Picture Perfect Moments

Those picture perfect moments that we all think of thanks to the movies just never seem to happen. Or at least not to Josh and I. Last week we signed the lease on our beautiful house located in Northwest Las Vegas. We are so blessed again with a house that really is perfect for us in a really quiet neighborhood. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a loft and a small yard (and by yard I mean rocks because this is Vegas after all).

When you watch the movies what usually comes next after the couple signs the lease and is handed over the keys is they head to the house, pose next to the “for sale” sign in their front yard, kiss and take the sign out of the yard.

Well we were advised not to take the sign down, that someone would be out at our house last week to get it. Though if we did take it out we would be charged a fee. Okay so scratch off the posing in the front yard with my husband. No big deal, Josh and I had a long day planned of unpacking. Last Thursday we were finally reunited without stuff that was packed away at the beginning of June.

Around mid afternoon we were taking a break downstairs in the living room when I noticed Josh’s face freeze, and then he yelled, “Go away!”…all we could see were two hoodlum teens running around our house looking in through the windows. Say no more Stella and Kingston were on high alert. Josh went to open the front door to check it out when Stella bolted out chasing the trespassers’ off the property. After a few moments of craziness Stella came back and she and Kingston calmed down and Josh and I just shrugged it off. Less than 5 mins went by when we had a knock at our door.
As we opened our door a frustrated women met our eyes, ready to rip a new one for us.

“Did you SIC your dogs on my little girls?” the women asked.

“What?” we both replied with confusion.

“My little five year old is in tear and shaking because your dog chased her around the neighborhood.” The women said.

“No not at all, your daughters were looking into our house so we just opened the door to check it out and see what was going on. That was just our little dog that got out to check out what was going on. We are sorry that she’s so scared, but we live here now.” Josh replied.

“OHHHH my I am so sorry, we just saw the “for sale” sign and wanted to check out the property. Why don’t you guys take that sign down?” The women suggested to us.

As if this hadn’t crossed our minds, we nicely explained that we were unable to touch the sign or we would be charged a fee. The women, still extremely mad, joked that she should take it out of the ground so things like this don’t happen again to us. We said our goodbyes and apologized again on Stella’s behalf (okay so it turned out that they weren’t the teenage punks we thought but two little girls.)

…And this story ends buy a mom reversing her car into our “for sale” sign in the front yard several times until knocking it down and then throwing it on our front door. So I can safely say that our guard dogs got their point across.

Sky Miles

Some people have never even been on a plane before, though our dogs have become frequent flyers. Stella traveling over 7,000 miles in less than a year and Kingston reaching up to almost 3,000 miles.

We are so blessed that everything worked out on Monday when we packed up our bags and headed to the airport. The dogs were both checked in without any problems and we were on the plane headed for Seattle and then Los Angeles...though just because everything went smoothly didn't mean it came without a lot of stress. It's never easy trying to find a cab that fits 5 large bags, 2 kennels, 2 dogs and both Josh and myself.

After staying the night in Los Angeles we picked up the Honda CRV and headed out towards the Mojave desert. The drive to Las Vegas took a total of six hours and we only made one stop. Though the last 2 miles of our trip our AC went out, which made the following day of driving around looking at houses lots of fun.

The realtor has taken us to a couple of great places and we even managed to lay outside (at a temperature of 104) for about 30 mins...baby steps.

Pet Area at LAX

Fitting into the Taxi

Packed into the CRV heading from LA to Las Vegas

Numbers

9...The number of days left in Alaska
31...The number weeks pregnant I am
2...The number of dogs who are flying to Las Vegas with us
2...The number of dog crates flying to Las Vegas with us
4...The number of luggage bags we are living out of
68…The current temperature in Alaska
107…The current temperature in Las Vegas

This is the last weekend in our house, on Monday we will be staying at a friend’s house until our flight out of town on August 1. Over the last month we have been out processing, getting paperwork together, talking to Remax people in Las Vegas, and cleaning our house out.

Last week the movers came and took everything, we were left with our luggage, the dogs, and their crates. We also shipped the Honda CRV and we are hoping that it will be in Los Angles waiting for us. The military doesn’t make PCSing (moving) and easy task. Once flyngi into Los Angles we will get a ride to the HUB that is holding our car, start our 4 hour road trip to Las Vegas in the middle 5 oclock traffic. Arriving to Las Vegas that night all four of us (dogs included) will be staying at hotel until we are able to find a house.

