Sorry

Just before Brett left he fixed a computer problem. Our desktop wasn't talking to our seperate H drive that holds all our pictures.

While working on the blog today, the desktop started stalling and being difficult. I gave it a few different rests, but it didn't help. So, I logged off and shut down. I thought that after a while, when I started it back up, things would go easier....

Well, I started it back up and the two aren't speaking to each other again. They're worse than Brett and I!

This is just to let you know the whys of why there won't be any new pictures for a while.(though I have a bunch!) In a week or 2, after Brett gets home and we have time to figure it out; I'll make sure there's plenty more to read about.

Until then!

Voices From Above

Just about as soon as Brett took off, our number came up.

It was finally our turn to get our roof re-done.

We have to park up the road...

our neighbors don't remember what it is to tote little kids to the car;

they took all the nearest spots roadside.

Luckily, I arranged to stay home this week from work and we don't HAVE to go anywhere.

Here's what's out our front door...

There's my flower beds

Good bye Daddy!

It took a few different false alarms, but Brett finally left on Saturday for Cordova deployment.

This hug for Shane was part goodbye and part protection from Shane's fly-swatter. Brett has the full gear... jumpsuit, leather flight jacket and the ever-present ball cap.
Have fun at Man Camp Daddy!

Scenery

I can't remember if I've put these up yet...

We sure love living where we can see these kinds of things often.

This one's from my cell phone.. it's a bald eagle.

I know where there's a nest too... I'll have to see if I can get a shot of that next.

This is the normal evening view from one of the local grocery stores... Shane loves to go to the one with the water...

Good night sunshine!

Tagged

It took me a second to figure out what this tag thing was... I guess it's been a long day. Here we go, sorry it's not terribly interesting!

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago: (1998 right?)
1. High School sophmore/junior
2. getting a roof on the shack house
3. A little housekeeping for Grandma Pat
4. Ummmm....
5. at the first ever Quiner family semi-reunion in Alaska
(putting in the foundation of the big house)

5 Things on my to do list:
1. Super clean my house
2. survive Brett's deployment week
3. get the boys outside more
4. organize everything- get rid of things
5. go to the movies- or dinner with my husband

5 Favorite snacks/foods:
1. fruit
2. ice cream
3. meatloaf
4. baked potatoes
5. rice

5 Things I would do if I was a billionaire:
1. Build my dream ranch
2. Travel
3. Set up my kids future (missions, education, weddings)
4. retirement savings
5. Help the moms out

5 Bad habits:
1. don't eat regularly
2. let my house get really messy
3. forgetful- don't pay enough attention
4. don't stick to a schedule for the kids
5.giving in to my insecurities

5 Places that I have lived:
1. Philomath, Oregon
2. Provo, Utah
3. Homer, Alaska
4. Kodiak, Alaska
5.Sitka Alaska

People I tag:
1. Clarissa
2. Mary (Kitty)
3. Melissa
4. Rosanna
5. Alyssa & Randy
6. Dayna

There you go

Polly Wanna Cracker

It's finally happened! Shane has entered the Parrot stage. Movies, songs, us... nothing is exempt from his attention. Brett said something about beer the other day in the car, we were very grateful that Shane misheard- he thought Daddy'd said bear. Watch out world!

Bottomless

We've gone on and on about Austin's bottomless appetite.

It's time to get a grin from a different kind of bottom-less-ness.

*WARNING! Brett assured me that no one would mind

the state of the boy in the following pictures.

However, just to cover my rear ('cause his isn't)

if the plumber is offensive to you, don't look! Thank you!*

They were involved in a late night of "ball game"- Shane's favorite. Brett didn't want Shane running around a' al mode, so he stuck some 3T PJ pants on him.

Shane is an aware guy, so (2 seconds later) when he developed difficulties...

He did his best.

And kept trying...

and trying...

and trying... but alas his alack of physical girth

(i.e. a bottom, hips... chub of any sort)

worked against all his efforts,

(Brett thought this was terribly clever, though Shane's lack of definition makes it hard to tell anything... the tag is covering up his plumber crack.)

eventually the game dissolved into a melee..meelee...meyly...brawl.

(and the pants were abandoned)

Further Adventures of Hallow Boy

We have all figured out by now that this little baby boy of mine is completely hallow, he's gotta be to scarf down as much as he does.

I thought I'd share some of his latest dietary conquests.

Cheerios! He prefers hijacked Apple Jacks to the plain Cheerios that Mom gives him.

Shown here mixed with turkey rice dinner.

It's next to impossible to keep my floors clean enough to keep this little crawling vaccum out of trouble. Especially during the week when Brett's working. When he comes hom for dinner, its too much of a hassle to get his big ol' boots off-

someone once told me that you have to eat a peck of dirt before you die.

Austin is half-way there.

Oreos!!!!
Shane and I share a weakness for Double Stuff Oreos. MMMMmmm!

Austin loves to take advantage of Shane's OCD habit of only eating the center Stuff.

Fit your mouth around the taste of a first chocolate flavored cookie!

Life is goooooood!

