Finally! Shark's Cove Pictures!

Death of a Warrior

The boys, as they were playing a Star Wars video game today...

Gabe: Mom, Chandler's been playing for ever, and its my turn.

Mom: Chandler, time to end your game, and let your brother play.

Gabe: Chandler, hurry and get eaten. Its my turn.

Chandler: I will choose a more honorable death.

Gabe: Just get eaten!

Chandler: No, I will choose a more honorable death.

(these kids crack me up!)

Couples Quiz

This is kind of like the 25 things - except there are pre-decided questions and it's about you and your spouse, not just you. Come on, play along - inquiring minds want to know!

♥ What are your middle names?

I don't have one, and Matt's is Aaron

♥ How long have you been together?

All together - 10 years 4 months. But we just celebrated our 10 year anniversary on Jan. 23rd

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?

One week

♥ Who asked who out?

We kind of mutually decided to go see Ever After together after work one night.

♥ How old are each of you?

Matt-31, me-30

♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most?

mine. except for Matt's oldest sister, all of his siblings are in the lower 48

♥ Do you have any children together?

three for right now

♥ What about pets?

one black lab

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?

Being apart from one another for more than 5 minutes :)

♥ Did you go to the same school?

Nope.

♥ Are you from the same home town?

Well kind of. He was born and raised in Anchorage, and I moved there at 14, just as he was moving to Juneau.

♥ Who is the smartest?

Definately Matt. (about most things)

♥ Who is the most sensitive?

Well, he's more sensitive to others, and I'm more sensative about things said to and about me.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?

We eather do Chinese, or Cattle Company

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

Hawaii

♥ Who has the craziest exes?

Matt.

♥ Who has the worst temper?

Me.

♥ Who does the cooking?

Me. Matt doesn't even know what side of the bread to butter for grilled cheese sandwiches.

♥ Who is more social?

Me :)

♥Who is the neat Freak?

If its work. Matt. If its home, me.

♥ Who is the more stubborn one?

?!

♥ Who hogs the bed?

Matt says me, but I'm the one who wakes up, clinging to my side of the bed trying not to fall off!

♥ Who wakes up earlier?

It depends on what time he has to be at work. If its later, than I wake him up to help me with getting kids to school.

♥ Where was your first date?

The movies. Fireweed Theatres.

♥ Who has the bigger family?

Immediate, then Matt. Including aunts and uncles, me. And I definately know more of my family.

♥ Do you get flowers often?

Often enough that in 10 years, he's never once had to sleep on the couch.

♥ How do you spend the holidays?

Fighting with my family. Oh the joys of living close to my dorky brothers.

♥ Who is more jealous?

Me.

♥ How long did it take to get serious?

um, lets see "hi, my name is Jenn" "hi my name is Matt, wanna spend forever together?" "ok" (or so our family will say)

♥ Who eats more?

I eat more often, but little portions. Matt eats like once a day, but has two or three helpings.

♥ Who does/ did the laundry?

The kids help me sort, I wash and fold, and Matt helps to put it all away. (except for Morgans. He just doesn't get the importance of color coordination)

♥ Who’s better with the computer?

Matt. I just started using the dang thing a few years ago. :)

♥ Who drives when you are together?

My car, I drive mostly. His car, he always drives.

Our week in review....

I was asked to make the cake for our Blue and Gold, and also told it had to be a large sheet cake. (enough to feed like 80 people). So, here is my attempt at a themed cake. (America, I think was their theme) I added the different aspects of scouting to the flag, to hopefully pull it all together. Did it work? And yes, I was trying to make it look like a waving flag, not just a flat one

The paw print Matt made on Chandler's face as part of the ceremony when they earn a patch. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be there. We had to split up, since Gabe had a concert at school. So Matt and Morgan did the scout thing, and I went to hear Gabe sing songs from Broadway. Those pictures are on my phone, so I'll have to get them later.

Chandler showing off his Wolf that he earned recently. He was very excited! He loves Scouts, and since Matt is an Eagle scout, and I come from a house full of Eagle Scouts, we are very proud and excited parents.

Story time... okay, so when Gabe was in kindergarten, he came home the day before Valentines, and said he just HAD to have a cool Valentine's box for his Valentines, and that his class was having a contest on who could make the most creative box. Well of course we called Grandma, and together, the three of us came up with the infamous Pirate ship box. Well, here we were again, the day before Valentines, and Gabe says he has to have another box. We of course have to out do ourselves, but I was busy making cookies for the class, so I sent him back over to grandma's and this time they got Aunt Jayme to help come up with the castle box. Impressive, hu?

Gabe's pirate ship from Kindergarten.

Don't I have the cutest kids?

This was a crazy day, as anyone with kids knows. I was asked to help out in Gabe's class, with their Ice cream party, and Chandler wanted someone to come to his, so Matt took time off work to help out there. (one of the benefits of him working out here in the valley). I took time in between everything to run over to see one of my friends who is visiting from out of town, and to take advantage of her clearing out her kids cloths from storage. Thanks Amy! Morgan loved getting a whole new wardrobe.

