Alaska--Part 1

I have received several requests for pictures from Alaska, so rather than wait until I am back in LA to post those I thought I'd put a few up from the last 2 days. When I was here in the summer two years ago (or was it 3? I can't remember...) I fell in love with this state, the super long days, the hills and mountains EVERYWHERE, the crisp clean air, and the wild life that literally wanders in front of your car while driving down the road. Since then I have always wanted to see Alaska in the winter, and I think this is hands down the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. Pictures won't do it justice, but the snow covered peaks that tower above the rest of civilization, the sides of hills covered in trees--it's amazing. Cold, but amazing. It was 19 degrees this afternoon while we were out and about, and that was a little chilly! (Well especially since I wasn't wearing gloves...that was my own fault...) So here are a few photos from the last few days--mostly the mountains which I am now in love with, and Bethie, who I am also quite in love with :) She turned 1 last week, is standing by herself, but isn't so sure about this walking thing--crawling is much more efficient as far as she is concerned. I'm working on teaching her how to give kisses right now, and while she can kind of blow kisses, the actual kissing thing isn't going so well--she's still at the stage of trying to eat my nose but I have 3 more days :)

The view from their house

Yeah, this would be their view as they look out the living room and across the street. Talk about a rough sight to wake up to each day!

Looking out another window, they are surrounded by mountains, the whole neighborhood was just built in this little valley in the middle of all them.

Good morning Aunt Sarah! I am eating Crispix! They are very good...

See, I'll even share! You will like them, I promise!

And now it is time for me to get all clean!

This morning after her morning nap we went to a local nature preserve to see if we could get some cute pictures of Bethie in the snow for their Christmas card. Yeah it lasted about 2 minutes, she HATED it! But this was before we took her out in the cold, so she was semi happy--although so bundled up she couldn't really move.

So we didn't get smiling baby pictures but I did get to see more mountains! Today was a lot more grey, it's snowing again right now, and the sun hasn't fully come out yet today, but it is supposed to be clear this weekend.

There was a very cool tree with red berries on it that looked awesome in the white snow, but I'm not sure this picture is the best representation of that!

This is the look we got as soon as we took her out of the car. She was really thinking we were nuts asking her to smile when it was 19 degrees out. This is before Jean set her in the snow to see what would happen, then we got the shrieking wail in response.

So we warmed up in the car before trying (unsuccessfully) one more time. She thought playing in the front seat of the car was pretty cool though.

Happy to be home again :)