In Anchorage we decided to live on base for the convince during the long winter months, though in Las Vegas we are looking at living off base somewhere in Northwest Las Vegas.

We are both looking forward to the move, and are excited to be reunited with the lower 48 again…and sunshine…and we will be getting lots of it.

Parents Trip Vol 2

Just like Harry Potter it had to be broken down into two parts to be able to show you so more photos.

The second half of the trip consisted of a trip to Denali National Park, a 6 hour drive north of Anchorage right into the heart of the state. We stopped in a town called Talkeetna, mostly because Man V Food had eaten at one of the local restaurants.

Once arriving to the park we checked into our hotel and rested up for our 8 hour bus ride that was to bring us into the middle of Denali. Unfortunally we saw more animals driving around base than we did in Denali. Though we did see some Reindeer and a Grizzle bear!

We also stopped in the town of Whittier, which can only be reached by train tunnel, and Girdwood where Alyeska ski resort is located.

We are so thankful that my parnets took the time to come up and visit us. We know it took a lot out of you but we loved having you! Thanks for everything!

Extended Family

KINGSTON; if you ever get the chance to meet him I am sure there is one thing that you will agree with me on...and that is with very breath he has it will be spent cuddling with his family. Give him a few days to warm up to you and he will give you all his love.

For months we tried to explained to Kingston that we had a much larger family than just Josh and me. That there were many grandparents and sisters that he hadn't had the chance to meet yet.

The first night my parents arrived Kingston was very uneasy, "who were these people?" "Do they love me?" "Is it okay for me to love them as well as mommy and daddy?" Kingston dwelled over his thoughts for days until he finally came to an understanding... that "these" people were grandparents. Kingston can define Grandparents as people who sneak food under the table, bring lots of toys and balls, and love hanging out on the couch petting you.

After ten days I can confidently say that Kingston loves his extended family, and can't wait to meet the rest of you guys!

...just one problem we are still working on, he thinks he is a lap dog.

Another one bites the dust

Josh celebrated his 23rd birthday June 27 while my parnets were in town visiting. We all headed to The Brewhouse, a must go to while vacationing in Anchorage and it happens to be Joshs favorite place.

Parents Trip...part one of a million

Last Thursday Josh and I headed to the airport around 12:30am to pick up our first house guests! As we watched them walk off the plane they looked ready to climb a mountain, hiking boots, wool socks, and a hat. We hurried home to reunite them with Stella and introduce the newest member of the family…Kingston. Kingston wasn’t so sure about these “strangers”, though as I am typing this blog he is cuddled up closely next to my dad on the sofa…I feel comfortable saying he is enjoying his grandparents.

I can't even begin to write a blog for every activity that we did over their ten day stay, that isn't over yet. We drove to Seward, Whittier, Portage, Girdwood, Talkeetna, Eagle River, Wasilla, and Denali state park. We saw humpback whales, Grizzle bears,Puffins,Starfish, Mountain goats and sheep, sea lions, otters, moose, and bald eagles. Needless to say it was a trip packed full of sightseeing, and eating at all our favorite spots… we even started to refer to ourselves as “The Travelers” after a few days!

Portage Glacier

Memorial Day weekend at the Frazee household consisted of going to the movies, lying outside catching some sun rays and going on a glacier cruise. Only here in Alaska could you squeeze those three random activities into two days.
We drove down to Portage Glacier Saturday, which is located just 12 miles south of Girdwood. This weekend we had temperatures reach as high as 70 degrees, so it was a perfect day to be out on the boat. When the boat approached the Glacier we were lucky enough to see some of the Glacier break off, which was breathe taking. I couldn’t believe how loud it was, and created waves big enough to rock the whole entire boat. The Captain grabbed some pieces of the freshly broken glacier and handed them to everyone to chew on.

Black bear black bear what do you see...

It is offically summer time when the bears come out to play. Saw this guy on my way home from work, grabbed a few photos while trying to make sure I was safe.

Eye Wide Open

The dinner came to an end and the Alaskan king crab legs settled nicely in my stomach. Though as I looked up from across the table my friend Carrie said to me, “You are definitely going to have to blog about this!”

