Tiger Scout

Donovan joined the tiger ranks of the Boy Scouts this year. This past weekend our family attended the annual Blue and Gold Banquet where he was presented with his Bobcat badge. I can't tell you how many times he practiced reciting his Boy Scout Promise, one of the requirments for this award. After a spaghetti dinner, the ceremony included a symbolic face painting where Phillip painted blue, yellow and red stripes on Donovan's face. The two blue stripes on his right cheeck stood for loyalty and truth. The yellow strips stood for cheerfulness and honor and the then two red stripes represent courage and perserverance. Now all I have to do is sew the new patch on his uniform, he is so proud!


Our proud Cub Scout

New Bobcat Award

Phillip painting Donovans face during the award cememony.

Donovan and his Tiger Den, Pack 297.

The boys had to creat their own table centerpiece, made with completely recycled materials. We used egg carts, recycled paper, sting, wire, wooden pegs, and newspaper bags to create this masterpiece.

Nicholson Grandchildren Christmas Picture

For Mom and Dad's Christmas present, I sewed matching qaspeqs for all 6 grandkids and Heather and I went to have their portraits taken at Sears. Everyone with kids knows how hard it is to get four little ones to look at the camera and smile at the same time. Of all the kids, Donovan was the biggest stinker and this was what we got. We have another picture where we incorporated some of the grass baskets that my grandma Bessie wove before she died so these pictures were very special to all of us.

Winter

We have had a pretty good winter. Aside from it being sooo cold, we have had a pretty decent amount of snow that has allowed the kids to sled and drive their snowgos around our 3 acre property. Donovan is the kids who would live outside if I'd let him..... he is outside everyday and has to nearly be threatened to come back in the house. Mason has been a lot more confident walking in the snow and treking up hills. He wants to join his brothers whenever they venture outside.

I miss My Fisherman!

Brandon is still commercial fishing with my dad. He looks forward to it every year and I am so thankful that he has a window into the life that I lived and grew up in. I believe working on his A'pa's boat has taught him many things; an excellent work ethic, the value of money, taking pride in one's work, etc. Our family has been fishermen for generations and I am so pleased he is keeping up with the tradition. My dad prides himself in Brandon's willingness and reputation as a young fisherman. He has already experienced 12 years on the good ole Bristol Bay! My buttons are bursting to know he has become such a strong and smart fisherman. I just miss him. Lots. Soon he will be going into 7th grade. I am so blessed to have such a smart, athletic and generous 12 year old, son and big brother. He is a ray of sunshine everywhere he goes.

Super Boys!

Two of the cutest boys you ever saw in your life.

Going into first grade

My baby is going to be a first grader? He absolutely loved kindergarten and the entire school routine. He is ready, I'm not. He has lost a couple more teeth. Three in all, all on the bottom. I cringe every time I look in his mouth though. We had our annual summer exams at the dental office and the dentist smiled at me and told me to "start saving" immediately. Orthodontics are definitely in his future. I just pray that as he grows he will start to have a little more room in his mouth for the permanent teeth as they grow in. Right now, his poor little gums are bursting at the seams, even with his itty-bitty baby teeth.
He is definitely an outside boy. He would spend every waking minute of his summer on his bike if we'd let him. He rides like a wild man too. Every inch of his body is witness to his craziness. Seems every night at bedtime I find more cuts, scrapes and bruises that even he didn't know about. The picture here shows one of his recent battle scars, poor baby. The handle bar did some damage during this wipe-out.

Tysen Layne

Ty is such a firecracker. He is always making us smile. We went shopping one day and he found this super cute hat in Target. He put the hat on and it totally fit his personality. When he smiles his dimple pops out and he makes my heart melt. He posed himself for this picture and it turned out perfect.

As a mother of four boys now, I have recently felt the need to take in EVERY sweet moment. For instance, I love watching my babies sleep. They look so calm, sweet and innocent while they sleep. I kiss them and wish this time with them could last longer. I blink and they grow two inches. I turn around and its time to buy new pants, shoes and shirts. I blink again and months have already gone by. I hope that as they grow older they will look back through the years and remember them as fondly as I will. I hope they cherish the memories and that it will all mean as much to them as it all does to me.

Mason is a two year old!

Well I am a month late, but my baby is now a two year old. I can't believe how fast he flew through his baby phase. Now he is using the potty, learning to talk and riding his tricycle 60MPH in the front yard. He is the classic younger brother and thinks he can do everything his older brothers can do. It is wonderful to see him to active and learning more every day, but Mommy is just having an emotional time knowing that he is already past those baby stages!

Basketbal, Basketball!

Brandon is playing in the Matsu Comp Spring league for the Wasilla team. He usually does not get the chance to play ball during this time of the year and was really excited about extending what is his usual season every year. He is actually playing for a different school (his rival school no less... haha) but just smiles whenever he has to play his home Colony team. He has been playing well and it is exciting for me to see how his skills continually improve. Donovan is finishing up his 3 month basketball clinic at the gym and is dying to take the next class. He cracks me up because he keeps a running total of all the baskets he makes during his practices. He always gives me a daily tally and a total for the season as well. Cute kid.

Easter and Donovan's 6th Birthday

We celebrated Easter, and Donovan's sixth birthday together this year. All the snow was melted off the ground and it was an excellent day to be together and enjoy the day outside. Donovan had chosen a spiderman themed party and Tysen even dressed up in his Spidey costume for the event. We hunted tons and tons of eggs in our yard then came inside for cake and presents.