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31 Days {Boys}

October 17, 2012 by April

Boys and bathroom soap

Yes. Today is dumb, it is a documentation of what happens when you ask your 15 year old {boy} to refill the bathroom soap and he’s quite possibly done too much math. Yes, he thought he was hilarious! :-D Today’s 31 Days: Boys … need I say more? 

Notice on the far left: the container to be refilled.

On the right: the refill bottle with the small container’s pump

What a goof!  That was the kind of kid help I got today. All day.

Makes for a tired mom….

31 Days {Memories}

October 10, 2012 by April

Guess what?!  This is my 201st post! Here I am on the 9th day of [31 Days of Life] already and I haven’t recapped our Washington DC trip like I had planned. [Imagine that?!]  Did you know there are now over 1200 participating in 31 Days? We are all linked at The Nester.

Today I’m going to post about [Memories]. Even though these are all a year ago, as I went through the pictures I feel as if it just happened. I can see the sights in my mind, smell the air, feel the heat, and hear the sounds. I find it interesting how vivid memories can be [or how vague].

One year ago today, we were packed and ready to leave DC – our flight left at 7AM, or something equally awful. I just remember had to get up about 4AM to get ready, checked out, and take the subway back to the airport during the morning rush hour. Four days using the subway – I was getting used to it – but now we were going to be hauling our luggage & we’d be obvious again [back to the Alaska hick that I am…]  I couldn’t believe our time was already up. I was tired and exhausted. But I missed Christine so much!

Here are a few pictures to recap a bit of our trip:

First of all…this is the hotel where we stayed. It was amazing.beautiful.old.historical!

This hotel has hosted inaugural balls for each president from Roosevelt to Clinton. And it’s absolutely gorgeous! I knew that tiny bit of history and was excited to see it, I was a bit disappointed it had been obviously upgraded, but I suppose I should have expected that. After all, what is a public building without codes & regulations – right :-D? I do have to say – I am really, really thankful I did not know this before staying there. True or not/believe it or not – it would have creeped me out!  That article was written 14 days after we were there!! [Instead I wisely believed all sounds to be normal hotel sounds with water in the pipes.] I did love seeing the old heat registers.  So glad God blinded me to that knowledge prior, especially since there is about a 99.9% chance I’ll not have the opportunity to ever stay there again :-D.  There is another place – near Dupont Circle – closer to the Washington Monument/Capitol/everything else, I really want to stay.

60* outside? Not a problem! Vince did say it was cold getting in, but once he was in he enjoyed it. :-D.

At the end of hiking our-feet-off-two-days-a-row, Vince still wanted to go swimming. Each time I took him to the pool it was basically empty, even at night when it was so pretty.  I’m sure others thought we were nuts. But being Alaskan we’re used to that, using an outdoor pool is a novelty – especially in non-summer months. I sat at the edge and read.

Vince is totally laughing at/mocking me because I absolutely stink at any form of self-photography.

I totally can’t aim the camera….this is like the 10th or more picture – so, ya – this was supposed to be our picture with the Capitol in the background [use your imagination, you’ll see it :-D]

I was desperate enough to have documentation of me actually in DC I let Vince take a picture – and – I’m posting it here. Someday, Lord willing, I will be there again with both Vince & Christine and we’ll have lots of pictures of us all with historical buildings in the background/foreground. The bag I have over my shoulder is my Vera Bradley tote – it weighed about 25 lbs! At this point I was questioning my sanity for carrying it – but I didn’t know what to expect. I was glad to have it for the various trinkets we picked up – it sure beat carrying a plastic bag where the handle might break. But my shoulder & neck were so sore! We were on our way to take a tour of the Capitol, and right after taking these pictures found out we couldn’t go through because we both had water bottles.  We were so disappointed, we tried the next day – planning for the tour, waited in line to get in…just to get in and realize, we didn’t want to be there without Christine. She is the one who LOVES going through a Capitol building. So we visited the gift shop and left, to re-visit when we are all three back there.

 LOOK AT THAT SMILE! This is at the end of four+ hours in the Air & Space Smithsonian.

Makes my heart so happy to see & remember how pleased and excited he was to be there. Since it was just the two of us, he got to call the shots as to where we went, what we saw, how much we travelled and how much we just hung out at the hotel.