One week earlier…

It was my first unofficial Mother’s Day, so we thought it would nice to have some friends over and sit out by the fire pit. So far the weekend had gone relatively normal, I was still recovering from my ear infection and I had begun to lose all feeling in my tongue, but I thought that it was all related. After saying goodbye to our friends Josh and I came inside and started talking, when all of a sudden Josh asked why I wasn’t blinking my left eye. I laughed and then he began to notice my lip drooping. Immediately panic ran through me and I became aware that my eye really wasn’t shutting. Josh grabbed the keys and we got in the car headed to the ER.
At the ER they were able to see me right away because of the pregnancy and they started running multiple tests. After a full night at the hospital we finally saw the doctor, who greeted us with, “Have you heard of Bell’s Palsy?” I never understand why they ask these types of questions, my face is paralyzed the eye is exhausted from being open for hours now. Next he began to go over each symptom I had and explained how it is related to Bell’s Palsy, which is when the nerves on one side of your face suddenly paralyze for typically around 3-6 weeks. They gave me a goodie bag full of meds to start taking and an eye patch and sent me off on my way.
It took me a few days to adjust to life as a pirate, but mostly just from all the medications and constant eye drops, along with taping my eye shut at night.
I was driving to work the other morning just going over in my head all the things that I have encountered these last 5 and half months of pregnancy when I only began to feel a little pity for myself when it quickly stopped. A sneeze came over me and as my body tensed up I realized that I was able to sneeze with my left eye open…pretty cool.

THE FUTURE is decided

Tomorrow at 2:30pm is our big ultra sound appt...and now is a good time to mention, Josh and I are prego! So we are taking bets of what you think were having!?

SuperHero Little Frazee? or Little Princess Frazee? Let me know what you think and I will make sure to post when we find out!!!

Funny Bone

So as my in-laws pointed out to me, all my funny blogs have seem to go MIA. Reflexing on all the recent blogs, I can see the change started when I got put on the opening shift at work and started waking up at 5am. The more I continued to think about this, I was able to break it down into two categoires of people...and explaning how my funny bone is still sleep in bed.

The first group is called the "5A.M.ers", this is anyone who gets up before 5:59am. These people wake up before there is any coffee shop open, before the sun is up, before the dogs are even up. It is still dark and cold outside. So usually these people don't look their sharpest. I have noticed that since I have become a "5A.M.er" that I tend to wear dark colors, sweatshirts, and a pony tail. At the time I leave the house it doesn't matter because it is dark outside, and everybody around me seems to inspired to go down the same fashion line as me. We are just survivors making it through another morning...listening to some over weight person yell at us on the raido...NOT playing any music to ensure that we don't get a glimpse of hope.

The second group of people are the "7-8A.M.ers" these are people who wake up with sunshine on their faces between 7:00-8:59, a way bigger time grouping because this is a much more common time to start your day. These people all look like they are on a coffee commerical. They have time to shower, make breakfast and read the paper on the patio. By this time it is also a little warmer outside, so they decide to wear their new cute dress with a matching coral sweater. These people drive with the windows down and sunglasses on listening to actual music on the radio.

In a perfect world these two groups of people would never have to be around each other. Though at 9am when I am about to take a lunch break a flood of beautiful people decide to show up at work. Clean, smell good, bright colors, updated on the news. And then suddenly it becomes unacceptable for me to look like I'm the hired help who shoveles the snow.

Slush Fest

So yesterday we traveled out to Alyeska Ski Resort for the 34th Slush Fest with some of our friends. You can ask Josh why they call it "Slush Fest", it was 37 degrees and rained on us the whole entire time. However, that doesn't stop thousands of people to come out for all the events...it just makes everybody a little crazier.

After eating lunch at the Bake Shop, a local favorite and we found out why, we headed up to the slope for two events. The Idiot Swim and The Slush Cup.

The idiot swim is basically how it sounds, anybody can register to jump into the freezing water and try to swim as far as they can...nobody wins and there are no prizes...so you really have to dig deep to find the motivation for this. Though who really is the idiot? The people swimming in freezing water, or the thousands of people standing outside in the freezing cold watching the idiot swim?

In the second event, The Slush Cup, 50 snowboarders and skiiers go down the mountian and try making it over the water. They get judged on their outfit, tricks and if they make it. One cast member from Deadliest Catch was the judge of the event.

