Reflections

Wow I can not believe Conner will be 2 months on Tuesday.  He has changed so much since he was born.  Today I was looking though pictures from the hospital, working on a Shutterfly book, wow has he gotten big.  He is starting to hold his head up really well.  Loves to lay on his play mat and kick his feet, looking at the mirrored octopus.  Conner is smiling more and cooing more often.

He made his first big trip at the beginning of the month.  We went to Minnesota for Easter and he was baptized on Easter Sunday, in the same baptism gown his Grandma, Great-uncle, Mom, Uncle Callen, and my cousin Jamie were all baptized in.  He was awed over by all of his grandmas, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandpas, and many friends.  He did very well on the car ride both there and back, but it helped that we stopped 1/2 way overnight.  Grandma and Grandpa even babysat one night while we went out to dinner with friends.          

I am thanking my lucky stars that Breast Feeding has been going great.  I have been pumping once a day to start a freezer stash of breast milk for when I have to go back to work.  Currently I have almost 90 oz frozen!! Cloth Diapering has also been going great.  We used some home made diapers the first month, until Conner got to big for them.  Now we are almost exclusively using BumGenius 4.0 Diapers (http://www.bumgenius.com/).  We have 24 Diapers and do a load of diaper laundry every other day.  BumGenius Diapers according to there website fit baby's from 7-35 pounds.  We have found we like the snap closures better because they stay on more securely.  I will write more later about the savings of Cloth Diapers not only on the environment but also the wallet.   

I LOVE being home with Conner.  He keeps me laughing and busy.  I am dreading going back to work on the 9th of May.  He will go to daycare starting the 16th.  I love our daycare lady, Elizabeth, so I know he will be in good hands, but I am still nervous about going without him for 10 hours.  I am trying not to focus on that yet and trying to enjoy my time at home with Conner. 

Merry Christmas

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!  

Thankful

Last Tuesdays night class has gotten me a Little down on life, see my previous post.  So I decided to make a list of things I am thankful for:
- For a husband that loves me
- For amazing parents that support me
- For my expended family and in-laws who love us
- That Grandma O is allowing us to live with her
- That we have family so close
- That we both have good jobs, in the fields we have always dreamed of
- For Cora and Java.
- For more than enough food to eat every day and not having to worry about going hungry
- For Marja, Nicole, and Samantha who I can call at any time to laugh or vent with
- For my faith in God, know that all will work out
- For Callens life and all he has taught me
- For health, dental and vision insurance we have through my job
- For our Adorable 2 nephews (Preston-4 and Wyatt-1), for the 1 nephew on the way and the other niece/nephew on the way
- For my health
- For the wonderful nature that you can find almost anywhere if you are looking for it
- The knowledge I have about saving money
- For Spring!

Hope every one had a Happy Easter.
 ( I promise to post some pictures soon...)

Alyeska 2010

SUN RISE CHRISTMAS MORNING FROM OUR CONDO

START OF OUR SNOW SHOE ADVENTURE

ON THE TRAIL

BEAUTIFUL TREES

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN SKIING SATURDAY

MIKE ON THE HILL

PRETTY ICE

ON THE SKI LIFT

Merry Christmas

May your Holidays be filled with Love, Joy and Peace.

Happy Birthday Jesus

Are you Ready For Christmas?

Now that Alaska is gaining light again...
I might be ready for Christmas. 
I still have a present to wrap and the food to make.
I have to go get some powdered sugar from the grocery store. 
but over all I think we are ready.
I am ready to have a 3 day weekend with Mike.
I am ready for the Candle light service at church.
I am ready for the birth of our Savior.
I am ready for a relaxing night at Alyeska.
I am ready to go show shoeing.
I am ready to hit the slopes.

