SEATAC

 

		8hr layover VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Flying from SLC to JNU is difficult.  AK Air doesn’t fly into Salt Lake City and Delta doesn’t fly into Juneau so in Seattle I have to switch carriers.  This is a THREE train journey and Delta doesn’t work well with Alaskan Air.  I was informed a day in advance that my delta leg was delayed.  Now I only have 30 min to get from one side of the airport to the other.  Oh ya, and get off the plane.  Needless to say I missed my flight so Noah and I had 8 hours at SEATAC.

We found a deserted part of the airport and hung out.  Security even came and checked up on us.  Noah had fun running around, touching things he shouldn’t, and playing Magellan.  I could only take a few photos because he didn’t care much about being close to me.

I see kids that will not leave mom. or get scared when they can’t see her.  This is not Noah.  I guess he knows I will always be there so he doesn’t have to worry. 

Lucky (working title)

My son avoids death, dismemberment or serious injuries everyday.  Everyday I thank Heavenly Father for providing countless angels to keep him safe.  Here is a photo of him sitting on the table, which he does often but sometimes he doesn’t watch where his body is or where the table is I have yet to find out his train of thought.  Once he sat down and missed the table by half a cheek.  I was loading the dishwasher at the time and miraculously did not have a dish in my hand AND was looking his way to see him start to fall.  I was able to catch him before he hit the ground.  
I feel sometimes that my job is not to raise him but just keep him safe.  He has no fear.  I love that about him.  I wish I could be so fearless.  But some events are not caused by his daredevil ways. 
It gets cold in Alaska.  I bet you didn’t know that.  Anyway, we have electric baseboard heaters and small rooms.  It makes it difficult to find a place to put Noah’s bed.  (He sleeps on a Twin mattress on the floor) Consequently a corner of his mattress touches the heater.  This also adds a gap between the wall and the bed because the bed can not lay flush to the wall.  And here is another issue, Noah rolls around at night, a lot.  This is the main reason he is in a Twin by himself. So, lots of pillows along the walls to keep his cute head from getting hurt. 
In the morning, and during his “I need mom” moments I find these pillows on the floor, in the middle of the bed and on the heater.  I fix the pillows and go back to bed.  One morning while fixing the pillows I notice that there is a little discoloration.  Upon closer examination I find the the pillow is toasted, like a marshmallow.  I check out the other pillows and find the body pillow that has a zipper is not only toasted but has holes burned through. I almost start to cry. There would be no way for me to protect my son while his bed is burning
That instant I move the bed around.  I am thankful for the angels but I can’t depend upon them 24/7. 
  
Here is how is bed is set up now.  His too small clothes are his headboard and his book shelf sits behind that.  Pillows still everywhere but it would take a lot of moving to get it on the heater again.

Alaskan Ashton Christmas Tree

		Noah Safe Tree VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Here is our Christmas tree this year.  If you ever spend time with Noah, or even look at some of the pictures of his activites of choice, you will know that a traditional Christmas Tree would not last long at our house.  So we decided to make one that was off the ground, away from little fingers. This is what we came up with.

Brian and I went to Joann’s—Yes, Brian was inside a Joann’s actually looking around for ideas. I first thought of felt.  I love felt.  It was not on sale and the color that I liked was over $10 a yard.  Also, Felt does not hold its shape when stretched.  Fleece was on sale for $3 a yard.  We found some nice green.  For the lights I got some floss and off we went.  Total price $8. 

I cut the felt into five different levels and sewed them all onto bent hangers.  I sewed on the details for the lights and placed the layers together. We first thought that hanging it by itself would be the best… it didn’t work.  I couldn’t mold the metal the way I wanted it.  Also it kept falling off the wall. 

So I pulled out all the hangers and sewed them onto some cloth that has been around for years and attached it to a frame I got at a garage sale a few months ago and TA DA!! Our Christmas Tree.  After sewing on our ordainments it was ready to hang up. 

I am so excited about this because when Christmas is done the tree can be rolled up and put away till next year.  And next year it will only take about 5 min to up the tree.  Really, who can say that…. The Alaskan Ashton’s Can.

