FUR RONDY

THE KIDS AND I AT THE FUR RONDY CARNIVAL

THE KIDS AND I ON THE GRAVATRON THIS WAS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITES DANIEL LIKED IT CAUSE IT WAS ENCLOSED AND WARM INSIDE THE RIDE

HAILEY ON A PONY RIDE

DANIEL ON A PONY RIDE

DANIEL ON A HELLICOPTER RIDE

HAILEY AND ALEX ON A BOAT RIDE

ALEX, DANIEL, AND HAILEY ON THE SPINNING APPLES AND I RODE WITH THEM

HAILEY ON THE MERRY-GO-ROUND

DANIEL ON THE MERRY-GO-ROUND

HAILEY AND I AND NATHAEN AND ALEX ON THE HIMALAYIN DANIEL WAS COMPLAINING HE WAS TOO COLD AT THIS POINT TO RIDE RIDES

DANIEL AND HAILEY PLAYING A FISHING GAME THEY EACH WON A SMALL PRIZE

HAILEY AND ALEX WITH CANDY APPLES DANIEL CHOOSE TO HAVE COTTON CANDY INSTEAD

AS COLD AS IT WAS HAILEY WANTED TO FINISH HER CANDY APPLE

THE KIDS BY ONE OF THE ICE SCULPTURES

ANOTHER ICE SCULTURE

ONE OF THE ICE SCULTURES IN PROGRESS

THE KIDS TAKING A WARM UP BREAK BY THE FIREPLACE AT THE COMFORT INN HOTEL

FUR RONDY FIREWORKS
This weekend We went to the Annual Fur Rondy Festival. Its a winter carnival they have every February in Anchorage. As is every other year of course it was freezing cold outside but this is our last year We are able to go so I bundled the kids up in snowsuits and off We went. The first thing We did was hit the pony rides which is Hailey's favorite part. Then it was off to the carnival and because it was so cold We only got to go on 5 rides. It was 18 degrees outside but felt like it was in the negatives. The first ride both kids wanted to ride was the gravatron. Daniel has been on it before but Hailey was upset last year cause She was not of height restriction. Well this year She was tall enough to ride and said it was her favorite ride and wanted to go faster. She is definitly our little daredevil. They also rode the spinning apples, helicopter ride, merry go round, super slide, and Hailey went on the Himalayin with Me. At that point Daniel was too cold and done riding rides. Daniel got some cotton candy and Hailey a candy apple and then it was time to leave. Later in the evening We went back to look at the ice sculptures some of them were still being worked on. They are all being judged next weekend. We also for the first year went back at night and saw the fireworks. My camera did no justice as to how beautiful they were and I was definitly glad I took the kids, but the traffic afterwards was crazy and probably why we never went the last 3 years weve been here to see them.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SURPRISE

THE KIDS WITH THEIR SPECIAL TEADY BEARS THAT CAME FROM DADDY TODAY

ME BY MY BEAUTIFUL ROSES THANK YOU JUSTIN

THE KIDS WITH THEIR SPECIAL GIFTS FROM DADDY

THE KIDS OPENING THEIR SPECIAL PACKAGE FROM DADDY

HAILEY WITH HER MIAMI DOLPHINS TEADY BEAR FROM JUSTIN

DANIEL WITH HIS MIAMI DOLPHINS TEADY BEAR FROM JUSTIN

STORM KEEPING A WATCH ON MY FLOWERS

MY BEAUTIFUL ROSES

Today I got the most beautiful surprise. I was watching a movie this morning while the kids were at school and I went to answer the doorbell when it rang and it was the UPS truck with A box from proflowers. Justin surprised me and sent me the most Beautiful 3 dozen of colorful roses. It was a great Surprise and made it a wonderful day for Me. Justin also sent a special package for Daniel and Hailey that they got to open when they got home from school. They each got adorable Miami Dolphins Teady Bears which put a big smile on their faces. We are two months done with this deployment and We have 4 more to go. I Hope these next 4 months fly by as fast as they can. We cannot wait until Justin gets home.

DANIEL'S SCHOOL WINTER CARNIVAL

THE KIDS AND I AT DANIEL'S SCHOOL CARNIVAL

DANIEL AND HAILEY WAITING FOR THE CARNIVAL TO START WHILE I HELP SET UP

HAILEY GETTING HER FACE PAINTED

HAILEY WITH HER BUTTERFLY PAINTED ON HER FACE

DANIEL AND HAILEY PLAYING BY THE DUCK POND BEFORE THE CARNIVAL ONE OF MY JOBS WAS FILLING IT UP WITH WATER

DANIEL AND HIS FRIEND JOEL FROM HIS CLASS

DANIEL PLAYING A RING TOSS GAME

HAILEY PLAYING A BOWLING GAME

HAILEY DOING THE CAKE WALK

DANIEL DOING THE CAKE WALK

DANIEL CHECKING OUT ALL HIS PRIZES

Daniel had his First school Carnival tonight. He was very excited to go. He had been looking forward to it all week. Since I am part of the PTA I had volunteered to help set up so we were there a little early. Once the carnival started Daniel did not want to hang around Mommy and Sissy. He took off with some of his Friends and went and played carnival games. He would keep coming back to find me to get more tickets and then run off with his Friends again. I was lucky to get him to set at the same table as us and have dinner with us. Hailey's favorite part of the carnival was getting her face painted. She got a butterfly done with glitter and loved it. Daniel actually did not want his face painted which was fine with Me. They had a cake walk which the kids tried 4 different times to win and unfortunatley never did win. They had a great time though and came home with cotton candy and a bag full of prizes.

