Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Wow I didn't realize how long it's been since I last wrote in my blog and how the heck did it become December already?!?!?! I'm not ready for the years to be flying by this quickly!!!!

Nothing really new has been happening. We finally got 2 flyable days the week of Thanksgiving, making that a total of 3 flyable days last month!

Thanksgiving was great! We ate at my parents house in the early PM, then later around 5 we ate again with my hubby's parents. I think we over did the eating part, but the food was all great and I couldn't say no!! I think I have my fill of pumpkin pie, I swear I've been baking up pies for a week and enjoying them to myself practically!! Oh and on Thanksgiving morning around 8:59AM my hubby felt baby kick for the first time!! I was so excited!! He just sat there with this big smile and didn't say a word!!

I'm officially in my 6th month of pregnancy already (week 23 day 3). Baby is kicking away now, feels so cool!! I'm still not really showing but slowly getting a bump that's making it's appearance! I got my H1N1 vaccination yesterday... I never usually get my flu shots (any kind) but since I'm traveling and considered in the "priority group" (since I'm preggo) and they are recommending it... so I broke in and got it... I hate needles!!! I woke up this morning and the shot site is a bit sore... but then again it's been awhile since I got any kind of shots, usually taking blood out - not putting stuff back in!!! I ran out of iron supplements a couple weeks ago and found out I'm low in iron again so the clinic got me a refill, :)

I'm hoping and praying hard that the weather clears up here in a couple days, for I am going on vacation!!! We have a wedding to attend and figured why not make the best of everything and hang out for a bit. Los Angeles and Las Vegas here we come!! I can already feel the sunshine, hear the screams from the amusement parks, listening to the boom-boom of the fireworks blowing up over Disneyland and the sounds of slot machines in the casinos.... I can't wait!!! :D Packing up tonight, I like to be prepared... going to miss my pups but I can't always take them with me, especially now that we have 3 little ones!! Going to start looking for boats going to Dutch Harbor probably tomorrow or Thursday just to make sure I get out of here... never know with our weather what it's going to do out here!

Today was a busy day at work, being the 1st of the month and all.... I got all the billing done up, filed everything, cleaned up the office a bit and got everything ready for my mom for while I'm on vacation! I'm putting my trust in my brother and having him house/dog sit for us, just have to get him up to my house to get the dogs used to him... usually doesn't take long for them to get used to someone, it Dante that takes the longest to warm up to anyone! I know my pups will hopefully be good for my bro and hopefully not be a handful to watch..... With Cali starting her first heat, my 2 lil boys have been "acting" up and trying to get a little aggressive with each other but still trying to be lovey to each other (growl then lick each other then growl)... not to mention that Cali just likes to rough house and chase the boys all over the house doesn't really help with the rowdiness that can go on! It's funny people always ask me if they are always hyper... not all the time! Most the day they just lay around sleeping... until we get company then they are running around everywhere!! Tug will be staying with my parents, he likes to be spoiled by them because they let him get away with alot of stuff - just like a little kid getting spoiled by grandma and grandpa! Plus my parents have an Australian terrier named King that just loves my lab, so at least Tug will be giving him some company for a bit! :)

Well weather wise it's been pretty crappy... during the day it will blow and snow then at night it gets flat calm and clear out! With the moon being as full as it is and with it as clear as it is at night it's like someone is holding lamps outside lighting up the hills! I swear at 4AM last night when I was shutting our bedroom window it was brighter outside than it was when I woke up at 8AM!! These storms bring snow, hail and rain (which eventually freezes over and becomes ice). Right now the boardwalks are completely iced over, I swear you need ice skates to get around that's how icy it is!! Temps have been in the low to mid 30's, but the windchill is bringing it down to the teens or so. The other day it was blowing 76MPH on my porch!! What a storm that was! Complete whiteout conditions and constant 75+MPH winds (gusting even higher). The cable went out for a bit due to the dish getting covered in sleet/snow but with people keeping up on cleaning the dish off they kept the cable on. There was no way I was going outside that day!! ;)

Oh pretty cool I've been having these 4 ptarmigan hang out behind my house on the hillside! At first I thought someone threw a snowball, then I realized it was a bird flying! Those birds better watch out, my neighbors hunt and eat them!! LOL... if only they knew "dinner" was hanging out right there behind our houses... I could probably knock them down quietly with a .22 that's how close they are! I've also been having fun feeding our little rosy finches out my bedroom window!! Amazing how fast a couple handfuls of crushed bread can disappear when 30 little birds are gorging it down!

