currently {vol. 5}

t h i n k i n g  | |  about what we have planned for today and hoping I don't forget something. I feel like every time I leave the house I forget one major errand or item from the store that I specifically needed to do. two kids has wreaked havoc on my brain, I swear!

r e a d i n g  | |  blessed is she devotions every morning after they've been delivered to my email inbox. ladies...these are so encouraging and the one form of devotions I've been consistent on since having kids. first thing in the morning while I'm still cozy in bed I can pull out my bible from my nightstand, open my email, and nourish my soul. I've never needed my time with God more than since I've had kids. I beg for his strength every morning so that I can make it through the day with my babies, and make it through with patience and love rather than exasperation and frustration.

d o i n g  | |  getting into sewing projects and loving it. it feels so good to be back at the sewing table. this week I got fabric for drool scarves/bibs for Raina and infinity scarves for Riggs in beautiful fall flannels and some quilted fabric to make into a stroller blanket for Raina. next on the list? finally sewing the binding on Raina's quilt and finishing a fall maple-leaf quilt I started years ago.

e n j o y i n g  | |  the beautiful fall we've been enjoying up here in Alaska. I know winter is coming quickly too, yesterday it rained at our house, a cold rain - only about 40 degrees. And when the low clouds cleared and the rain stopped, there was snow on Pioneer Peak. Enjoying the crispy fall air while it lasts.

t h a n k f u l  | |  for the wonderful weekend with family and friends we had - birthday parties and church and (nearly) childless lunch dates with friends. for Steve working so hard to provide for us even though I miss him desperately. for apple crisp, warm from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. for my sweet and loving babies who make my heart overflow with love and drive me slightly crazy at the same time.

friday favorites: fall edition

Now that it's officially fall I wanted to do a friday favorites post dedicated to my favorite season (I say that about every season, don't I?). It is really feeling like fall here, and for the past three mornings I've actually had to scrape ice off my windshield! Fall is short lived in Alaska and the 20 degree mornings have been reminding me to savor fall while it lasts. Soon it will just look dead and barren outside until we get a good snow cover. And it will be cold. So cold. Brr...

I took that picture of the Reindeer Farm and the Butte yesterday when I stopped at Pyrah's to pick up our straw for the winter (for the chickens). The Reindeer farm has fall festival festivities every Saturday in October and I can't wait to go this year! If you live in Alaska be sure to make the trip, you won't be disappointed. See my post about our last trip, here.  

One of my favorite things about fall is the clothes. Leather boots and booties, rich colors, warm scarves, it's so dreamy.

Another favorite thing? Pie. Doesn't fall just make you want to eat pie? Warm, with a scoop (or two) of old fashioned vanilla ice cream to help it go down? I made this German Peach Pie for a church social and it was so good. I also made some strawberry blueberry crisp this week and it's nearly gone already. I think an old fashioned apple pie is next on my to-do list.

Fall also seems to bring to mind the passing of time. January is when most people make goals for themselves, but I find that fall is a good time to reflect on your life and make mental changes and goals if you feel they're needed. It's an inspiring season, at least to me. I always feel so full of happiness and love in fall, and I can be more gentle with myself. 

I hope this fall is a happy one for you, and that you are able to be thankful and yet to fight even harder for your dreams ♥

Thunderbird Falls is best in the fall!

Steve's dad and his wife came up from Homer for the weekend. It was great to see them and it was an especially special visit because it was their first time actually meeting Raina. Sunday was a beautiful, crisp fall day so we all piled in our truck for the drive to Thunderbird Falls, about twenty minutes outside of Anchorage.

I haven't been in forever and had forgotten how beautiful it is there. I felt like I was taking a stroll through Rivendell, it was just magical. Raina slept nearly the whole time but Riggs walked the entire way to the falls, about a mile I think, and uphill nearly the whole way. He was pretty worn out by the time we reached the falls and it was naptime too so I packed him up in the ergo and carried him the way back. It was funny to hear all the comments about what a 'load' I was carrying as we passed people along the trail. I loved getting to snuggle both babies close, and it was a great workout too.

If you live in Alaska, you need to go to Thunderbird Falls and take in all the beautiful fall colors before they're gone.

After the hike we headed to Palmer for the lunch at the Palmer City Alehouse. It was delicious as usual and truly an enjoyable meal because somehow both kids were happy/sleeping when our food came and both Steve and I were able to eat our meals while they were still warm.

I'm so glad Rick and Dorle finally got to meet Raina - they were pretty smitten with her I think ♥

currently {vol. 4}

wondering | if I'm going to make it through today. It's just one of those the-weekend-wasn't-long-enough sort of Mondays, for both me and the kids I think.

thinking | about so many ideas I have swirling around in my head for how to occupy my precious free/me time. I want to get better at knitting and sewing (fall&winter give me the crafting bug) and actually use some of the yarn and fabric I've been hoarding. 

wishing | as much as I love fall, I'm wishing we had gotten to do more things this summer. like camping. and more bonfires. I think next summer I'm going to have the kids spend the night at grandmas so Steve and I can go camping one night by ourselves. that pretty much sounds amazing right now. 

listening to | the faint sound of the washing machine. Riggs pulling his little wooden snail in circles around the kitchen island where I'm typing. bird noises outside the kitchen window where we have a feeder hanging up. 

reading | nothing. it's sad, but I just haven't made reading a priority lately. there's so many other things I want to do in my free time. especially since I haven't found any books lately that really interest me. I did order this and this off amazon last week, maybe I'll actually read them right away when they get here instead of waiting a year (or two).

hoping | that I actually blog more than once this week. that I fulfill my goal to work out every other day. that soccer goes better next week than the nightmare that was last week (pretty sure we don't pay for Riggs to go lay on the floor in the middle of the gym and cry for snacks). that it snows a lot this winter, instead of the freeze/thaw cycle that was last winter. that I eventually fit into all my jeans that are neatly folded up in my closet. that I'm able to get my mood turned around during naptime. 

thankful | for fall. for family. for friends. for Steve getting up at 4am to go to the gym before work instead of after so he can spend more time with us. for yogurt and chocolate chips that I wait until naptime to eat so I can savor each bite. for this space where I share good time and hard times and make friends that I wish I could hang out with in person. you are all amazing!