3 out of my 4 valentines. Chandler was hiding somewhere...and not wearing red, so he didn't want in on the lovey pictures.

Morgan's hair for the Valentine's Breakfast at school...they had invited 'that special man in your life' so of course, Morgan brought Matt. Does it look like a heart? This was first attempt at doing this, so it wasn't as neat as it could have been on a wiggling little 4 year old.

Lastly, our dog Bear was taken in to have his hips certified so he can breed, and they looked great. We were very relieved because when he sits, he tends to lean to one side, so we thought he would for sure have problems. Luckily for us, his bones are good...he's just lazy.

10 Random Facts about My Valentine

1. He proposed (unofficially) after we'd known each other for about 2 1/2 weeks.

2. He doesn't care which side of the bed he sleeps on, as long as I'm happy.

3. He always says he's not a picky eater, but he absolutely refuses to eat the following: eggs, mushrooms, cream cheese, sour cream, olives, and tomatoes. But he LOVES cheesecake (made with cream cheese), eggnog (hello) and will eat ketchup.

4. 2 weeks before our engagement pictures were taken, he asked me to give him a haircut. Mistake #1. The, when he heard me say "ooops" he agreed to just buzzing the hole thing instead of bothering my mom to help fix it. Mistake #2. Up until about a year ago, he still let me cut his hair. Mistake #3. He doesn't make those mistakes anymore. We just call Madam Laurie for appointments now.

5. He is legally blind in one eye, and consequently, always wears his glasses.

6. When he was growing up, he had red red hair, but since he returned from his mission, it has gotten much more brown, and now has little specks of gray hairs here and there.

7. He served his mission in Ogden, Utah. (we always tease him about going on a foreign mission)

8. He has always wanted 5 kids, and we have 3. And he's ok with that. (for now)

9. He has a photographic memory, and next to my dad and his, is one of the smartest people I know.

10. H cares about everyone. The little old lady crossing the street, the primary kids he sub teaches half the time, and his employees. But most of all, he cares about our family. Everyone's interest, happiness, and comfort. He is always willing to sacrifice for us, and I'm so grateful he's my Valentine. I love you sweetie.

Ten Random Facts about Morgan

1. Morgan shares a birthday with her daddy. (July 23rd)

2. She was born a princess. The nurses in the NICU all called her Princess Morgan.

3. She has decided she's going to marry Prince Eric (from Little Mermaid) because 'he's short'.

4. She actually LOVES eating salad, broccoli, and spicy things like salsa.

5. She loves to sing, and actually has quite a nice vibrato.

6. When she was born at 27 weeks, Morgan weighed a whopping 2 lbs 7oz, and over a weeks time, dropped down to less than 2 lbs. (she was given any food, only an IV for the first week)

7. Her middle name is Kimball, after my favorite prophet.

8. We didn't have her name picked out until about a week before she was born.

9. Morgan has been in preschool since age 3 (4 days a week for at least 3 hours a day). And even though her cousin Clayton had the same due date as her, they will be a year apart in school.

10. Morgan is a perfect mixture of Matt and I. She's bossy, opinionated, and loves all things girly. But she also loves to play with the boys, get dirty, and loves star wars, just like Matt.

10 Random Facts about Gabe

1. Gabe's middle name is Kail. We named him that because we wanted to use something from Matt's side of the family, McKale, is a family name. We took the Mc off, and spelled it differently, but we love it!

2. Gabe's favorite color is red. If I let him, he would dress in red from head to toe. We have a rule in our house. If its blue, its probably Chandler's. If it's pink, its definitely Morgan's. And if its red, it belongs to Gabe.

3. Gabe loves swimming. He's taken several classes, and would live at the pool if I let him.

4. He makes a great first impression. All the parents love Gabe, and his teachers all talk about what a doll he is.

5. He loves ranch dressing. Even if he likes the food, his thinking is it must be better with Ranch.

6. Unlike his brother and sister, Gabe loves food. I know, hard to believe from one of my kids, right? He will eat and eat something, just because he loves the taste of it. Even if he's not hungry. This could become a problem later on, we know.

7. Gabe loves team sports. He'll give anything a try, and is great with taking instructions.

8. He is my carbon copy. His personality, hair, and likes and dislikes.

9. He is a favorite with the girls in his class. They are all in love with our little Gabe. But right now, he only has eyes for his best friend, Emma.

10. When he was a baby, he was so beautiful, that everyone thought he was a girl, even though I would dress him in total boys cloths. That was the first thing the nurses all said when he came out, was how beautiful he was. No cone head at all.

10 Random Facts about Chandler

I thought that since it was the week of Valentines, and I have been getting all kinds of tags about random facts about me, I would give you random facts about the special people in my life. Here's the first one...

1. His middle name is Scott, after my dad, and my grandmother's maiden name.

2. Since he was 3, Chandler has always said the word female with an Australian accent.

3. He can't pass by a dog, cat, bird, lizard, or any other living creature without petting it, picking it up, or talking to it.

4. When he was 3, my younger brother took Chandler to the movies, and there was a preview for Finding Nemo. The shark part scared Chandler so bad, it was another 2 years before we could get him in the theatre without some kind of panic attack.