Well when I get time I'll make sure to update my blog hopefully a little more often than I've been doing... Take care everyone, until sometime TTFN!!

Help me pray for good weather for this weekend so I can get out on vacation!! Our last little get away by ourselves before our baby is born!! I'm not looking forward to all the adrenaline and rides I'm going to be missing out on... but at least I get to go people watching and enjoy a larger variety of foods to fill up on!!! I'm looking forward to xmas shopping too... not to mention the wedding, OMG it's going to be soooo much fun! A lot of people from Akutan going to be in Vegas, most of them for the first time (not only in Vegas but out of state!)! Going to be very interesting and fun, I can't wait!!! Wish us luck with the weather! Thanks!!

Pix of my black lab Tug, Happy 4th Bday!

Happy 4th Birthday to my lab Tug and his brother Derbin!!
Born November 17, 2005

Tug - Jan 5, 2006 - The day we got him!

Jan 5, 2006 - Look at those ears!

Jan 6, 2006 - First night in the house, passed out in his kennel

Feb 7, 2006 - Such a cute pup!

Growing up fast! Feb 17, 2006

Feb 28, 2006 - Loving his new duck toy!

July 26, 2006 - First time on a boat ride from
Akutan - Dutch on the F/V Oceanic

July 30, 2006 - First car ride from Anchorage to Valdez and back
(not to mention he just got "fixed" so he's drugged up)

First time in the skiff! He loves it! Wearing his life preserver too!

Tug in a valley of lupins! July 26, 2007

1st Halloween Costume! Super Tug! Oct 31, 2006

Happy Halloween!! Bat Tug, Oct 31, 2007

Hippy Tug!! Halloween 2008!!

Oct 3, 2008 - Tug and Roscoe watching me catch
humpies (pink salmon) ahead of the bay! Looking around dad, lol!

Derbin on the left (My uncle Darryl's pup) and Tug on the right (my pup)

Can't believe they are already 4 years old!!! The years are just blowing by!!

Bird Pix

Pretty Bird

Willy

Pix of Pretty Bird and Willy

Pretty Bird getting a bath, drying her off with papertowel

A couple days old!

A week old!

2 weeks old

Sweetheart at a month old (the male)

Stash a month old (the female)

My baby birds with their pin feathers!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Happy 4th Birthday to my lab Tug!! Also Happy 25th birthday to my cousin Tim S!!!

Well let me see where to start my blog...

My very first pets I got in my house were these pair of cockatiels. Pretty Bird who was yellow (lutino) and Willy who was a normal grey back in November of 2004. I loved those birds, they would whistle and make all these cute sounds along with these ear piercing screams. In April of 2008 they finally became proud parents of 2 hatchlings - which took them about 3 "tries", each time the eggs would just rot and nothing would happen with them so I'd discard them after about 6 months and they would wait a month or two then they start to try to lay again. Each time Pretty Bird was laying at least 5-8 eggs a batch. Finally when we were away on a trip, 2 of the eggs ending hatching!!! The female pushed them out of the nest as soon as they were walking and she tried to lay more eggs while the male bird used all his energy rearing the 2 little ones. He wasn't eating himself I don't think, just eating and regurgitating it back up for the 2 greedy little birds (who were eating on their own but still bothered their dad when he ate to feed them). One day we found our male daddy bird Willy dead on the bottom of the cage - I figured exhaustion from rearing took his little life. Well our little birds are a year and a half now, and last night I happened to find my Pretty Bird dead on the bottom of the cage - feet up in the air, lying on her back just like they do in cartoons... I don't know what killed my Pretty Bird, I'm guessing old age?

