Camping in Hope, May 2006

Memorial weekend we headed to Hope with our church small group to go camping. Hope is on the other side of Cook Inlet from Anchorage and the views from the campsite were spectacular! I can never get enough of mountains so apologies if that's all there ever seems to be on my Blog...



We did get a little exercise and wandered down a trail that started at the campsite. It was really nice, even with the bugs for company!

Sara and Jay with their 5,000 dogs out for a walk. Sara is about 3 months ahead of me with pregnancy, and being a little short doesn't hide it well....whereas I, being tall, am not even remotely noticeable yet!

There's nothing like burgers on the open fire! YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Gold Nugget Triathlon '06

Due to still-continuing baby-induced major puking I was unable to do the triathlon this year, so instead James and I went along to support our super fit wonderful friend Nathania (see picture below) and her sister Sarah. Nathania quite literally worked her butt off training for the big day, and it paid off as she came 55th out of over 1100 women, and was 5th in her age group! Isn't she just AMAZING?! We really are very proud of her.

...of course part of me is glad I couldn't do it as I think she would have whipped my butt.....


This is her sister Sarah strutting her stuff. She did amazingly well too. I am most impressed with them both!

Baby Fever!

Here is the mini-Kurth at 13 1/2 weeks old....

It actually has a head and arms and legs and all that! No longer a formless splodge! It's still a leech though - just a human looking one.... Amazing how something so small and cute could produce such puking and misery! Oh well!

This is the darth vader look...scary!

Heart Run 2006

James and I walked the 3 mile non-timed run but here is Nathania ready to start the timed run! She even made it into the newspaper the cheeky woman (see her blog on www.nrleder.blogspot.com)! It was a crazy day with a bazillion people competeing. There was a free hunk of yummy bread at the end though so it was all worth it!! Would have been nice if it was a little warmer than 0 degrees C though....

Cat in the cupboard

I just couldn't resist this....we are just so organized in our house that we even tidy the cat away....

...actually I was trying to find myself a movie to watch and Oreo took the opportunity to have a little rest. Daft animal likes small enclosed spcaes and will get into the cupboards in the kitchen if I gave him half a chance!

His most favourit spot at the moment though is the window...he likes to sit for ages watching all the birds!

Aaaahh cute or what!

Monkey business

So we have some news for you all......James and I are expecting a...
!! Actually I am hoping the end result is a little more human (but just as cute...................!!). So come November 28th (give or take a few days) we will be entering the very scary prospect of parenthood (oo er). In the meantime I am calling the baby a leech as it appears to be sucking every last ounce of energy from me as well as make me puke reguarly...and lots of other whine-worthy things that I won't bore you with. Really though, for the most part (when my head isn't over the toilet or lying on the couch trying to prevent my head being over the toilet) we are quite deliriously happy and are busy getting a room ready and getting all scared and stuff...watch this space!

Silly hats

So here is me and Nathania doing the usualt silly stuff...this time her church had a ladies night decorating hats....and here were ours. Bit nasty huh? We had a lot of fun though!

This is why you should NEVER put photos of your young self on your friend's computer...Nathania.....isn't she cuuuuuuuuuuute??

March 2006

So I am a bit behind on my posts I know (sorryyyyyyyyy....there is a good excuse honest!) so here are a few photos from when James and I went to the very posh Alyeska hotel in Girdwood for a night. We met up with my colleague Natalie and her husband (it was a free night courtesy of my work!) and then went for a hike on the Sunday.



This is how deep the snow was on the trail - you can just about see the wooden walk way way down there somewhere....


Natalie and Dave - Dave with his manly walking stick and Natalie doing something wierd with her hair...???

You're a putz!

It was my wonderful younger brother's birthday not so long ago, and apparantly he wasn't appreciating his card as much as we did......he he. But Kelvin, a putz in America is a term of endearment don't you know? Honestly, ignorant Brits! At least you GOT a card Vinny (late, but eventually...) and I think I even sent you a PRESENT too. GOSH I am SO generous!
Bye Putz....

Siblings on the other side of the pond

Here are a few pics of the siblings (and dog) over in the UK. Teegar is the family dog and one soppy thing. Kelvin (little bro) gets hitched to the Becs in July and Haden (oh so attractive picture...) is the older brother. These pics are stolen from Kelvins blog site (very useful boy)

Sunday April 2nd

It has been a relatively boring Sunday filled with church and domestic chores.... I tried to read the newspaper at one point but was interrupted by one CAT who does NOT like to be anything but the center of attention....James captured the moment for me!





You just gotta love the cat though...he's sooooooo cute!!

Coastal Trail

James and I went for a gander along the coastal trail with our friends Jill and Ken at the weekend. It's a gorgeous walk (it was a mite bit chilly tho...) with fabulous views of downtown Anchorage and the harbor with the mountains in the background. Luverrrly. Beat that canal boy...!!!!!!!!!!!!

Canal vs Mountain...

My little brother (catch him at http://jr-uk.blogspot.com/ ) has joined the blog revolution, and has shamed me into writing a lot more on my blog than I have done thus far. If you want a really good laugh then read his blog and some of the comments made....I appear to have been born into a family of comedians...not sure what happened to me as although I try hard to be funny people usually end up laughing AT me rather than along with me..... Oh well. So that aside I will attempt to make my little bro so very jealous of the wonderful city I live in by posting a load of pictures that I have taken over this winter!

This is what we get to see from our sitting room window. BEAT THAT canal boy! Or how about this....



How much snow do YOU get huh? This is a wider view from the same window. Cool huh?

So on the subject of snow. We got a ton last weekend and this was me taking a photo out of our front door...

And here is curious george...sorry I mean Oreo...deciding that the warm indoors is much more preferrable to a few feet of snow. He does get bore cooped uop indoors a lot though and will be happy when the snow goes...as will I in fact. I do LOVE the snow and have enjoyed all sorts of winter sports and hikes and sledding and all that this winter, but as we have had snow on the gound since November now I have to confess to be ready to see some green again. Of course, we will have a number of weeks of slush and mud (commonly called by the locals here 'spring break up') which is NOT pleasant, but necessary unfortunatley. Oh well. Roll on sthe summer!

Sledding!

You are NEVER too old to go sledding I have decided, although I don't remember it hurting my bones quite so much when I was young...but then again I never sledded on a mile long run with humps and bumbs and trees and ditches....


Sara acted as our taxi driver! She would drive us back up to the start of the run again...and again...and again...
YAY! Look at me on my snow slider!

I DID IT!

It's only taken me 2 1/2 years but I finally passed my exam and am a REAL nurse in Alaska! Thanks to everyone who was thinking about and praying for me...it really made a huge difference!

Doggies!

Continuing the official start of the Iditarod...

It was good to be able to walk round all the sled teams as they were getting ready to start. The dogs were getting increasingly more excitied and the noise was quite deafening! Most of the dogs are mutts, but some are pure breeds. We got to chat to some of the dog handlers which was good....me being such a pathetic wuss when it comes to animals and all....

All the dogs got to have little booties on to protect their paws from the ice and snow...aaaaah
Is it time to go yet is it is it is it is it is it...??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Getting to go back into their 'homes' to rest before going!

Is it time to go yet??

The Official start of the Iditarod

Cool sign huh?
A lot of people! Amazing to think that's a lake we're all standing on there...!
Me and Nathania again!
The official start of the 1049 mile race to Nome happens in Willow, about 2 hrs north of Anchorage, on a lake (frozen of course)...it was a real experience!