Five Alaska Bailey's

Jamis Micheal Hartman

2009-05-20T14:32:00.006-08:00

Born May 20, 2009 at 7:32am
Weighed in at 7lbs 11oz
Length 20 inches

Momma, Daddy, and baby are resting happily after a LONG morning. How lucky we all are AGAIN!!! =)

2009-04-06T20:39:00.009-08:00

She's SEVEN! My first born is seven years old. Man, where has the time gone!? How did I get here? =) I swear it was yesterday that I was hiding my engagement ring from my parents when I brought Kip home for the second time EVER. And now I have a seven year old daughter, a to-be five year old next month and and a three and a half year old that is trying to age right along with his big brother! What am I to do!? Enjoy, I guess! =)

These past few weeks have flown by! Izzy had another very successful birthday party in the church gym. Scott, Kimmie, Keegan, and Sanona came up for Junior Olympic swimming and actually got to stay longer than four days!!! Though it still WASN'T long enough!!! Grandpa and Paana had a "Spring" get-together that WAS NOT a birthday party for Grandpa Steven! And, of course, Easter!!! I know I should elaborate on these wonderful events, but I'm going to let the pictures speak for me.Toby fell asleep between Izzy and Aiden. When they got up...he stayed there...=)

Kip finally got to have chocolate! He gave it up for Lent and now he's enjoying Reese's all over again!!!

They did smile for this shot, but it wasn't nearly this telling...=)

How many kiddos can YOU fit in hula hoop?

Blowing out candles on the polar bear cake with Toby's help!

Baby Joy feeding Uncle Kip...=)

Auntie Kimmie and Keegan

Baby Joy playing with Paana's flowers.

Her momma got to play too!

Paana helping with buttons

Dessert at Paana's!!! Yay!!!

Paana and Grandpa Steven

Mmmm...more dessert at Paana's!

Mmmmm! Dinner at Paana and Grandpa's!

Izzy helped make some yumminess!!! =)

It's been two weeks already!?

2009-03-19T14:32:00.007-08:00

Wowsers, I cannot believe it has been two weeks since I last posted here. Spring Break was already two weeks ago and it went by in a complete blur! Kip and I had the wedding in Homer. The kiddos had their respective vacations, Izzy's first sleepover with a school friend, Aiden FINALLY got to go spend the night with his cousins in Wasilla, and Toby got to spend the weekend with Uncle Drew and Marla! Man, they came back exhausted and incredibly happy! Yay!

Both Toby and Aiden were able to spend the weekend watching the ceremonial AND official start of the Iditarod (YAY! Lance Mackey! Mr. Three Peat!!!), but surprisingly enough, they did not run into each other. They thoroughly got to enjoy being themselves. It was great!!!

Izzy was taught how to drive a snowmachine BY HERSELF! Thank goodness it was a small one! She also got to play a DS for the first time. That's a Nintendo, right? =) I never thought I would be out of the loop when it came to kids stuff, but I think I've seen one of those things twice. She's, of course, completely infatuated with it now. Oh my....

Kip and I attended Jason and Rachel Wall's wedding in Homer, though it was more of a job for me and a night with the guys for Kip. He took it very well, especially when I had said it was going to be a great getaway for us. I did not realize how much work it actually was to shoot a wedding. The photos turned out wonderful! I was lucky enough to have my teacher with me, talking me through every lighting set up and background shot, though, looking to me for final decisions and answers to questions from the couple and their family. It was a phenomenal learning experience for me. I think I have found my calling. Kip was told I looked completely in my element the night of the wedding. It was wonderful!!! I am so grateful for my supportive husband. =)

p.s. I TOOK THOSE PHOTOS!!! WOOHOO!!! ;)

