What a Great Weekend!

Keith, friends, and I hiked Crow Pass today! It is a 26 mile hike from Girdwood to Eagle River! I was unsure how I'd do 27 weeks pregnant, but I felt great... (I mean all of us were doing pained baby steps the last three miles great!)...as for tomorrow - I'm hoping to still feel great!

We saw four fresh (I mean steam still coming off of it fresh) bear poop on the trail, and three live bears - safe distance.

Beautiful! Here is the top of the first four hardest miles - The Summit.
Still on Girdwood side...

Crossing the river to Eagle River side. It was painfully cold.

Eagle River side... 15 miles down - 11 to go!

Emi's new passion - braids. She wants me to put little ones in her hair after bath. I like it - it stays snarl free for a day and cute 80's hair to follow!

Showing her 80's look...and a dress Jessica, my neighbor, and I made for our girls.

Have you ever seen a more handsome ring barer? - Not possible!

Colter was the ring barer for Paul & Heather's wedding - Paul is Keith's assistant.

Our 4th of July weekend was wonderful! THANK HEAVENS FOR FRIENDS! They make Alaska good.

We went camping with several families and had a wonderful time! This was my first time (besides girls camp) camping for more than one night - I actually REALLY enjoyed it! Our grounds were big so we didn't have to worry about bothering people and there were kids to entertain kids which was perfect!

To make it interesting there was a bear with two cubs roaming the campsite. It was just the kids and I up there before other's came and after the ranger warned us the kids and I became a little worried. Colter asked if he could call Dad. He said, "Hi Dad, there is a bear with two cubs here - bring your gun, OK?!?"...we bought bear spray for that night...but never saw them!

Cute Austin Harr comforting bruiting Colter - the kids were not playing the board game by the rules and it was making him crazy!

Emi's heaven: Endless flowers to pick, BB's to find (from the BB gun - she found 1/2 a cup full), friends to play with, she even got a friend to pull her on a wiggle bike in this picture!

She and Corbin didn't go to bed until after 1:30a.m. both nights. (It is hard to go to bed when the sun is always up and you can't pull the blinds!)

Corbin couldn't find his bike and told me that it was in the trees. I went to look for it in the trees when it wasn't there he said, "Ahoh! A bear took it". When I found it - not in the trees - he said, "The bear took it over here."
Corbin and Mason Newell are great buddies!

Roasting his own marshmallows!

A black eye to end it right! The sad part is I don't even know which time he got this one!...He was hurt so many times that it could have been a number of things. If you ask him he will say, "A baby hit me in the eye! No, no baby!" (He did get hit by a pump with another kid there - he may be right!)

Silly Kids

Some current conversations:

While hiking I pointed out to Colter and Emi that we were a lot faster than 'Grandpa and Dad'. Colter's compationate response was, "That is because their bones are all old and worn out. We will be slow when we are their age too."

I am not looking forward to turning 30; Colter still considers me young now!

Emi patting my tummy: "I hope that is the baby in there and not the food you're eating because it sure is getting big!"

While hiking under the tram at Alyeska Emi pointed her finger back and forth as she said, "Does that thing have seatbelts because it sure looks dangerous!"

Sometimes we give our kids Tabasco Sauce for discipline purposes. We at a cafe that had Tabasco sauce sitting on the tables. Colter was shocked and asked, "Why would they have Tabasco sauce in a resturant?!" With complete confidence Emi said, "In case the kids are bad then they have it here to give to them!"

After flusing the toilet in a public restroom Emi's eyes got big, "I'm thinking about not flushing my toilet because that is loud!"

I was wrestling Corbin to get into his carseat. His eyes widened and he became very serious, "There's no cops." he said!

This is happening almost everytime we go somewhere now. Apparently he doesn't have to be in his carseat when there are no cops around and he is trying to get me to realize this!

I have been trying to get Corbin to sleep in the firetruck toddler bed, but he won't have it. He wants to sleep in his "baby bed" - the pack 'n play - Corbin's bed since birth.