Austin thought he was pretty sly getting ahold of Shane's emergency water bottle
(which he'll only drink milk out of)
It was tightly shut, so he didn't get anything, but not for a lack of trying!
What a pose!

Ugh!

So, I just finished working up a big ol' bit about Austin and food (that combo is like PB&J, stuck together (and sticky together)) It took some time with the boys being as they are. I'm sure you see where this is going... the minute I pushed 'publish post' ---- ERROR, all gone! So I sure hope you enjoy the pictures that are in the post. I'll try one more time.

Signs of Big Boy-ness

The sure sign that your boys are growing up, is when they start to do things themselves.

We were getting ready to go. While I was struggling with the baby, I pulled Shane's shirt over his head and got distracted.

He decided to go ahead and finish the job...

Having a Go

I'm sure all you guys with multiple kids know how the younger ones want so much to be able to do what the older ones are doing. Aussie has been trying to climb up on the potty for days, so we decided to let him have a go...

Helpers

Shane loves to help me do the little thungs around the house. Lately he's been big on getting the milk out of the fridge for me to fill his cup. So when I was getting dinner out the other day; I turned around and it took a second to realize that the someone in the way was the wrong size!

Caught in the act!

Determination

So we went to the store the other day and Shane fell asleep on the way...

It wouldn't have mattered much 'cept that Ausrin decided to be awake at that time.

So I brought him to the front and nursed.

He was 'steering the car when something caught his eye...

Down he went to get it...

the next thing I know Astin has not 1 but 2 of Brett's empty Dr. Pepper cans;

dredging for drops!

It had been DAYS since Brett had shared his soda, but Austin remembered that shiny red can.

Tinged with Green

Quick note: these picture are not from this story, I'm sure you will understand why...

Brett goes out on the boat fairly often, hoping to fill our freezers, but the boys and I don't often get to go out... mostly due to the weather. There was one day a few weeks ago that was pretty darn nice, so we scrambled around, made sure I had a fishing license and headed out!
We had tons of fun looking for sea otters and other wildlife. Then I noticed that we were heading in a very different direction than normal. Normally, we can see the trees and houses from our little sightseeing trips, this time... we could see land masses, waves and other fishing boats and that's where the definition of the horizon ended. Silly me, I had forgotten to specifically ask Brett how far out we were going. Silly him, he forgot how easily I get seasick.
Well, some of the old fisherman that I've been meeting lately are certain that if you stick out a little seasickness then you'll get over it. So I determined that I'd try. I thought maybe if I could close my eyes and breathe the fresh cool air that I'd be ok. he he he... Riiiiiiiight.
Brett jumped up to get the fishing gear set up and in the water (I've been studying this at work and can give a more in-depth discription for those interested) and that left me... steering the boat, holding Austin in his lifejacket (which doubles his already sturdy size) and holding onto Shane so he doesn't go off trying to help and get hurt; or worse, get in Dad's way. All while trying not to yak!
As Brett scurried back and forth getting everything set up; I tried to warn him about the possiblity of upcoming upcomings... he told me to make sure I get it over the side so it can attract the fish.
Boy my husband loves me.
Sadly, being so focused on quelling my own gastro-intestinal display, I didn't pay as much attention to the boys as I should have. Shane was tugging on me and wanting to be held. It didn't really hit me until IT hit me that since seasick tendencies are hereditary, Shane probably wasn't feeling all too hot either.
I have to give myself some kudos here... already resisting the urge to 'go chummin' as it's called 'round here I was sure the gig was up when Shane painted my legs and the floor. But I guess some deep-seated MOM instincts kicked in 'cause not only did I not add a contribution to the floor art, but I was able to comfort Shane a bit more... while still holding Austin and steering the boat. yeah me!
Brett too deserves a spot o' praise. He didn't flip his top upon seeing the state of his baby (the boat). Of course, he also didn't pull the lines and head home until AFTER he did a quick but thorough wash down of the affected area.
But we did turn back and find a quiet-ish spot where we could try for halibut instead of salmon. I also got to remove my layers of clothes covered in bait-a-la-Shane. Wearing only my rain pants was kind of chilly but they didn't smell and that was the important part.
Once we were in quieter waters, Shane recovered very quickly and was asking for food, soda and milk. Meanwhile, Austin took a few catnaps and was having a blast looking at the world around him! Not even a juicy sounding burp from him!
It was quickly apparent that we weren't going to catch anything that day so we headed home. While Brett was pulling the boat out of the water, the boys and I walked over to West Marine to see about a bathroom and get some prices on seasick meds. We'll be trying them out over the next few months and hope to have conclusive trials for you by the time Mom and Dad Banks get up here in August!

*NOT the above mentioned trip- but on the boat.

Right: Our friend Ryan being crazy! Yes he always looks like that!

Up: Austin in his lifejacket with our friend Angie (Ryan's wife; due to pop 3 days ago!)

In case you missed it...

I know this was from a while ago, and alot of you have already seen it. But in case you'd missed it...

One day Shane and I were having a snack of apples and peanut butter. Munching our way through 2 + apples, we shared a few slices with Austin, but NO PB! We were almost done when I got called away to do I don't remember what. I guess Shane decided he was done right then too, 'cause when I went to pick up the dishes...

