What a Ham...

I am trying to teach Constantine to say "PLEASE" when he wants something.

Instead, he thinks I am saying "SAY CHEESE" and poses while giving me a huge smile.

What a ham.

Holy cow...

Just in this last week...

• I cried as I saw John in his groomsman suit.
• I cried during the mother of the bride speech.
• I cried while biting into my homemade hamburger at the table with John and Constantine.
• I cried while brushing my teeth.
• I cried mid sentance while eating out with my parents, Clara, and Rose. This one was the cry that Oprah calls the "ugly cry" when your face contorts and your shoulders shake up and down. I had to hide behind a napkin.
  
  
  
  Please, please hormones, no more! I have a reputation to uphold here!

Traveling with Tini the Termite

**How to calm a fussy baby

In short, anything that I expected to happen actually did not happen when it came to traveling with Constantine. Here, let me expound...

Flight from and to Phoenix (3 hours)-
Expectation: Chaos, tears (from both of us), and swearing (me, not him)
Reality: Sleeping in my arms the majority of both ways, peace, tranquility, silent prayers of Thanksgiving to the Almighty

Drive from Nashville to Gatlinburg (4 hours)-
Expectation: Calmness. gleeful play, occasional snooze
Reality: Frustration, loss of control, crying evolving into screaming, no snooze, mom plugging her own ears with fingers, and near outburst of verbal rage by mother

Scenic drives in Gatlinburg (2- 1 hour trips)-
See "Drive from Nashville to Gatlinburg"

Drive from Gatlinburg to Chicago (11 hours)-
See "Drive from Nashville to Gatlinburg"

Drive from Klocek home to Men's Wearhouse (20 minutes)-
Expectation: Fussiness
Reality: Immediate sleep (ARE YOU KIDDING ME????)

All in all, we had a wonderful trip visitng family. And like all other trips, I was not ready to come home. However, back to reality and back to the small things that make life sweet.

Old Aunt

Apparently, in my old age, I forgot that I actually DID meet my 5 year old nephew, Aiden... back in 2005 when he was 6 weeks old... doh!

Bad and Sad Aunt

This Friday, along with my husband and Constantine, I will be meeting one of my nephews for the first time. I realize that this is not terribly unusual but the thing is Aiden is now FIVE years old. How the hell heck did this happen? Can I blame it on just plain life (away in Alaska, a marriage, then babies)? Or have I been absolutely negligent in my duties to visit my sister and her family in Nashville from time to time? Most likely it is the latter and I am terribly ashamed.

However, moving forward I simply cannot wait to meet the big bugger! Further, I am excited to see all of my sister's family.

What is interesting is that I rarely cry but whenever I see her kids and embrace them I bawl like a big, big baby. It is really quite embarressing.

Velcro was invented in 1948...

Halfmoon

While on the phone I got a great view of a delicious dimpled, rubbery bun.

June Woodstock Visit

My sister-in-law, Mary, took these pictures back in June when we went to Chicago for John's Purple and thought I'd share them... (John tied for second in the tournament, by the way)...

Benny, Constantine, Jack, and Dominic

Constantine (11 months) and Dominic (9 months)

Grandpa and Grandma Klocek with all their grandchildren.

Dominic and Constantine



Klocek boys: John, Constantine, Andrew, Tim, Patrick and Brent (non-Klocek-but-looks-like-Klocek)



A couple of additions to the Knoell family...

Welcome to the world...

Audrey Therese Knoell

June 14th, 2011

Malachi Francis Knoell

July 26th, 2011

Two Emperpor's in the West?

Oh man, I must have laughed about this for an entire day... even in my sleep.

My sister, Clara, sent me the following picture with the caption reading, "Zac found an Asian Constantine".

It's almost his spitting image, ha-ha!

Where Ever I Go, You Go

Happy 1st birthday to our sweet baby boy!

We had such great hope that Constantine would dive into the beautiful and yummy chocolate cupcake that we put in front of him. Instead, we had to coerce him into touching the mud ball and once he did he winced and whined that his hands were dirty. He then went on to fuss in between me forcing him to touch the cake and me having to feed him some bites. It was, by far, the most unclimatic moment of my life. I know, it's not always all about me.

I can't believe it took me 35 years to meet you. You were well worth wait!!
Constantine, we love you so very much!!!

The Great Escape

Let me first preface this by saying that we keep Constantine in a gated area to keep him safe from all the perils of the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, etc. Lately he has figured out how to get by one of the gates so naturally I created some sort of barrier to discourage him. Discourage him it did not...

Soon after he pillaged a village and ate a throw pillow.

Stuck... Again...

...and twice in one day...

I admit, I feel guily that I grab the camera first and THEN help him.

The Beginnings of Walking...

Reminisce #3: Arctic Circle and Back

One spectacular sunny Thursday afternoon as I was sitting in the office in downtown Anchorage I decided that I wanted to take a road trip. Where shall I go? Hmmm, how about the Arctic Circle? After hours of researching the routes, etc. I departed on Friday afternoon. A couple of friends accompanied me until Fairbanks and then I continued North solo.

I was a bit intimidated by the James Dalton Highway which I would be traveling on. It begins just north of Fairbanks and ends at Deadhorse near Prudhoe Bay/Arctic Ocean at mile marker 414. It is a wash board dirt road which is infamous for destroying tires. Not only that but the Dalton highway is one the of the most isolated roads in the United States.

Gas was only available at the Yukon River crossing before the Circle. I must have paid nearly $5 per gallon there. I guess not so shocking today.

It took me 24 hours round trip. Since it was summer the sun shown around the clock so it never felt too early or too late. I had some fantstic music mixes and I sang my heart out while imbibing Red Bull and snacking on black licorice bits (weird, I don't even like black licorice).

Thanks to my guardian Angel I made it to the Circle safe and sound.

Once again my guardian Angel helped me return safely to Fairbanks to meet up with my friends again. I was one of the happiest and sleepiest person that night. I will never forget you, James Dalton Highway. I wonder if Pudge would be up for returning one day to drive you all the way North to dip our toes in the Arctic. Sigh...

View looking North to the Arctic Ocean