Not Carter's Best Day

As I mentioned before, the boys really loved being outside while we were in Arizona a few weeks ago. However, it's still 35-45 degrees here and we have quite a bit of snow in our backyard - enough that the boys would be hip deep in it just trying to get to their swingset. Every morning, Logan wakes up and peeks out the patio door to the backyard. "Oh, Mom. It's gonna take FOREVER for all the snow to go away." Kenai, however, has almost no snow left. So, today I decided to take them to the playground in town, even if it meant three layers of clothes.

Carter, however, apparently felt the need to compete with his cousin Caitlyn in the "self-mutilation" department before the day was over. (Refer to the link for Martin blog) First of all, he woke up very stuffed up - not sure if it's allergies or a cold, but the child could barely breathe nonetheless. So Zyrtec it is (thank goodness this is over-the-counter now; it's the only things that works for him). So then he sits down to breakfast, runny nose and eyes and all. Apparently his eye itched, which normally isn't a problem to scratch...unless you have a fork in hand. Big scratch right by his left eye.

Later, he and Logan were tormenting Aspen, which she usually enjoys. However, she apparently had had enough and began growling to be left alone. I reminded them three times to leave her alone. One bite mark on Carter's arm later, they listened to me :)

So off to the park we go. Because school is still in session, we had to pick a park that wasn't part of a school. The boys couldn't wait to get out of the car. They went racing over to the jungle gym only to find a gigantic lake all around it. Hmmmmm...option number two? Thankfully, I managed to remember about the park by the bluff. That one was relatively dry. Strangely enough, their highlight was playing with the one remaining patch of snow (didn't we come to town to get away from the snow in our backyard?). So with 5 minutes to go before we leave, Carter falls off the top of the jungle gym and catches himself on the lower platform...with his face.

Watching their chunks of snow melt in the water puddle.

Needless to say, I had to e-mail our sitter and explain all of the battle wounds ahead of time so I don't find myself being visited by Child Services tomorrow.

What kind of mother stops to take pictures like this?

Can't really see the bruise on his shoulder all that well (and I spared you the picture of the bruise on his butt!) Should I be worried that he poses so well in "mug shot formation"???

The countdown

Four days to go...

Next week is officially my last week as a physical therapist (well, full-time anyway). A decision that has been long in the works is becoming a reality. I'm sure it will seem a little surreal walking out of that clinic Friday afternoon, considering it is the only place I have worked since I graduated. The things I have learned, the people that have touched my life, the laughter, the frustrations and all the growing pains of career building are contained in that tiny clinic. I'm definitely not looking forward to leaving my line of work, but I AM looking forward to being home more.

Last winter is when I began to feel an urge to be home with my kiddos...something I tried to ignore, thinking it was just a little phase of "burn out" that would pass. As it turned out, it only became a more intense desire in my heart. Logan topped it off last April when he began crying every day that he didn't want to go to daycare. He "just wanted to be home and sit with Mommy." (insert a double dose of the traditional Mommy guilt here) At that time, I began requesting to go part time at work. In October, that request was approved, pending they could find someone else to cover the other "part time" hours that made up my full-time position. For those of you that don't live in Alaska, there is a bit of a shortage of therapists up here. The ones that ARE here, are already working....and nobody else seems to be flocking to the little town of Kenai...and so the wait continued...

Meanwhile, Ryan and I became quite strict with our budget, paying things off as fast as we could, getting ready for the one-income lifestyle. In February, we arrived to a point where it was possible. So after much praying and talking, I gave my 10-week notice at my job. May 2nd would be my last full-time shift. I did offer (and my director accepted) to remain on at per diem status, which means I'm available to fill in when needed (vacations, sickness, etc.). I'll work one weekend a month at the hospital to help fill in some of the needed coverage there. In exchange, I get to stay in the loop with the department and I'll easily have enough work hours to maintain my physical therapist license. Everyone wins.