Christmas Decor

Willow Angel Nativity

Stockings (Megan, Java and Mike's)

Swedish stuff and Santa

Mike Shoveling, not as much snow as MN but still 3 inches

 

Me



Precious Moments Nativity Scene

Santa and  Christmas bear

Wine bottle Snowman

Nativity and snowmen

Our tree

New Nativity Scene

Feeling better

As the previous post said I have had a bit of winter gloom.  Yesterday was by far the worst.  I woke up at 6:00 really missing Callen and not wanting to get out of bed.  After crying for almost 45 minutes and talking to Mike I decided that going into work was just not going to happen.  I went back to sleep, called in to work at 9, then slept until 11.  When we woke up I stayed in bed reading until 12:30.  Mike the wonderful husband he is brought me breakfast/lunch in bed. 

After getting up cleaning a bit we did some running around.  We went to the Vet office to get Java some more food, to Office Depot to get some ink, and then to Alaska Mill and Feed.  Mike had called Alaska Mill and Feed to see their prices on Christmas tree and found out they started as low as $15.  Well the $15 trees were only 3 feet tall so we went up to the $35 4-5 foot tree an got a bushy tree.  I have to highly recommend Alaska Mill and Feed to anyone in Anchorage looking for a tree, they were really helpful, had the trees in a ware house that smelled really yummy, wrapped the tree ina plastic bag so you could but it in the back of the car instead of on top, and I felt better buying from a local company vs a national chain like Home Depot.

We go the tree set up last night and will decorate it this weekend.  I am happy to say I took my last test for the Arctic Engineering course I am/was in!  It only took me 1.5 hours!  After I finished my test Mike and I went out to Carrs and got some Chinese food for dinner.  They have this "Feast for Two" for only $10.99.  You get 2 egg rolls, 2 entrees, a fried rice and a LowMein box.  We ate our fill and still have enough to eat another meal. Last night we vegged on the couch and went to bed early.

I am happy to say waking up Friday morning I feel 100% better.

I also want to say Happy Anniversary to my Grandma and Grandpa Bjerke.  They celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss yesterday!  Congrats!

Winter Gloom

Sorry for anyone who's following my blog I have just not been in the writing mood the last couple of weeks.

This holiday season is hard for me and the darkness of an Alaskan winter seems me be pressing on me more this year than in the past. 

A friend, Liz, from high school posted on her facebook for extra prayers today, her little brother, JP, passed away two years ago today at the age of 21.  JP, like Callen, was a lovable guy.  He had the greatest sense of humor and could make everyone laugh, with the crazy stories he told.  Both Liz and JP were on the Shot Put and Discus team with me in high school.  I remember after Saturday practices we would all load up and go to OCB (Old Country Buffet).  Getting the soup bowls to use for ice cream, since the ice cream ones were so tiny.  I also worked with JP as a cart person at Target in high school.  He made the hours go by faster, was a hard worker and would make everyone laugh.  It sucks that both Liz and I have to go through losing our only sibling, our younger brother, someone who could light up a room with their charm.  It sucks that our parents had to lose their only son, and youngest child.  It sucks that all the family functions in the future look so much different now than they did before.  JP is missed by many.

     

In other news Mike and I have been busy decorating for Christmas.  Changing the table cloth and candles.  Exchanging the fall decoration with leafs for snowmen and Santa's. And I put out our 3 nativity scenes.  I have a Willow Angel set, a Precious Moments set and a new porcelain set  this year from my mom (her and my grandma have the same one).  We are debating whether or not we will get a tree.  As Grinchy as it sounds a live tree is a lot of work and who other then us is going to see it?  And we have no place to store an artificial tree. One of the locally owned green houses has some small trees so we might go get one of those to put a few ornaments on and the presents under.

Speaking of presents we are 100% done with Christmas Shopping.  I just have a few things to finish wrapping and then we will ship the box off to Minnesota for Mike's family.  We gave my parents a sign for their cabin in November, as their Christmas gift.  Can I say that it hits me over and over again that I do not get to buy Callen a gift this year.  I wish I could buy him a ticket to come and visit us up here because I know that he would LOVE it.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

“Develop an attitude of gratitude,

and give thanks for everything that happens to you,

knowing that every step forward is a step toward

achieving something bigger and better

than your current situation.”