I was overwhelmed with just being in Washington DC and I knew we couldn’t do it all – not even close. So, while it was a no-brainer we’d for sure go through the Air & Space – [what he didn’t know until we got there was, we’d stay for as long as he wanted]; but he’d already studied and decided we’d do ‘just’ that one museum and go all over from end-to-end, no matter how many miles we walked. The second day we planned the night before and decided to buy tickets for a trolley to see the sights far apart, it was awesome & totally worth the money. NEXT time, we will buy the tickets ahead online & print them out.  We used a couple hours getting to the office to buy the tickets because we didn’t want to wait for the location by our hotel to open up. [and because we kind-of got lost, but yea for ‘around me’ on the iPhone!] But, I would have liked to do the three day pass and take it all in m.u.c.h s.l.o.w.e.r. Knowing we hope to get back to DC with Christine and then we can take it slower, she’s not a walker. We will see fewer attractions in one day’s time.

Christine would have been sooo bored within a few minutes of the Air & Space museum, but the longer we were there the more excited Vince got. It was an awesome experience for him, and for me as his mom to see his pleasure.

Phew! I’m tired remembering all these things. I want to go back and visit. In fall and in spring. Please, Lord? Someday?

 

 

Our week

March 24, 2012 by April

I had big plans this week.  Then the week started, or maybe I should say last week continued.  My kids were both feeling lousy last week and were just finally both over it on Tuesday.  Then I woke up on Wednesday morning.  End of story, at last count I have taken three (or is it four now?) naps today…following the exact same pattern they did.  Ugh.

I was planning to participate in Project Simplify with Simple Mom.  This week would have been drawers & closet….I want to cheat and just link to a recent organization of my closet, but that isn’t spring cleaning so I won’t.  And for drawers — I have two in my house.  One holds my 2 hot pads and 6 dishtowels, and the other our silverware…not much going on there.

Instead, we had a couple sledding outings, LOTS of moose in our yard, and many hours of work.  We were having Ali withdrawal’s on Wednesday, so I checked with my sister-in-law and requested her yesterday.  We love our Ali, she is such a sweetie.  My kids absolutely love having her come; I am adult on duty, but otherwise un-neccesary when she comes.  She loves to see moose, she thinks we can beckon them on command.

The following are pictures from the last week.  None of them are cleaning, organizing, or crafting.  But they are all about loving children.  Which is really what my job is.  This week I have made deliberate effort to get priorities more defined and straightened out.  It’s been a good week.

Getting ready for a race down the driveway.
Sledboarding
 Looking for moose down in the garden.
 Ali loves coming to our house, but she has a special love and devotion to Vince.
We actually did have to come in the house because there were two moose in the garden,
just beyond the snowbank we were looking over.
 Ali was very proud to be wearing the same green ‘Alaska Grown’ shirt as Vince.
 We finally got Hickory into his kennel, and us inside.  Can you see the two moose?
They are small ones – but they are HUGE.  The whole time we were watching the moose, Ali kept saying “moooshe, moooshe.  April, see moooshe”.
{notice the attire addition — pink is her favorite.}
She got to stand on top of my bookshelf under the window for 15-20 min watching “the moooshe”.  Just to the right and down from her sweet little hand, you will see Hickory.
He.is.so.stupid!Would not stop barking!!
So the moose started to run, it ran towards the house, then turned and charged towards the kennel.  The moose are not new to Hickory, and Hickory is not new to the moose.

Today….

March 4, 2012 by April

Today made me think of this book.

{source}
Have you have heard the version for preschool moms?  I think it’s worth repeating so here it is.

If you give a mom a muffin, she’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it. 
She’ll pour herself some. 

Her three-year-old will spill the coffee. She’ll wipe it up. 

Wiping the floor, she will find dirty socks. She’ll remember she has to do laundry. 

When she puts the laundry in the washer, she’ll trip over boots 
and bump into the freezer. 

Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper. 
She will get out a pound of hamburger. 

She’ll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With A Pound Of Hamburger.) 
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. 

She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. 

The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. 
She’ll smell something funny. She’ll change the two-year-old. 

While she is changing the two-year-old the phone will ring. 
Her five-year-old will answer and hang up. 

She’ll remember that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee. 

Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. 
She will pour herself some. 

