Not too much exciting going on here. Last night Mike and Hans went to a Cage Fighting thing at the Sullivan Arena. Thankfully they were spectators and the not fighter... haha. I went to Yoga, I am now in "Yoga Basics" vs intro to yoga. Last night we did 1/2 handstands and this other pose where you stand on one leg. It was challenging but fun. Not too much planned this weekend. Saturday Morning I am going to a National Scrapbook Day crop from 9 to 3. Mike has some work to do on the van like a Oil Change and fixing a tail light.

We also have to find our tent... I have no clue where it went... It was by the washer on a shelf and I went to grab a paper towel (which was next to the tent) low and behold.. NO TENT! How does a tent grow legs and walk away. Someone thinks a Homeless person went into our garage and took the tent. Why would they take a tent and not take anything else like a bike or food from the freezer??? I will keep you all updated on the missing tent. I told Mike his job was to find it on his week off.

Leaving

I leave for Kodiak in one month.
I am not going to lie, I have mixed emotions about being out there by myself.
I am super excited to get out of the office and get some more construction experience.
I am sad to not see Mike for 5 weeks but excited that he is coming out for Memorial Day Weekend.
I am excited to do work in the field but worried that I will not know the answers to the questions.
I am thrilled to see Kodiak and hope to see tons of wild life... at a distance.
I am praying for nice weather when I am out there but have bought $200+ worth of rain gear and boots.
It will be difficult working long hours, but I need to make up the time for the 3 weeks I have taken off this year.
I know I will learn a ton out there but will be ready to get back to my home after 6 weeks.

New Patio Furniture

Here we are putting together the table

All set up ready to use!

Too bad it has been cool and cloudy since that picture..

A Good Visit

We had a great visit with my Mom. We went on 5 mile walks Friday and Saturday. Got Pedicures and went to the Women's show on Friday. Saturday Mike took the day off and we went out to dinner at Outback after going to Kohl's and getting a new patio set. Today we went to church and then mom help me almost finish the purse I am knitting. All I have to do now is "felt" it.

I miss my mom a lot, already. But I know I will see her and my Dad in July. They are coming up when I get home from Kodiak!!

Happy Earth Day

Happy 40th Earth Day.
Here are easy things Mike and I do to be more Green, that you can do too:

• Bring your own shopping bags to all store not just grocery store.
• Change your light bumps to the longer lasting ones.
• Have a clothes line, even though we can not have on outside, we have on at the back of our garage.
• Only run the dish washer when it is full
• Give away, swap or donate items you no longer need or want vs. tossing them.
• Use a reusable water bottle vs. one time use plastic bottles.
• Buy in bulk, it uses much less packaging.
• Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) This not only forces you to eat healthier there is not all the waste of plastic bags like at a grocery store produce area.
• Bring a Plate, Bowl, and set of silver ware to leave in our office at work, instead of using disposable plates and plastic ware.
• Use Cloth Napkins for eating and towels/rags for cleaning vs. paper products.
• Think about what is in your food before you eat it, homemade is always better for you and taste wise than boxed, packaged or eating out.
• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
• Keep the heat at a minimum, we have ours set at 60-65 all winter
• I no longer use Tampons/Pads instead I use a Diva Cup www.divacup.com (Sorry to the Guys who are reading)

I have been thinking a lot about being greener lately here are a list of things I would like to say we are doing next year:

• Making our own cleaning supplies with vinegar, baking soda etc. vs cleaning our home with chemicals.
• start a planter garden with herbs and a few other things
• make most if not all our bread at home
• Bike to work
• buy more "new" things at 2nd hand stores (I am really bad about clothes especially, addicted to Kohl's)
• Eat more veggies and fruit and less Meat and dairy
• Eliminate most Plastic in the kitchen
• Eliminate our use of Paper Towels.
• Buy 100% organic

(now I just have to get Mike to sign off on the list...)