 

Merry Christmas

Craft Projects

I don’t know if it is because I am a stay at home mom or because I need something that I can look at and say I accomplished this and it stays that way (until it get destroyed).  The sense of accomplishment is hard to find in a house where the destroying angel follows me, and I mean that in a loving way.
So I have found a love for crafts that I didn’t have before.  FYI  I am that good but it fills the need none the less.

Food Bags

I am trying to use less plastic and more non toxic, reusable, earth friendly products.  Snack bags get used once and tossed out, not to mention Noah likes making a mess with them.  I looked online to purchase them and they are about $10 each.  So with my early Christmas present of a sewing machine, Thank you Brian, I can now make mine own.  So off to Joann’s I go. 
It is a small store but it fits most needs.  I look and look for the waterproof, food safe fabric that I need and guess what… there is not a demand for it.  They don’t even have diaper fabric.  I head home a little disappointed and search the internet trying to find some I can order online and have shipped to me.  I would have to buy $100 or more of it.  $10 each seems reasonable now doesn’t it.
So, I decide to make them out of the cloth I ready have at the house. I made it with a zipper to have easy safe access that was quiet.  I also put a bias tape loop on the corner to help little and big hands carry it. Although it is not waterproof on the inside, meaning I will still need plastic bags for a few things.  I have the bag I need to go from place to place. Now I am not the mom who forgot to bringt treats for her hungry child. 

Noah loves it.  He instantly knew what it was and hands it to me when he wants a treat at church or a friend’s house.
 

I decided that they were just way to cute to not share.  So I went to Joann’s and got some more fabric and made some for my friends. I hope they like them.

  

Crayon Art

This is something I made a few months ago.  I just love it.  it was super easy and really fun.  Here is how I did it.
Two small boxes of crayons
One Canvas
(I used painters tape to secure my crayons.  I would suggest hot glue. As you can see my crayons are no longer in a straight line and that really bugs me.)
Glue the Crayons on in the order you would like them to be.  Rainbow looks the best.  I tried many different patterns when planning it.  The next time I make one I will use more yellow and orange shades. It seems like blue and red are a little over powering to me.
Then HEAT. 
There are a few ways you can do this.  I used the oven which I really liked because it was so fast.  You can use a blow dryer or torch. 
And in 10 minutes you have a wonderful piece of art that everyone will love.


  

Noah’s Painting

This is the panting I blogged about a few months ago.  Noah made this with his body.  There are a few places that you can tell what body part made them.  Some of the places he will be very embarrassed about when I show the girls he is dating.
 

Duct Tape Photo Book

This is a photo book that I made out of duct tape.  I got a cheap book at Wal-Mart tore it apart and hot glued it in to a double sided duct tape page I made.  I sewed on some buttons and lace so it can be lassoed closed. 
I cut out pictures in the Ensign before tossing them and now they go into this book.

  

Time to Read

Today Noah only wanted to read books.  He handed me a book signed and said please then would sit on my lap.  We would get about half way through the book and he would jump off to find another to read.  If I set it down he would run back to finish it with me.  We read Good Night Gorilla about 20 times in an hour.  When Brian came home from work Noah was so excited to have him read stories.  But Noah is picky.  He knows which stories he wants.  We would search through his box and he would only have us read three different books.  Good Night Gorilla, Kisses and the Magical Fish.  I am so happy I have a son that loves to read.

Drinking Dinner

During dinner Noah asked for my water (yes we drink of of used Prego jars) Instead of drinking he filled it with his left over food.  I told him it was gross.  He got this twinkle in his eye then drank it.  SEVERAL times!! I still think it is gross.

Tricky little guy

Noah wanted to help me in the kitchen.  I was fixing dinner when I noticed he was a little taller.  Brian and I have a bet going on when Noah will need his first set of stitches. 

Scary 

Notice what he is stepping on!!

Happy to help

Noah was sitting on Brian’s lap when he decided to jump ship.  Brian caught him just in time.  Noah used his time wisely and played with a well positioned car.