Hiking with Dad 7.14.12

Quent and Jeralyn went on a hike together one Saturday afternoon between naps.  It looks like they really enjoyed their time together!  Makes me smile!

Seattle July 12-13, 2012

When I was pregnant I read a book called Babywise.  It's basically about infant sleep and having a routine/schedule.  I'm a routine kind of girl, so I was very interested.  Weeks after Jeralyn was born I joined a Babywise discussion forum online where I asked many questions and got to know a lot of the moms on the board.  Over time I began to help and encourage others.  Babywise has a whole series of books, from before birth until the teenage years.  I love the underlying philosophy of Babywise, their support of marriage, and the gentle approach of being consistent.  One of the ladies on the board suggested having a northwest coast meet-up in Seattle where she lives.  Seattle is about as close as I will ever get from Alaska, so I decided to go.  I surprised myself in wanting to go meet-up with women I had never met in person, and I'm so glad I went!  It was a short 2-day trip, but I enjoyed every moment of it!  And so did Jeralyn!  She did great on the flight there and back.

The evening I was there the ladies had a "girls night out" at The Spaghetti Factory in downtown Seattle.  We were at the restaurant for 3 hours visiting.  It was great!

This picture was taken shortly after we arrived on the 12th.

We had a play date with all of the parents and kids the next morning.  There were 8 moms, 2 dads, and 15 children.

Presley and Jeralyn

Jeralyn and Aubrey

All of us, minus the dads (and maybe some kids?)

It was warm (for us) there.  Lower 80s.  In the morning we heard thunder rumbling!

I'm so glad we went!  And I'm so thankful for the encouragement and wisdom from these ladies!

Parade 7.4.12

I am backtracking a bit here.  I finally found Quent's camera (not that it was lost--but lost to me) and uploaded his photos.  He has been taking some "Alaskan" photos, so maybe one day he will post those (or I will after he edits them).  I won't touch those because I'm not great at editing landscape photography.  Anyway, here are some photos of us from the 4th of July parade:

Waiting for the parade to start.  We basically stood where we did last year, except this year it wasn't a wind tunnel...and it wasn't raining.  Last year it was hilariously so awful all my sister-in-law, Natasha and I could do was laugh.

Jeralyn loved all of the excitement around her.

Lots of people.

Jeralyn and I waiting...

Katrina works with Quent at the Forest Service.

I can't remember who Quent said was the owl.

And what is a parade without Smokey?

"Gah!"

After the parade we walked around and found food at the food booths.  We also went to the car "show" showing classic cars.  And then we went home so Jeralyn could take a nap.  Quent went on a hike.  We didn't see the fireworks.  Pretty boring.  Ha!  Maybe next year will go to Wrangell for the 4th--they have an awesome 4th there!

Instagram and other random photos June-July, 2012

I am getting behind!!  Here are some photos from June and July.  Some are from Instagram, some are not.

We went for a walk in the rain because we thought it would never stop raining anyway.  Jeralyn was warm and dry in her stroller under the plastic rain guard.

I went to the coffee shop...alone!

A pie I made!

Baby slipper/booties I knitted.

Waiting for the 4th of July parade to start.

Watching the parade.

The best fresh donuts I've head in a long, long, long, long time!

Jeralyn playing outside.

Pointing and saying, "Gah!"

Biscotti from the coffee shop.  A little treat for me!

I went to a play with a friend.  Before the play they served a crab dinner.  The crab was really good--the play was not.

Jeralyn and Presley playing together during the play date in Seattle, Washington.

Downtown Seattle--went to Seattle for a couple of days with Jeralyn for a meet-up with some friends.

The space needle.

I loved the way the clouds looked on our walk one evening.

Jeralyn and Quent on the ferry from "nowhere".

Her expression reminds me of what I looked like when I was younger.  Here we were waiting in the airport to fly to Juneau.  We had a slight delay, but it was okay.  The airport police officer commented on how well-behaved she was.  She is a GREAT traveler! Makes her mama so proud!

A view from the airplane!