~ Brian Tracy

I love this quote... but some times have a hard time staying true to it.
Here are a few of the things I am thankful for today:

• For my wonderful husband Mike
• For my parents who love me and support my decisions
• For my extended family
• For my church families in Alaska and in Minnesota
• For all our friends
• For our Kitty, Java
• For the jobs that both Mike and I have
• For our new apartment
• For a warm place to sleep at night
• For the bounty of food we have in the cupboards
• For the warm clothes in our closets
• For our cars which get us to point A to B
• For our Sunday School kids who bring a smile to my face every week
• For the youth we work with on Wednesday nights who keep us young
• I am thankful for the time I had with Callen

Still with all this to be thankful for, I sit here and wonder why Callen is not here.  I miss him tons.  I wish he was here. I am thankful for all the great times I had with him.  His smile, his hugs, his love for life, his love for music and his love of God.  I am thankful for the difference Callen is still making, even when he is gone. 

Happy Thanksgiving... Love you Callen

Weekend Over Already

I think weekends go by way to fast. Mike is working nights this weekend, which means I see him for dinner and that is about it. Yesterday I went to the gym and had a scrapbooking get together last night. Today I went to church and then taught Sunday school, we had 6 kids this week. Then I went to Dairy Queen as the youth were having a fundraiser there. They got 10% of the profits of ALL sales between 11 and 2 today so really I HAD to go... haha. This afternoon I did a load of laundry and scrapbooked some more. We had some yummy spaghetti for dinner with yellow peppers, turkey, and onions. Not much else is going on. This week will be busy. I have a dead line at work Tuesday so I will be working late tomorrow. Then Thanskgiving is Thursday with Samantha and Hans.

I will leave you a few pictures of our kayaking adventure and trip to the cabin when we were in MN.

Happy 4th of July

While most people are enjoying the day with friends and family, I spent yesterday and today making food that is red, white and blue. (Rice Crispy Bars with red and blue M&M's and pancakes with blueberries and strawberries). I cannot wait to be back in Anchorage, only 4 more days.

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day Dad. Thank you for all you have done for me. You have instilled your sense of adventure and love of the outdoors in me . Teaching me to always follow my heart and do what I love. Miss you lots can wait to see you in a month!

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.

5 Days

Only 5 days till we go to Whittier. I know I am a dork to be excited to go to Whittier, and get strange looks for co-works. Who say " what is there to do in Whittier?" Well there is nothing to do! I am excited to just get out of Anchorage, even if only got 30 hours. I am also sadly excited about the Easter Basket I ordered for us, to bring with us. It is from.... Great Harvest. I love my Carbs (I might have a SMALL obsession)! I will post a picture of it next weekend but it will have a Honey Bunny (a loaf of Honey Whole Wheat bread shaped like a bunny), a loaf of Cinnamon chip bread, 6 cookies, Blueberry Jam, and a bread knife all in a pretty wooden basket.


Not really much going on this week. There are a couple Hockey games this week we may go to. I have Yoga Wednesday. And Mike's last day of work for the week is Wednesday!

Easter Plans

(Photo taken from website below)

Since Mike and I had no plans for Easter we decided to do something exciting, to get away. We reserved a room here http://www.innatwhittier.com/ We booked a Junior Suite with Ocean view, king bed, TV, deluxe bath, Jacuzzi tub, and sitting area. A few people at church on Sunday said they had recently been and it was nice and relaxing. There really is not much to do in Whittier, especially in the winter but we are going to try to find a hiking trail. (Since we finally bought Mike is birthday present this weekend, new hiking boots!) I am excited to get out of town for the weekend, I just hope the Easter Bunny can find us!

St. Patrick's Day

Why is today so hard for me? Actually it started last night.

Thinking about St. Patrick's Day.

Thinking about Callen in a Kilt.

Thinking about Callen playing his Scottish/Celtic Music with the Frizzels.

Thinking this would be the first year Callen could have had a green beer (legally at least). Thinking I could totally see him and Fidge playing in some pub tonight.

