Cuddle Monkey

This is actually Austin's monkey, but the noise it makes makes him nervous. So Shane was fiddling with it and decided he wanted to be like Momma... He insisted that I strap the thing to him before he'd leave the house. What a nut job!

Adorable

I'm not braggin or nothin' but I get stopped alot in stores- people seem to think I have cute boys.

Austin was just being irresistible this day. It was his first time in the seat of the cart.

Eagles

Shane insisted on going for a drive today so he could take a nap and while they were unconcious, I stopped by the side of the road to pick some of the early salmonberries. While up to my ankles in mucky water in the ditch, I looked up and saw a pair of eagles in their nest. The male was feeding the female so I assume there's babies, or eggs at least. Here's the pictures.

Swedish Fishermen

Brett is a big big fan of Swedish fish- little fish shaped gummie-ish candies for those of you who don't know- I didn't. Shane didn't take long to pick up the taste for them either. Well, I made the mistake of sending those 2 to the store together today- unattended. They came back with a big ol' bag of -you guessed it- Swedish Fish! Shane sat down and dug in right away- and I mean RIGHT away! And Brett stole what was left in the bag to take to work. but he didn't grab what Shane had pulled out onto the couch for easier access. I'm sure by now you can tell where this is going....
I think I've found all that he got at. Luckily, they tend to stick to your foot when you step anywhere near them, especially if they'd been gnawed on. Well, at least it hadn't been alive this time...

It's a Small World

Ok, rewind time for a minute...

On the... Monday or Tuesday..

I loaded the boys up and headed downtown to price stuff for Shane's party. (favors and stuff)

With the way town is set up, unless you're really good at parallel parking, and at swerving around cruise ship tourists,

which I am not, it's best to park at the library or someplace else and walk to the shops.

We parked and headed up the little alley, only to find it blocked off for construction.

Luckily, the store right there runs through to both streets.

So I thought I'd look around in there as we passed through.

Well, as we headed up the stairs that seperates the 2 halves of the store,

I noticed a knot of people in the aisleway by the register.

I was stressing about how I was going to get the carseat through the clothes racks- without losing Shane.

But something felt out of place... It was Lisa!!!!

A friend from Kodiak that I hadn't got to see or talk to in forever!

Right there in my way!

They were only passing through on thier way to St. Criox

(is that right? it's so not fair! getting a station like that...)

They stopped to spend some time with some of her CoastieChic friends.

I hope you guys got to see plenty in your time here.

Come back and we'll get you out to the Fortress of the Bears,

the Raptor Center,

the Sitka Wreck,

the Theobroma chocolate factory,

Whale Park,

Totem Park,

etc.

Shane was being difficult- surprise surprise,

so Abbey (Lisa's little girl) stopped to make sure he was ok.

It was very cute... she even started in on a good sympathy cry

when Shane was faking to look pitiful.

Last time we saw her she was a little chub like Aussie!

What a big girl!

Everything in Life is Not Edible

Brett really wants me to share this little tidbit with y'all.

As Shane's Brithday party was in full swing, Austin went racing on all fours across the room.

He'd seen something that he wanted to attempt to eat.

On the way, he spit out or lost what had previously been in his mouth

unbeknownst to us, of course.

Brett snagged the abandoned bit of whatever and paused on his way up.

"umm.. were you guys playing outside recently?"

No, we hadn't been outside since before I'd gotten home from work a few hours before.

Upon further examination, Austin had been chewing a slug

as if it were gum.

When Austin discovered his loss he went back to look for it.

Conclusion:

Austin will be a champion dare winner- he has no taste buds...

OR...

Slugs are far tastier than they look.

Red Letter Day

Sunday has arrived and though we're all very tired from the week's insanity,

we drag ourselves up and try to get ready for church.

(Somehow, with Daddy home, we're garunteed to be late;

without him, we're on time... hmm...)

Austin looks very nice in his big boy shirt

Todays a BIG day.

We got some unders in a bunch of clothes we got from a friend

and they happen to be just the size we've been looking and waiting for!

So, Shane is going to try them out...

Such a little big boy!
Modeling them for Daddy

New-ish clothes, it's the only time I can get a shot of him with his shirt tucked in.
Venting his frustration on Elmo (yes, it's supposed to do that)

Showing me his new shoes-

They have lights and skulls

(not the most appropriate for church- but he refuses to wear anything else...

in fact it was a struggle to get him to upgrade to these!)

To some up... Shane succeeded in staying dry the whole day!

Yeah Hooray!!

Birthday Addition

So, my brain returned to something that needed to be added to Shane's birthday account... He got some very special phone calls. He might not have sounded terribly excited while on the phone for the few seconds he was able to stand still, but he did talk about them later, which indicates that he really loved them!
First of all, Grandma and Grandpa Banks called and sang to him. He was watching Bear in the Big Blue House (one of his new favorites) and tried to tell them about it, but gave up when he couldn't keep up with the song.
Next, Uncle Ben called- - Shane is the cutest thing ever when he says 'uncle ben'! This time, Shane's friends were here and The kids were bouncing all over the place along with the balls.
Thank you everyone anyhoo!

