My Camera really does not do the beauty of Alaska any justice. But, I wanted to post a few pics anyway of what we get to see on a regular basis.

This first picture is looking out our bedroom window. The kids and I will sit in our room and gaze out. Every time I pull up the blinds, Paisley will tap her little finger on the window and say "Preeetty, Preeettty".

The second picture is out our back door, again the camera does not do it justice. I look out often, waiting for the Moose to come and nibble on the trees, but I have not seen one yet. When we moved in, I had accidentally locked myself outside without any shoes on. The kids were playing inside and Bill and a crew of Men were unloading our U haul into the garage. I kept yelling for Bill and was outside for five minutes before I decided to say a little prayer. It was about 5 degrees and I was getting a little worried. I went ahead and asked God to help me out and just as I had finished, two doors down a gentleman put his dog out to go to the bathroom. I hollered over to Him and asked him to please come over and notify my husband I was locked outside with no shoes on. It really scared me. Its been negative eight degrees the past few days!!! Can you imagine? I can see it now, winning a Darwin award for freezing to death outside my own back door, 3 weeks after I move to Alaska. Who goes outside in Alaska with no shoes? Duh.

The last two pictures are on the highway, pretty close to our new home. The kids and I are homebound through out the week and so We try to get out and explore on the weekends.

My favorite part of Alaska are the sunsets. I'm sure I have mentioned this already, but I never started noticing sunsets until I moved to Alaska in 2002. That summer really helped my faith in God increase. I remember one of the first thoughts I had when I laid my eyes on Alaska was "How could anyone see this and NOT believe in a God".

You've really got to come and see what I'm talking about.

Along with the sunsets, I just love the way the frost stays on every single branch and twig of each tree. It reminds me a lot of my Mom and Dad flocking our Christmas Trees when I was a kid.

I. Love. Alaska.

So I just can't get over how bad I'm feeling about this whole Facebook thing. Someone very close to me told me that my posts are offensive and well, I suppose they really are a bit too personal. I'm so embarrassed that I've possibly offended people that the only logical thing I can come up with is to apologize and get rid of it. So, I did.

Everyone who knows me well knows that I say what's on my mind, for the most part anyways. As long as I'm not hurting someone else, I will put it out there. In the end I think I've only hurt myself. Sayings amongst friends and family in a private setting is one thing, broadcasting it to the world is another.

Overall, these are a few of the conclusions of the negative aspects that Facebook has brought into my life.

#1. I spend more time socializing in a virtual world than with my kids.

#2. For me, Facebook has become a lazy way to communicate. It allows me to keep in touch with a mass of people at once, but not get in to the personal, authentic lives of those I hold close.

#3. The obvious. I scream to the world what a filthy mind I have. Also, its true what they say: What you think you become. I'm not total trash, but my thoughts are certainly putting me in the gutter everyday.

#4. I'm not as good as a wife and mother as I could be. For years that's all I ever wanted. Now that I have it, I'm more concerned with keeping in touch with my past than enjoying the present.

Of course FB can be used for good and I am certainly not judging those who choose to communicate by it. But for me, it brings out the worst in me. I feel giving it up will make me a better Wife, a better Mother, a better Friend and a better Person.

I can still be me and say what I want to say, but not to the extent of hindering who I want to become. Perhaps I am making a bigger deal out of this than I need too, but its the simple things that change you and make you better. I want people to remember me for who I am and not for the offensive words that have rolled off my tongue.

Here's to a better Me.

Adjusting well....

Considering the way they reacted to all of our stuff missing out of the Salt lake House, they are adjusting better than I thought.

You should have seen them. My friend Joanette took both of them for the day while we packed the trailer. For weeks Paisley had been living in a Climber's paradise. Boxes everywhere and only She would find the smallest crevice and hide in it and stay there until she was found.

Anyhow, I'm sure they sensed a change coming, they were quite needy and prone to tears more than usual.

By the time I picked them up from Joanette, all of our items were gone from the house. Paisley walked in and wandered from room to room with tears streaming down her face. I was distracted while she was doing this and after a few minutes went looking for her. I found her in our bedroom, sitting in front of the mirror, staring at herself and shedding tears like we had abandoned her. As I sat with her for a few minutes and tried to console her (she wanted nothing to do with me), I walked back out to the main room to find McKoy shedding just as many tears.

Oh it just broke my heart. Their little safe haven had been packed up and put away. That was 2 1/2 weeks ago.

Now they are completely back to my rambunctious little girl and boy. Paisley still finds her things to climb on and McKoy is following in his sister's footsteps. Their favorite item to climb on? Daddy. We love having him around and after three years I think I finally know what its like to be in a family and not a single Mom.

The greatest adjustment of all? Bill is working well on his way to becoming the next Santa Claus. I would post pics of his growing belly, but we will save that for another time.

Ho Ho Ho.

(Top Left: Paisley's climbing paradise)

(Top Middle and Top Right: Climbing on Daddy here in Ak)

(Middle Left: McKoy happy as can be, in Ak)

(Middle Right: With our good friend, Sarah, on the day we left Salt Lake)

(Bottom: Day we left Salt Lake)

New Year and New Sunsets

Isn't it beautiful? They told me today that the winter darkness is made up for by the scenery and amazing summers that Alaska has to offer. I think I'll be able to believe that. Any reservations I had about being here were resolved today.

We attended our Ward and met some very down to earth people. After we introduced ourselves, we had a flock of people surround us and start asking questions. In fact, I had a difficult time finding Bill after church because he was being social! Shocking, eh?

Anyhow, the more I am here, the more I am so excited for this adventure. I just can't get over how beautiful it is. We were driving around town yesterday and two baby moose walked across the street. These pictures I have posted were of Us taking Paisley out on the lake. The cabin is what we are staying in until we get settled in to our condo next week. These sunsets are what we are viewing every day, around 4:00pm.

When the sun goes down and the kids go to bed, we pull out the Martinelli's, Marshmallow's and Popcorn. I have a feeling we are going to get addicted to Scrabble. Strip Scrabble that is. Oh and just an FYI, the dark must have an effect on all the women here. In Relief Society today a woman talked about an activity that Her and Her husband do for Family Home Evening. Apparently, they like to "make babies". So, if you want to improve your bedroom life, move to Alaska.

Here's to a New Year with new Sunsets and lots of playing Scrabble. Naked.