Last Week of School!

YAHOO!!!! We completed our last full week of school and with just 4 days next week with students and then Friday is check out, it's really feeling like summer already.   We are looking forward to June - just doing our thing while Papa works summer school, and then July heading to a Jacobsen family reunion in Montana.  Promises to be a busy summer, but a fun summer!

Mother's Day at Eklutna Lake

Just about 45 minutes from our back yard is this beautiful place. Eklutna Lake is a glacier fed lake - so that water is VERY cold - but the sun was shining and we enjoyed our day.

The kids (yes all 3 of them) had a great time throwing rocks into the water.

After our trip my Mother's Day request was that we stop for ice cream at Cold Stone. 

YUMMY!!!

We grilled some chicken for dinner and then took the kids out for their first bike ride.

It sure was a wonderful day - being out in nature and enjoying time with my family - couldn't ask for anything more.

The end of the school year is always such a stressful time - between making sure students have missing work in, to finalizing my special education paperwork, to just the craziness of the students behavior.  SO - Tuesday nights a ladies hiking group from church meets at 7pm to do some of the local trails.  I need to decompress and since Leif is done with track now and home in the evenings, I decided to go for a hike with the church ladies.

The trail head was just about 15 minutes from Eagle River called Mile High.  We didn't really climb a mile high, but the views were spectacular!

This was one of my favorites because you could see the south side of Eagle River and then all the way to the City of Anchorage sky line.  It was breath taking.   I love that this picture is at 8:30pm! We are having such an amazing spring here in Alaska!!

Update on Grandma Arlene:  They ended up transferring her to Duluth to be closer to specialist.  They had to put her on a ventilator to help get her vitals under control.  They did determine that her pancreas is inflamed but the doctors are not sure what's causing it.  Grandma was able to breath on her own for a couple hours at a time yesterday, so they are hoping to remove the ventilator soon.  My mom had a few days left to finish at her job, and then she can give 100% of her attention to helping Grandma.  Again, thank you for your prayers and continued prayers!!

A Mother's Love

Happy Mother's Day weekend!

This Mother's Day weekend, my thoughts and prayers are with my Mom.  You see, her mom- my Grandma- is in the hospital with what they think is pneumonia, but are in the process of doing more tests as I write this blog because she continues to spike a fever and the doctors are not sure why.  If you are the praying type, I ask that you would lift up Grandma Arlene in prayers for healing and for my mom Julie and Uncle Dave as they care for her. 

 I'm so thankful that my mom is in a place in her life where she does not have to worry about a job and can focus solely on being there for her mom.  I'm thankful that my mom moved back to the town my Grandma lives in to be there for her.  I'm thankful that my Dad supports my mom and encourages her to do whatever she needs to for her mom.  I'm thankful for my Uncle who is also in the same town to help support my mom.  So, while seeing a loved one ill is never any fun, you can see many blessings in the situation - the greatest is the love my family has for each other.  I'm so blessed to be apart of this family.  While I wish I could be closer to be supportive in person, I know that my prayers are being heard. 

Happy Mother's Day to my mom - a woman who has taught me more than I could write down.  The greatest lessons so far: love your family - find special little things to let your family know that you care and love them - find your interests and make time to enjoy them, from hiking to fishing to knitting - that it's okay to make mistakes, recognize what went wrong and do whatever you can to make things right again - to keep your faith strong... I'm sure I will learn many more lessons from my mom as my role as a mother continues to grow and change. 

    As for my own family - this Mother's Day weekend we don't have too much planned.  A lunch date with an expecting mother/friend from Cordova, possibly look at new vehicle for me, maybe hiking... we'll just see what the weekend brings.  The promise of sunshine and warm temperatures, has me wanting to be outdoors as much as possible!  

Whatever this weekend brings, my hope is that who ever you consider a mom in your life, that you would tell them how much you love them and find a way to do something special.  

Momma, I don't feel so good...

We kicked off last weekend with Brother being sick.  Feverish all weekend and just not himself by any means.  I took a sick day on Monday to take him to the doctor. Turned out that he had a double ear infection.  So, we got the meds and figured things would turn around.  Stayed home on Tuesday as well because the kids have to be fever free without using any medicine for 24 hours before they can return to day care.  So, Brother was a little bit back to himself on Tuesday morning- he was at least interested in playing with toys for a few minutes at a time.  But, after lunch fever returned and a horrible cough started.  We knew that he has cold induced asthma.  So, we gave him an Albuterol breathing treatment - expecting him to respond as he normally does - but no response.  Poor kid... So, I took Wednesday off as well and we headed back to the doctor.  The doctor decided to give him an oral steroid medicine to get his lungs opened up. When we went in his oxygen level was 92% - not good.  We were back up to 95% by the time we left office- so the medicine did the trick.

Poor little guy was so tired - he just slept the morning away.  By Wednesday afternoon- he was back and I mean back in full force!  While I don't like to see my kiddos sick - it was sorta nice to have a break from the 2 year old temper tantrums.  Oh boy - did we have a temper tantrum Wednesday night - thus, I knew he was feeling much better.

I felt so blessed when I returned to work on Thursday.  One of the classes that I team teach with created Lukkas a get well a card - complete with a puppy sticker on the inside!  -Completely driven by one of the students with a very precious message inside -it just touched my heart. 