I can't believe that was just the START of our spring break. The rest of the break we pretty much fell out of contact with the outside world. The boys ended up with ear infections, one right after the other. But we were able to push through it and hike/sled Ptarmagin Pass in Chugiak and ice fish on Mirror Lake. The sun was out in her full glory giving us a glimpse of the warmth to come.We painted the boys' room so it is no longer plum purple. (YAY!) Now it is light blue with one medium blue wall. Kip took the night I was working to redecorate it and get all the boys' posters and artworks up on the walls. We put the furniture in when I got home. --The kiddos spent three nights sleeping together in Izzy's room. The first two nights were fun, by the third, though, they were ALL ready for their own beds! LOL!-- The bunk beds are now against different walls and it looks like a wonderful little boys room with a train table, toy box, and book baskets! It was a job well done! =)St. Patrick's Day was thrown in there too and though it was a quiet gathering this year, we still had a wonderful time! We had cornbeef and cabbage, Irish Soda Bread that Pat made with the kiddos before dinner, shortbread, Guiness, John Powers, green beer, and green iced and sprinkled cupcakes. It was quite the food party!!! Oh! And don't forget the tattoos from Grama! =)
As for now, we're settling back into the groove of school. I can't believe we are on the downward swing towards summer vacation. It's going to be another busy one, but it's going to be wonderful!!! =)
Super Tilly!!!

The Fairy Princess is casting spells with her magic stick wand upon the evil Fairy creature at her feet! That was her story she made up and her Daddy was, indeed, a fairy for his daughter! LOL!

This picture was taken by Marco Gutierrez. He is my instructor and after we finished up with the wedding party, he took the time to shoot a few of Kip and me.

Spring Break is just about here!!! Yay!

2009-03-05T09:21:00.004-09:00

It's coming! It's almost here!!! =) Spring Break is within reach!!! Tomorrow morning I head down to Homer to prepare for my first wedding shoot(well second, but the first was YEARS ago). The whole ceremony, reception and everything!!! I can't believe it! I'm SO excited and incredibly nervous!!! I'm going to be driving down tomorrow morning with a fellow photographer (Man, that sounds so cool!!! LOL!). We'll be mapping out our course of action for the wedding and family photos on Saturday.

Kip and I have successfully farmed out the kiddos to a point where if they were not able to go to their respective places they would be incredibly disappointed (this was my plan so Kip could relax and enjoy the fact that we'll be adults all weekend. WOOHOO!!!). The funny thing is, I don't know how to pack to be an adult! LOL! I keep getting distracted trying to be sure the kiddos have everything they'll be needing over the weekend. AH! Motherhood! =) Really I do believe this is going to be a fantastic weekend for all five of us! As well as for Tilly (she'll come down to Homer with Kip). Izzy gets to have her FIRST sleepover with someone other than family! Aiden FINALLY gets to spend the night with Jacob and Emily! And Tobias gets to spend the weekend playing with Uncle Drew and Marla! =) I think Uncle Drew is as excited as Toby is for this weekend!!! So I told Kip that if he decides it's too much for him to make it down, he STILL has to take the kiddos to their places because if he didn't he would be in the DOGHOUSE! =)

Well wish us luck! I best get back to packing!!! *hugs* to all!

Here you are Grama, the photo for which you've been asking!!! =)

What a Weekend!

2009-02-23T09:50:00.004-09:00

Well, as I sit here letting my weekend sink in all I can think of is how lucky (and incredibly exhausted *smiles*) I am!!! Friday was a Girls Night Out for a Bride-to be (for whom I am taking wedding photos in TWO WEEKS!). Saturday was a lazy DAY, a GREAT night of work, and a too short (for me, not her) birthday party. And Sunday was a wonderfully long day hanging with my daughter as she competed in the Junior Native Youth Olympics as one of the Chugiak Rams! Goodness I'm so happy it's Monday!!! LOL! =)

It was a marvelous weekend and Isabelle did so well! We are so proud of her!

The first event was the Kneel Jump and she made it to her feet!!! Something she was unable to do before practices at school! She had great form and made it up!!! Yay! We'll work on distance later! ;)The second event was the Stick Pull and she won the pull twice! Check it out!!!

Isn't that cool!? =)

The third event was the Seal Hop and she went 5ft 5in. She loves this event! And we learned an extra tip that is going to help her cross the gym next year!

These Games are so much fun and we realized that we have a lot of work to do for next year, but this year was a phenomenal learning experience and a day that I FINALLY got to spend with my daughter!!! I didn't realize how much I miss her! I am incredibly lucky to have my Isabelle! She makes her Momma BEAM with pride!

So enjoy the photos & video! I have a lot to do after such a busy, out-of-the-house weekend! =)

*hugs*

My Oh My!

