Christmas at HOME!

I can't describe how excited I am to be going home for Christmas this year. I know that I should be grateful to spend Christmas with Brandon's family but there is just something about being HOME with my family for the holidays. Karen (twin) is coming home to so that makes it that much more special. I don't even care if I open one gift, being able to be there with them is enough for me. I have had half of my suitcase packed for a month, I am crazy I know but just can't wait.

I hope that all of my family and friends find joy and happiness this year and that they will be able to enjoy the holiday season. MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas Is In The Air

It seems like the Christmas Spirit is already in the air. I love this time of year. I love the music, lights, family parties, smells, and of course the gifts. I know most of you are probably thinking it is because I love to receive gifts, which is true, I also love to give gifts. I love to watch family and friends open up what it is I have gotten them. I know that sometimes they don't quite know what to say to what it is I give them but that is part of the fun. I can't wait for Brandon to open his gifts this year. We don't have any money to speak of so I had to get a little creative. I can't wait to go home to be with my family in Utah and I can't wait to squeeze all of those wonderful neices and nephews! Well until later, keep that Christmas Spirit alive in all that you do!

Just a quick reminder, Sunday,December 5, 2010, I will be singing with the community choral for the Messiah. It is at the LDS Stake House right by Wasilla High School. It starts at 7:30! Love you see you all there! Come and enjoy the season through song!

Winter Fun

So grateful today for family and friends. So very grateful for a wonderful husband that loves me unconditionally! For a warm fire and delicious pie. I am so thankful for the land that I live in that is free and allows me to worship how I wish. I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. We took some pictures today and thought that we would share them with you. Hope you enjoy them.

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Fun Fall Pictures!

I know that this is a little late in getting posted, We actually have snow on the ground now, but I thought that I would post them so that my wonderful family and friends could enjoy them. Brandon and I went to Hatcher's Pass a couple of times after church and we really enjoyed our time together! We hope that you enjoy them too!

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The "Mighty Hunter"

Wow, it has been forever since I posted anything.  So sorry to those that follow closely!  I will try to do better!  Let me recap for you quickly before I get to the "Mighty Hunter" section.

Lets see school started in September so I am back working with the kids everyday.  I so enjoy working with them.  I start out the day in a kindergarten class for reading, boy they are so smart! then it is off to the playground.  It has been a little bit of a challenge this year, we have a  new section of playground equipment, super fun, but crazy at times with all that want to be on it.  After recess I spend the afternoon and early evening in the daycare.  I guess you could say I am a sucker for being around kids, I love them all though!
I am stil in the Stake Young Women's and Brandon is the 11 year old scout leader.  We are very excited about this year and what it might bring.  Brandon and I are both going to school and trying to fit everything else into our spare time.  It just seems like there isn't enough time in the day to get everything done sometimes but we seem to keep managing.  I am sure it is because of  our families that help us out so much! Thank You!

Ok so on to the "Mighty Hunter" story:

