Another visit with Santa

Harper's school (aka daycare) asked Santa to visit, just in case the kiddos didn't get to tell him everything they wanted for Christmas at the BP Santa Day (plus, hopefully he would be a bit more jolly this time around!). It was great to see all the kids again with Santa - this time without too much razzle dazzle of the Santa Day shin dig and just cute kids sitting on Santa's lap. We totally lucked out with Harper on this because not only did she let us put her on Santa's lap, she smiled a giggled too! It made for some priceless photos. Let's hope Santa will be good to her this year!

Meeting Santa

Harper met Santa for the first time in person last week at the BP Santa Day festivities. I feel so blessed that I work for a company that is willing to spend money and put on such a wonderful event for the children, even thought Harper is too young to really experience all the fun. She did get to taste a peppermint candy cane and some fruit punch, and I don't think she liked either one!

She didn't cry, but she was not too sure about the jolly old man in the red suit...

Her name was even on Santa's 'good' list!

Family Christmas Photo 2009

We spent the weekend laying low and trying to rest up for the next few months. Harper did get to go to a housewarming/birthday party on Saturday night - and what a party animal! The beads provided self sustaining entertainment for over a hour!

Happy 1st Birthday Harper!

November 2nd 2008

November 2009

We have loved watching you grow and discover all the firsts over the past year, and we are looking forward to so many new adventures! You are our little angel - we are so blessed to have you in our lives!

Birthday pose in the same dress that I wore(many moons ago!)

Happy Halloween & Birthday Party

We had a very low key Halloween - we didn't even answer the door for one single trick-or-treater (although we know they were around the neighborhood)! We got out of the house just before dusk and went to a neighbors for a party, and just left our lights on and a full box of candy on the doorstep. When we got home the candy definitely had been rummaged through, but there was some still left! We can't believe that some kid didn't take it all. Harper was a darling little lady bug and had fun playing with the big kids at the party - she also got to see her first college football game on the big screen tv there too - it kept her busy!

Before the party, trying out the costume

(notice she is transporting a boot and her hat with her...essentials for Halloween in AK!)

Super fun!!!

Halloween friends (Yuri the penguin, tag ball and soft books!)

Today we had a really fun Sunday getting ready for Harper's party - which was a smash for her (into the cake, that is). She had fun welcoming a bunch of guests and friends and sharing her cupcakes with everyone. I think it was the most kiddos we've had in our house at one time - it was a ton of fun to see them play with each other and to watch Harper interact with them. We did get a great video of Harper's first birthday song and her first sugar (cake frosting...yes Darci, it was the real kind!).

Harper and her new Radio Flyer walker wagon (thanks Grandma!)

First taste of frosting

Waving bye

I can't believe that tomorrow our little darling will be one year old!

Bring on the gluten...

We got the news from the pediatrician yesterday - hooray!! Harper has Dan's genes and does not have to be kept gluten free! What a total relief - I had all these visions in my head of how I was going to have to keep glutinous food away from her, but thank goodness she only had one of the three required genes for Celiac disease.

Harper post her blood draw...three tries in both arms...what a sad sight for a baby girl to have band aids on both arms! She was all smiles though!

Fall Festival at School

Harper had her first Fall Festival at the ELC this past week - it was a great chance for us to try out Harper's Halloween costume! All the kiddos at the ELC (employer sponsored daycare on my work campus) come over to the Main Building (where we all work) and had a really fun time. Next year will be even better because Harper will be walking herself around...she is getting heavy to carry!!

Our little ladybug!

Ladybug and her Pumpkin buddy



Two cuties!

All done with the hat!

On the road again...

I really don't want to make a habit of traveling without Dan and Harper. It's my second trip away from them, and even though I made it to the airport without tears this time, my heart is breaking not being with them tonight. Dan is such a great dad - I'm not worried for their safety or anything, I just want to be there. Ugh. I'm so thankful for the technology that we have today so I can see almost real time photos of Harper throughout the day (I told you Dan's a great dad!). I've already had about ten photos of my baby today - it's so great to get these instantly!!

Here's a few recent photos of Harper until I get back home:

Super close up

She found the Tupperware!

First gluten free pancake...

It was a hit once she figured out how to mash it between her 7 teeth!

Family Fall Photo

A Rainy Day

Mama said there'd be days like this...I wish I was the one out there on my bike playing in the wet sand! :)Harper and I had fun cheering Dan on from underneath our ponchos...and when the rain got really bad we went to the car and cheered from there!

At the start

It looked like total mayhem after the gun went off...bikers were everywhere!

Riding in the wet sand is harder than it looks...

PFD Week

A true Alaskan (the baby, not me)

This past Thursday Harper received her first Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) check from the state of Alaska...and although she doesn't know it yet, it was a great opportunity to boost up her college fund!

It was also the first week Harper's day care had to send 25% of the students home due to flu-like symptoms. Harper barely missed getting sent home - her attitude changed dramatically yesterday and she was showing signs of the sickies...and today got it full blown with a fever. I was happy I had the day off of work, even though I would have rather spent it hiking or at the zoo than at home. Needless to say we are looking forward to going to California in the near future to get some dry warmth, sunshine and hopefully some relaxation!

Here's some photos of recent adventures.

Enjoying the warm fall weather and playing with the leaves

Beautiful fall colors in Anchorage on an overcast day

Enjoying the hike

Family hike on Turnagain Trail

Dan checking out what's below the cliff

ArcticCross & Tuesday Night Races

After some badgering, I finally got Dan to buy a new bike (hooray!)! I was rooting for a new road bike, but he ended up with a cross bike, and so begins another athletic obsession...cyclocross. What a cool sport that we didn't ever think we'd be doing (I'm using the 'royal we' here). Dan has participated in the last two of the ArcticCross bike series and is looking forward to completing the rest of the series this fall. It's amazingly exciting to watch - the bikers ride a set course as many times as they can for 50 minutes (women ride for 40 minutes). It's a mass start and there are people passing each other all over the place...I even saw one guy go over his handlebars on Sunday. Harper and I have cheered Dan on and she even sat on the ground clapping for the racers as they sped by. I think she's enthralled by the wheels spinning so fast - especially the wheels on those super pricey biked that make whooshing sounds as they go by.

We've also been doing the Tuesday Night Race series as a family...Harper and I 'run' the Munchkin league races (usually 1 - 2 km or so) and Dan runs the Lightning league (anywhere from 7 - 11 km). At the race last week the Munchkin league was really short so Harper and I ended up watching the last of the salmon swimming in the stream (they were at least 15 - 20 pounders) and then proceeded to sit on the grass in the autumn sum, cheering and clapping for the race finishers and eating leaves (a new favorite past time).