My ABC's

A is for AGE - 24
B is for BED SIZE - queen, I get lost in a King
C is for CHORE YOU HATE - all of them haha, the worst is sweeping especially our place
D is for DOG'S NAME - she's my parents dog, but her name is Willow
E is for ESSENTIAL "START YOUR DAY" ITEM - Coffee
F is for FAVORITE COLOR(S) - Green
G is for GOLD OR SILVER - Gold
H is for HEIGHT - 5'6.5"
I is for INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY - Piano, Clarinet and attempting the drum
J is for JOB TITLE - Aviation Engineer
K is for KIDS - Just our Cat Java
L is for LIVING ARRANGEMENTS - with the hubs in our rented condo
M is for MOTHER'S NAME - Terri
N is for NICKNAMES - Not really any
O is for OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL - None
P is for PET PEEVES - oh lord, the list is LONG. biting your nails, not putting the lid completely down on the toilet...
Q is for QUOTE FROM A MOVIE - O Happy Day- Sister Act II
R is for RIGHT HANDED OR LEFT HANDED - Right
S is for SECRET CRUSH -
T is for TIME YOU WAKE UP - well the alarm goes off at 6:00 I get out of bed around 6:30 usually.
U is for UNDERWEAR - yes
V is for VEGETABLES YOU DISLIKE - mushrooms, olives
W is for WORKOUT STYLE - running, yoga and a little lifting
X is for X-RAYS YOU'VE HAD -  teeth, ankle
Y is for YESTERDAY'S BEST MOMENT - the yummy muffins I made
Z is for ZOO FAVORITE - bears

C25K progress

I am officially farther into the C25k Program than I have ever been before! I did workout 6.1 tonight. I ran for 20 minutes on Saturday for the first time since February 13th. It was a little difficult the last 5 minutes especially but I did it, only stopping for like 10 second to stretch out my right cafe that was cramping up.

Not much else exciting is going on up here. Saturday night I went to a scrapbooking crop and got a few pages done. It snowed a bit yesterday. Nothing stuck to the ground in town but the tops of the mountains still had some on then today. Sunday afternoon I went to a local drum circle... lets just say that Callen got all the rhythm and I got none. It was fun and gave me something to do but it is going to take A LOT of practice for me to sound ok. Mike is working nights, which equals a bored and lazy me until Thursday.

I did do some baking tonight. I made Donut Muffins... and ate two. They are so so yummy. I got the recipe here http://jennifer-elise.blogspot.com/2010/09/donut-muffins.html. I started them at 8:15 and they were eaten before 9:00. I think this is going to be a go to recipe from now on.

Free Money

I love free money! Alaska is the only State to pay its residents for simply living in the state. Today the Permanent Fund Dividend, also know as the PFD, amount was announce! Drum roll please.....

Mike and I will each be receiving $1281!!!! so total we will get $2562 come October 7th. Holy Crap!

What are we planning to do with that money you might ask. Well we have more options then there is money. First we will put some away for taxes. Then we have the "responsible" list and the "fun" list.

First the "responsible" list:

- put money towards the Veracruz

- put money in our saving account for a future purpose like a house fund

- research a Roth IRA more and open accounts to go along with our employer supported retirement accounts

- donate money to the church or another cause

Then the "fun" list:

- go on a warm vacation this winter

- buy a new DSR camera

- Mike would love to buy a Gun

- I really want a puppy (but this is not really logical in our current living situation, I can dream)

In reality we will most likely to a combination of the "responsible" and "fun" items.

What would you do with the money??

Two Years

Two years ago today I married the man of my dreams.
After 7 years of dating and a 3 year engagement we were beyond ready.
Everything was planned, and then planned again.
The only thing up in the air was the weather, which turned out sunnier and warmer then expected, for a September day in Minnesota.
I got to the church at 9am to get my hair done by my brides maids sister. It turned out perfect.
Mike and his dad made it to the church early!
We loaded up the cars and headed down to the park for pictures.
The look on Mikes face when he saw me was perfect.
I love the way the pictures in the garden turned out.
We headed back to the church took a few family photos in side and Grandma Bjerke had a light lunch for the wedding party.
The ceremony went by so fast.
We did a sand ceremony and Callen played "We're Going to be Friends"
We had an awesome "limo" for the wedding party.
And a group of us headed to TGI Fridays for a drink and the park for some fun pictures before heading to the barn.
We had our pig roast for dinner and then danced the night away!
We grabbed 2 hours of shut eye before heading to the airport for 10 days in Maine!

Now here we are TWO YEARS later.
I have no clue where I would be with out Mike today.
He is truly my other half.
He knows when I have had a bad day by my voice or by the way I am standing.
He can make me laugh and smile any day.
We truly work better together.
I love you Mike, here is to another 50 years of wedded bliss.

