As promised!

I'm working on uploading the pictures from the parade ... so far i've gotten two error messages. I'm going to keep trying.

Tyler and I waiting for the parade to start.

Eklutna Lake

The past few weeks have been quite busy for us, but we've had tons of fun! This weekend was a four-day weekend for Tyler and it was wonderful! Here is a rundown of what we've been up to: Thursday we secured housing for our new home, yes we're moving again, and ran errands around town for that, then we went to a cookout at our friend's house. Friday Tyler had to go into work for a few hours, then we went to Eklutna Lake for the afternoon with Bella, grilled steaks and corn for dinner, then went to see fireworks at midnight. Today we went to another cookout, then to a parade, then to a baseball game! See, we have been busy! We are so fortunate to have friends and things to do around here, but unfortunatley I only had enough memory space to include pictures from the lake, check back tomorrow for pictures from the parade!

Eklutna Lake is so blue and the surrounding mountains are beautiful. We travelled only about 20 minutes to get to this sweet escape!

Bella ran around all afternoon at Eklutna -- she loved the water, running space, and just being outside with us!

Bella pounced in the water -- she splashed and jumped around, it was super cute!

Our sweet family!

This eagle, not a bald eagle, but still an eagle swooped over us and then perched itself on this branch for a good ten minutes -- it was really neat!

I do not know these young girls, but I thought they were too cute in their bikinis and rainboots!

Happy Fourth!

Happy Fourth of July! We are so thankful for the military personnel and their families and the sacrifices that they all make. I have been frustrated this week by the news surrounding Micheal Jackson's death; a soldier died here at Fort Rich around the same time and the White House isn't taking moments of silence for him, people are not mourning publicly or committing suicide because their life simply cannot go on without the soldier; yet, without the soldiers and their sacrifices, life would be drastically different for us, all Americans. It saddens me that our freedom is taken for granted by so many day in and day out. I admit that I was one who blatantly took freedom for granted, but now I see the sacrifices made daily for my freedom and my independence. I normally do not do politicalish talk, but this incident has really frustrated me this week.

On a different note, below is a wonderful cartoon written, drawn, by our sweet friend William Warren. He is quite the cartoonist; a man who stands firm in what he believes and has the wit and talent to turn it into cartoons!

Courtesy of: http://www.warrentoons.com

Our Trip to NC!

Our trip to NC was so perfect and wonderfully timed, we were in need of some family lovin' and old friend conversation and fun!! I was on the east coast for 10 days and Tyler was in NC for a week. We so enjoyed seeing both of our families, old friends, and celebrating a new marriage! Below are just a few pictures of our adventure at home!

All the ladies with the groom! I got to celebrate Cassie at her bachelorette party in Atlanta. I never knew how wonderful an all girls weekend can be -- YAY for seeing my favorite girls! :)

These are our friends the Larrabees. We got to meet their newest addition, Cullen, and just hang out. Although we did not live in the same city very long, we became fast friends and we miss them quite often!

After the rehearsal dinner we went to Foothills, our favorite bar in Winston, and our very favorite bartender, Cha, was there! It was so fun to see him and catch up.

Introducing, Mr. and Mrs. Hsu!

We're home from a whirlwind week in NC ... more on that later, but now I want to introduce our newest married friends, Whitney and Ryan Hsu! Ryan and Tyler were the best of friends from 7th grade on and somewhere along the way vowed to be each other's Best Men in their weddings. Ryan performed his Best Man duties last June and Tyler returned the favor last weekend ... very cool!

Our newest married friends!

Away they go ... Congratulations! :)

Doggy Daycare

We are so excited to come home to North Carolina, but a little sad to leave Miss Bella behind. Unfortunately we will be a bit too active to bring her home this time, but eventually she will make the trek to NC, too. Fortunately, Tyler and I found this wonderful, family-run kennel called Home Away from Home where Bella will go to camp while we're gone. (Going to camp sounds so much more fun then going to the kennel!) The family that runs the kennel is a wonderful family who is passionate about dogs, training them, and keeping them safe; we feel so comfortable leaving here there! 

Bella will play outside ALL DAY with other dogs her size instead of being cooped up in a crate all day like at a vet. Because of this we had to send Bella to one day of doggy daycare for a temperament test to see if she could survive pack-like living and the routine of the camp. Of course Bella did wonderfully and is welcome back, but the best part is that she came home EXHAUSTED; she did not even run to greet Tyler when he came home from work.

Exhausted Bella after a fun day at camp!

Bye, Bella; see you soon NC! :)

Just Another Day.

So this morning I was driving along and I saw these four gnarly legs peeking out below a line of trees. I thought, "Hmm ... someone is riding a horse" but no, it was a moose. For a split second I forgot about those creatures that roam everywhere in my new home. 

This is not the moose from this morning, but it shows how big they are and how they just hang out along the side of the road! 

They always put their best face forward!
Can you believe how green Alaska has gotten?!

A Year Flies By!!

One year ago, Tyler and I were married!! It was the most magical weekend of my life and I wish, quite often, that we could go back and do the whole weekend over again! In the last year, we have lived apart for three months, lived in three homes, moved three times, made friends that are now all over the world, and have grown closer to each other and the Lord. We are so thankful for each other and the opportunities we've had. I know that we have many more years to celebrate our love and experience new adventures! 

The best cake in the world; unfortunately it was stuffed up my nose, that didn't feel too good.

Happily ever after ...

After our arrival in Punta Cana; our first picture as husband and wife away from the wedding.