2009-02-18T09:26:00.007-09:00

Holy cow what a week! And its only Wednesday! Aiden has been sick with a sore throat and tight cough. Toby went to the doctor yesterday after having the same cold Kip and I had for more than a week and now he's got an ear infection! There have been sick people in our house since the week before the Superbowl! Will we ever be healthy again!? Good thing Isabelle has been able to stave off any sickness! Unfortunately, she has been stuck having to put up with all the sickies in the house! Man I'm ready for good health! =)

We are gearing up for the Junior NYO on Sunday! Isabelle has had practice before and after school for the past week and a half and she's doing very well! She told me after the first few days that when she moved her tummy hurt. And I told her she was sore from using her muscles. I don't remember being sore when I was young, probably just because I didn't realize what it was! It still makes me giggle realizing how much I am responsible for teaching her. Well maybe not giggle, but it sure makes me reevaluate! But I digress...=) Isabelle's coaches are her two gym teachers and they say she works hard everyday! She's been the first one there after school and I'm sure she would be the first one in the morning if she didn't have to wait for her brothers and I to get in the car! She is becoming incredibly self sufficient! Well, once you kick start her in the morning (she's like her Momma!). But once she is dressed and fed, she gets her things gathered and she's ready to go! She makes me so proud! One day she'll actually get to know that. =) For now she has to watch me corral two boys who would rather not do anything I need them to do...=) The stinkers!

Well, I had best get going. Aiden and I have some books to read!

Here are today's pics!

Daddy caught us enjoying our Saturday afternoon watching Black Beauty! I LOVE this time with the kiddos!!! =)This is Toby working at school. He is doing so well!!! For those of you who don't get to see him all that often, you are going to be floored when you get to see his new personality! He's a HAM!

Isabelle has taken up the role of reading to the boys when Momma and Daddy have to get stuff done around the house. It's wonderful! She loves to read and the boys, as you can tell, adore listening! Tilly seems to enjoy it too! Though I think she's more there for the physical closeness! She's a snuggler!

Playing with the webcam!

2009-02-12T16:55:00.008-09:00

So while we waited to Skype Grama and Grampa the other day, I pulled up photo booth on my computer and let the kiddos play in the camera for a bit. I'd go through and explain, but these pics and video pretty much do the trick...;)Okay, so maybe I joined in a little bit too, but check out this video I put on when I ran to grab the dental floss and the kiddos thought it was still just taking pictures when it was actually recording them!!! Hahahahaha! Sorry, it's in thermal, but they were enjoying playing with the different effects...I think kiddos like to look different! It's wonderful, isn't it!?

Thank you, Sir! May I have another! =)

2009-02-11T09:41:00.004-09:00

We got #2 out last night! Grama and Grampa Bailey were even able to witness the extraction on Skype! It was great! Isabelle is such a trooper!!! She is now adorable again! Don't get me wrong, she's always adorable, but if you check out the pictures you'll understand that I couldn't let my daughter go on like that for long! Hahaha! *hugs* Well, without further ado.....

LOSING TEETH and new slippers!!! =)

2009-02-10T09:23:00.006-09:00

Last night was an eventful night at the Bailey house! We received a fun Valentine's Day package from Grama and Grampa Bailey and we finally got Isabelle's darn dead tooth out!!! YAY!!! =)

It took some work and almost a few tears, but Izzy toughed it out and we're ready to go after the other one tonight! Well, I'm not sure if she's quite ready, but the other one is just as ready to come out, it's just not black. Man that tooth was gross! I'm so glad it's gone!!! I really think Isabelle is too!

The tooth fairy was sweet enough to bring Izzy four Alaska quarters! =) Momma did have to redirect after Izzy made the comment, "She gave me a...a dollar." (not pouty, just matter-of-factly)

So Momma swooped in and said, "Not just any dollar, did you really look at the quarters?"

That perked her right up and she said, "They're Alaska quarters! How cool!"

And she proceeded to make sure she was able to take one with her to school to show to "everyone." I think it all worked out okay.

