Emily's New Snowsuit!

Yes, it may be a tad on the big-side, but Emily has a new snowsuit!

There is much sledding to be done in this suit!

Happy Turkey Day!

Well, this year we weren't able to spend Thanksgiving with our family, but we got the next best thing...our "Swimmer Family" here in Kodiak. The majority of the swimmers got together and enjoyed Thanksgiving as one big family. There were about 20-30 people there, including about 6 kids ranging from 3 months to 3 years...it was cute to see them all interacting and running around the house having a good time together. Emily was having a good time with all the other kids, but she started to get fussy around 8pm (as usual) and that was that. So, our evening ended a little earlier then we would have liked, but it was great while it lasted!


On Saturday we made our own Thanksgiving Day Feast with all the fixings! After 3 years, Chris and I finally opened one of the two turkey roasters we received as a wedding present. The 20lb turkey cooked in the roaster for about 5 hours and turned out moist and delicious! The meat was tender and was perfect!! Especially for our very first turkey ever!! We also made mashed potatoes, Tracy's family's stuffing (with apples), broccoli puff casserole, sweet potatoes with brown sugar, cranberry, gravy...and, of course, apple pie! It all was wonderful!!! I was a actually surprised how well everything turned out considering it was our first Thanksgiving we did all by ourselves! (Thanks mom for sending up all your recipes!)

We were lucky enough to have Chris' friend, Kevin, join us...he was able to help us stuff this all down. We even sent him home with leftovers!! However, I think we'll be having Thanksgiving leftovers for weeks!!

Fall Pictures

Fall Pictures of Emily

We just took these last week and we had to search for a spot that wasn't covered in snow. Luckily this forest was so thick that the snow hadn't reached the floor just yet.

Emily Playing in her Chair

Another little video for your viewing pleasure! Enjoy!

Tracy Moore in the Mornings...show cancelled.

Well, I'm sad to say that my run as a Morning DJ has come to an end. It turns out that I wasn't very good at it afterall. (which is no surprise to me...we were all shocked when we found out I got the job in the first place!!)

It was fun while it lasted, but Friday was my last show and I am now on to Bigger and Better things...even if that means "just being able to sleep in." :0)

For everyone that got to hear me, thanks for tuning in!!

Freefall Video!!!!

This is a video of Chris doing the infamous "jump" from the helo to the water! There is a "dummy" they refer to as "SpongeBob" that is thrown to the water so the swimmer has someone to recover during training.

More Swimmer Training!!!

Not much going on here, Chris was lowered out of the helo to the water and picked up in a basket. Take a look at the views! That's Kodiak in the background!!!

Emergency Recovery Training

Chris is being recovered to the helo via a rope and pulley (in case the hoist fails) for training. This one is kind of long, its a slow process. Still very cool!

55 MPH Wind Gusts!!

55 MPH wind gusts forcasted for the entire week!

Mixed with rain and snow...of course!...that's the only way we roll in Alaska!

Enjoy the little video...

I really don't think it portrays just how BAD it really is out there!!

There is NO WAY California could ever survive weather like this!!

So, the Bear Still Lives in Our Park

Well...it was a sunny day over the weekend and so we took the dogs out for a little "chuck-it." Although it was a sunny day, it was still in the low 30's...so, we didn't stay long.

Anyway, as we were leaving we saw this...

...ya...it's a bear paw print...probably about 18" long!

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OH...THIS WAS TAKEN A DOWN THE STREET FROM OUR HOUSE!!!

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Cooking with Mommy

Emily loves to be in the kitchen.

Usually it's so she can make a mess out of everything...she takes all the magnets off the fridge...she removes all the places mats, plastic cutting boards, and kitchen towels out of the drawers...she takes out the Tupperware...she even takes out all of my plastic baking ware --- and...everything ends up all over the floor!


So, one night we put her in an apron, gave her a spoon, and let her help. (ok, she wasn't much help...but it was cute to watch)

For Your Viewing Pleasure

That White Stuff on the Ground

Well...this time last year there was a heavy blanket of snow on the ground, here in Kodiak. Halloween Night 2007, Kodiak had the first blizzard of the year and snow stayed on the ground from then until late April.

No, we haven't experienced that just yet. But, there is snow on the ground and it isn't going anywhere. So far we're in mid-November and we have snowy days off-and-on. It will snow at night and then the rain will come and wash it away. Today was actually a sunny day all day...it's still about 35 degrees outside, so it's COLD...but, it's sunny!!

So, I thought I'd share some of our snowy pictures...before the snow gets out of hand (stay tuned for those pics...I'm sure we'll all get a kick out of those!)

Chloe is such a neat dog to take pictures of...so, I couldn't resist. As you can see...Bryndall isn't in these photos below...she was inside trying to stay warm. But, hey, she's doing really good with this 'snow thing' and doesn't mind going outside to play! I'm really proud of her!!

