Spring, Alaska Style

So we still have snow on the ground and at the moment it is still coming down from the sky. Just when we think Spring is going to turn into summer, we get fooled. As my neighbor Karin said "April Fooled us again!" She is so right! We were looking at picture of our first April here in Galena, when Kaden was a cute little toddler, barely able to march through the snow. That April was already melted and the river was very close to breaking. This year not so much, the way it is going, it feels like it will never thaw and break, leaving us in this frozen land forever. Kind of feel like I am in "The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe" where the land stays winter. But even with the extended grip that winter has, it doesn't mean we are stuck inside our houses watching out the window for the snow to melt, though I do find myself doing just that at times. We have been thoroughly enjoying outside time and not having to worry that our eyelids are going to freeze shut. It is nice to just go out in a pair of jeans and a light jacket and play in the snow instead of having to put on the whole winter gear. Here are some fun things happening around Galena to enjoy the spring.

Kaden practicing his Archery

 Learning some woodwork. Kaden really enjoyed it!

 Getting some help from Mr. Ben

 Having some fun on the snow machine

 Snowball fights

 Building snowmen. The snow is finally sticky enough to build one

Beautiful Sunrises

 Will longer light hours and longer winter people can gather more wood.

All Shook Up!

 OK, I know I have posted about this before when I first moved up Galena, but every year about this time when Spring is peeking it's self around the corner but keeps us guessing on if it REALLY is going to arrive or not, I get to feeling like this. Every Spring I start to feel like I am stuck in a snow globe and Elvis' song "All Shook Up" is playing in the background of my mind. I am beginning to fell sorry for all the snowmen snowglobes I have set out at Christmas time. Those poor snowmen are stuck in there and if they live in my house where my sons like to go shake them up every 5 minutes it is ALWAYS stuck snowing. I am feeling like those snowmen. We can see Spring coming but right when you think it is here.... BAM some one shakes up the snow globe! Yep that is my life right now. I have never figured out why people buy snow globes in Hawaii or warm places like that. There is nothing like seeing a Hula girl doing the hula among the snowflakes. WHAT? Yeah as I said I have not figured that one out. Just give me the hula skirt and the beach right now and I would love it! hahaha.

This is what my snow globe looks like

But regardless of the weather outside, sunny or snowing and even if All Shook Up keeps coming to mind every time I look outside, Spring is coming..... I can feel it..... I think! =)

 Happy Friday People!

Northern Lights

Last Month, we had one of the BEST Northern Lights shows we have seen. People around Alaska and the world called it EPIC! I have to agree with them. It was! The lights would show up and then disappear and then right when Keith would put the camera away thinking it was over it would BURST FORTH and start even more amazing then before! Keith got some great shots! I wish we could get a video of it, but since it can not do justice, if you want to see them I guess you will just have to come see us. March is the best month to see them. Here are some pictures that Keith took on March 16th!

 Seeing Reds and Purples are VERY RARE in Galena

 Getting Stronger

 These 2 pictures were connecting but for some reason I can't put them side by side. 

Oh well just imagine them beside each other! =)

  

Love the loops that the lights do

 Getting dim

 But the colors are still amazing!

 This is what looking straight up at the lights looks like.

 Looking straight up! Pretty Cool!

 Getting brighter again!

 Love the moon

 Love this picture!

 Looking straight up again

 Crossing over the moon

 WOW!

 This is the Yukon-Koyokuk Elders living facility. 

How would you like to have that view out your window when you retired?

 Can't beat that view!

 Looking straight up from our yard

 The moon was bright too!

Panera's Broccoli and Cheese Soup

So nothing exciting is really happening at the Ramos Hacienda, unless cleaning, sterilizing, taking temperatures, giving meds and then doing it all again is fun to you. But due to the sickness I am home bound except to take Kaden to school. He seems to be finally over this yucky epidemic that has hit our village. Kaden's teacher said this sickness has gone from grade to grade. Apparently, the kids have learned how to share! I hope that they all get over this fast and stay healthy. Yesterday, church had 3 kids out of around 18, all the rest were sick! From all my reads on Facebook, this is going around the world too. It amazes me how fast germs can spread!

With so much time at home, I have been trying out new recipes for myself. No one ever said that just because your husband and kids are sick and can't eat fancy food, doesn't mean you have to eat Ramen noodles all week too. So I have been experimenting. Some have turned out great! Others..... I won't make again! I posted that Pizza recipe and I have made that one twice now! It was delicious! I also made some Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup. It was fantastic! I will definitely make it again! I was excited it turned out so well, I just wish my food critic (Keith) was feeling better to give me his critique. All he told me was his taste buds were shot! Well that doesn't help me a lot! Oh well, I enjoyed it and with a slice of fresh bread.... yum!!!  My 2 little boys were not great fans but that is because Kaden doesn't like Broccoli and Isaiah doesn't like melted velveta cheese...... so go figure with a broccoli cheese soup. But they did dip their bread in it and at some of it. Kaden said "Mom, I would really like this soup if the Broccoli wasn't in it!" hahaha Can't please everyone! =) But I pleased myself with the turn out. Here is the recipe for Panera's Broccoli Cheese soup. Try it out! It is super easy and super delicious!

Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup
2 TBSP butter
2 TBSP Flour
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup Half & Half
2 (14.5 oz) cans Chicken Broth
1 (16oz) package frozen chopped broccoli
1 cup Julianne cut carrots or shredded carrots
1 pound loaf Velvetta cheese
8 oz shredded Cheddar Cheese
salt and pepper to taste. ( i didn't add salt because the cheese is already salty)

In a large sauce pan, melt together butter and onions on low to medium heat. cook a few minutes to cook onions a bit. Add flour and mix well. Slowly add Half & Half a little at a time while whisking till thickened and smooth. When incorporated add Velvetta and stir till completely melted. Add broccoli and mix. Add Broth one cup at a time mixing well. When mixed well, add carrots and simmer about 20 minutes. During the last 10 minutes of cooking add the cheddar cheese. Serve when all the cheese is melted completely. Serve with some warm bread.

*Note: This makes a pretty big batch of soup. 

Balsamic Peach with Goat cheese Pizza! TRY IT!!!!!!!

OK, This has been a week of sickness at my house! First Kaden had something like the flu for 4 days, after he was recovering from that he then developed this cough which spread to his brother. They were finally recovering today from all ailments and then Keith comes down with the flu like sickness. So while we are quarantined to our house I gave the house a thorough sterilization. Yesterday my house smelled like Lysol, Bleach and Pinesol. Today,  I decided it was time for some Mommy time. I decided to spend my Saturday afternoon searching Pinterest for some new recipes, crafts, or anything else that interested me! I FOUND A WHOLE LOT! Pinterest could get addicting because there are some many cool things you can make. People are really creative and I love it when they share it!

Keith has been sleeping on the couch all day and I couldn't believe he had slept all day, till we realized he miss-read the medicine label and instead of taking 2 tsp of meds he took 2 TBSP of meds. No wonder he was conked out!! So while he slept the sunny day away, I was in my kitchen cooking up some new recipes. I made 2 loaves of bread that turned out BEAUTIFUL! I am not the best bread maker in the world but these actually turned out wonderful! Check out the pretty loaves in the back of the picture below! I also tried and AMAZING Balsamic, Peach and Goat cheese Pizza. Of course getting goat cheese and fresh peaches here is a little hard so I improvised and it turned out scrumptious! It would be lovely to make for a appetizer at a party or you could eat the whole thing like I did! WOW! Try it! I will post the picture and Recipe now! To go along with the scrumptious pizza I made Raspberry tea, which was refreshing! Here is the recipe with the adaptions that I did because I didn't have all the ingredients.

Summer Peach & Balsamic Pizza

Each pizza serves 1-2 people

Toppings For 1 pizza:
Olive oil for greasing
Cheese: fresh ricotta, buffalo mozzarella, goat cheese, or others you like. I had Cream cheese, mozzarella and a little bit of Parmesan
1 Peach or nectarine, sliced thinly, (not paper thin) I didn't have fresh so I drain a can of sliced peaches and sliced them a little. Worked out great!

 fresh basil ( I didn't have basil but I used fresh spinach)

Reduced balsamic:

1 cup balsamic vinegar 

 to prepare the balsamic reduction, pour balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan, bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the vinegar has reduced to 1/4 cup, about 20 minutes. Set aside and let cool.

Pizza Dough ( I actually didn't use this dough because I had some already made but This one sounded GREAT)
Makes four 8- to 10-inch pizzas (Serves 1 to 2 people per pizza, dough freezes beautifully)

¼ cup whole wheat flour
3½ cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for rolling
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 2/3 cups lukewarm water
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons active-dry yeast
2 teaspoons olive oil

1. Place the flours and salt in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.  Combine the water, sugar and yeast in a small bowl and let sit for five minutes until the mixture bubbles slightly. Add the olive oil and stir. With the mixer on low, gradually add the oil-water mixture into the bowl. Knead until the dough is firm and smooth, under 10 minutes. The dough will be very wet and sort of difficult to work with.

2. Divide the dough into four balls, about 7½ ounces each. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. (Be sure to oil the parchment paper.) Place two balls on a sheet. Lightly rub the balls with olive oil, then cover loosely with plastic wrap. The dough is very sticky and wet, so, be sure to coat the balls or the plastic with oil. Let the balls rise in a warm spot until they have doubled in bulk, about two hours. Note: This dough freezes beautifully. After the initial rise, punch down the dough, wrap it in plastic and place in a Ziplock bag. Freeze for several months. When ready to use, let sit at room temperature for about an hour, then proceed with rolling/topping/baking.

3. To roll out the dough: Dab your fingers in flour and then place one ball on a generously floured work surface. Press down in the center with the tips of your fingers, spreading the dough with your hand. When the dough has doubled in width, use a floured rolling pin (or continue using floured hands if you are skilled at making pizzas) and roll out until it is very thin, like flatbread. The outer portion should be a little thicker than the inner portion. Note: If the dough is being very stubborn, let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes. In this time, the gluten will relax, and the dough will be much easier to work with.