We tried to call Uncle Matt, who shares his birthday with Shane, but the message machine said that the mailbox was full, so we couldn't even leave a message! We learned that Uncle Matt was working that day- so now we'll send out Happy Birthday Uncle Matt!

Sunday was Uncle J.D.'s birthday as well as Aunt Teresa's- Happy Birthday to you toooooo!!!

Carnival

Ok, so some of the Sitka organizations set up some little food vendors and half-a-dozen game booths in the Elementary school playground and called it the Carnival for the

3 days of the 4th of July weekend.

Shane got to try cookies and cotton candy and play games.

In spite of what his face is saying, his favorite was truly

the Tiger's Blood snowcone we shared.

(he shared a few bites with me)

Daddy finally got off of work and got to come and meet us to play at the playground.

The boys were all over him. They really miss him when he has to go.

Austin tasted the local geological samplings.

I don't think he swallowed any.

And Brett taught Shane how to go down the slides "nose" first.

He loved it so much that he wouldn't stop!

Finally we had to go... Shane got away on the way out and went tearing down the slide...

with no dad to catch him- he would fly off the end,

except for the girl that was trying to climb up it.

Confused

Just in case you were about to comment me and point out that I put Shane's birthday stuff before the parade stuff and have everything mixed up... You're right, but I'm really too tired to care right now. Thus is my mind, if you get lost in it... remember, mushrooms aren't the only thing that grow in the dark!

Parade

Yeah for the 4th of July Parade!

We ate lunch while we waited in our spot.

Shane's munching a cookie from the "Carnival" booths.

Austin could hardly contain his excitement.
Even though Daddy and most of the people we know were NOT
in the parade, the Coast Gaurd still cut an impressive figure for such a small station.

No, we don't know these people but it was a pretty cool point of view for the kids.

Mountain Rescue put up a bagpiper- complete with bobble hat and kilt.

Brett is in the Helo on the left.

Yeah Daddy!!

He also ran back-up on the Search And Rescue Demonstration

that they did, but we didn't get to see that (the boys were being difficult.

Some friends of mine are in the Russian Dancers, they were horsemen this year

(it's an all women troupe)

Us at the end of the parade.

Shane was still recovering from the firetrucks

(he does NOT like loud noises)

Happy Birthday

Our busy weekend hit it's peak on Saturday.

Shane turned 3!

People came from the 4 corners of the rock to eat and talk and just have fun.

Non of his nursery girl friends could come, but we had other kids that braved teh pouring rain to show up with thier parents.

Last year, I had to open all of his gifts and he just wasn't interested in being fussed over.

Time and Blues Clues Birthday movie has clued him in to the joys of

Present Time! He actually started singing Blue's present time song when he saw the stack of gifts that I was pulling out for him to open!

My Boss and her little boy got Shane a Dora coloring book and bubble blower.

Batteries NOT included thank goodness.
Shane tried to be careful but couldn't get them open that way.
We had to teach him how to rip....

Dad got Shane a cool Swiss Gear backpack...

That came with a smaller 'daypack' and a lunch pack!

(all for $38, Daddy was very proud of that find.)

Another friend gave a set of clothes, and stickers.

getting help from Dad's knife to get through the ribbon.

The smile that went with the general 'Thank-you' as Shane surveyed his loot.

One friend picked out the same Stretch-Me Elmo that Shane had asked me for at the store 3 days before. She really spoiled that boy!

Shane took a few tries to get his candles out on the Dora Adventure cake.

The same friend that brought Elmo, brought Austin a present too.

The green monkey screams when you squeeze his belly.

After a long and wondrfully crazy day, we all crashed, Shane shutting the world out completely.

Boom Boom KaBoom

I must say, the best place to be on the 4th of July has got to be

Sitka, Alaska,

At the last minute, they decided to hold the fireworks at 11:30 on the 3rd because the weather was supposed to turn ugly. But with all the lodges, organizations and individuals that joined in on the fun, they actually started at 10. Daddy had duty, in case District command decided that they should go flare chasing, so the boys and I bundled up and went chasing lights of our own.

We passed up alot of good spots to end up at the harbor in the middle of town. We were literally turning in circles to keep up with the different shows, one not 200 feet away. Austin was asleep immediately. When I got Shane out of the car, he was stuck to me like last weeks band-aid; until I put him back in the car, where he felt safe enought to point to the fireworks and enjoy them a bit.

Whenever a really big one went off, he would cover his mouth... it was THE cutest thing.

At 11:30 we loaded back up and snuck our way back through town to the site the city had chosen to launch thier show. We got a great spot at the uncrowded end of the ramp. Shane stayed in the car again and after just a few fireworks, he was off to dreamland with Austin. So I climbed up ontop of the car (so I could see the boys through the sun roof) and watched the show by myself. It was warmish out and they did an awesome job of setting up the show. The sound was literally echoing off the mountains, shaking the car. It was an experience not to miss. The City show ended at 12:15 and I headed home to get the boys in bed even though the unofficial fireworks were still going strong.
It was a great start to a great weekend!