Just Some Local Fun

The snow is almost all melted away, but today we are heading to Alyeska Ski Resort for some last bit of fun in the snow. It is located about an hour south of Anchorage, right around the town of Girdwood. The 34th Slush Festival is going on this weekend. There are all kinds of ski and snow activities though the reason we are headed up...the Idiot Swim Competion. Where people jump into the freezing water and swim!!! Yes keep your eye out for photos. I have uploaded one I found online from last year! Keep in mind these people are standing bare foot on snow and ice and everyone in the background are wearing jackets, gloves and hats!

http://www.alyeskaresort.com/info/calendarevents/calendarevents.winter-09-event11.empty.aspx

Christmas Cookie

Florida vacation came to and end and before I knew it I was back on the plane headed for Alaska. For the two weeks I was gone I got a phone call everyday from Josh about the puppies. Stella wouldn't go up stairs or eat she just sat at the end of the stairs waiting for me to come home. Kingston on the other hand threw up for two weeks straight and also decided to chew up a pair of jeans and shoes. So you could say the dogs were "acting out".

So when I flew back to Alaska Friday I only expected the dogs to be acting a little strange, and didn't even think twice about stella's new mood. She would just sit and stare at the coffee table or she'd be laying down by it or she'd be flopped over the love seat by it. It wasn't until this morning when we came down stairs together that I knew what was up. Stella was fine running around and eating her breakfast...so I decided to sit down on the couch, and I walked over to the coffee table and lit a Yankee Candle called christmas cookie...and like clock work from across the room stella came over and sat by the candle. SO it dawned on me, Stella had been begging this WHOLE time.

...But came you blame the little

girl, sometimes I forget that its a candle and I go look for the fresh baked cookies...

Madelyn Enters the WORLD!

WOW so two days before my sisters planned C section I flew home to suprise everyone! Let me tell you that those were the longest flights of my life! I just couldn't wait to see the look on my sisters face! So after two flights and a red eye I had made it back to FLORIDA! While I was looking out the window of the air plane I couldn't help but wonder why doesn't everybody live here. Its bright, beautiful, sunny and warm. Everybody walks around with such a glow about them, something that is missing in Alaska durning the winter (but can you blame them?).

But all thats another blog, I suprised Kerry and was about to be with her for the next two weeks to watch her baby grow! Madelyn was born April 1 and weighed 5 pounds 10 oz. She is the most beautiful baby and it makes me so happy that I was able to be around my family for a little bit!

SuperMoon

...okay I cheated and took these the night before the moon was the closest in 18 years. So we can call this the closest the moon was in 18 years before that day when it was closer.

Same View Different Year

Took photos at Earthquake park last year but couldn't resist heading back! These photos are all taken over a period of an hour

When in Alaska...Do as the Bears Do

This winter has been freezing, we never saw temperatures like this last year. Through the whole month of March I drove to work in negative temperatures everyday. On the other hand because it is so cold it hasn't been dumping snow on us. As each day grows longer and longer by five mins slowly Alaskans are waking up and getting out!

Josh and I drove to a park called Flat Top the other weekend. I heard you could view all of Anchorage and the greater area, so the second that it was above freezing we were in the car. I don't know if it was my Florida roots, but when I pictured a park named "flat top" I pictured an easy drive to a hill or possibly a small mountian.

Well just the opposite, we almost turned around when we saw sign after sign saying, "4WD ONLY, ALL OTHERS TURN AROUND". We were driving up a 90 degree angel and the roads were 100% ice...oh and of corse the road was wide enough to fit one car.

All great things don't come easy, and the view ended up being amazing. It put in perspective how big the Mountains are and how small we are.

This is zoomed out...look closly and you will see Downtown Anchorage all the way to the far right with the red arrow pointing it out

This is zoomed into Downtown Anchorage

Spring Break Up...

Its that time of year...or at least I am hoping that it is. We finally have gotten a few days above freezing and it is helping with the snow melting. Though that hasn't stopped the snow from coming, we have gotten a few more inches. Though we finally can see some of the cement on our driveway from the ice and snow being chipped away! Last year we got over a foot in April so I am not holding my breath but hopefully we are going to have an amazing summer!

Last chance to come visit, we are leaving at the end of July and will be finding out where we are being relocated by the middle of April!

Real Men Wear Fur

Fur Rondy 2011. Yet again another freezing festival day. The temperature was in the single digits and the wind chill in the negatives. However, Alaskans needed another reason besides freezing to death to stop them from coming out to celebrate Fur Rondy.

Dog sled races, carnival, helicoptor rides, ice sculptures, fur auctions and lots of food are some of the things that take place downtown for t

wo weekends. The Fur Rondy is the largest winter carnival in the United States, and the day is ended with fire works.