Brandon, Brett, Laurie (Brett's wife) and I decided to go hunting last weekend.  Brett and I drew out for a tier II caribou hunt.  The area for the hunt is about 3 hours away so we packed up all of the gear and the 4-wheelers and we were off.  We spent the night in Glennallen, at the caribou lodge, it was pleasant but very short since we left 4 hours late!  You know how things just seem to take longer when you have a schedule...we woke up and finished driving to where Brandon had scouted earlier in the week.  There were more hunters than I have seen.  They were everywhere.  It seemed like every truck we pasted that the was  set of antlers and a body peeking out.  I was super excited to get out there a slay me a big one.  Along the way we say several herds but they were out quite a bit and we decided to keep going to see if we could find a herd closer to the road, well just that happened.  We saw a herd at the base of a small hill and we were off.  Brett and Laurie went one way and Brandon and I went the other to help push them towards the base of the hill.  Well Brett shot and nailed one, I on the other hand wasn't quite fast enough, the herd went up the hill before I got close enough to shoot.  So after helping Brett dress his caribou we started searching for another herd so that I could shoot one.  It seemed like every where we went they were either way far out or there were hunters already there.  I was getting very discouraged.  Just before sunset we were on our way back down off the mountain and I spotted a caribou all by himself.  Lets just say I took "8" shots and we left without one for me.  Was not the kind of weekend I had planned.
I stewed upon this all week, I was so mad at myself for missing not once but "8" times.  Brandon kept telling me not to worry about it, after all it was 400 yards out and it was getting dark.  That only seemed to help for a short time.  Wednesday after work, Brandon and I went target shooting once again to see if I could get a little more practice in before we went out agian.  We discovered that I really can hit what it is I am trying to shoot as long as I use the scope correctly.  Well Friday night (10/29) Brandon and I drove back up to Paxson to see if we could slay me a caribou.  We decided to sleep in the truck to safe money for our trip south for Christmas.  Lets just say, it was cold, and very uncomfortable.  I am not sure either one of us slept very much.  We got up around 7:30 and headed to the Paxson lodge to ready ourselves for the day.  As we started out from the lodge, there were not very many hunters out.  I don't know if it was because of the 2 feet of snow on the ground or if they were just waiting for the fog to lift.  We drove past a few herds way out again in hopes we could find one closer to the road.  We did, and by the time I got out of the truck and ready they were about 400 yards off again and climbing up and over the hill.  I decided not to trace after them and we headed back down the road.  No more than 10 minutes later, I was standing off the side of the road.  We pulled up on a small herd, about 5, there was a nice size bull in the herd, Brandon said, "Go get him".  I slowly and as quitely as I could opened the truck door and drove a bullet into the chamber of my gun, I took aim and shot, missed, cocked it one more time and repositioned on my target.  Shoot and watched him stumble a little.  He was about 135 yard off the road and Brandon said, you got him, follow him.  I started up the side of the hill.  Brandon caught up to me and we climbed over the crest of the hill, there he was, laying on the next little hill.  He was just staring at us.  I had hit him but not killed him.  I took aim and once more took a shot.  I have to say it was a very exciting and nerve racking experience.  I am so glad for the experience and know now that the next time I want my shot to be even more accurate the first time so that I don't have to hike as far or I need to shoot in a an area that lets us use the 4-wheeler.  I know it is pretty silly but I named my dead caribou "mortimer".  Here is the reason why, morty was once and he is no more.  We had to drag  him off the mountain, he weighs about 250 lbs and I was so glad that Brandon was there to help me.  Hope  you enjoy the pictures.


Here is a picture from Brandon's scouting trip

More of Brandon's scouting trip



and more caribou....



And here is "Mortimer"...isn't he a beauty!!!




This is what our drive was like....beautiful landscape...




This is the way you ride a 4-wheeler around where I shot Mortimer....UGH!!!
We couldn't even take it out of the truck, that is subsistance hunts for ya,
pulling him off the mountain was not that fun.....he was heavy! I still do not know
how we got him into the truck with just the two of us.  Brandon was like Superman!




And I wouldn't have been able to do it with out his help!  Thanks babe!
 I Love You!




A few more pics from our drive




I love it when the snow is like this on the trees!

 
 Well there you have it.  My story of how I got Mortimer!  I can now say that I am a "True" Alaskan!

  

Our True Identity

This video has stirred in me a new sense of who I am and who my beautiful neices and young women are. What a wonderful reminder we have been given to remember.

Our True Identity

12th Anniversary

Brandon and I decided that we wanted to do something fun for our anniversary this year but as most years at this time we have no money.  What to do for a cheap date??? We decided to take in the beauty that was around us.  We first started here....

Standing at the top of the Little-su

I just love the colors that were showing on this very sunny day!  It waw 75 degrees YEA!

 

The water was so beautiful that we couldn't help but take a few pictures...

I just wanted to go play in it, but I didn't!

One of the next stops that we made was to a little icecream shop that serves flavored icecream.  It was so delicious.  I would have taken pictures but we ate it really fast.  Sorry for those that wanted to see my Watermellon and Brandon's Strawberry-cheesecake indulgence.

Brandon asked me if I wanted to watch a movie or still explore the valley, because it was so beautiful and the sun was out I decided that I just couldn't watch a movie so I told him we could go fishing instead!  Those that know Brandon can guess that he was more than happy to go....We decided to go to Cottonwood River, which is more like a small creek.  Since I wasn't sure I wanted to throw a line in I took my book (last vol. Prelude to Glory) and Brandon, Drake and I were off!

 Here we are ready to slay a big one!

I wanted to get him casting but he was behine the long grass and down along the bank and I was stuck in my chair!

It wouldn't be a family trip if we didn't take Drake with us!  So we brought him with us.  Live just wouldn't be the same if he wasn't with us.  As you will see that he loves to come and he loves the water.....