Vent of the Day

Sorry but I have to vent some where or I might bring a hammer with me to the Internet/cable place. (If you remember the old lady who brought her hammer into the cable store and broke a bunch of phones...) So Alaska is apparently the end of the world. Why in the world is it that it is not standard to have unlimited Internet access? No in Alaska you have to pay out the butt if you want unlimited Internet access and ... and with GCI if you want unlimited access you HAVE to get the 160 channels of cable. Grrrrrrr. We decided last month to switch to unlimited since we want to have the ability to watch movies online, talk on Skype with out worrying and Mike likes to play his new xbox online. He says it is "family bonding" since he plays with his brothers and one of my cousins online. I do not understand why it costs so freaking much for cable and Internet. And really I only watch about 3 channels on Cable (TLC, Food Network, and HGTV) and Mike only watches a handful (ESPN and what not), other wise we watch the Basic Cable Channel's and movies via Netflix. Here is my genius idea of the day... Cable companies should offer customers a pic 5 option where you can pick 5 cable channels you want for say $20 or $30 a month.

Back to the Internet. It is crap that they pigeon hole you into getting a big cable package if you want unlimited Internet... there is no other option. Do you want to know how much it is BEFORE TAXES and FEES for the Unlimited Internet, cable and home phone with GCI? $121!!! There are 3 Internet providers in Anchorage GCI, AT&T and ACS. GCI is the only option Mike and I have in our neighborhood. We have looked into getting a wireless connect card thingy from Verizon or other cell phone company... but again they have x amount of download capability per month without having to give them your right arm and first born. Some day Alaska might become like the rest of the United States... but right now we are living on the moon in terms of electronic technology.

I now return you to the scheduled programing...
MY MOM IS ALMOST HERE!!!!

Crash

I love the sound of breaking glass in the morning.... not! Java (our cat) is driven by her stomach. At 2 am this morning she decided she should be fed. So I got up and locked her out of the room, I know I am a mean mom. My alarm went off at 5:30 and I as usual hit snooze, Java did not like that started really meowing and then smash crash boom bang; the sound shattering glass coming from outside the door. Mike and I look at each other thinking "what did she break?" My mind is freaking out because the first thing I thought of was the wedding invitation we have that is framed with stained glass. After another few seconds it hits me that I left a wine glass on the bathroom counter last night. Lets just say the wine glass is in about 1,000,000 pieces now. Have no fear Java is a OK when I swept up the mess Mike made sure she did not have any glass on her or any cuts on her toes.

My mom is now coming up TOMORROW!! Thursday's flight was full so she decided to come up a day early. To bad that I will still have to work on Thursday as we are SWAMPED at work but I am so excited to see her.

Fun Filled Weekend

I am excited for the weekend. Tonight Mike and I are going to go to the Rock Gym (http://www.alaskarockgym.com/) for a "Lesson Session" where we will be taught the basics of Rock Climbing and belay certified! It is something I always thought sounded fun... Mike is a little unsure of it since he does not like heights but I know we will have a good time. The class is from 7 to 9 and we can use the gym until 11.
Saturday I am sleeping in!! After putting 55 hours in at work this week I cannot wait to not have to wake up to an alarm! Then we are reservations to go to the Alaska Dinner Factory from 1 until 3 (http://www.alaskadinnerfactory.com/) and make 6 different meals. We will get a total of 12 meals to make at home because we split the 6 into 3 person servings instead of 6. I will post more later. Then at 6 Saturday we have our dinner for nine group from church. We have a new couple joining us so I am excited, they are bringing their 18 month old. The group decided to go out to eat this time at La Mex, a Mexican restaurant in Anchorage that Mike and I are indifferent about. We think Alaska is to far north of the boarder for really good Mexican food~ haha.
Sunday we plan to go the the 9:30 church service. After Church we are going to Jacobs First Birthday Party. I cannot believe he is already a year old. He is getting so much of a personality.
In other news... MY MOMMY IS COMING TO VISIT.... A friend is getting her a buddy pass type ticket! She will fly standby and is coming the 22nd of the month... less then a week away!