I took the pack 'n play out of the room this week, thinking I'd force my 'baby' to grow up. When I went to put him to bed and the pack 'n play wasn't there he gasped and in his angry deep voice he grunted, "Ughhh, a bad guy stole my baby bed!"

He talks about the bad guy stealing his baby bed daily now.

FYI: the bad guy may replace the baby bed because Corbin is taking full advantage of his freedom. Since the toddler bed, in the middle of the night, I have found him in bed with Emi, asleep on the floor, playing in the bathroom, playing in the hallway... Why did I want him out of the baby bed? I can buy another pack 'n play in three months, right?!

Getting Out!

Family came to town and we explored... LOTS OF PICTURES AHEAD!

We took the Railroad from Anchorage to Seward...

Breathtaking ride...

the whole way. We saw a grizzly bear, moose, bald eagles, and bison.

Entertained by junk food...

LOTS of junk food!

We went to the Sea Life Center in Seward...

...and played at a park (quite the scenery at this park). Yes, my potty trained two year old still takes a binki when he is running on minimal sleep.

We went night fishing! We took a Halibut boat out of Talkitna (don't know spelling), and stopped half way at the Russian River to catch some Red Salmon. 

This is my sister-in-law Autumn. Rookie fisherwomen! It was pretty dark for fishing, but we did have an encounter with a bear!  He got in the river right across from us (about ten yards) it forced us out pretty quick! (I actually just missed the action by going to the car.)

We also went day fishing in the Russian River and Grandpa Coombs caught us our dinner. 

Halibut fishing was GREAT! I was worried about getting sea sick, but the sea was calm and it was no problem! We had a bite within seconds of the pole touching the ocean floor each time we cast out. All of these halibut were caught within two hours of fishing. They were an average of 25 lbs.

My biggest one - about 40 lbs.

My first one!

We did LOTS of hiking! 

A family walk on the Coastal Trail

Winner's Creek Hike - in Girdwood

Colter and Emi were AWESOME!

They blocked us all from getting in front.

The mountain behind Keith is part of Alyeska ski resort the chute in the middle is called, "Christmas Chute" that Keith LOVED skiing. (Hence, the picture in front of it.)

Colter and Emi would run ahead of us until they got to a bench and then they would pretend to sleep until we caught up. I was so impressed with them. This is over five miles round trip and they really ran.

Part of it has a hand tram where you pull yourself across a huge drop. 

I don't think you were suppose to jump, but Keith likes to break rules. 

The next hike is Mt. Baldy in Eagle River

Emi and Grandpa Coombs stayed a bit behind to pick every flower on the mountain.

My flower girl

Those of us that left the flowers and went to the top!

Grandpa Coombs and Emi running down to be the first.

Chad and Colter hanging on for support. This was a very steep hike (but not too long). You had to have your breaks on coming down!

Great view at the top.

My partner. 

Okay, once in awhile Keith had to help me out!

Hiking Flat Top in Anchorage...

Once again Grandpa and Emi HAD to pick each flower until all pockets were full!

Taking a break! He gets heavy on my shoulders.

1/2 way there

The top!

My amazing hiker and explorer. He has REALLY grown up.

We left Grandpa Coombs with Emi and Corbin when it got too dangerous for shoulder rides.

Keith?!?

Hikes to Come: 26 miler from Girdwood to Eagle River, and the glacier hike in Seward!

It's a...

Here's the story:

We do not have maternity insurance. Because of this we are going to have our baby at the birthing center because it will cost $7,000 vs. $14,000 the hospital would cost. (I am kindof excited to try it this way too... no drug option.) 

With the birthing center all tests are optional. I couldn't justify getting a $500-700 optional ultrasound! So, we were not going to get an ultrasound or find out the gender again with this baby. I was perfectly happy with that fact. I loved the surprise with Corbin, the baby will sleep in the pack 'n play regardless - no problem.