So, with Brother on the mend, we were looking forward to enjoying a beautiful weekend.  The warm weather has set in and the long days make it feel like summer is here.

Our sun setting at 10pm! 

However, the sickness continues...

Now Sister has the fever and a horrible cough.  Sigh.... looks like we'll be resting up and disinfecting everything in the house this weekend.  Papa and I are also coming down with the cold... so the Jacobsen house is officially quarantined until we are all healthy again!

Spring Showers bring...

Spring showers bring...

a much needed car wash.  For how loud my little man likes to be, I'm always in awe when he is nervous in the car wash.  I love that he can hold onto his sister's hand and all is okay in the world.

Spring showers bring...

a rainbow filled sky.  So excited to see my first rainbow of the season. 

Spring showers bring...

silly kids trapped in doors!  Grandma's Easter box was lost and but found its way to our home this week - just in time for some new entertainment on a rainy afternoon.

Spring showers bring...

beautiful clear skies and the wonderful smell of rain. I wish I could capture that smell of rain in my phone.  The smell of rain is so comforting to me - I could just sit and breathe deep - ahhh... my body relaxes and all is right with the world. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful and restful spring weekend.

Easter Weekend begins

Just being kids...

We were cleaning the downstairs guest room to prepare for our visit from Ms. Shannon and the kids were just cracking me up - from helping me make the bed to their imaginary play.  I just love these two more than words could ever describe.  I'm one blessed momma to have the privilege of raising these little darlings.

The kiddos had an Easter Party at daycare this week. Sister was so excited to hunt for Easter eggs and it appears that Brother had a great time too. 

They even made special bunny ears ... 

I love how Brother's two front teeth are popped out like Bugs Bunny - ha,ha...

Thanks to our day care lady for taking pictures of all the fun.

Papa has been busy coaching track and field and that means that he's not getting home until after 6pm.  So, we decided to surprise him at practice and go out to dinner tonight.   While Papa was gathering up his stuff, Sister was immediately drawn to the white board.  Can we say future teacher?  

After dinner, Papa took the kiddos home so that I could attend the Good Friday service at church.  It was an amazing service - the pastor asked 7 members of the church to each take one of the 7 sayings Jesus said on the cross and speak on it for 5 minutes or so.  Some people gave personal testimony and others read passages from books that spoke to the verse.  It was a very unique service and the worship team sang beautiful songs to end the service.  

So on this Good Friday, I would ask you...

 to take a moment and reflect on your life.  We are all broken and we are all sinners.  What a powerful day to reflect and think about Jesus and his death on the cross.  I will make mistakes and I will not always be my best... but I know that God loves me and I can seek forgiveness through Jesus.  And then - try again.  Try again to do better, try again to make the better choice, try again to reach out and serve those who are in need...  May you take this weekend to reflect - and find the hope and joy in a risen Savior on Easter morning.

Another week in the books!

Sunrise as I arrived at work this morning!  Our current sunlight is from 6:51am to 9:12pm and we are gaining almost 6 minutes of sunlight each day!  Not only are our days getting longer and brighter - but warmer too.  It's nice to feel the warmth of the sun again. 

Old man winter is trying to hang on this week as we got about an inch of new snow.  It made for a fun afternoon of playing in some fresh snow.  Sister thought it was funny to throw snowballs at me and brother and fun sliding down the pile of snow we have in the yard. 

Besides being outside, we've been having fun just playing around.  

Sister and brother are having fun learning about static electricity.

After our time of fun, it's always nice to snuggle in and watch a show.  

The kids really like to watch Bubble Guppies or Team UmiZoomi. 

He wasn't very happy with me to interrupt his show for a picture.  

Well, another week in the books.  We have about 30 days until summer vacation.  Crazy how fast the time is flying.  Papa and I both received word this week that we would be moving to different schools next year.  We'll be staying in the Anchorage School District, just different buildings.  We are both excited about our new assignments - Papa will be moving up to a high school and teaching math and I will be at a middle school continuing with sped math.   

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Hopefully the sun is shining where ever you may be and you'll be able to get out and enjoy the spring weather.  Love and hugs to you all...

A little DIY project

One thing that has been wonderful about living in the big city is being able to decide to do projects on the whim.  I love that we can go and get the needed materials and tools and can complete a project in one day.  Don't get me wrong, I miss so much about Cordova- especially the people...  but there are definitely some perks to the big city. 

So, my husband is becoming quite the handy-man.  The project- reupholster dining room chairs. 

 

Our poor chairs have held up well - but it was time to give them a face lift.  The white cushions were just fabric and no good way to get them clean.  Needless to say with two young children, they've had food smashed in, milk spilled on and let's not forget the coloring!  They were so bad, that I did a make-shift upholster effort by using some place mats - just so we could at least continue to use the chairs.  So - on with the DIY...

While I was at the store picking out fabric, Leif was busy taking the old off the chairs.  Then he was set to the task of cutting out the fabric and vinyl.

 See Mrs. DillyDally - those Home Ec lessons did pay off!!

Inspecting his work...

The first one was a little challenging, but then the others went more smoothly.

I'd say they turned out really nice.  I love that the kids can spill and all I have to do is wipe them off! Leif did a really nice job - I wonder what the next project will be ?!?

 

And of course - can't forget to give a weekly picture of the kiddos!

Just love how bright the sunshine is when we get home from school!