Two Months :(

Callen,
I cannot believe that is has been two months since you left us. On one hand it feels like I have not talked to you in years. But when I think about it, it seems like Mom just told me yesterday. I have learned so much from you, even now that you are gone. You have taught me that you were one of the most amazing people on this earth. That you had an infectious love for your life, your friend, your art and music, and your family. Seeing all your friends getting together in MN makes be confident that you will never be forgotten. You have taught me that it is not always about pleasing other, but do what makes you happy. You have taught me to enjoy the small stuff and laugh at stupid movies on TV. I miss you so much and love you more every day.
Love you
Megan
P.S. I think it is a pretty cruel joke that you and God are playing on Anchorage today...6+ inches of snow on April 14th, come on now. I am so really for Spring!

Happy Birthday Mommy

(Picture Taken by www.LightSource-Images.com)

Happy Birthday Mommy! I hope that you can celebrate this day knowing that your whole family and all your friends on earth love you very much. And know that you have an Angel in Heaven looking out for you. I wish I could be in Minnesota to take you out for a Margarita at Theresa's, or even better a Mother Daughter Spa Date. I hope you know that I would not be half the person I am today with our your love, support, and guidance through everything. I can't wait till you and Dad come up to visit us again in Alaska! Hugs and Kisses from Alaska.

Happy 16th Birthday Matthew

Mike's littlest brother, Matthew turns 16 today! He has grown up so much since I first met him 8 or 9 years ago. He and his girlfriend, Brittany, will be growing up even more in the next week with the up coming birth of their son. Our second Nephew who we get to spoil. I will be sure to post pictures when we get some!! Mike is excited to take Matthew to another Minnesota Twins game when he is home in June and to see the baby of course!

Zucchihi Bread

Chocolate chip and Hazelnut Zucchini Bread mmmm
I used this recipe except switched Hazelnuts for pecans.
www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paulas-home-cooking/chocolate-chip-zucchini-bread-recipe/index.html

Crop for Cancer

Yesterday Samantha and I went to the annual Crop for Cancer. It was a 12 hour scrapbook crop to raise money for a Rely for Life Team. We had a blast and it did not seem like it was 12 hours. In addition to tables to scrap at there were 3 different "vendors" selling scrap booking materials. There were also door prize drawing through out the day, we did not win any door prizes. They also had a silent Auction! We both won things there, won/bought haha. Samantha got an "All Boys" paper set to scrapbook Jacobs Life. And I got what is shown in the first picture of the page. It was a baskets filled with a table running and 6 matching place mats. Coordinating cloth napkins with napkins rings. Then there was a bottle of wine, a bottle of something else (I am not sure what the little bottle is, Guesses?), and a set of candles.

I also got a lot of scrap booking done! I scrapped our entire Hawaii Trip. Doing the pages made me want to go back to Maui, NOW. In total I did 22 pages, that is almost 2 pages an hour! Hope you like some of the Layouts!

Veggies

Mike and I have been trying to eat healthier these days. I guess Callen had an influence on us as he was planning to be vegan beginning this summer. (Vegan=not eating any meat or dairy) I have been following a blog called The Clean Eating Mama for a while now and have tried a few of her mostly vegan recipes, all which have been tasty. Any who The Clean Eating Mama, Tasha, is having an awesome give away on her blog. www.thecleaneatingmama.com/2010/04/nourish-your-inner-goddess-giveaway.html It includes a home spa package and a couple coupons for free yogurt.

Mike and I are also getting our veggie box from Full Circle Farm today. We will be getting:
0.33 pounds Braising Mix
1 pound Zucchini
1 bunch Cilantro
1.5 pounds Jewel Yams
1 celery
1 leek
1 green leaf lettuce
1 bunch carrots
4 pears
4 apples
2 mango's
2 avocados
Yeah for fresh organic veggies and fruit!
Does anyone have a good recipe for Zucchini Bread??