Thinking I still can't believe he is gone.

Thinking why am I sad today.

Thinking why can't I be happy.

Thinking how I am supposed to go on living my life without him. He was my other 1/2. We are complete opposites, totally left side-right side. He was the musical, artsy, talented, people person. I am the nerdy, organized, engineering geek, ok by myself person. The book I am currently reading, "The Empty Room: surviving the loss of a brother or sister" by Elizabeth Devita-Raeburn, says that many siblings try to become more like the other sibling to live for them. It also says that sibling try to fulfill the spot in the family that they sibling left, I feel this too. Callen was such a light to the world and our family, how am I supposed to be everything now.

Thinking I hate this.

Thinking this sucks.

Merry Christmas from Java

This is where Java has been hanging out for the Christmas Season!

Merry Christmas

Here is our Christmas Letter

This past year and a half has brought lots of changes for us. Obviously we got married in September 2008 and started out adventure in Alaska. WE have been exploring the state and making friends. Last winter Mike and Megan went to lots of Aces Hockey games with out friends. The Aces are a ECHL Hockey team who is affiliated with the NHL st. Lewis Blues. We also ventured down the Kenai Peninsula in March. In Homer we went to the home of the Eagle Lady, we saw the eagle feeding and over 200 Eagles. You can see some of them in the picture above. We did a lot of hiking and camping this summer in many state and national parks.

Mike has taken a job with the Department of Corrections, State of Alaska. He graduated the academy in November and is working in the Jail downtown Anchorage. He has enjoyed learning how to fish the Alaskan way called Dip Netting. Where you literally place a net in the river and pull out fish, this year he caught 12 salmon which are currently in our freezer. Along with dip betting Mike went Halibut fishing down in Homer with our friend Hans. There they pulled out a total of eight Halibut ranging for 30-80 pounds. They ended up with a cooler full of fish and split the fillets. His Grandma came to visit us is August and we went on a glacier cruise out of Whittier (the other picture above). He is now looking forward to the winter activities of skiing, snow shoeing and maybe some snow machining (snowmobiling for you in the lower 48).

Megan is working at DOWL HKM, as a Civil Engineer. She has been sewing, scrap booking, reading and working out. For her birthday Mike bought her a Kayak, so she has been cruising around the lakes and pongs of Alaska. She has been enjoying the campgrounds and hiking trails in the area. This summer Megan's parents came up and we went to Denali. Where we saw bear, moose, dall sheep, and caribou; along with a lot of hiking! The weather this summer was amazing, great weather for the softball team that we joined. Grandma and Grandpa Bjerke came up for Thanksgiving this year. It was such a blessing to have family here for the holidays.

Our Cat Java keeps us on our toes. She runs around the condo chasing her favorite toy mouse. She is also our alarm clock in the morning, demanding we feed her. Java brings us lots of joy.

We hope everyone's Christmas is full of snow, friends and family. Come visit us in Alaska

Love

Megan and Mike

Getting Lighter

Well it is going to get lighter! Yesterday was the darkest day of the year (Winter Solstice) with right around 5 hours of "daylight." Although yesterday had a thick layer of clouds so it never really got all that bright out. But to day we have about 30 more seconds of day light. Not that much but soon it will be 2 minutes, 3 minutes or 5 minutes and it REALLY adds up.

We have been so so busy lately. With the Holidays, Mike working, FLL meetings 2x a week and finding time to get our bodies beach bum ready there is no time to relax. I have not seen Mike since Monday Morning, if you really count talking to him for oh about 10 minutes as he is falling asleep and I am getting up. Only 2 more nights and he is off for a week!! (and I am off for 3 days).

We luckily do not have much planned for the weekend. We are going to Hans parents house Christmas Eve for dinner and then to a Christmas Eve Service at Church. Christmas Day we are just hanging at home, maybe with a fire. Then Saturday and Sunday NOTHING!! We would like to get out to use our new snow shoes if the weather is cooperative but also catch up on some sleep!