Freezing

We have been back in Alaska now for two weeks, and thank goodness the weather is "warming" up. My first week back was all negatives, even down past -15. The crazy temp & time

change made me sick, and I remember why I love the warmth so much! Though this week I am feeling better...I never thought Id be so happy to see 20 degrees & snow!
So this weekend we are just shoveling snow, and dog poo (which becomes frozen in the ice) and trying to stay warm!

Numbs

So I am not one to put down growth, technology and inventions. However, some things are slipping through the cracks and being produced and manufactred!

What I am talking about are "Numb Drawers/cabinets"...basically kitchen cabinets and drawers only ...no nobs on them. So the person who invented these wanted us to take a step backwards...which leaves me looking like a retard grabbing at the drawers waiting for the perfect moment my fingers and nails work together to pry open the drawer.

Give me a break people if it isn't bad enough that I chew my nails, but now I have to be reminded about it everytime that I need to open a kitchen cabniet.

Traveling

So Stella and I offically made it back to Alaska! Nobody was hurt and we landed safely but it is a day I NEVER want to do again! My father and my sister helped me check Stella on the plane at 4 am and I wasn't allowed to see her for 16 hours. Every bump and rough landing left me even more worried about how Stella was holding up. I don't know if you have traveled that far by yourself but it is hard, and adding the stress of a dog doesn't make the day any eaiser.

When I landed in ANchorage I didn't run up to my husband and give him a kiss I frantically ran to find Stella, 16 hours of stress & no sleep wore hard on my face. Would she be going round in circles on the baggage claim? Had she eaten anything? Was she Okay?

No...it was actually just the opposite, she was laying down next to her kennel. Well rested and ready for her journey. I swear if dogs could talk she would have said, "WHoa what happened to you? Get it together!"

Merry Chirstmas and Happy New Year!

Stella officially has booked her 10 hour flight (that's just the air time) to Alaska. Her bags are packed and shes ready to go.

Stella and myself will be leaving from Tampa Wednesday Jan 5 at 6am. We have three connecting flights and each layover I will be meeting up with her to let her out, give her food and water and lots of kisses.We are still in the audition stage of deciding which "stuffies" & toys will be flying with her in her crate. So far pink bear, tennis ball, and hippo are in the final three.

I was really skeptical at first letting her fly so long, but then I found out that 5 other dogs were booked on the same flight. Josh also pointed out that if my largest worry of the new year is if my 3 year old dog is going to have a nice comfortable flight...then I have a lot to be thankful for. None the less I still ask you to pray for a safe flight for the both of us, it is going to be a LONG day.

Its offical !

After a year and half of planning the Murphy-Frazee wedding has come to an end. It was a full 3 day event with lots of food, family and dancing.

For the rehearsal dinner on Friday we all meet at Hotel Indigo which is located downtown Sarasota where all the bridesmaids and groomsmen were staying. It wasn't your typical rehearsal dinner because it was almost like the prewedding party. We had 30 people, lots of food, and live music. Great way for all the families to meet for the first time and kick off the weekend.

Saturday morning, the day of the wedding, the girls and I got up early from the hotel and headed across the street to Little Salon. All five bridesmaids and the mother of the bride got pampered with styling, up dos, fresh fruit and champagne. After we headed back to the hotel where we got dressed and waited on the photographer...which was late because he ended up getting a flat tire!

The wedding was beautiful, located at the Sarasota Garden Club, the ceremony was outside by the gardens and fountains. We were surrounded by 60 of our closest family and friends and we couldn't have been more blessed. Josh's parents and grandparents came down from TN to celebrate with us, and the rest of his family came from all over Florida. The weather was perfect, blue sky and 70 degrees. I walked down the isle to acoustic guitar music.

The reception that followed was also located at the Sarasota Garden Club in the dinning room that looked out at all the gardens. All decor was black and ivory, crystals and candles everywhere. Amazing food, great music, lots of dancing Josh and I couldn't of asked for anything better. We waved goodbye to everybody while rose peddles were being tossed.

Sunday morning the party continued with brunch at my parents house with both families. What a great way to end an awesome weekend!

We want to thank everybody for coming and celebrating with us. Thanks to Joshs parents for an amazing rehearsal dinner and for my mom and dad for an amazing wedding that any little girl would dream of!

We are now ready to kick back and enjoy our month with Magic and Bucs tickets, theme parks, beach days and lots of family time.

Ovens on and baking

Well the pastry chef is cooking up a whole new kind of "bun"!

I know she is my sister, but I think many will agree that she makes being pregnant look good. Kerry and her husband are expecting their first child, and my parents first grandchild...well that's a given because the only thing they are getting out of me is more grandDOGS.
They are having a girl around the first week of April and I couldn't be more excited for them. I only get to see Kerry pregnant for 2 months so I am taking advantage of it while I can...and buying every "I love my Auntie" and "I get my looks for my Auntie" tshirt around.

NOLA

I was finally able to add some photos from New Orleans that I took. New Orleans was probably the reason I got into photography. It is one of those places where you can always count on taking a photo of some crazy street performer, and no matter how many times I eat at the cafe I want a photo of the beignet.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am not really sure if I have any readers left...since I haven't posted any thing in almost a month! but if I still have a few I would like to say Happy Thanksgiving, and hopefully you were able to celebrate with family.

I have made it down to Florida, which took 4 flights and lasted two days. Technology makes us all feel so close, but if there is one thing that I do know it is that air port travel puts things back into perspective. Alaska and Florida are EXTREMELY far apart. After landing in 89 degrees I was put back on a plane and heading to New Orleans with my papa!

New Orleans has become a second home and I don't know if I can even count how many times I have traveled there with my family. There is something about that city that I can't help but be away from for only a year. The music, food and culture is so rich it was a nice change compared to Alaska. My father and I were there for the Voo Doo Fest which is a weekend concert. After we had eaten til our pants didn't fit and danced til our feet hurt it was time to come home.

So I have been enjoying the beach, visiting Friends and family, wedding planning and LOTS of homework. I just love how all my finals land on the week of the wedding.

The Rings

Goodbye alaska...

...okay well maybe not goodbye, because as of jan 5 I will be back. Right now it is 8:30am and it is pitch dark, the sun isn't rising until sometime after nine and the sun is setting around 7. We had snow fall for the first time in September, but the weather has really been all over the place. I think the lowest that I have known it to be is around 19 degrees. The mountains are full of snow and already everyone has hibernated. We haven't seen our neighbors in days and the sounds of children playing outside has stopped. Moose are the only ones seen taking strolls around the neighborhood.

Last year Josh and I had a 'white' Christmas, and this year I will have a sandy one! I am so excited to swim in the water and feel the sand in my toes for the first time in 11 months. Sundresses, swim suits, warm weather. All my fellow Floridians keep telling me how miserable it is, so hot and humid, and that I will die from the heat. Well I can't wait to have the option to actually be 'hot'. To get goose bumps when I walk outside and the sun touches my skin. To see the beach and the beautiful water. To fall asleep to a thunderstorm. I love FLORIDA! Goodbye all my Alaskan friends, I love you all and can't wait to have a tan while shoveling snow in January.