I never knew how old Pretty Bird and Willy were when I got them. I just know that I've had them for 6 year and my in-laws we got them from had them for about 3 years, and they got them from a friend in Dutch- who had owned them for a couple years - The original owner was my in-law's friend in Dutch's daughter who had passed away and her mom took the birds. So they eventually ended up with us for the last 6 years, living the great life. A nice big cage, plenty of fresh water and food, a nest box, gravel/grit, seed sticks & millet sprays and lots of birdie toys and all the flying space in the living room/kitchen/dining room!! I'm happy that they at least had baby birdies and we have them still!! I'm going to miss them so much; they were such great birds.... :( Their attitudes aren't replaceable and I'll never forget my first two cockatiels!! We'll dig thru all the snow in our yard to find Willy's grave and bury his birdie wife next to him... sucks to lose an animal family member!! I'm going to miss my Pretty Bird, she was my bird and was so lovey towards me.... I'm going to miss giving her baths and hearing her cute whistles and calls when I walk by the cage :( R.I.P Pretty Bird and Willy - I will never forget my first birds!

Other than my bird passing away. We've been getting lots and lots of nice fluffy snow today! I think I can make a snow man out of this snow! I tried to the other night but the snow was too powdery and wouldn't stick to its self.... but this snow is perfect. I already made a 1 foot ball in my front yard and noticed a 4 foot ball in front of the school!!! I can't wait to get off work and go play in the snow. It's been so long since I actually played in the snow like a little kid!! At lunch hour I even got the 4-wheeler stuck in the snow, took me about 10 mins to get it back on the boardwalk… guess I didn’t expect it to be that deep and thought I could turn around, but ended up getting stuck :P I thought it was kind of funny… about 10 mins later I got the bike out of the snow and was able to get home to cook up lunch!

I don’t remember the last day we had a plane that’s how long it’s been… going on 2 weeks soon I would believe… this winter weather just won’t stop. If it isn’t blowing then it’s white out snowing – always something Mother Nature is throwing at us that stops the plane from making the 20 min trip over from Dutch… I’m not really waiting for anything to come in, I just want my outgoing mail to get out… well I am waiting for my Disneyland park hopper tickets to come in :) And I know I have people in the hotel that are waiting to get off the island and some people waiting to come over. I heard that there aren’t any boats right now going either way… so everyone is stuck until the weather clears up for a plane to make it in…

My hubby and I got invited to eat birthday dinner for my cousin Tim, I made an angel food cake at lunch hour and I’ll whip up some salmonberry topping for it before I bring it down!! I love angel food cake with a salmonberry sauce! Mmm Mmm Mmm!! Thanks for inviting us! Guess I can wait to play in the snow after I eat dinner ;) LOL…

Well I figured I’d post some pix of my birds. I need to take up to date pix of my 2 little birds, they are full grown now! I’m really going to miss my original 2 birds though, but I’m happy to at least have the 2 little ones from my original pair! And some of my lab Tug growing up, since it’s his b-day today! :D I’ll do those in separate posts :)

Until sometime, TTFN.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Ok well it's been about 5 days since I last posted... a lot has happened in those 5 days... So on Thursday, November 12th my hubby said he saw his cousin Lorraine (who was once married to my uncle so I consider her an aunt still). She said she hadn't heard from her brother in a couple days and was worried about him. My hubby told her to pick lock his front door and break into his house to make sure he was ok!! Well not even 15-20 mins later my hubby said he saw Lorraine's husband walking her home and she was crying... He already had a feeling of what happened...

On Monday the 9th, Lawrence came in to the Corporation office to see if his paycheck was done yet, since it wasn't he said he'd be back later or some other time to pick it up, "No rush" he said. I heard some other people talked to him later that night. No one heard from him on the 10th or the 11th, so by the morning of the 12th his sister Lorraine was suspicious of his where abouts and started to ask people when they last saw him and if anyone knew if he left to Dutch Harbor once again or not... After realizing that he didn't go anywhere, Lorraine got her husband and they broke into her brother's house. There they found Lawrence Prokopioff (Born Sept 1, 1959) at the young age of 50 deceased in his house. The death was caused by unknown conditions he might have even had a seizure, but was most likely alcohol related. Everyone one knew Lawrence's love for his hard alcohol and sadly to say it has taken his life. He is survived by his son Leon and grandson Isiah, his sisters Lorraine and Linda, niece Angelica, and nephews Art, Tim and Jeremiah. Preceded in death by both his parents Helen "Tootis" and Leon, and his brother Leon.