So inside this box were new "Speed Car" slippers for the boys. They're kind of that croc material. The put them right on and had to try them out by taking fast laps around the living room, making sure they were fast like Speed Car! They loved them so much that Aiden set his perfectly together beside his bed after he crawled into his bunk. Side by side and straight forward like any normal OCD child...;) And Toby who did not feel quite right taking his off his feet decided to sleep with them on all night! And then this morning when he woke up, he came to me groggy eyed and wimpering that he could not find one of his slippers! OH NO, a crisis, considering how far that slipper could have possibly gone...;) So he took my hand and dragged me to his room to help him look. Sure enough, it was up against the wall, still in his bed. He climbed right up and put it on triumphantly! Phew! Yet another crisis averted! =)

I know I have yet to get pictures up of Kip and I, so that is going to be my next goal. Until I get a recent one, however, here's one from a winter walk we took with Tilly back in October.

Junior NYO Games!

2009-02-05T15:54:00.002-09:00

Izzy was selected to be on her school team for the Junior Native Youth Olympic Games!!! She is competing in the Kneel Jump, Seal Hop, and Stick Pull!!! Now I only know what the stick pull is so I'll have to find out the others! This is so cool!!! =) I'll be sure to post pictures after the event the weekend of February 20th! Sorry, I had to share! I'm beaming right now!!! Yay!

Kiddos and Pictures!

2009-02-03T10:00:00.004-09:00

So I don't know why, but our time at the kitchen table seems to be the best place to get funny faces and happy kiddos. I can sit there with my camera and just snap shots while the kiddos make faces and they LOVE it! That is as long as I show them the pictures after I take them...=) They are so cute and they make it pretty easy to find practice time for my photo classes!

I just finished my third class so now I have taken Studio Lighting, Flash Photography, and Basic Photography. The last time I enjoyed myself so much in a class was in Algebra! I know, I'm a little weird, but everything just seems to make sense! It's wonderful! I am scheduled to shoot a friends wedding in March and my teacher and his wife, who have a photo business, are coming along as back up shooters. Not only am I lucky enough to have professionals behind me for this wedding, but they have graciously offered the let me borrow their equipment during the shoot! I cannot believe how trusting and wonderful they are! I am so blessed!!!

With the three classes, incredibly generous Christmas gifts, and a few of my own earned photography items, there just might be a chance of getting a business of my own started sooner than later! Until all the kiddos are in school I'm going to keep trudging along, little by little, to make it a possibility. Wish me luck! =)

So this one of Izzy is to show those teeth I was telling you about the other day! Of course we were eating strawberries and peaches at the time, but you can still see through all the mess that those two teeth are saying "LET ME OUT!" She can almost bend them all the way backward, it is creepy! We have, once again, tried the dental floss trick, but it is a lost cause, I do believe. We are just going to have to deal with them until they decide it is their time to come out! Even talking about what the Tooth Fairy may bring her still does not get her any more excited about us yanking and pulling on those teeth! What shall we do!? Wait, I guess...

And then there is our Tillybar. Daddy's new baby girl. Don't get me wrong, no one can replace Isabelle, but Tilly sure has Daddy wrapped around that proverbial pinky finger! Isabelle has a firm grasp on the first one! =) Tilly is a wonderful dog. She's still chewing a little more than I would like, but it is definitely getting better! It also helps that Kip is in the middle of 'force fetching' with her. It's not the most fun ways to play with your pup, but she is responding to him and is shaping up to be quite the hunting dog. You should see how well she listens to him. Well she listens to me too, but do you see that look on her face? She is at a 'sit' for me, but she just heard Kip come home from work. She is so good that she waited until I was able to take the picture and release her on her name before she bolted through the house to love on Kip! And bolt she did!

Kip is doing a wonderful job with her. Sometimes you have to actually see him work with her to see what she can do, but when she's on, she is ON! She doesn't run away. She listens well. She hits the brakes when she tries to push too far and you catch her. For an 8 month old puppy, she is rather incredible! And HUGE! I can't imagine she has much growing left to do, but I'm sure she will surprise me!

So wrestling is in full swing now. The first meet was last Thursday and I do believe they did alright. Now that I think about it, I never really got an update, but I'll find out by the next one. We always seem to be about a week behind with each other. One day maybe we'll catch up! MAYBE! =)

Well, I have a little man asking for a playmate, so I best sign off and do I as I said I would! Thanks for stopping by, it sure is nice to have a fun outlet to tell stories of my world! *huge hugs* Until next time!!!