Earthquake in Kodiak

So, if you haven't heard yet...we experienced our first earthquake Saturday morning. The earth started shaking at 5:55am and woke everyone up. I think, immediately, we knew exactly what was happening. It just started shaking...like most of you Californians have experienced many times. It's this rumble and roar coming from the depths of the earth.

Well, we both sprang out of bed...me, a little more urgently then Chris. I shouted (for lack of a better word) at Chris to "go get the baby!" because I knew that he was quicker then I was and that she'd be safe with him if the rumbling got worse. We could hear her fussing through the monitor...it had woken her up too. I was seconds behind Chris into the baby's room, but by the time we had gotten to her crib-side, the shaking had stopped.

We contemplated whether or not to go back to bed...now that I'm a "mommy" I find myself a bit more nervous and precautious then I used to be. Now, being on an island...my new concern was "The TSUNAMI"!!!

We gave the baby a small bottle of warm milk and put her back to bed...she fell asleep instantly. But, I had trouble going back to sleep. I was laying there wondering when the sirens were going to go off with the warning. We don't know where the 'higher ground' is located? Or how to get there? What will we take with us? We'll need more than just 'photos' and 'keepsakes' like they tell you to do in California...we need to be prepared for the weather - the frigid weather!! And the bears!!! And any other wild animals that might be learking in the dark...after all, we only get 8 hours of daylight right now! -- As all these thoughts went rushing through my head, I had trouble sleeping.

When we finally got up we looked online and found out that our "shaker" was only a 2.7...but, was centered 6 miles from our house; which would make sense as to why it felt so strong. It's different having children and experiencing, what could technically be, a natural disaster. I think our next shaker we'll try to be more prepared...we'll know the route, we'll have the supplies we need, we'll be ready...next time.

Voting in Alaska

So...32 degrees outside, and in a warm coat, I went off to vote for the first time in Alaska. Luckily it wasn't raining or snowing...just cold and everything is brown outside. But, I drove from our home to the polling location, which was about a 5-10 mile drive along the 2-lane highway. I had to take another 1-lane road off the highway to get to the polling location. Luckily there was another car that seemed to be going in the same direction, so I followed them through the woods for another 2 miles until we came to a small clearing and a fire station.

With all the "talk" of long lines at the polls, I was worried about waiting too long to vote...as you know, I can be a little impatient at times. But, when I pulled up there were only 6 cars out front along with the two fire engines. I wasn't quite sure where to enter, so I followed the small signs (one in English and one in Tagalog) into the station's garage where they were set up with voting booths and tables. There were about 5 people working the polls and only two other people inside voting - needless to say, but there were no lines.

I walked up to the table and gave them my name. I half expected it not to be there; I mean, after all, I just moved here from California. But, there it was. I signed their paper and they handed me my ballot in an envelope. It was an 8.5" x 11" envelope.

Once in the booth I opened up the envelope and looked a little perplexed. It was just a scantron that you bubble in with a black pen!! All this talk about "voting machines" and "stamps" and "ink spots" and such...here, it's as simple as a scantron. There is no "voter pamphlet" with a brief summary of the candidates and ballot measures as you'd expect to see in California. You need to know who you're voting for when you get to the polls. I mean, because we're in such a small state, there is a good likelihood that you've met the candidates or know them on a personal basis...so, how can you go to the polls undecided?

Well, I bubbled in my simple scantron and put it back in the folder, so no one could see my answers and cheat off me (as if we were in grade school) and then walked it over to the "box," which sucked up my ballot...and that was that.

And, although the winner will be announced before the Alaskan polls close, and my vote has had a chance to be counted, I feel so privileged to be given the opportunity to vote in the gracious state of Alaska. Back in California I felt like it was my right, my duty and something I took for granted...here I feel very fortunate and excited to participate in such a momentous event.

And, as I drive the 5-10 miles back home...it started to snow.

Tantrums!

Well, most of you would be excited to learn that Emily is now throwing Temper Tantrums. Yep...she gets mad at something and she stands there, stiff as a board, and screams at the top of her lungs...red in the face...arms straight down at her side...and stares straight through you.

At first we didn't know what to think. Chris and I looked at each other in amazement and said simultaneously "I think that's a tantrum..." -- She must have picked this up at Day Care because my "perfect daughter" would never do such a thing!!

I know some of you are excited to learn this because I was such a bad kid...so, I guess...I will get what's coming to me!!

Emily's 1st REAL Hair Cut

Today we got Emily's hair cut. It's her first REAL haircut! She started off doing really well...and then I think the stylist caught a snarl in her hair...and then Emily started to cry...and never stopped. I eventually had to sit with her in the chair to keep her from trying to grab me while standing off to the side. After we were both sitting in the chair...she continued to cry. But, she didn't get crazy...just cried. It only took about 10 minutes, so we weren't in there very long. When it was all over she was super happy! Her new cut is clean and looks really sharp!

We kept a small lock of hair for her baby book.