For those that have already been introduced to this announcement, there's a few questions that have come up repeatedly:

1. Why the change? After I had Logan, I felt I had a perfect balance between career and family: three-day weekends, only three days of daycare a week, etc. Somehow, I never found that balance after Carter was born. Maybe it was a second-baby syndrome...or having two babies in two years...who knows? Regardless of the reason, I have long felt that, although I love the career I chose, I was tired of all my time and energy going into work. I spent four days at work and felt as if I was spending my three days at home getting ready for the next four days at work. At the end of the day, I didn't have much time, energy or patience left over. And that's exactly what the people I care most about got from me...the leftovers. I'm not sure how I lost that "perfect balance" I had the first time around, but I do know I haven't managed to find it.

2. What does Ryan think? Ultimately, I guess you'd have to ask him. But, for the past year, we have had many conversations about this topic. We knew this was something that had to feel right for both of us or it would be a curse rather than a blessing. He has been completely supportive and has made many sacrifices to make this possible. It was a bit humbling for both of us, considering my degree directed our lives in so many ways for so many years; it determined where we lived and when we had children, so it was difficult to walk away from that after only six years.

3. What will you miss about working? I will definitely miss the adult interaction. I expect the honeymoon of this transition to last about two weeks...then I may have a bit of a "what have I done?" moment. But, I choose to look at what I'm gaining rather than what I'm giving up. However, I will sooooooo miss my patients, especially the ones that I've seen multiple times over the last six years, the ones that have become friends more than clients, the ones that I have inside jokes with. I will also miss the whole Kenai crew. I was blessed to be working with coworkers that are Christians and our lunch conversations were probably not like at many other work places. We have become a family, that disagrees and fusses at times, but loves each other just the same. I think that's a rare find these days.

4. What are you going to do? (This question comes from those that don't have toddlers) I'm home schooling the boys for one, which takes lots of time and energy. Logan's also going to play soccer this summer (well, we're signing him up...I guess I don't actually KNOW if he'll PLAY). We have plans for going to toddler time at the gym, reading time at the library, and lots of quality play dates in the sand box. Our boys have a whole room full of toys, but what they always want is for Mommy and Daddy to play with them...and that's what I fully intend to do.

And so the adventure in to my new career begins. It doesn' t pay much, but I do get room and board and I hear the benefit package is like none other! The first order of business? Wheelbarrow races...

Carter has the lead heading in to turn one...

Logan's giggling turns out to be his downfall.

Consolation prize? a horseback ride (we'll let Grandma Rita keep this privelege).

Better late than never

As usual, I tend to be the last one to do anything...from getting a DVD player to owning a cell phone. I'm sure we'll finally get an HD television once they're obsolete. So, in my usual behind-the-times style, I am finally joining the realm of bloggers. After telling my sister-in-law that I noticed I was getting much more slack about taking pictures of my boys, she mentioned that blogging once a week was an easy way to remind her to keep up to date on the "offspring picture-taking". Thus, I'm hoping this will be my prompt to take note of the little things in life...before life becomes consumed by BIGGER things. I hope you enjoy following the story of the Alaskan Magees...

We just got back from a one-week trip to Phoenix, Arizona where Ryan's brother's family lives. This was the first time we got to meet our niece, Avery (who is already 19 months old!). Temperatures ranged from 75-98 while we were there...definitely a climate we are not accustomed to. Logan seemed to break out in a rash on his face, likely from the sun. Despite this, we spent lots of time outside: the zoo, a trip to the park, a baseball game, another trip to the park, hiking, yet another trip to the park...to little boys, there are few things in life as rewarding as scooping sand into a bucket (and dumping in our brother's hair).

All in all, it was a fabulous week. And, like most vacations, it went by all too quickly. We had mixed emotions as we landed in Anchorage...with snow all around. However, we'll be enjoying the mild temperatures this summer while our relatives are melting in Arizona! We also will enjoy getting back to normal eating habits. We decided this vacation was going to have very little rules, so we naturally ate everything in sight, regardless of nutritional content. So now the discussions begin about why we don't always have dessert after breakfast and Carter's battle to eat the vegetables has resumed in full force. Wish us luck!

Logan...professional cake tester.Enjoying the train ride at the zoo.Logan checking out the water spray at the park.Logan and Carter at "the top of the mountain"

Cool dude Carter out hiking.

Those aren't bruises...just dirt.

Logan and Daddy at the baseball game.

Our first cake decorating lesson from Auntie Doreen and cousin Avery.