Oh! Here's a shot I captured of the moon and Venus last Thursday! It was incredible! A neat thing is two days later, I saw the picture in the paper. No, it wasn't mine, but it was newspaper worthy, so at least I'm on the right track!!! =) ENJOY!!!

First timer

2009-01-29T09:57:00.006-09:00

Well, I figured it was time to start this blog. I've had the account for months and just haven't posted yet. So here goes...=)

Life for the Alaska Bailey's is busy all day, everyday...=) This is a house filled with laughter, love, and happiness with a little frustration and weariness thrown in here and there! (I have to be honest, right!? *smiles*)

You will notice I *smile* =) and *hug* a lot, but that's just me and if you have received emails from me before, you're already use to them...;)

Anyway...

Isabelle is excelling daily at school and listening to her speak Spanish makes me glow with pride! She loves it and will actually say things in Spanish when asked now. I was able to take the boys with me one afternoon and help out in her Spanish classroom and you would be floored to hear what the students understand! I know I was! I've got a lot of learning to do if I'm going to keep up with her. If not, she's going to have her own secret language with her friends and brothers. YIKES! =) We are anxiously awaiting the removal of her two front teeth. They have been loose for months now and one has begun to turn blue. I am hopeful everyday she goes to school that she'll come home missing at least that one! I think we're close because both are now pointing backward and to the side. It's quite the site! We've tried to use the dental floss trick and just plain old yanking, but they are stubborn! I will do my best to get a picture of them today to put up here so you can see with what we are dealing. Keep your fingers crossed for us!!! Izzy's ready to lose them too, she's just done with home remedies, she actually WANTS to go to the dentist! It's a good thing she's tough!

Aiden is doing very well in preschool also. I came across an email to his teacher from the beginning of last year and I am amazed at the progress he has made since then! Everyday it seems his speech improves and his frustration levels, though they are still there, are incredibly less than they used to be. A welcomed relief to all involved! =) He is a very sweet boy and he melts my heart with his "I wuvs you, Mom." I'm such a softie for lovin!!! We are taking the step to put him into Spanish Immersion next year in Kindergarten, which is a little nerve wracking, but he's a smart boy and he's going to do well! Especially having his "sissy" to help him. I'm hoping that will bring them closer together. It's going to be interesting finally having two kiddos at the same school. I know it's going to be hard for Aiden because he loves Ms. Anna and Ms. Melody so much after two years with them, but we're hoping Aiden will have the same teachers as Izzy did and he'll love them just as much!!! For now, though, Aiden and I are enjoying our three mornings a week with each other. We read, snuggle, and play cars...well actually, I let him play with cars and then I have time for this or laundry and dishes...I will, for sure, choose this over laundry and dishes ANY day!!! Aiden is so good at entertaining himself. It makes my mornings quiet and delightful!!! =)

Tobias is a big preschooler now. He loves it, but still has to jab Momma as I leave by pouting and clinging to me. It is new to me as Aiden and Isabelle disappeared into their classrooms before I even got a second glance. So actually, it is kind of nice. He wants to make sure I know he misses me. It is definitely bittersweet...=) His teacher, Ms. Nancy, says the moment I am gone, he hops up and gets right to enjoying himself! The little turkey!!! He comes home with paintings almost everyday and LOVES Color Wonder markers and paper! It is marvelous to see Tobias develop instead of little Aiden. One Aiden is plenty! ;) Toby is already finding his own likes and doesn't just follow his brother all the time. It's wonderful! And he puts in his own ideas when he plays with Aiden. They end up missing each other so much by Friday that the arguing has dramatically reduced. That sure helps my blood pressure!!! =) I think the boys are as happy as I am with the set up we have this school year! Life is pretty darn nice!!!

Well, I know I haven't quite gotten to Kip and I today, but as this is only my first time, I'll probably find some time tomorrow to write more! For now, I'm off!!! =)

Oh!

This is Toby on his first day of preschool. That's the face he makes when asked to smile for the camera...I've learned not to do that with him anymore!!! =)

This is Izzy's 7 1/2 inch Rainbow Trout she caught ice fishing with Aiden and Daddy! She brought it home, had Daddy fillet it, fry it, and then she ate it on crackers! She's awesome!!! And her brother rocks too!!! =)