Well, the other day, Kristen, a girl that regularly comes to my group fitness classes asked what I was having. I related the above story. She said that she did ultrasounds and she could probably get one for free - for "practice". I gave her my phone number. 

As I thought about it I didn't think I wanted to find out. I am over 23 weeks now and the surprise is so fun. ...

We got home from fishing yesterday and there was a message saying that we could come in right then. Keith was thrilled (he wanted to know 100%). I was thrown off and unsure if I even wanted one, but the idea of seeing my baby excited me. Still not really wanting to know the gender I got in the car and we went... Since I went through with it I am not going to dwell on what if I didn't but now we can ease Emi into the fact that we are ...

having a Boy!

With Emi's talk of a baby sister EVERY SINGLE DAY when Kristen said boy it through me off. Emi is not thrilled, but I am sure glad I have my girl and I really love my boys!

Who Needs a Zoo?

There are so many moose here. I don't usually take pictures, but here is one I had from a walk we took last month. The kids were ahead of us and stopped dead in the tracks when they saw the moose so close. I was nervous, but they didn't seem to care as we walked past. Just a couple of days ago we had a mom with twins walk through our neighborhood. Today was a first for me. Just a couple blocks from a house we saw a bear! We were on the other side of the fence from her, but she really was just roaming blocks from our house. Emi was really worried. Corbin kept trying to get closer saying, "Let's go shoot that bear!"

Diaper Free for Four Months!

My Corbin goes on the potty! He has been 100% for almost two days and two nights now!

 I decided I was going to potty train when we got back from Mexico... two weeks later I really went for it and he has been surprisingly amazing! 

Some fun quarks about Corbin and potty training...

When he needs to go #2 he runs to me hollering, "I am stinky!"

When I put him on and he doesn't go right away he says, "It's not working."

When he goes #2 he usually announces, "I am done" before he really is finished. Then when more comes in a high pitch, surprised voice he says, "I not done!..."

He never gives the right answers. When asked, "Where should you go pee-pee's?" His answer is anything but 'on the potty'! Some of his answers have been "On the doggy!" "On Colter!" "In my car underwear! " "On Daddy!" ... He always says it with a smile and a chuckle. But never, not once has he given me what I want to hear!

His sense of humor absolutely amazes me for only being 27 months old. 

Just yesterday he casually walked by me and with a grin said, "Hi Colter's Mom!" 

We love our Corby - way to go buddy!

Surprise 30th and More...

Keifors turned 30 yesterday! I threw him a surprise party and it turned out very fun. I woke up in tears in the morning because it was so rainy and my vision of the party was in our backyard. I called my mom for a pep talk and went to work on clearing things out of my house to accommodate the party! Keith had no idea and the surprise made it all worth it! 

Thank you so much to our friends who came and supported Keith on his big 30!

Here he is walking through the door. Emi's face is the best!

I made nine cakes - all different kinds. We will have to have several more parties to finish them off. 

We got a trampoline! $75 on craigslist. The kids are loving it even in the rain! 

We had a nice enough day for a lemonade stand. When Colter asked if he could do it I had reservations (for some reason I thought it was embarrassing having my kids as for money in exchange for lemonade in my front yard), but he was insistent. He and Emi did it all and made out pretty well! I had to talk Colter down from charging a $1 per cup! He was funny only putting about an inch in each persons cup!

 He tells me often that he wants to be rich. His desire works great for me because each day he has opportunities to earn points which turns into money. He does an excellent job with each task being sure he gets every cent!

The end of a hike.

Fishing. My poor babies got COVERED in mosquito bites (they did have spray on). Emi's eye was closed shut from mosquito's and Corbin's whole head is covered - I have been asked if he had chicken pox twice! Our backyard is mosquito land. 

My FAVORITE TOY! I bought a Chariot on Craigslist and I LOVE IT! A day hasn't gone by that I haven't pulled it behind my bike or jogged with it. Thank you Bobbi for talking me into it! :) 

Corbin and our neighbor girl Irelyn are best friends. It is fun to watch them explore together.