Lawrence will be greatly missed. His giggles and hiccups, his jokes and carefree attitude will not go forgotten!! My furnace will miss you dearly and I thank you for all you've taught me to take care of it on my own!! It's still very hard for me to grasp the reality of the situation, even after burying him in the ground on Saturday. I still feel as if he's here with us and that this is all just a bad dream... but it isn't and it's going to hit me hard one of these days that he's really gone...
My sincere condolences go out to my Aunty Lorraine and her family, Linda and her family..... Aunty Lorraine We All love you lots! Stay strong for us all... you've been thru sooo much... please know Boy and I are here for you just as much as you are for us!! Thank you for everything you do for all of us!! lots of luvs to you!!! <3

Since people did talk to Lawrence on Monday... they had guessed that he passed on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 and was laid to rest in the St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Church's cemetery on Nov 14, 2009.

His son Leon had come home for the funeral, making it by boat the day of the burial. Its been at least over 10 years since Leon was last here in Akutan, not the best way to come home to visit... but it was really good to see him again.


Well other than the funeral and trying to deal with those feelings... I've been doing great with my pregnancy! Baby is finally kicking good, I realized that baby kicks a lot once I eat anything! I've been trying to not let what's going on stress me out too much for the sake of my unborn child... no need for baby to feel stressed out because I am... so I stayed as strong as I could, but that didn't stop the tears from falling...

The weather has been crappy lately.... we've had a good High pressure sit over us bringing nothing but Northerly winds... making it freezing cold outside! The temps are hanging out in the 30's right around freezing, getting down to the low 20's - then to add the wind chill it's getting in the teens!! We have a little bit of snow and I"m hoping it sticks!! I tried to go out to make a snowman last night, but the snow was all powdery and didn't want to ball up for me... so my hubby and I built a little snow wall with all the snow in the yard! I don't remember the last time we got a plane, has to be going on well over a week now!! Luckily people have been coming and going on the boats that are still around, so at least we have a way to get on and off the island still if needed (that's if a boat is going to Dutch!). No mail is moving though since we dont' have a "mail boat" like we did back in the day... oh well.... I'm only waiting on some little things for my vacation coming up... Going to go spend some time in Los Angeles before driving to Las Vegas for to watch a couple of our friends tie the knot! I'm looking forward to the warm sunshine and people watching since I won't be able to get on any kind of rides at any of the theme parks! I just hate stressing over my 3 chi's... my parents will take my lab Tug and I'm hoping my brothers don't have any problems watching the pups and my house while we're gone... I HATE leaving them at home and would rather have them with us... but it's just not possible all the time :(

Well I'm sorry to have to share the news of us losing a great member of our community, but I figured I'd at least let everyone know, you know?!?! LP will be greatly missed by all of us here in Akutan!

Until some other time, TTFN

Pix from our trip to ANC

Just some pix I took during our trip to Anchorage for the ultrasound. We ended up taking the F/V Farwest Leader over to Dutch Harbor in about 8-10ft seas.... I can say I was good the first hour, then threw up into the garbage bag they provided for about 3 hours, then I was good the last hour or so.... I did get a 30min nap though, which felt good! We ended up staying a night in Dutch Harbor at the Grand Aleutian - joining CB for Sunday brunch the next morning before heading to the airport for our flight to Anchorage. Just because we took a boat, there ended up being 4 flights back and forth between Dutch and Akutan, and 3 more the day we flew to Anchorage! Glad we stayed the night and enjoyed Sunday brunch anyway, even though I had to endure the 5.5 hr boat ride over! We were in Anchorage for about 41 hours to get my ultrasound and all my tests done before we were getting back on a flight to Dutch Harbor and we actually made it home all in one day (of course we got put on the LAST flight and didn't get home until 6:30PM!!!). I seriously don't know why they bumped us from the flight and sent over Trident employees when we were scheduled on that flight!!! And the flight we came home on was one they had to "think" about for a bit before deciding to go...... I was not a happy camper - just sitting there in the airport from noon until 6PM trying to keep ourselves occupied while we waited for Pen-Air to tell us we can board the Goose and head home! Then in the rush of trying to get home, I left my braided money tree on the Pen-Air counter!! Luckily there was one plane that came in the next day and the pilot brought it over for me!! (Thanks Steve!!). Quick trip and we weren't able to get as much done as we wanted to but this wasn't a pleasure trip, we have our vacation rolling in around the corner here soon!! I figured we can just wait! :) Here are a couple pix anyways :)

PIX:

F/V Farwest Leader

An old bumper sticker from the Akutan Roadhouse
(Note phone number is now 698-2219)

The beautiful Grumman Goose!

