DOG MUSHING

A week or so ago I took Brianna up to base for a quick dog mushing ride. She was so stinkin cute. It was nap time when we went so I didn't know how well she would do, but she ended up loving it! When we got there, we headed down the hill to where they were doing the rides and was informed that the dogs were too tired and they were ending the rides early. A little disappointed that I drove all the way to base and woke Brianna up for nothing I told the lady we would just stay and watch the last 2 runs because Bri loves puppies so much. We stayed a little off to the side and watched the dogs - Brianna was so excited. Every time the puppies would come around the bend she would yell "Go puppies!!!" and clap. The guy that was in charge kept watching her and smiling and when the last 2 runs were over he called me over and told us that they would make one more run for such a cute little girl. I was going to go with her, but as we were about to get on another girl named Natalie walked down the hill wanting a ride too, so I asked her if it would be alright if she held Bri. I kinda wanted to go but I'm sure the dogs were glad they got to carry Natalie instead of my large behind - but it was good cause I got to take pictures instead.

At first she freaked out because I just threw her on Natalie's lap (a total stranger) and started taking pictures. But after I calmed her down and showed her that she was on a sled with the puppies she was ok.

Happy again and ready to GO!!!
And they're off!!!

Natalie said she laughed and yelled the whole time.

Here they come! The trainers had to run out there to keep them on track - they were so tired after they made the last turn they would try to run up the hill to their truck - I think they were ready to go home.

My Little Alaskan Dog Musher

Puckered up to give the puppy a kiss!

She LOVED it!!! So FUN!!!

JUSTIN & LISA DAY!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

That's right it's been 4 wonderful years since Justin and I got married. Man oh man I love this guy so much. He is one of the best things that has every happened to me. He is the bestest husband (I know everyone thinks that about their own husband's, but I'm positive he is the BEST!). He is such a thoughtful, fun, good, caring, supportive and loving husband. He is the greatest dad - I love watching Brianna and him together! They have so much fun and Brianna loves him so much!!! I am so thankful that he picked me to spend forever with! I don't what I would do with out him in my life!!! Simply babe - Thanks for being mine!!! I'm sure a "LUCKY" girl on this St. Patrick's Day!!! LOVE YOU BABE!!!

I wanted to share some other pictures from our wedding day, but all our photos are already packed, so you'll just have to look at the ones you've all already seen. BTW - holy crap how we've aged in the past four years - we look so young. I don't know if it's marriage, Alaska or kids that do it to you put good grief we're getting old!!!

LOVE YOU FOR ALWAYS!!!

Well Justin is still hanging in there - another one of the many reasons why I love this man so much. I'm positive his stress load with everything going on right now is at least double than mine and he's always the one to stay calm and reason with me. He has had such a rough road these past 6 or so months with his back and he never complains. He's always willing to help me out with Brianna, help around the house, cook me dinner, or even give ME a back rub when he's hurting so much. He is so unselfish and always thinks of my happiness and comfort far before he considers his own. He got another MRI this week and when he was leaving the tech came over and shook his hand and said he's got the worst back he's ever seen where the person was actually still up walking around and not crying in pain all the time. He's just amazing!!!

In other news, we still have absolutely no idea what we're doing - STILL!!! Yesterday we were sure that Justin's orders were canceled and we'd be here in Alaska at least until November. Well today it looks like his orders are still going to be canceled, but we're going to get orders to a new base in the next couple of weeks and still leave in May. So who knows - I'm sure it'll change by tomorrow. At this point I almost don't even care where we go or if we stay here, just someone tell me what it going on - PLEASE!!!

Oh just and little update on the whole weight loss adventure. Justin is down 34 pounds, that's right 34!!! What???? He is doing so good - he has the best will power (yes, little jealous). But I guess it has to do with the fact that we're eating about the same amount of calories, but because he's a guy and 6'4" he's really supposed to eat almost double the calories a day that I am. I don't know how he does it, he's my inspiration to keep going. But my pitiful number is only 12, but hey it's still progress and I'm proud of those mere 12!!! :)

MY "MONTHLY" BLOG

Good grief I am so stinkin at updating this blog lately. I don't know why - I guess it's cause nothing really exciting is happening, so I can't think of really anything to blog about. Anyways I thought I'd just post a couple of crazy pictures I found on my camera this week. Some of them are a couple months old, but they made me laugh.