This one kind of reminds me of home and what the farms use to look like all green with the mountains in the back ground

Here is one of the pictures we took of just how beautiful it was that day

The fishing didn't really go the way Brandon planned.  We could see several in the river but just couldn't seem to get one to bite.  So we decided that we would go out to Pt. McKenzie.  We did stop to take a  few pictures along the way! 

On our way to Pt. McKenzie

Beautiful pic of the Bay

We had such a wonderful drive out to Pt. McKenzie.  It was so green and beautiful.  Along the way there is a very strange site that you see, I have no idea how it got there, how long it has been there, and why someone just left it there.....

Boat in marsh....what more can I say?  It is pretty cool though

We drove out to the Game Ranch, which is owned by family friends Del Ray and Caroline Hobbs, I was hoping to see the buffalo or elk but we didn't see them.  So we decided to head over to the bottom of the Little-su.  It was beautiful there too....

So green and lucious

Some how Brandon got the camera yet again, but it is so wonderful around me I just had to share

Did I mention that Brandon loves to fish?  He thought maybe he would try here....water was high and he didn't bring his waders with us down the trail, maybe next time......

Yes, I got to capture the one I love, he is so amazing!!!!

Did I mention that our (child) lovable pooch loves the water????  I think his best friend is a stick.

We weren't planning on being at the river very long, one cast, a few pictures, and then we would be on our way. We were very close to getting a ticket.  We should always pay the fee no matter what!  I don't know what we were thinking!

Twelve years ago I went from this.....

Engagement

Married in Manti Temple

First years...

Wow we were so young

A few years later.......

Several moves later........We ended up in Alaska

Several adventures later..........

Here we are stronger than ever and so very grateful that we have one another.  We can't wait to spend twelve more and beyond together!  I know that I found someone that I can call my best friend!
 I love you "B"

Bikes to Skagway

So I have mentioned to many of  you that Brandon and his brother and father were going to ride their motorcycles to Skagway this summer in prepartation for the big ride all the way down the Alcan Highway, well I decided that I needed to post some pictures of our trip so here you go........

Brandon and Brett giving their best "GQ" look...

It was quite the ordeal getting everything ready to go.  We had 4 motorcylcles (Dean, Brandon, Brett and Laurie)  2 dogs, one 8-yr old, one 4 month old, and 5 audlts in the two vehicles.  We packed all of the extra motorcycle gear and camping gear in the back of the truck along with Drake.  It only took us 2-3 hours to leave after our designated departure time.  Those that went with us were....

Pictured from L to R: Laurie (Brett's Wife) Brett, Dean, Me, Brandon, Mason Mark's son) Susie, Mark (Susie's Husband) Deana, Raylee, and Ann

You probably are wondering why we chose to go to Skagway, well as you will see it is georgous this time of year and Brandon's Aunt Karla and Uncle Duff are amazing!

We have several picture spots that are traditional stops for us the first being the Matanusk Glacier

We always take a picture here unless we can't there because of snow, the picture really doesn't do it justice.

It is about 90 minutes from Wasilla so we like to go there and Mason and I even tried out the telescope.

Mason is eight years old and this was his first trip to Alaska, it was so fun to hear and see his reactions to the great outdoors.

As you can imagine we had to make several stops along the way to let the motorcylers rest their booties!

We had to make at least 5 stops to fill-up the motorcycles.  It was a great break for everyone due to tight riding quarters.  Each time we stopped Raylee would get out of her chair which she didn't like and a few times we watered the dogs.

Deana, Raylee and Rico

(Mason in his very small corner)

He was such a trooper.  He watched his video player or played his digi the whole way and rarely complained about anything.  He asked the usual questions of "Are we there yet?" "Can I have another twister(twizzler)?" and of course the famous "Do I have to?"  Ann and I couldn't have rode with another 8-yr old that had as nice as manners as Mason!  He truly was an excellent passenger.

The weather on the trip for the most part was very nice, we had

sunshine for most of the ride,  But there was aslo losts of rain and you couldn't help but feel sorry for the guys on the bikes. 

It seemed like everytime they put their rain gear on because we  were heading into gray clouds it would sprinkle but when it looked like it would be nice riding they would hit a down pour.  They were all such good sports about having to put on and take off their rain gear.

Next we came to the 1/2 way point basically, the border of Alaska and the Yucon.

The pathway  you can see behind Dean actually goes along the border on each side.  It is quite the sight.
Shortly before we got to Destruction bay we drove past a few friends........

