haven't had much inspiration to come on and blog really. I haven't had a chance to touch on sewing at all. I'm hoping to get in a bit tomorrow. I'm working on a tag blanket for Lincoln but I have to buy an iron tomorrow. The Fabric is TOTALLY sweet. I will definitely post when I've completed it. After that, I've got the Seat Cover to do, which I might bang out tomorrow since I will have an iron to iron on the interfacing on the back.

I am on another house project. I am making over my Utility Closet. Right now I've got One Coat on the walls that I can reach (it has vaulted Ceilings in it as well, which I thought was stupid but what do I know?) I need to get a Roller that is one of those tall thingers so I can get the ceiling and the upper walls. I am also going to put shelving in to make more storage space and a place to put our shoes. I can't wait to put pictures up when I'm done! :)

We are Celebrating Lincolns 1st Birthday tomorrow as Michael has no choice BUT to work on the 25th. I could cry right now. I can't believe my baby is Going to be ONE!...

I am going to the Doctor on The 11th Of March. Hopefully I will get some answers on my hand/headaches and my hip. Keep your Fingers Crossed that It goes well. I'm hoping they might clear me to a chiropractor. I saw on the doctors that people can get frequent headaches when their Atlas is off balance. maybe that's why I keep getting them.

It's Nearly Official that my parents are coming out here in July. I'm so psyched I can't wait!!!! I hope Michael can get time off but I'm not entirely sure...

well I need to go. I am definitely hypnotized by Suvivor in Death by J.D. Robb. it's Really Good! it's a 28 book Series and I have read all but Five.

here are some pictures from the last week. Enjoy!:

testing out my new Point and Shoot.

So Michael bought me This for Christmas. it takes pretty GREAT pictures for being a Point and Shoot. and it's a MAJOR upgrade from my Cyber shot which is starting to take Less than Stellar Pictures. Now All I need is an upgrade to the Memory card on my Power shoot LOL


















Taken With my Old Point and Shoot....