Baking:

1. Preheat the oven to 500ºF. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or grease lightly with olive oil. Place rolled out dough onto parchment paper or greased pan. Drizzle dough with a little olive oil and with your hand, rub it over the surface to coat evenly.

2. Cover the dough with a layer of cheese — mozzarella, goat cheese, ricotta, whatever you wish. Arrange one layer of sliced nectarines or peaches on top of the cheese. Place pizza in your very hot oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until the crust is slightly brown and the cheese is melting.

3. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with fresh basil or arugula. Drizzle with the reduced balsamic. Slice and serve. Yum.

11 Step Program for those thinking of having kids

I totally borrowed this! I didn't write this but I thought it SO FUNNY!! After the week I have had, I needed a good laugh and this came back up! Hope you have a good laugh! Happy Friday!! ~ Tabitha

11 Step Program for those thinking of having kids
by Amy Lawrence on Tuesday, 04 January 2011 at 06:24
Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.
Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is parent will say 'it's all worth it!' Share it with your friends, both those who do and don't have kids. I guarantee they'll get a chuckle out of it. Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you'll need when you become a parent!

Don't Eat Yellow Snow!

You all know the saying "Don't Eat Yellow Snow". But of course I am married to a rebel! Thankfully in this case the yellow snow was just Tang that got dropped but Keith thought it would gross people out so he had to have a picture! My big rebel! These pictures are from a few weeks ago when our neighbors and friends, the Bodony family, returned from a weekend trip to their cabin. When they got home they really didn't want to go in and cook while the weather outside was so beautiful! As I have said before, this time of year is a happy time and you find EVERYONE outside enjoying the sun and the warm temps. Tim and Karin are awesome neighbors to have because they are good at spontaneity. Changing plans is not a big stress so when the weather outside is so pretty and you don't want to waste it, it calls for "dinner on the barbie". OK so  I am NOT from Australia but I have always wanted to say that! If I was in Zambia I would say we had a Braii. For a translation to anyone who doesn't know what a Barbie or a Braii is..... It is grilling outside. Though I don't think a Braii or a Barbie usually have about 3 feet of snow around you! But hey that is how we roll in Galena. I made up some Pizza dough and took out some brats. We have discovered that wrapping a brat in Pizza dough and cooking it on a stick over the fire is DELICIOUS!!! Tim cooked up some steaks and some sausage too.  It was a great dinner outside! With S'mores for dessert, can life get any better? We even discovered what happens to Marshmallows when the freeze and when melted chocolate falls on your snow-pants wait 5 minutes, let it freeze and it peels right off.   Once the sun started to set it did get a little chilly so we headed home soon after dinner but it was so much fun! Love having neighbors that don't mind crashing each others parties! =) It happens quite a lot between our homes. =) That is why it is fun to have neighbors like the Bodonys!  Happy Spring! It is coming .... I can feel it!

Keith helping the boys with their pizza dogs

 Karin and Tim and Ida enjoying the afternoon sun

 Isaiah playing in the Snow box

 Trying to UN-freeze my marshmallows

 Tim made a lovely example of a s'more

 Karin cooking the perfect mallow!

 Life is GOOD!!

 Love these people!

 My Rebel eating yellow snow!

Easter Bunnies are JUST A BIT BIGGER in Alaska

I have never fully understood where the concept of the Easter bunny ever came from! I mean I rabbit laying eggs is an weird concept, but a cute Rabbit laying CHOCOLATE eggs is AMAZING! But Not as amazing as the real reason for Easter! JESUS! He took the sting away from death by defeating it and rising again after 3 days! NO ONE in History has ever done that! HOW AMAZING!! Praise the Lord for he is risen! We had a wonderful Easter Sunday at our church and then had a wonderful dinner with some good friends. We tried to get a family picture with our Easter outfits. I bought them in Texas hoping that they would help encourage Spring and Summer to come! =) It seemed to work since it warmed up to about 34 degrees! 

 Ramos Family 2013

 

 My handsome boy Kaden

 

 Mommy and Isaiah

 Mommy and Kaden

 Daddy and Isaiah

 

 After Church, we went home to prepare for dinner with the Tulloch family.Kaden and Isaiah helped fill Easter eggs for our egg hunt. Kaden did great filling eggs, Isaiah did great at opening them and eating the candy! Silly Boys!

Taking his job seriously

 Isaiah "helped" take out all the candy his brother just put in the egg.

 

  I think the Easter bunny got lost getting to Galena so he sent the Easter Moose. They are a bit bigger then the Easter bunny. She enjoyed the frozen cabbage as her Easter snack and allowed us to get some pictures of her. 

 The kids enjoying watching the Easter Moose!

 

 Easter Egg Hunting is always a challenge in Alaska. You would think that finding bright colored eggs in white snow would be easy, but when it all melts we always find a few eggs. But it is always fun to find them no matter if there is snow or not! Here are some pictures of our fun hunt!

 Isaiah is serious about searching for eggs

 

 The kids and their treasure