You can just barely make out a firework down near the water if you look closely :)  Pictures never do any of the views up here justice, it's so frustrating.  I guess you will just have to come visit to see the amazingness of this place!

I forgot to mention last time that we went down to Arctic Valley to watch fireworks last Saturday.  They were being put off in Anchorage and we didn't want to deal with traffic so we went up the mountain instead and had a splendid view of the whole city.  It was interesting as we were higher than the fireworks and they looked very small and far away, but it was still fun.  We packed sandwiches and had a sort of picnic in the truck as we watched!  Hahah you're probably wondering who has a picnic inside their vehicle, well when it's only 10 degrees out and the wind is blowing making it feel more like -10, you would have a picnic in your vehicle too.  Anyway, this picture has absolutely nothing to do with the subject of this blog, I just fancied putting it on here for some reason.  I love bears, I'm dreadfully afraid of bears, bears make you feel small and weak...it's strange to not be on top of the food chain when you are walking through the woods, and it's definitely always on your mind wherever you go up here.  Wolves, too.  Well, anyway, I would like to go bear hunting before we leave here.  It's good to face your fears!

I finally got Quicken up to date!!  Wow, talk about being behind!  Being sick for so long and not doing anything with the giant pile of receipts on my desk made for some real headaches!  It took me the better part of a day but it's done now and I can start being vigilant again.  It feels good to have your finances in order, right along with having a clean house hahah.  Still have some tweaking to do on the budget, but that will have to wait for the weekend when the hubby can brainstorm with me.  I have the crock pot full of beefy chili on low, so dinner should be ready by 6:00.  I doubt Mike will be home by then, but I can just put it on the keep warm setting.  I love my crock pot!  I know I've probably said this before, but it's so wonderful to be able to just leave it on all day and not think about it.  The freak winds of the Mat-Su Valley are blowing again, so, though I put the trash can down at the bottom of the driveway, it has blown over twice now.  I am sitting here waiting for the noise of the garbage truck so I can run out there really quickly and right it.  There's simply no use trying to do it before then because it will just blow over again.  Gotta love 75mph gusts.  Ok, well not really, in fact it's probably my least favorite part of this particular location in Alaska.  I am beyond ready for spring!

I had the strangest of nights last night.  For some reason I kept waking up to an impossibly dry mouth and throat...almost as if my mouth had completely stopped producing saliva.  I know this sounds weird, and you're right, it was weird.  It was also almost intolerable!  One doesn't realize the importance of one's own saliva until one finds out what it's like to not have it.  Anyway, it was very strange and very irritating and I did not sleep well at all because of it.  I still don't feel completely right.  I wonder if this is some strange new side effect of pregnancy that I didn't experience with Nathan?  Hormones are capable of the most aggravating things sometimes!  

Nathan is starting to repeat a lot of words that we say.  It is very cute to hear his version of different words!  I know I should be taking more pictures and video, I have been falling behind on that and I know I will regret it.  His little sister kicks away quite often.  I hope she does not get as big as he did.  I hope the garbage truck comes soon because I keep seeing my trash can blow a little farther away every time a big wind gust comes...maybe they won't come today.  Maybe I should just say forget it and bring the can in.  We will be way overflowing next week if I have to do that.  For some reason I can't think of much to say today.