Brianna in her dad's bunny boots. She LOVES shoes and will try on every body's shoes when they're here. These suckers were so heavy she couldn't even walk. It was so funny!!!
My little Hannibal Lector!
This picture makes me laughs so hard every time I see it!!!
Playing in her toy box with her little buddy Christian.

Heading to church when it was almost 40 below. She looks like a bag lady!!! :) Ha,Ha,Ha!!! (I did take the outer green coat off before we walked into church so she wasn't quite so homely.)

She loves her little table for anything but what it's intended for. She loves to play under it, on top of it, and enjoys pushing it around the house - but will hardly ever sit down and color on it.

She thinks the spray bottle is the coolest toy ever!

She loves to unpack the drawers in the kitchen and climb/sit in them. Last Saturday morning I was in the shower and Justin was watching TV. He noticed that the microwave was running so he went into the kitchen and there Brianna was sitting on the counter top (she used the drawers as a ladder) playing with the microwave. She pointed at it and said "Cookin!" Glad she's picking up on her mama's awesome cooking skills! :)

In other news, we're sitting pretty much at a stand still with the whole PCSing business. We're not sure if we are headed to Wyoming anymore - yep I might be stuck here forever. :) Since Justin has got these back issues we're not really sure if our orders are going to be approved. It's leaning to the side of we're going to stay here until his back is fixed - but who knows. It's getting kinda frustrating not knowing what the heck is going on, but I guess there's nothing I can do about it - except complain, which I sadly do probably too often. Justin had a steroid shot about a month ago and hasn't seen any effects from it, so we think he's probably headed for surgery. We're waiting on a second opinion with a neurosurgeon down in Washington, so we'll see how that pans out. We're just worried that he's going to get kicked out of the military - what a waste with only 5 more years until retirement. UGH!!! We're just praying they can limp him along for the next 5 years or medically retire him. It's just scary thinking we could end up with no job and no insurance by the end of the year. But hopefully we'll get some answers in the next couple of weeks.

On a lighter note it's been really warm (for you non-Alaskans that's like 20-40 degree temperatures! :)) It has been wonderful!!! I even went outside yesterday with no coat on!!! And not to mention it's getting lighter and lighter every day. I definitely have spring fever going on.

Brianna is growing like crazy - I know I say that all the time, but I still catch myself staring at her wondering how she ever got so big. She is talking up a storm. Not all of it I catch or understand, which is quite funny sometimes. For example we were out to eat a couple of weeks ago and she was standing in her chair pointing at people and yelling what I think was yes - except that her yes sounded more like an "@$$". Here both Justin and I were laughing, turning bright red while people were staring at our unruly child. (On a side note - I am positive that she wasn't saying the swear, cause really I don't think she's ever heard this one. If Justin or I slip and curse in front of her this is definitely not the ones we use!) But for the most part she can and will repeat almost everything you say - oh except thank you and I love you - what's up with that?!?!? She is still seriously crazy about babies!!! She thinks everything and anything are her babies. I even caught her "rocking" the bear on her pj's the other day. Oh and she told me yesterday that one of her alphabet magnets from the fridge was crying as she tried to console it. She just cracks me up every day at the crazy little things she comes up with.

Well I guess other than that we're doing pretty good. Justin and I are on a diet, which is kinda nice to be doing it together. I could say we're helping each other along the road, but he has wheel power like mad man, so basically he's dragging me along kicking and screaming. BTW - I hate men!!! I'm pretty sure I've lost 2 maybe 3 pounds since we started two weeks ago, while Justin has lost 15-20. It's really like that commercial on tv for some women diet drug where the wife says with disgust "What!!! - Do you want to weigh nothing!" cause it's so easy for her husband to lose weight. Oh well I'll catch up some day! But hopefully you'll see a skinnier lookin couple in the next few months!!!