The Saab 340's in Dutch Harbor, Mt. Ballyhoo in the background.

We flew on the "Spirit of Sand Point"

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Happy Veteran's Day to all those who have served
or currently serve our great country!!!
Everything you do for our freedom is greatly appreciated!

Now how did it already become the 11th of November?!?!?! This year is just blowing right by us like the winter storms that blow thru! So far we've been having our usual week long storms that pack lots of wind with them and depending on from what direction the wind is coming from, the wind controls our temperatures. Northerly winds always bring the cold weather and snow while Southerly winds bring warm temps and usually lots and lots of rain! Just last night it got up to 54F but woke up to 35F since the wind changed direction from Southerly to Northerly overnight. But after about 4-9 days of windy stormy weather we'll get 1-2 days of clear weather before the next storm hits us. Usual weather for us this time of the year! We still haven't had snow that's stuck for a day or two... barely gets cold enough for any of it to stay... The temps have been averaging right around 34-35F the last week or so, leaving it cold enough to frost the tops of the mountains, but leaving us to deal with slush here at sea level! No worry though, winter is definitely making it's appearance!! Especially in these back to back week long storms that don't seem end - it'll be like this until next March or April!!

Well my baby likes to kick good once in a while, feels like a big twitch in my tummy that makes me giggle to myself... LOL. The morning sickness has finally all but disappeared being replaced by heartburn... just have to watch what I eat... I can eat spicy food without suffering, so I'm happy about that! :D It's simple things like cream of wheat and oatmeal or toast that give me heartburn bad! I am officially in week 20 day 4 of my pregnancy!!! I can't believe I'm already half way thru!!!

King Crab season has come and gone... I wasn't able to get any great pix because of numerous excuses I can come up with.... :P We have already devoured a 20lb box @ 186.00 a box! Thinking about getting another box from Trident before they run out and I'll have to order it from Dutch Harbor!! I love hot right out of the shell dipped in hot butter!! My hubby prefers it hot from the shell by its self, he says "why mess with something that already tastes great?" He's not a fan eating his King Crab any other way but the way nature prepared it for us! I can't help but soak it in butter!! :D I love that I am fortunate enough to live somewhere that it's processed and I can get it as fresh as we do!!

I have to get a hold of our credit card company and let them know that the printer down at the store stopped working. I tried everything I could but wasn't able to get it to print - the lights would just blink at me and there is nothing in the manual that says anything about a blinking power light!!! So I was able to move the printer from the office machine to the store so that they can still process credit cards, debit cards and Quest cards (food stamps card) for our customers. I think the Corp office and Store are the only places open on the island today... Hopefully our credit card company can get us a replacement in the mail ASAP so I can get the office CC printer back in the office so I can process credit cards for payment on store charge accounts and payment for the hotel!

So far I can say I've been craving sweet stuff... which with my sweet tooth isn't a good thing, but I've been trying to watch what I eat.... I've been wanting powdered doughnuts.... I asked my younger sis to send me some... so hopefully if she does I hope it gets here quickly but I doubt it with the way the weather has been acting lately...... but you never know! :D

I still can't believe it's that time of the year and the holidays are just around the corner! Turkey sounds so good... I wonder where we're having Thanksgiving dinner this year?? Usually try to go to my hubby's parents early in the afternoon and eat again later that evening at my parents! Lots of turkey and stuffing!! Yay... sounds so good!!! I can't wait!! I'll find something to whip up and bring to each dinner. Speaking of which, I'm going to bake up some pumpkin pies tonight!! I have to remember to get some whipped cream from down at the store to go along with it! Not sure what I'm going to make for dinner... been cooking big meals and trying to get enough healthy food for my growing baby to feed off of!! Been eating lots of fruit, mostly canned though so I'm trying to stick to the lite variety instead of heavy syrup. I still can't believe I'm half way done with my pregnancy already!! I swear with in no time my baby will be in our arms here soon with the way time is just going by!