Dog Sledding Fun

THE KIDS AND I READY TO GO ON A DOG SLED RIDE

IT WAS REALLY FUN

OUR DOG SLED RIDE

THE KIDS IN THE SKI LODGE WHILE IM GETTING THE TICKETS

THIS WAS DANIELS FAVORITE DOG

HAILEY PETTING ONE OF THE DOGS

DANIEL PETTING ONE OF THE DOGS

DANIEL PLAYING IN THE SNOW

HAILEY PLAYING IN THE SNOW

The kids and I went on our First official dog sled ride in Anchorage. We took the kids several years ago when they were really small and We lived in Fairbanks. It was very cold and they didnt like it at all. They have had the dog sled rides available a few weekends last month and a few this moth but it had always been too cold or something else going on and We never got around to going. Well today it was a record breaking high of 47 degrees which is really odd temperatures for February in Alaska. I figured probably the best temperature We would get for dog sledding. I bundled the kids up and to the ski hill we went. Well there was only 1 dog sled and 1 musher and a long line of people. Needless to say We waited in line for over an hour until it was our turn. The kids entertained themselves by petting the dogs that were on break and playing in the snow. Our time finally came and the kids loved it. They wanted to go again but I was not waiting in that line again for a 5 minute ride. It was pretty neat as back in Fairbanks I never went. I was the picture taker as Justin had taken the kids. The Musher was nice enough to get a picture of us when the ride was over before We got out of the dog sled and She even let me stand in her spot for a pic where it looks like I was pulling the dogs. It is definitly something the kids will always be able to remember about Alaska and they were the age to actually enjoy themselves.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

VALENTINES DAY 2010

THE KIDS AND I AT THE VALENTINES DAY DINNER BUFFET AT SOURDOUGH MINING COMPANY

DANIEL BEING SILLY

HAILEY WAS ENJOYING THE BABY BACK RIBS

DANIEL AND HAILEY AT SOURDOUGH MINING COMPANY FOR DINNER

THE KIDS WITH THE MOOSE AND BEAR AT THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

THE KIDS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN AT THE ALASKA CHOCOLATE FACTORY

DANIEL GOT A BROWN PUPPY FROM MRS. KATHY

HAILEY GOT A PINK PUPPY FROM MRS. KATHY

THE KIDS LOVE THEIR NEW MP3 PLAYERS

DANIEL GOT A SPONGEBON MP3 PLAYER THANK YOU GRANDPA AND GRANDMA

HAILEY GOT A HANNAH MONTANA MP3 PLAYER THANK YOU GRANDPA AND GRANDMA

DANIEL GOT A SPEED BOAT FOR HIS ZHU ZHU PET AND A NEW HAMSTER

HAILEY GOT A SPORTS CAR FOR HER ZHU ZHU PET AND A NEW ZHU ZHU PET

HAILEY WAS HAPPY WITH HER HANNAH MONTANA MOVIES

DANIEL WAS VERY EXCITED WITH HIS I CARLY DVDS (HE HAS A SECRET CRUSH ON HER)

DANIEL GOT AN ALIGATOR ONE WITH CHOCOLATE LIPS

HAILEY WITH HER TINKERBELL VALENTINES DAY CARD

DANIEL GOT A CURIOUS GEORGE ONE

HAILEY WITH HER NEW OLIVIA COLORING KIT

The kids had a very good Valentines Day the one thing Missing was having Justin here to celebrate with us. The kids and I did get a chance to get on the web cam with Justin but the connection was kinda bad. They opened their presents from us this morning. They were very excited to find out they each got a new Zhu Zhu pet (since they are easier to find now in the stores) Daniel got Wrinkles a black and white one and Hailey got Jilly a pink and white one so now Pipsqueak and Mr sqiggles have some Friends. Daniel got a speed boat for his hamster and Hailey a sports car for hers. Daniel also got Season 1 of I carly his favorite TV show and hailey got season 1 of hannah Montana. Grandpa and Grandma sent the kids MP3 players. Daniel's is a Spongebob one and Hailey's is a Hannah Montana one. We were able to get on the webcam with both Grandpa and Grandma and Pap Pap and Grandma Cindy today. Then it was off to Sourdough Mining Company for a very good prime rib Valentines Day dinner buffet. The kids loved it as well as they have a make your own sundea bar for dessert. All in All minus Justin not being here to celebrate with us We all had a Very Happy Valentines Day.