5. He named our current dog Bear.

6. He was baptized on his birthday. We lucked out, and it fell on a Saturday, and all the family was able to come.

7. Chandler doesn't like sauces of any kind. This means no ketchup with his fries, hamburgers, and hot dogs. He eats salad without dressing. And he puts nothing on his sandwich, except meet. Not even cheese.

8. Because of Chandler, Matt and I are both very well versed in Aspurgers Syndrome, and the difference between that, and autism.

9. Chandler has the most amazing blue eyes. I don't think I've seen blue eyes like that since my great grandpa Carson.

10. Chandler is 99.999% like his father. I think he gets the blond hair from me, and nothing else. But he is wonderful, and I wouldn't change a thing about him!

Hi, I'm Jennifer Stastny, and I'm addicted to Target

I think I need to join a group. Target Addicts Anonymous (TAA) Maybe its because I live in Alaska, and we've been without one for so long. Maybe its because they have new and fun things that you just can't find at Walmart. Maybe I need more of a life. Or maybe its the amazing clearance items you find as I peruse the isles, not really looking for anything in particular, but when I seen those lovely little red tags on my favorite deodorant which is always expensive, and never on sale, I just can't help dipping into my mad money, and buying two of them and sticking them back. I rationalize this as adding to my "emergency preparedness" items. You know, in case the volcano actually does blow, and the stores close, and I perspire my way through the deodorant I am currently using. Now I know I'm good to go for as long as any disaster lasts without smelling bad. At least, that's what I tell myself as I'm putting the items in my basket...

Alaska State Troopers

I went with Morgan's class this week on their field trip to the Alaska Troopers Station. She had a fun time. We were treated to a demonstration on how the K-9 dog tracks down drugs. The kids were very impressed with this dogs skills.

Morgan thought it would be great to jump in the back of the K-9 vehicle, and sit in the prisoner holding.

The kids were all fascinated with the flashing lights, and the troopers opened up their cars so the kids could get in and see the insides. Everyone wanted a turn at sitting in the back seat for some reason. I don't know why though. The back seat (if you haven't experienced it yet) of a cop car is very hard. (plastic hard)

Snorkling in the Bathtub

Apparently, while Morgan was taking her bath tonight, she discovered the snorkeling set that Matt and I took to Hawaii with us. She put them on, and with help, figured out how to put her head down in the water and breath through the snorkel.

Not bad for a little Alaska Girl, hu?

Sledding at the Golf Course

I took my three kids and my nephew and 2 nieces over to the golf course last night to go sledding, and it was perfect for it! There was a layer of ice under the snow (from our thaw and freeze a few weeks ago) and then a 5-6 inch layer of powder on top. It was perfect! We flew down those hills. I had very few pictures of my boys, since they didn't pose as well as the girls. But here is Chandler on the disk, flying backwards down the hill, with Hunter looking on.

These girls were such hams. I took 6 kids sledding again today. (4 nieces and nephew, and my 2 boys)

I've seen 87 movies from this list. Do I have a life? How many have you seen?

SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 94 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. Copy this list, go to your own facebook account, paste this as a note. Then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.

( ) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
( ) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
( ) AirplaneTotal: 9
(x) The Princess Bride
( ) Anchorman
( ) Napoleon Dynamite
(x) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
(x) Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal EngagementTotal so far: 17
( ) Scream
( ) Scream 2
( ) Scream 3
( ) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
( ) American Pie
( ) American Pie 2
( ) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band CampTotal so far: 26
(x)Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
(x) Little Black Book
(x) The Village
(x) Lilo & StitchTotal so far: 33
(x) Finding Nemo
(x) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
(x) 13 Going on 30
(x) I, Robot
( ) Robots
( ) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(x) Along Came Polly
( ) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
( ) Joe Dirt
( ) KING KONG
(x) A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
( ) Flubber
( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(x) Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
() From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards
( ) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
( ) Ten Things I Hate About You
(x) Just Married
( ) Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
(x) Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
( ) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
( ) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
(X) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(x) Ice Age
( ) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George
(x) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(x) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
(x) My Boss's Daughter
(x) Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
(x) Rush Hour
( ) Rush Hour 2
( ) Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(x) She's All That
(x) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
() Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(X) Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
() Big Trouble in Little China
( ) The Terminator
( ) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3
(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
( ) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
(x) Reign of Fire
( ) The Skulls
(x) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
( ) The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
() Swimfan
(x) Miracle on 34th street
( ) Old School
(x) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
(x ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old Virgin
(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
( ) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
( ) Baseketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
( ) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X
( ) Three
( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(x) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
(x) Waterworld
( ) Kill Bill vol 1
() Kill Bill vol 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
( ) the Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness
(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
(x) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
(x) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
( ) The Matrix
( ) The Matrix Reloaded
( ) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
( ) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal

My total is 87. Now, this does not include all the Doris Day/Rock Hudson, and Gordan McCray movies that I have seen. I guess oldies are not considered "Blockbusters". If you count those, I have no life whatsoever. Cause I am totally in love with the classic musical