Well I hope everyone is having a great November so far! Until sometime, TTFN! :)

Attention Alaskan Artists!!

Hello everyone in Alaska –

Rep. Edgmon was recently informed that the legislature would like to purchase Alaskan art for the new Thomas Stewart Legislative Office building in Juneau. The nearby building was purchased by the legislature and has been renovated, including the construction of an adjoining walkway between the two buildings. The access point is on the second floor of the Capitol and is located near the House Speaker’s office.

To properly commemorate the new addition to the Capitol building, the legislature would like to acquire art from all regions of the state for hanging in hallways, conference rooms, and committee rooms.

If any of you have recommendations on any artwork you think would be fitting for display in Juneau, please contact me with a picture of the artwork, the dimensions and the cost. Our office will be glad to send recommendations on to the Legislative Affairs Agency. Please respond either by email or by phone.

Adam Berg
Staff to Rep. Bryce Edgmon
800-898-4451
Adam Berg [mailto:Adam_Berg@legis.state.ak.us]

Happy Halloween!!! Saturday, Oct 31, 2009

Happy Halloween everyone!! Hope you had a great day and an even better night!!! Here are some pix I took :)
Both of my pumpkins :)
the small one is from the ferry
the bigger one we picked up in Dutch Harbor

Rawr!!! Me as a kitty :)

TRICK OR TREAT!!!

Mia and Bryce - Nathan was bending down getting more candy!

Karen and Sandra taking their cute babies trick or treating!
Jamara in the background

Sarah, Jamara, and Antony Mark

Raemie, Nikita, David and Shaylin


(right to left) Shannon, Margaret, and their sister

Our pumpkin - Friday, Oct 30, 2009

The Pumpkin I carved tonight!! My hand is cramping now but it looks great!!!

Baby girl!

We had our ultrasound on Monday the 26th of October and found out we're having a baby girl! She currently about 9oz and exactly about 18 weeks old (right on schedule with the dates I have!) We are naming her Veronika Raelene Tcheripanoff!!!! She was so cute laying on her tummy and hiding her face in the placenta! She was being stubborn like I thought and I had to roll around and try to get her to move so we can get a good shot of her! Yay I'm so excited! Now to pray for good weather so we can make it home all in one day!!!

PIX:

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Burrr.. what a thing to wake up to... 33F temps and slush on the boardwalks!! High up on the mountains we have our first actual coating of snow that might stay throughout the day! You can say I am definately not ready for winter yet.... :( I have to get my "yak-trax" out (shoe cleats) so I don't slip, I almost landed right on my behind walking off my porch this morning!!! Luckily I was close to the railing still and caught myself... Gotta try harder to be more carefull and be aware when I know it's slushy out!!

I'm mad at my camera (well not my camera but the memory card reader) its hasn't been cooperating with me or else I'd put up some pix of our newly frosted mountains!! I'll post pix later from home where my camera cord is!

We had an assortment of huge snow flakes that fall gracefully from the sky to the wet hail/sleet/rain mix that's blowing in the wind...

We're going to pack tonight and pray hard that the weather gives us a clearing so we can get up to Anchorage for our first ultrasound appointment. I'm so excited to be able to take a peek at my growing baby and to find out what sex the baby is!! Not to mention spend some family time with both my sisters (my older sis is driving up from Valdez with my 2 cute neices) and all 3 of my neices!! Also I'm super excited to be able to see my Krusnadad (Godfather) since he's planning on being in Anchorage during the same time we'll be up there!!! I haven't seen him since I was like 8 or 9 years old!!! I'm just hoping and praying that we're able to get out of here to make all our scheduled arrangements.... I hate rescheduling........ so hopefully things go the way they are supposed to and we make it up to Anchorage and back as planned!

OMG, so my Aunty Jen made these awesome ginger snap cookies!! There were to die for and tasted so good!! Both baby and I enojyed them!!! :D Thanks Aunty Jen! Much love!!!

OK well I just wanted to let everyone know that today is our official first day of snow!!!!

Cross your fingers for us to make it out to our Ultrasound appointment!! Thanks lots!! See you soon CB!!

