playing catch up: christmas

first things first. i had to get out of bethel.
the only way out is to fly.
the only way to fly is to walk outside in freezing cold to your plane
(there is only one plane).

second. i didn't have enough PTO to leave before christmas eve.
so, we left after work on the 24th.
and then spent the next 36 hours getting back to utah.
yes. it took us that long!
yikes.

but let me tell you.
when we finally got to utah... WE WERE EXCITED!!!
but there was someone even more excited to see us... well more cory than myself.
and that gentleman caller is OTIS!

we took OTIS for a long long drive on the 26th.
(since we were in a airport for most if not all of christmas)
he loves the car.
we did too.
being road deprived in bethel, sucks.
i miss being able to drive for hours.
its crazy the simple things in life you miss when you live where we live.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE CHRISTMAS FANTASTIC FOR US!!!
WE ARE SO SORRY THAT WE COULDN'T BE THERE IN TIME FOR THE ACTUAL HOLIDAY.

BUT WE PROMISE TO MAKE UP FOR IT NEXT YEAR!

red. white. and blue

i hope everyone had a happy independence day.

we sure did.

the pictures above are from the festivities (parade and carnival).

people would boat in from villages near and far to join in the fun.

YES. it was still a cold over cast day,

but seeing all the excited faces made the day what it was.

the carnival was my favorite part.

since there are no real games or rides, people had to be inventive.

the picture above with the soda bottles is a game of ring toss.

the kids loved it.

simple.

the last picture is me with the owner of subway.

since she is the keeper of my diet coke we have become good friends.

life here is

- - - - - - - -

fyi:

all phones in bethel are dead again.

so if anyone called in the past 2 days and it went straight to voicemail

trust me, we are not screening your calls.

we just don't have any phone service.

they said it should be fixed tonight.

keep your fingers crossed.

happy happy mothers day to you, to you!

just so EVERYONE knows. i have the greatest mother there is!

my mom is simply amazing. she is always the life of the party, cracking jokes and making people laugh. she doesn't get embarrassed easily, which makes for some fun times together. she is a great listener and always has the best advice, always! she is extremely talentened in everything she does from art to being a stay at home mom. i look up to her in everyway shape and form. my kids will be lucky if i am half the mom she has been to me. being in alaska has been hard, but even in the coldest times i know she is just a phone call away.

i love her phone calls!

i love her!

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING MOM!

like i said before, you are 'simply amazing'!

did i mention i have the best mom around?!

our easter feast.

yesterday we bought all sorts of things to make a yummy

easter roast, with mashed potatoes, veggies, and the works.

- - -

well today before we went to church to watch conference

we realized... we don't want roast.

after leaving we decided that we really wanted

breakfast sandwiches.

we came home got working on our easter feast.

YES SHALYN I STILL PUT SALT ON EVERYTHING.

ah. that makes me miss los!(and you)

definitely not my grandma's easter cooking.

but still a great easter in bethel.