The Schnozberries Taste Like Schnozberries...

Blueberry picking in Alaska is simply wonderful! My little family spent a fun day outside hiking, eating blueberries, picking blueberries, playing, eating blueberries, processing blueberries, eating blueberries, making a mess, eating blueberries...it was a spectacular weekend. For those of you who don't know about blueberry picking in Alaska, let me break down the wonderfulness of the event.

The fresh air, the Alaska Wilderness, and a baby on the back...

A blueberry smudged face giving kisses...

Playing around in the sunshine...

Napping outside...awww...

The Blueberry Bush...

The must-have Alaska Berry Picker...

It works quite nicely...

Look at all the yummy blueberries...

Emptying the loot...

Are we having fun yet...

Waking up from a nap...

Time with daddy...

Family time...

Digging into the berries...

Eating the yummy Blueberries...gotta love it

Over THREE gallons in THREE hours...what a haul...

Fun day on the mountain...

Cleaning the leaves and sticks from the berries...most of the leaves float...

The clean berries getting ready to freeze...

Smooshing the Blueberries...

Straining the Berries

Pure Blueberry Juice which will now be frozen for when we have time to make Jelly and Syrup...

Blueberry Pancakes...YUMMY

The Delish Blueberry Pies...

Does life get any better...

Too...many...blueberries...

Words Mean A Lot...

I received an email today from someone at my office who recently read my blog. This email was amazing, it was full of inspiration, praise, and kindness. What was so amazing to me from this email was what she said about my daughter learning from unrelated everyday things I do that unknowingly have an effect on my daughter and who she grows up to be. This email puts to words some attributes I want my daughter to have that I never thought of. I want the best for Isabella. I want to share this email with you...not so you can read the "fluff" about myself, but so you can read about what Isabella could grow up with. This email really makes me think:

Hi Lady!!


Thank you SOOOOOOO MUCH for sending me the link to your blog!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!!! She IS such a little doll. And Chanel, I want to tell you that I am SOOOOOO proud of you. You truly ARE a phenomenal woman! Some women never learn to be good to themselves, some do not learn until they are widows and in their 70's or 80's and some just become angry, bitter women. You are WISE beyond your years! Taking the time for you first, then your family, will enhance your life and your family's lives. Living your life with passion, enthusiasm, curiosity and self love allows you to live a life full of joy and integrity. By living in this manner, you will be a GREAT mentor and example to your daughter that will teach her not to be a self-sacrificing martyr but to pursue her dreams and aspirations, to set parameters, to conduct her life with self confidence and to find and appreciate the pleasures, even in the smallest things, i.e. bubble bath, private time, good book, massage, a day at the spa, etc. She will grow up with two happy parents in a well balanced relationship and she will not settle for or accept less. She will grow up with love and laughter and it will follow her through her life!!!! What could be better than that? I AM SO PROUD OF YOU !! You go girl, ALWAYS take the time to pamper yourself and try to never, ever lose Chanel's needs and wants. Your husband and your daughter will be the LUCKIEST people in the world!!! I guarantee it. You are one SMART, DYNAMIC woman.
Please always copy me in on your blogs.
Thank you.
 
I want those things for my little daughter. To have self confidence, to pursue her dreams and aspirations, to appreciate the pleasures in life. All of it I want her to grow up knowing. While I'm not entirely convinced that taking time for myself will pass on all of these attributes onto Isabella, the important thing is to start thinking about what will. So...thank you for the kind words.

Isabella...All about HER!

Isabella turned ONE! That's right. Of course you have to have the oh so important one year old photo shoot! Who knows a one year old that can stand getting their picture taken for 2 1/2 hours, going through five outfit changes, eating probably a 1/2 a bag of mini marshmallows (you have to love bribes!), and having a great personality throughout the whole thing...that's right...ISABELLA! That's my girl. A morning a with Auntie Heather, Isabella and Myself. Jumping up and down like a total nerd for 2 1/2 hours trying to keep a one year olds attention is tough work. Thank goodness Auntie was there to help! One to keep placing her back on her mark, and one to keep her attention, and don't forget about one very attentive, patient great photographer. The end result was WONDERFUL! Thank You Jolene McDowell Photography!

Happy Birthday Baby...I LOVE YOU!!!

It's All About MEEEEE!

I just counted. It has been exactly nine months since my last post. Nine months to the day. Wowza, what a nine months it has been. Of course, there is Marc, my wonderful husband of almost nine years. There is my beautiful daughter who is the most wonderful thing in this world. My daughter who just turned one year old by the way. There is the story of what we have been doing for the last nine months. And then there is me. This blog post will be about me today. Just me. MEEEEEE. Soon I will get back to my cute little girl, and my perfect husband. But not today. Today I am going to lay some things straight.


The week of Isabella's first birthday, I came to a realization that over the course of one year, I have slowly lost myself. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my life, and I LOVE my family. But the past year has been about my daughter, and somewhere in working full time, balancing family, friends, work, home...I slipped away. It occurred to me that throughout the year I stopped doing things I liked to do. I always had an excuse of being too busy, or too tired, or time to cook dinner, or time to bath the baby, or time to clean the house. I haven't taken time for myself. I am selfishly looking back and can count on one hand the number of times I have done something for just me.


The decision had been made. No more putting me on the back burner. I am passing on some of my responsibility once in awhile. It will be good for my hubby. Baby and daddy time might be just what the doctor ordered for them.

So, here is my vow to myself. I will get back to the things I like to do. Yes, that means I will blog again. I love blogging. I will get out of the darn house by myself once in awhile. I promise to make sure I demand family time. (Yes, that means daddy will have to be present). I will demand just adult time with my husband. I will take bubble baths. I will start getting oustside and enjoying the summer with my daughter - the house can go messy for a day. I will make daddy put the baby down for bed sometimes. I will read - I love reading. I will enjoy my wonderful family, the beautiful place I live, and LIFE!


Let me be clear...no one person is blame for this but myself. I should have spoke up a lot louder a lot sooner. I think I didn't mind so much before. Well, maybe I minded, I just hadn't realized how much time had passed. It wasn't until the huge milestone of one year old hit that I started thinking about it, and it bothered me. It really did.


It won't ALL be about me. Of course, it will mostly be about my sweet precious little girl. (Who did I mention is one)? However, I will make sure to keep myself in the mix too.


Thanks for reading. Here are a few pictures to wet your appetite on what is to come. I will try and catch you up on the past nine months. Stay tuned for the Life of the Pratt's in Alaska!