And chances are, if she has a cup of coffee, 
her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

by Kathy Fictorie
based on “If you Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff

The first time I heard this version my children were preschoolers.  Today was just like this for us though, except they are middle-schoolers and they were right along with me.  But we got lots done, much more than I anticipated.  With cheerful hearts and lots of laughing too :-D!
My to-do list for today:
 – Coffee
 – Bible Study
 – Blog
 – clean out sewing area after a month since last project
 – SEW!
What my day held instead:
 – Coffee
 – Bible Study
 – Blog
 – Phone call with a sister-friend
 – taught my daughter how to make wise choices in music
 – exercised that decision making by dissecting five songs
 – purchased some new music based on findings of music dissection
 – son totally made dinner on his own
 – have foot high piles of organization of sewing stuff on my bed
 – hung pictures on the wall that have been waiting years – seriously, yes.
 – due to pilot light going out on stove…
 — cleaned top and under stove top – GROSS
 — cleaned oven – Gross
 — cleaned out broiler — Gross
 — pulled out refrigerator and cleaned behind, on top, and under – REALLY GROSS!
 – washed dishes six times
 – ate yummy corn chowder,  not made by me
 – cleaned up kitchen and washed dishes again
I do not have the energy to finish my sewing area cleaning project.  My bed is buried.  I will be sleeping on the couch tonight.  We will see if tomorrow after church brings the needed desire and motivation to finish up.  If not, I will blissfully read or do hand projects in the living room and sleep on the couch again tomorrow night.
My one rule for Sundays: Don’t do anything you don’t want to do.
It is a day of rest and enjoying what God has given us.
Sometimes “rest” comes in the form of getting laundry done, or finishing up a project; but if I at all feel like I “have to get this done”.  I say ‘no’.  It is not so urgent it can’t wait for Monday.  (If it’s that urgent, I should have done it on Saturday :-D.)   I’m stating this as a little challenge to you as well.  In today’s culture and society “down” time is not valued highly enough.  God made us to need rest.
I hope you have a rest-full day in Him!
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Jeremiah 29:11

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I know I don't do social media well, so I do not have separate accounts for business & personal. This is my business Instagram feed. It's still me posting. Just not me strung out trying to keep up with two accounts. #limitsofanintrovert Thanks for being gracious & understanding! :-)

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April C Keller
The power is out. Now is when it’s REALLY conven The power is out. Now is when it’s REALLY convenient to read eBooks (& you have fully charged devices). The orange glow to the right is from the collection of candles I had handy. 
Super duper thankful for the gas fireplace!!! The temp was 43° earlier today, has dropped to 15° & supposed to continue dropping thru the night.
#thankfultonotreadbycandlelight
#gasfireplacesareawesome
#eveofchristmaseve2020 #decemberinwi
Dec 22, 2020 at 7:39am😍😍😍 No need to say Dec 22, 2020 at 7:39am😍😍😍
No need to say more.
#decembersunrise #wisconsin #wearegaininglightnow
December 21st is the shortest day of the year. As December 21st is the shortest day of the year. As a lifelong Alaskan my body & mind are very tuned to this date - we now gain daylight each day. Living WI has had many benefits & blessings - the least of which isn’t even how I will see the daylight before I get to work. 😍😍😍 I am not sad about this in the least!

I’m so thankful for this morning’s living/dining/kitchen views. I love the glow of Christmas lights & the way they immediately stop my thoughts in their tracks and cause me to remember to be thankful.
#christmas2020 #ak2co2wi #mondaymornings #thankful #blessed #christmaslights
😍😍😍 Como Park Conservatory = eye candy ev 😍😍😍 Como Park Conservatory = eye candy every time. {{sigh}}
We caught the sun low in the sky & it was simply beautiful! When we walked out it was the setting sun on the glass building & the flag blowing in a lazy breeze. #coldbutbeautiful #perfect 
#comoparkconservatory #midnovember #eyecandy #soulfilling #breathtaking #thankfulfortheopportunity #americanflaginthebreeze
Just a tiny note to share how much I am absolutely Just a tiny note to share how much I am absolutely LOVING the sunrise pink at 7am in mid-November! 😍😍😍
It’s a whole 25° & supposed to start snowing within the hour. (Do you see the neighbor’s pink window reflections?)
#happymonday #blessings #itsanewweek #wintersunrisebefore8
Hi guys! April’s daughter here. Due to an unkind Hi guys! April’s daughter here. Due to an unkind comment and a hard week behind the social media wall she deleted the post. After a good talk and encouragement I am here re-posting with permission. Remember that what’s seen on social media does not reflect what goes on behind the scenes. The intention of the post was to share a personal struggle and encourage others who may feel the same. A difference of opinion does not require a comment. 

