Lucy's First Easter Egg Hunt

Pre-Easter Egg Hunt...basket grass silliness which Lucy called "scrabbling"

First time hitting the slopes!

Hmm...I have a bit of updating to do regarding our galavanting over the last couple of months and that will happen in another post. Our move to VT has gone very well and we are so happy to be here together. It's been wonderful being close to our families.

Today Matt took Lucy to Bolton Valley Ski Resort for her first time downhill skiing. It was a great success! Lucy had a blast and smiled the whole time until she had to stop skiing because her legs were tired...but she didn't really want to stop so she cried and then plopped down on the ground.

Lucy loved being on the chair lift.

The skiers.

Homemade chocolate chip cookie snack on the slopes.

Lucy did so well skiing but mot importantly she had fun and wants to do it again! Little kids are such naturals. If only all of us can have that balance back again.

Happy Thanksgiving!

All of us. Missing Maya who was in NM.

Lucy's first experience at a kid's table. She made it about half-way through dinner.

We had a super fun and tasty last Thanksgiving in Fairbanks with a bunch of our friends. As we prepare to move to VT during Lucy and I's last weekend here, we were all plagued with a terrible stomach bug. Lucy, for the first time, spent many of the evening hours hunched over the toilet, the night following Thanksgiving. It sure is hard to see such a little body working so hard. She was such a trooper though! This is definitely the worst illness Lucy has experienced. It was inevitable that Matt and I would get it too. We all hung out and rested today, slowly recovering, and thankful that at least we could spend the day together. It's time to get back to serious packing and cleaning tomorrow.

Sushi and Chopsticks

We went out on a special family lunch together yesterday. Lucy was given her own custom chopsticks to use! She did well with them and ate almost all her potstickers and miso soup.

Autumn in McCarthy

September in beautiful McCarthy

We spent 10 days away from Fairbanks and drove to McCarthy to enjoy our recently weather-proofed cabin. It was deliciously relaxing.

Lucy warms herself by the fire after being outdoors for a bit.

Matt made the most comfy bed where Lucy slept the best she has ever slept at night!

A walk through Kennecott

Little Lucy against the giant mill.

Windy!

Watching dad caulk the window.

Checking out the mountains

Sassy.

As usual, Lucy lends her hand while we work at clearing trees from the Nizina Rd on the way to Jeremy and Ali's farm.

Checking out the giant pig at the farm.

Lucy has her first taste of animal milk: fresh goat's milk!

Greeting a 3-week-old puppy.

Our little forest fairy.

Crossing the foot bridge.

Big land.

Lucy said she did not want to go home and that we should stay in McCarthy. We agreed. But back home we had to go!

Tanana Valley Fair Fun

Lucy waits to go on her first ride ever all by herself! We thought she'd be nervous but she was  all for it. Meanwhile Matt and I stood watching her and waving happily during the ride and she didn't even look at us she was so excited to be moving. Our little girl is becoming more independent!

Smiling from ear to ear in the front seat!

Next ride was a construction truck.

It was equipped with a steering wheel that Lucy turned back and forth the entire ride. More smiles.

Lucy went on the big slide with both of us. "More again!" It could have gone on all night.

Today Lucy said her most favorite thing at the fair was the goats.

That's my girl! She pet many of them and touched noses with a couple too.

After seeing face painting at the fair last night...Lucy decided to give it a shot this morning on her own face while I was cleaning up after breakfast. 

Having Fun on a Rainy Day

It rained for most of July. Now, only the third day into August, I am suspecting the same could happen this month. We woke up to the thermometer reading 44 degrees at 7am. It poured on and off all day. We conquered it: Lucy and I played inside all day together, gathered veggies from the garden in the pouring rain (Lucy pulled her first carrots ever), made summer stew and homemade donuts!

This is Lucy's arrangement. She made a bed with the tongue depressors and such, put mama mouse inside it, covered her with a paper towel blanket and made playdoh "babies" to put on top of the blanket.

She was very proud so I took a photo of her to send to Matt at work. She gave him a crinkly-nose smile.

We made sprouted grain donuts. Lucy helped knead the dough. She was so excited.

Lucy cut out most of the shapes with my guidance. She was so excited I had a hard time guiding her hand before she  pressed down on the dough but we managed.

A smile for the camera.

Frying in coconut oil is a lovely thing.

Our product. Unfortunately Lucy's special custom shapes were already devoured by the time I took a photo. She made cute little long shapes and said "fry these too mama!".
I have to give credit to the recipe and I highly recommend it: http://nourishedkitchen.com/sprouted-grain-doughnuts/

Rainy days don't get better than this. I am a lucky mama.

A snooze after a snuggle.