We had the opportunity to spend all day Saturday outside as a family. It was one of the rare beautiful and warm days and we spent as much time soaking it up as we could!

We pulled the kids all over town in the sled; stopping by the manmade sledding hill and park at the gradeschool. The sledding hill is awesome - not too steep and a long, long run giving you plenty of time to slow down without anything to run into, making it very safe for the little ones. Kali and Corey LOVED it. Unfortunately I only have video of the sledding...not still shots.

The also loved the playground as usual. It's a bit different from our friends and family's playground pictures from other places in the states. We're still quite a way off from green grass, but it was still fun.

After the gradeschool we walked to the local mexican resteraunt for some tacos and encheladas followed by a stop at the sporting goods store for some Jelly Bellies. Corey fell asleep on Kali's lap on the way home, but was quick to say he wasn't sleepy any more after we got home.

I am so thankful for days like we had on Saturday. I love more than anything spending time with my family - especially outside! We live in a beautiful corner of the world and it's nice to be reminded of that every so often during the long winter months!

Ugh.

THIS is our weather by the hour for here today...

Particularly pay attention to the "feels like" column.

Because that is what it actually feels like.

Again.

It's going on it's second week.

And looks like it will continue at least through the weekend.

Can you say Spring Fever?

Home again, home again...

Not a lot of shopping in Valdez so this is what it looks like after our whirlwind weekend shopping trips in Anchorage. I'm glad to be home and really glad that my sweet hubby stayed up late putting most of the stuff away!

Our Little Dancer

Kali danced at the half-time of the Valdez High School basketball games last weekend.

And Corey - watching basketball...it won't be too many years before we're most likely here watching him.

Introducing...

Baby Petersen III

Due approx. Aug. 2, 2008. BUT he/she is measuring ahead of schedule so it could be sooner!

Potato Papa

Look Mom! I made Grandpa!

Beautiful.

And it's even quite warm for being mostly-clear skies. If naps were not so badly needed by all today, we would be giong on a long walk with the sled. Perhaps there will still be enough light when they wake-up.

Just Because.

I woke up to these this morning.

I love him.

Snow Days!

It finally warmed up into the thirties this week! And when it warms up in Valdez - IT SNOWS!!! The kids have been having fun - Dave has not. He had to snowblow the sidewalks 4 times yesterday!

As usual I have not done well keeping up with my blog. So the following posts are to catch up from September - December of 2007. One of my mini-resolutions for this year is to do a better job with this so that I can get it printed into a family journal. Wish me luck!

December - Christmas!

He's 2, what can I say!

I have yet to actually get "still" photos of Christmas morning. I was busy with the video camera and Dave was helping Corey with his gifts; so I'm in the process of trying to collect them from my family that was there. We loved having Christmas breakfast and "santa" presents in our own home this year and then still being able to go to mom and dad's for presents and Christmas dinner. My whole family was together again this year since Tyler's return from the Dominican Republic in February. My mom's dad was also able to join us from Star Valley, Wyoming.

Christmas did not end exactly as planned. We had to take Corey to the ER on our way home from dinner because he was having A LOT of trouble breathing. Kali had been sick the weekend before and he had woken up hoarse that morning; but it quickly turned for the worst by nighttime. They said Croupe when we first went in, but he also had some nasty virus that was keeping him very sick. After many shots, breathing treatments, and two days in the Oxygen Tent his oxygen levels were consistently where they needed to be. After chest xrays ruled out pneumonia we were able to take him home.

It was very sad to come home to our packed bags. We were supposed to leave for Seattle the day after Christmas to spend New Years with Dave's brother, sister-in-law, and their kids. However we are very grateful for how great our medical care is for being such a small place - and that the problem presented itself before we were up in the air.

We had a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. We are very grateful for the opportunity to refelct on the Birth and Life of our Savior Jesus Christ; and for the spirit that fills this time of year.

November

Corey's 2nd Birthday!

See post from actual party below.

Thanksgiving!

This year for Thanksgiving we went to Anchorage to visit my dad in the hospital (long story...due to a post-op infection after his knee replacement surgury in March, the prostetic had to be removed and replaced with lots of stuff inbetween. Five surgeries in all). The day before he had his second knee replacement (same knee) of the year. We were lucky to be there over Thanksgiving - the Sourdough Mining Company catered the hospital staff, patients, and family with really yummy free food! We also enjoyed a fun afternoon at my Uncle's in Eagle River with lots of family and friends. My dad's parents were visiting from Idaho. It was so great to see them and for them to spend time with the kids - it was their first time ever seeing Corey!

October

HALLOWEEN!

Have you ever seen better looking pirates?

New Car!

The kids and I waiting in the car for the final papework to be drawn up. This was after hours in the kids play area...they did remarkably well considering it takes about a day to buy a car!

We love having all this space (lots of room for visitors) and it handles the snow beautifully!

September - Santa Barbara

The Alaska Media Roadshow was in Santa Barbara, California this last September. Dave and I decided to extend his "business trip" a few days on each side and make a vacation out of it. We left the kids with mom and dad and had a wonderful time celebrating our 5th Anniversary! We started out in a little town called Solvang; an awesome little Danish town outside of Santa Barbara.

I had just begun a Black & White photography class at the community college, so there will be some jumping around from black and white, scanned photos, digital, and color.

The first photo above is a picture looking down at a beach from the road - there had been a fire about three weeks before we arrived. It was fun to walk around and see what was left (see tree photo below); however, we did not stay long upon discovering that just around the rocks in a little cove there was a nude beach. One of the participants, an older gentleman, approx. 70, made his way over to say hi while I was searching for shells. It was time to go!

The last half of our trip we spent at the Four Seasons in Santa Barbara (middle photo above). It was a lovely resort. On the day of the Roadshow I very much enjoyed reading by the pool and walking the beach while Dave was in his meetings.

*We also celebrated Kali's birthday this month. See her part post below!