While I was taking pictures of these two very close friends you could hear the brown bear snorting. You normally don't hear that unless they are aggrivated. We didn't stay long since the bikers were very exposed. Mason was so excited to see "Wild Life" since we really hadn't seen that many moose along the way.

The trip down to Skagway took us a day and a half, we camped the first night at a campground near Destruction Bay.

We had a lot of fun unpacking and getting everyones gear out for the night.  Mason and Grandma had fun making Smores.

  

We started out the next morning with new vigor and not much rest.  Before we left we took in the beautiful lake around the campground.

When we finally go to Skagway I think that we were all excited to be there.  It was a very long process getting there.  I decided that I would jump on the bike with Brandon in Whitehorse it was really fun to ride down the pass on the bike.

The view of the pass was amazing, I wish I could ride and take pictures all at the same time.  When we got to the border we were at a stand still due to the buses and campers in front of us checking passports and ID's .  It was fun to just relax a little in such beauty.  Mason I think had the most fun, he got to ride the motorcycle for a short while.

So here are few pictures coming into Skagway

 

Going through White Pass

We had a lot of fun seeing all of the fun sites.  We had the opportunity of hiking up to lower falls and to "Soapy Smith's " grave.  It was so fun to take in all of the beauty.  We even had fun with Drake and a tennis ball.

 

                                                           Brandon throwing the ball for Drake  

  

Brandon and I at Lower lake

Brandon, Drake and I at the Reed falls

The famous "Soapy Smith" pose at Soapy's grave.

Reed Falls... Do I need to say more....

 

Along the trail in the cemetary on the way down from Reed Falls...

Here are some random shots we took around town....

Standing in front of the Kone

One type of tourist transportation

A few of us stopped to have some much needed Ice-cream.  Brandon's Aunt and Uncle own the shop! If you are ever there you need to go the shop is called the "Kone Kompany".  Very Delicious!

As you can see, Raylee was very ready to be out of her car-seat and done for the day!

Duff (Brandon's uncle) was good enough to take a few of us out fishing which was really fun.    

Just kicking back wiating for the fish!

Dad inspecting the boat!

 

Sharon's silver salmon that was too short!

Mason and his silver salmon.  He did not want to touch it! Thank heavens Uncle "B" was willing to help!

Mason and I caught some really nice silver salmon but we couldn't keep them, they were about 2inches to short to keep by regulations.  Mason was not happy to hear that.  We still had fun though.

 There are so many wonderful things to do in Skagway for tourists, but if you have been there done that you go to the places you know are just absoutely beautiful.  Here is a pic from Dyea (pronounced die e)

Love the views of the different bays around here.  You can't really see how beautiful it truly is from pictures this is definitely a must see place.

The other thing that I love about Skagway is the views you have from almost everywhere.  You can see the docks from Duff and Karla's and it is so beautiful at night.  Unfortunetly this trip I couldn't capture the cruise ships at night due to the rain but I did get one during the day which is pretty cool.

 

Our trip was so amazing, we had our ups and downs but what family vaction doesn't?  As per family tradition we took a family photo of everyone there with the cousins.  What an adventure.

Pictured from L to R  (backrow) Brandon, Mark, Susie, Dean, Ann, Laurie, Brett, Duff (front row) Sharon, Mason, Deana (holding) Raylee, Mindee, Karla, Kristin and of course the one who is always behind the camera, Andy.

We did have fun while we were there.  We decided to make going home a little bit more challenging.  We did what the Ray family calls "Bombed" it.  Which means we drove straight through, only stopping for gas refill, food and potty stops.  We left at about 9:30am from Skagway and pulled into the driveway at about 4:30am. It was a long ride home but none of us really wanted to sleep on the hard ground, let a lone have to unpack and repack the truck and all of the gear.  It is so funny how you can tell yourself that you need to make sure you don't go overboard with buying new items because of the limited space that you have.  We never listen.  I know that we increased the number of bags in the truck by at least 5.  Even though we had some ups and downs along the way it was a very nice trip.  I have learned that when your niece rolls over for the first time and that her mother didn't see it, don't say anything.  When you have more than 2 adults making decisions that you will never agree on what the plan is, and that no matter what you plan for something will always go wrong!  Thank heavens for the words "I am so sorry!"  I truly am greatful to be able to spend time with Brandon's family.  Well I guess you could say........

One more family vacation down, hopefully several more to come!