Anniversary Weekend

Lake at the B&B

Loving the Sun
Bella, the B&B owners Dog
The Sewards Folly, no we did not order this

Fall Leaves at sun set

Hunter 14,500 ft, Foraker 17,100 ft , and Denali 20,320 ft

Sunshine Lake in the Fog

Mountains again

It was a little Bright out

We packed up and headed to Talkeetna, AK this weekend. We stayed at Talkeetna B&B. (http://talkeetna-bandb.com/). Alice, the woman who owns it was really nice. There were canoes to use, but we never did. She also had a sweet dog named Bella who greeted us. We headed into town and ate at the West Rib (http://www.westribpub.info/) for dinner, the hamburgers were delish. Mike wants to go back for the Seward's Folly, i.e. heart attack in a burger. After dinner we walked down the one main road in town, but all the shops were closed, so we headed to the river to watch the sun set. We could see Denali perfect. After the sun went behind the mountains we walked back to the car and headed back to the B&B for the night.

Saturday we got up and had an amazing breakfast cooked by Alice. We had halibut fillets, toast, eggs w/ avocado, fresh fruit and coffee. Yummy. We went on a walk near the B&B to Sunshine Lake, although all we could really see was fog. We packed up the car and headed back into Talkeetna we looked in some shops and then went back down to the river, walked across the river and along the railroad tracks in search of a bear. We never found one but the sun was shining. Once back in town we went the the Denali Brewing company. I had a cream soda and Mike had a couple samples of beers and then bought a Growler of beer. We looked in a couple more shops and bought some honey, some jam, and a native art piece. Then headed back into Anchorage. It was a great night away for our anniversary.

Lunch Date

Mike and I had a "romantic" lunch date today.

We had drinks, a main course and dessert for only $4.65!

Where did we go you might ask...

Costco of course.

We had polish hot dogs, root beer and a berry sundae.

We also did a little bit of shopping.

It is finally Sunny!

We have had this really strange fog in Anchorage lately.

The fog was super dense and halloweenish.

I hope it stays clear.

7 months

Callen,

I cannot believe that it has been 7 months since I have been able to talk to you. I miss you a lot. I still do not know what I am passionate about, can you help me with that? It is already fall, many of your friend went to Harvest Fest last weekend. Some swear that they saw you, I know you were looking over it jamming from above. I wish you could have been up here this summer and see Alaska, especially this week, which has been beautiful.

Love you lots

Me

WEEK 4 DONE!

Well 5 weeks in and I have finished week 4 of the Couch to 5k. Not to bad if you ask me since we had 2 groups of visitors and I had strep. I am almost to where I was in February. But from what I can remember week 5 is hard, ends with a straight 20 minute run. Yikes!

Not much else is new. Mike went back to work on today and we have zero exciting plans for the weekend, we went grocery shopping last night, so exciting....Today I am making a Rustic Kale and White Bean Soup and some beef burritos for the freezer. Then I am going to treat my self to a movie! Oh and Sunday School starts this weekend!

Marja's Trip

Thunderbird Falls

Alaska State Fair

On our way up Alyeska... we got a little wet...

Marja at Airport Park

On Byron Glacier

Portage Glacier

September

Holy Cow, how is it already September? Where did the summer go? This was the fastest summer ever, I guess that is what happens when you are in Kodiak for the first 6 weeks, move/organize a new place, and have 2.5 full weeks of visitors. Seriously we only went camping twice this summer, have only have the kayak out twice, I have been on very few bike rides and I most certainly do not have tan.
September means that Marja will be here is TODAY!! I am so pumped to see her!
September means we have been married for TWO YEARS! Holy Crap how does that happen?
September also means that in only 2 short months we are going to Minnesota! I cannot wait to see everyone again and under happy circumstances. My mom is planning a family dinner on Halloween and my cousins kids are going to go trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. I was thinking about pulling out my wedding dress (which still needs to be cleaned) and going with them. My grandmother thinks I am crazy but I think it sounds fun. We are also planning to go to my parents cabin in Wisconsin for a couple of nights, to get away. Hopefully it is still kinda warm and we can go out in the kayaks.
September 1st I also ran W4D1 of the C25k with out stopping! I had to slow down a bit for the last 5 minute run but I finished it without quitting!!
Oh and it means that my online class started. I am taking Arctic Engineering at UAA this year. It is required to take the PE test in Alaska so my employer is paying for it! Hopefully I will learn something new.

p.s. have I mentioned lately how much I love my husband. He is freaking awesome. This morning when he got done working a 12 hour overnight shift he came home and made me a beautiful breakfast in bed. I had cheesy eggs, hash browns and toast with a yummy cup of coffee. Seriously how much better does it get.