The repost:

Are you an American? If so, voting is your civic duty. 
🇺🇸To not vote is the same as voting against your freedom.
🇺🇸To not vote is the same as voting against your right of citizenship. 
🇺🇸To not vote is the same as disregarding every American soldier and his/her family’s sacrifice for you. 
I promise – no matter what you think – YOU ARE NOT TOO BUSY to vote! This year especially, they have made it so easy (not interested in debating the right/wrongness of this, just stating fact) and it’s not as if the deadline has been a surprise date. If you choose to not vote, there is no excuse other than being lulled into apathy by the privilege you take for granted. Don’t be lazy.

For those who think I’m being too harsh – these are the things I had to remind myself of in the not so distant past as I was overwhelmed by figuring out the simple-yet-not-so-simple-process of how to register as a new resident, where to vote, and who to vote for. And then again today as anxiety joined me when I’d parked at my polling place & it was time to actually stand in line with all the others.

Side note, 2020 brought yet another first for me: I’ve never voted on a non-Alaskan ballot. Instead of boroughs & districts, I navigated counties & wards. 
Even so, the ballot looked the same. 😊 

And then I went for a beautiful country drive through harvested fields and looked at barns. Feeling thankful & blessed for the freedom and ability to do so.
A little crisp & foggy outside, but perfectly cozy A little crisp & foggy outside, but perfectly cozy inside.🍂🍁

#september2020 #fall #thankful
So...not exactly a surprise!😊 Take your own qu So...not exactly a surprise!😊

Take your own quiz at holleygerth.com/introvertquiz
 
You definitely should go check out more about The Powerful Purpose if Introverts by @holleygerth 
#introvertpurpose #introvert #godmadeuseachunique
🍂Fall is coming! 🍂 This change of the season 🍂Fall is coming! 🍂
This change of the seasons is the first one I’ve felt alert for since moving here 🍁🍂 & it’s all so pretty (the 5 trees I’ve seen starting to change)! But I’m not in the least ready for it, it’s the 1st time in 18 years I haven’t needed school supplies of some sort - for either of the kids (homeschooling) or myself (college). Now, I just get to enjoy all the school supplies simply because I love them!😊

The first pic is just for enjoyment because I know the majority if you can’t possibly understand what the 2nd & 3rd photos mean to me. 😊

As an introvert who has been transitioning from work-from-home to working-at-the-office-everyday, on a team & working on a variety of projects, I often feel as if I’m majorly failing at simply being nice. 

I’m too often in my head, processing all I’m trying to remember to do/get done & short of smiling in passing, there isn’t a ton of other interaction. BUT the 2nd photo is evidence of while not having more than a handful of non-work related conversations, I have a co-worker who knows me incredible well! On Tues, she brought me one Pantone color book & yesterday she brought me SEVEN more!😍 
I never dreamed I’d get to touch one of these little color charts in real-life, let alone have a set of them living at my desk!!! 

2020 will never be forgotten, for so many reasons. Big & small.
#seen&known #itsthelittlethings #littlethingsadduptobigthings #blessed #thankful
It’s no small secret I’m a hard-core introvert It’s no small secret I’m a hard-core introvert & not by just a little bit. Social distancing has always been my norm. I can’t say I’ve seen this as a blessing in life 🥴. 

Ironically, while 2020 has required so many social appreciators (extroverts) to stay at/work from home, life in 2020 has required me to learn how to work out of the home full-time. After working from home for the last 20 years, this has not been a small adjustment!

I have lived in WI for 8 months now, and I’m just starting to feel semi-human in daily life. I totally & completely underestimated the toll an unexpected 2nd large move, traveling over Christmas, wrapping up my senior year of college/degree, having my oldest graduate college, and working on a team of people out of the house full-time would have on me. #notenoughhourstorecovereachday

You will likely see me in this space more as I’m on the book launch team for The Powerful Purpose of Introverts, the latest book by @holleygerth. I’m really looking forward to learning how being an introvert can be a blessing & strength.

 #introvertpurpose #createdinhisimage #lovedasiam #nothingtoprove #introvert
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