Somehow he didn't EAT any of it; but boy was it a bear to try to get clean!

Trout

Brett is really great at getting the boys out and doing things around town; at least if they're macho things. Today, they had a kids fishing derby at Swan Lake in the middle of town. No- no pictures, and Shane didn't fish (Brett didn't think he could handle both boys, a skiff, and fishing on top of it all) but they did go to watch and to see what all else was going on. I was working so this story is full of Brett's information...

The Forest Service here in Sitka use Swan Lake as a growing ground for the trout that they stock in the rivers and lakes around here. They take the little tiny fry and put them in the little lake until they're big enough to survive a little better out in the wilds. Originally, they would scoop up all the fish of the right size, do the job at hand and no big deal. But this is a hands-on community. Someone got the idea to let the kids get in a little fishing practice on the 6 inch-ish fish a couple days before the official round up.

All the dads (and some moms) get out to the lake with the kids, don the lifevests and jump in their little boats, dinghys, skiffs, kayaks, canoes... watergoing crafts, and go out fishing! yeah!!When the kids catch thier fish, they bring it in (still alive) get it weighed, measured and registered and stick it in a big tub until the prizes are awarded. Then they stick them back in the lake, but that's beside the point.... ANY hoo... Brett, Aussie and Shane were down there and went to look at the fish that'd been caught. The tub was set up on a little card table so Brett had to lift Shane up to see the fish swimmin'. When Brett offered to let Shane in to swim with the fish, Shane was ready to get down from Dad (wonder why!) but he wasn't quite done looking at the fish. What to do?! What to do?!

Ever resourceful, when Brett looked down to check on Shane again, here he comes lugging a step stool! A little ways away, the table full of women from the Rotary Club were watching with surprised faces. Guess where he got the step stool from!

Of course, we gotta teach him manners. Brett asked him to go make sure it's okay before he takes the step. "You gotta ask and say please!" Shane gets down from the stool, picks it up and marches back over to the Rotary table. He set it back where it belonged, stepped up, and then one more step up onto a cooler so he was eye-level-ish with the ladies. Now, using all of his little boy charm,"Pleea?" Of course they said yes. But now, he'd seen what they had on the table... he grab a candy bar and started down.

Brett quickly put the ka-bosh on that (they cost money)! And Shane obediently put the candy back, got down, picked up that step-stool and went back to watching the fish in the tub.

When they were full of the fun, Shane returned the step back to exactly where it belonged.

I sure wish we could have gotten pictures of it all. Shane is such a matter-of-fact little guy. I know it loses a bit in the telling, but it cracked me up!

Thank You Dayna

Just after I finished the ton-and-a-half new posts, Brett's sister Dayna sent me an e-mail... what ensued was pretty funny. The e-mail was short. It said, "you are great at this. You will be the next Erma Bombeck!"

That was awfully nice I thought, then I turned to Brett who was manning the computer at the time, "Who's Erma Bombeck" -No Idea!

I was talking to one of my older brothers on the phone, "Do you know who Erma Bombeck is?" - Huh? The name sounds familiar... Nope.

I ended up having to Google her! How pathetic am I! But for those of you like me, who are uncultured and proud of it; Erma Bombeck is a humor columnist that wrote about every-day life.

So I have to answer... Thank you very much Dayna, it's a very nice thought. I used to like to write quite alot... back when I had a brain. But alas (and a-lack) my brain has thoroughly been absorbed by my children.

Brett likes to remind me... even the Wizard of Oz couldn't help me now.

But if my accounts of the monkeys I live with can bring you a smile; then the hand cramps from typing one-handed are worth it!

Love you ALL! And miss your company!
~Tiffiny

Corruption

Ok, most moms know that it's the Dad's job to teach the kids all the silly, gross, irritating things that they need to know in life. Eventually, as a mom, you figure out that all the ideals that you had in the beginning are silly. Life and people have a way of thwarting your resolve and showing you that life continues. Brett is REALLY good at this aspect of fatherhood.

They trust Dad completely, even when he's being a trouble-maker.

He got them to taste it (yes, that's Dr Pepper).

He didn't expect them to like it so much- they drank that whole can! Austin would clutch the straw.

Shane would sneak a drink whenever anyone put the can down.

Help!

To get the boys playing together more, we started getting each other like monsters. Shane (when he's in a good mood) loves running and giggling with Austin being the 'Getter'.

(originally this photo had Austin standing up- it was terribly cute- you could see the cooler that Dad and Shane were on trying to get away from the Getter monster. Unfortunately, Shane was insufficiently clothed on his bottom half and we didn't realize it until I went to put it up here. So you get the cropped G-rated version instead!)

Getting Mom...Those knees are about as close to being in the picture as I get these days.

Here he comes! Aussie likes to get your toes if you leave them hanging off the couch!

They're yummy! (eeewww!)
He's practicing his whistling face Grandma-
no noise yet but it's a cute face!

Daddy can't play 'Getter' when in uniform.

(too much drool) So hugs will have to do!