Until sometime, TTFN

Monday, October 19, 2009

Well the Fall weather is slowly trying to turn to Winter weather... woke up one morning to the hills having a good amount of frost on them!!! The island is looking its usual dead brown color that will stay until next year when it starts to green back up. Hoping this year we get lots of snow, but from the looks of the last 5 years I highly doubt that.... Temps are getting down to about low to mid 30's at night here at my house and about low 40's during the day time.

My pups are all doing great! Cali is getting along great with the boys and learning lots! She can be a bit bossy at times, but what female isn't?!?!?! LMAO!!! (Laughing my a$$ off) I know I can get bossy at times :P I still think our lab is waiting for one of them to grow to his size!

We had our auditors come in to do our yearly audit at the Corp. Everything went smoothly and I got a lot of praises for all the work I put in getting everything ready for them! That made me really happy!

Still waiting for our new 42" TV that we won for the Akutan Holiday raffle... hopefully that comes in soon, that would be cool!! Can't wait to replace our 32" tube TV and get our new flat panel set up in our living room!!!

I heard that the cannery is already sending people home for the season until January when they start to ship them all back in. So most the outgoing flights are all booked up, I was lucky to get my hubby's ticket made so he can come with me to our first ultrasound!!! I'm hoping my baby lets us see if he's a boy or if she's a girl!!! I'm excited to be able to see both my sisters and all my neices too, since my older sis and her 2 girls will be in ANC when we get up there!! Hopefully the weather cooperates with me and lets us travel on our selected dates! Crossing my fingers and praying hard!!! I'm officially 17 weeks and 1 day pregnant as of today!! Can't believe I've known for 12 weeks already!! Time goes by so fast!! I'm still fitting in my regular clothes, I'm not really showing that much - just a small little belly so far... I'm still anxiously waiting to feel those first "kicks"...

Oh and you can tell winter is coming by how early it gets dark and how late the sun comes up in the AM. The sun sets around 7:45PM and it's dark by 8:15PM. It starts to get daylight around 9:45 AM and the sun comes up around 10:15AM. I believe we're losing around 5 mins of daylight a day.... definately adds up over a couple days!! I've still to see frost on the boardwalks... I get up early enough (7AM to walk my dogs)... I've heard some people say they've seen frost on the boardwalks, but I've yet to see it... I've seen it on the mountains a couple mornings. Especially on clear nights when it gets cold out!

King Crab season officially started the 15th of this month. I haven't been paying attention to what boats have been going in and out of the bay or whether or not the cannery has gotten any deliveries yet. I do know I heard the Northwestern has been in and out a couple times already. My uncle and brother are fishing for live cod bait for some of the boats and they did a delivery to the NW the other day.... I don't want to spoil the surprise but I got confirmation from my brother that the Jake for Jake switch is definately a GO this year!! Can't wait to see how that turns out on the new season of Deadliest Catch!!! I can't wait to taste some fresh Bering Sea King Crab dipped in some hot drawn butter!!! I'm hoping by Halloween they should be offering "home pack" size boxes for sale to the public!!! Wonder what the price will be this year....hmmm... good thing we always make a savings stash for that all important purchase!!! At first people were trying to tell me I couldn't eat it... but after some researching I found out it's fine in moderation!! So now I can't wait to get some of that sweet Bering Sea gold!!!

Ok well I'll make sure to share my ultrasound photos and share whether or not we were able to see what sex baby is once we find out! I'll try to make sure to get lots of photos of the kids on Halloween too and share those!! I know a couple of the kids have some cute costumes, can't wait to see what the rest have!! I'm going to be a kitty this year! Last year I was a Boarder Patrol Agent!!

Take care everyone, sorry I'm slacking on my blog.. I've been feeling guilty about not writing in it, but I haven't had the time... I guess I can make time to check in at least!!! Ok well until sometime, TTFN!!

PS. I started a poll on my blog... what do you think I'm having? A boy? A girl? or are you undecided? Please vote!!! :D As of today, a little more than a week before I peek and spoil the surprise!!!! I'm excited to see the results!!! :D

Sunset pix Sunday October 11, 2009

Sunrise pix, Sunday October 11, 2009

The Goose Landing, Oct 9, 2009