If it weren't for my Husband

I would have never made it to work today. My alarm went off at 6:00 I snoozed until 6:20 and then reset it for 7:00. Alarm goes off at 7:00, I snooze until 7:20. I did not want to get up. I feel like I have been hit my a truck, emotionally and mentally.

Mike rolled over at 7:05 asks if I want coffee. I said it would be nice but you do not need to. He gets up feed the meowing, starving kitty and he heads down stairs. 7:20 he comes back up with a plate that has 1/2 and English muffin with peanut butter and scrambled eggs with ham, cheese, and onions. Then heads back down stairs.

I eat in bed, get up, dress and 1/2 way put together. Force myself to go down the stairs to leave for work. Mike tells me there is coffee in my travel mug and an orange by it for a snack. Then he says he will make me lunch when I come home for break at noon.

Yeah I know I am super spoiled but today... I will accept it.

I miss Callen so so much it hurts me to my core. I feel so far away for everyone and everything being up here in Alaska. Don't get me wrong I love Alaska and all it has to offer, I mean just look at my Easter Pictures! But I miss my friends and family in Minnesota. Some times it is hard for me to believe that Callen is really gone, because I feel so removed from the situation. Thankfully I have Mike.

If it weren't for my Husband I would not have made it this far in life.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! Mike and I had a great day in Whittier. Saturday was truly magnificent. The sky was bluer than blue, the snow was pearly white and the sun was warm. We walked around Whittier. Then watched Father of the Bride before heading down stair for dinner and drinks at the hotel. The french fries were really yummy! They had a guitarist there signing and playing starting at 7 he was really good. Then we went up to our room and watch the Hangover, which I actually liked. Today we got up and had omelets for Breakfast, they were yummy. However the weather did a complete 180. It was cold, rainy/snowy, and cloudy outside. There was a bit of snow on the car. Compared to MN where my parents are running around in shorts and sandals... not fair. We got our Easter Basket from Great Harvest... the bunny is so cute and the cookies were really yummy! Tonight I am going to the 6:30 service at Church, and Mike is picking up an overtime shift at work.

This is the first holiday without Callen... it sucks. I want to call him and find out what the Easter Bunny left for him and what him and Rachel had planned for the day. I did talk to Rachel which was nice. I hate that Callen is gone. I know he is celebrating with Jesus and God but it sucks that he had to go so early in his life. I wish he was down here playing his drum or the guitar in church. It has been over a year since I have given him a hug, sad I know, I so wish he could have come up to visit us. Happy Easter Callen. Send down your love to us.

Bible in 50 words

I recieved this in an email... I Like it...

God made

Adam bit

Noah arked
Abraham split
Joseph ruled
Jacob fooled

Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided

Tablets guided
Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked

Prophets warned
Jesus born


God Walked
Love talked

Anger crucified
Hope died

Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained.

Happy April Fools Day

I cannot believe that it is already April. Where has this year gone? Callen was always the best story teller, especially when he was younger. He could be so convincing and enthusiastic about his stories that everyone would believe them, well most everyone. I remember stories of people coming up to my parents asking then about this or that; my parents had no idea what the other person was talking about. They would say oh Callen told us Bla Bla Bla. Yeah he was cool like that. I miss him more and more everyday that goes by. I have been going to Yoga, last night was my 3rd week. During the Meditation time I always get tears in my eyes because going through my head is "I cannot believe my brother died. I cannot believe he is gone." I am sure the other students in the class this I am crazy but whatever.

So I have decided that I am getting the circle tattoo that was on the stone necklace Callen always wore. I am going to get it on my right foot on the side kinda. I am going to wait to get it until July, when I am back from Kodiak. That will be the perfect time because I can wear sandals and do not have to put it in a work boot for 6 weeks! By the way I leave for Kodiak in 7 weeks!! I don't quite know what I am going to do without Mike for 6 weeks but he is going to fly down for a week around Memorial Day. Kodiak has their Crab Festival that weekend so it should be lots of fun. For more info on Kodiak along with some amazing pictures and a video look here http://www.kodiak.org/