Christmas eve !

Christmas Season 09

This year I tried to do some different I implemented the 25 days of Christmas with material that Teresa was kind to send me! I have to admit I was not able to do it every single night, but most nights we had fun activities with the girls! Our very first one was the ginger bread house! Danielle loved it Sophia was more interesting in eating the the candies than anything else.

Another night we went to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus. It was not what I expected, but we still had fun! Danielle told Santa what she wanted for Christmas and he was such a kind Santa. She told Danielle, who was wearing a top that says "Princess", you did not have to wear that top I already now you are a princess! Sophia was not very fond of Santa so daddy had to hold her.

Gram sent the girls their Christmas dresses at the beginning of december, so they have to wear them in different events and Christmas parties! We went to a few of them and it was so much fun! I love this pictures of them sitting on the bottom of our stairs

Another of our Christmas Season outti was the pioneer park! it was minus ridiculous outside, but we wanted to go and enjoy the fireworks, so we did and had fun!

We also got to decorate our Christmas tree! Sophia was so excited about the lights every time we went out and we drove by our neighborhood she would pointed all the decorations and Christmas lights. It was our own trail of lights. Not sure if you know but it is dark here almost all day long so it is so much fun to have all the Christmas lights on all day long as well

Danielle Dancing

More museum pictures !

Bonus picture. This is the way Charles bundle up to walk to work every morning. Yesterday he added an outer layer.

A Polar bear and some seals

Sophia lloking a piece of stone took from the tectonic plates. Not sure if you know but Alaska covers pretty much all the natural disaster from Tsunami to earthquake.

Danielle and her totem again!

At UAF museum

LAst Saturday we went to The University of Alaska at Fairbanks Museum! It was a very fun experience specially because it was -15 outside, so it was nice to entertain ourself with some indoor activity.

The very 1st thing Danielle noticed was this huge totem pole which is right outside the museum. She was fascinated by it and she wanted a picture of her with it , so her daddy took her outside and did as she aske, while a very unhappy Sophia ( because she wanted to go too) and I waited in the car.

Sophia was fascinated by this huge black bear which is standing tall right by the entrance. Initially she was afraid of it ,but then she kept on going back to see it and she will say "puppy". Unfortunately our camera acted up and half of the pictures we took were completely dark , but Charles fixed it and here are some of the good ones.

Danielle and her to tem pole . It amaze me the words that she know . I did not realize she know what a totem pole is.

Here is another picture

This is a smal totem ole inside the museum and she wanted a picture of it.

Sophia was mesmerized by this artic fox. She wanted to touch it so she tried to "remove" the glass.

This is a huge whale's skull.

Playing in the Snow!

Charles decided he wanted to build a snow man in our backyard! but the snow is like dust up here because of the lack of humitity in the air, so he decided to water the snow, but it still a project in progress

Saturday afternoon we headed to Birch Hill ( The ski place) to get some pictures taken on a real dog sled. While we waited for our turn our friend took some pictures of us here is one!

After the pciturs Charles and Danielle played on the sled. Originally, Sophia did not want to , but when she saw Danielle having so much fun she joined them

having fun in the snow

Specialist Flynn!

Yesterday, my dear husband was promoted from E4 ( PFC) to E5 ( Specialist). We had the opportunity to participate in this ceremony where his NCO said very nice things about Charles and his progress and how proud he was to be able to submit his name for promotion before his actual time and get it approved. Sophia and Danielle were so happy for their daddy and so was I. I can't express with words how much it meant for me to be part of this small ceremony, but very significant for our little family. Danielle asked Charles all sort of questions about his new batch. I would like to share my joy and happiness with you all.

At the Farmers Market!

My little Danielle walking around looking at all the jewelry by the way quite price!

My little Sophia she is so cute look at her one big tooth. Anyway, she had so much fun playing with the gravel and Jack! she was so dirty that I had to bathe her.

This is Romanesco. It is so pretty looking my picture is not that great, but it looks like someone carved it! not to mentioned that is delicious taste better than broccoli or cauliflower.

Sophia is so cute she kept on posing for the camera

My sweet girls and I

On Wednesday the girls and I went to the Fairbanks Farmers Market with our friend Laura and baby Jack! I had promised Danielle that we would go there and she could have a smoothie, so she reminded me of my promise as soon as we got to this nice but small place.

Besides the yummy smoothies, the farmers market had a variety of produce brown locally. It was a mazing to see this huge zucchini and green onions. Very big collar green and lettuce and also a Rubanesco, a hybrid mix of cauliflower and broccoli. The day was just gorgeous! a nice way to spend a Autumn day. Here are some pcitures.

Beauty of Fairbanks!

Last night as I walked home I saw this beautiful sunset it was 9:30 pm

Here is another picture of how God paint the sky!

All the trees changing color almost imperceptible until you watch from the top of the hill!

A little log cabin!

My back yard on a very foggy morning it was 45 F that day!
We have been driving around exploring our little town now that we have our car. and this is what we found!.

1-We live about five miles or less from a ski resort! There are 2 sides of it , one on post just for military and their family and other one is public. We actually went to check out the public side of it and as we drove by we saw these beautiful cabins, houses and chateau! I took a few pictures of them.

2-The trees are changing colors announcing the new season, Autumn! It is such an spectacle to see all the different shades of the trees from the top of the hills.

3-The geese wake up me up every morning with their migration. It is amazing to actually see them forming the V as the fly through out the sky going to a warmer places which means winter is just around the corner.

4-Our little town, well it does have an international airport, a little down town area very cute by the way and lots and lots outdoor activities to offer to the visitors. Our friends have gone is so man adventures just around town we can't wait to start ours!

5-The University of Alaska is up on a hill and it is so rich architectonically speaking I could not take a picture of it because we were driving and Danielle was so grumpy so we had to come home and put her to bed, but that is another story.

6-I discover that my backyard is the most amazing scenario to enjoy the beauty of the earth. From a foggy morning to a beautiful and colorful Sunset. This will be the perfect spot for Lucas to explore I was told that moose hang out in the backyard and deers and you can see red fox around post. Of course I am so lucky still have not seen any of this yet! Here are some pictures of this wonderful place that now we have the blessing to live in! Remember you are always more than welcome to come and see all these by yourself.

Our first out and about out of post!

Last Saturday, we had the opportunity to drive around our new little town thanks to our new friends the Scroogins who loaned us their second car, so we can have a break from the hotel.

We wanted to go to the State Fair so bad, but it was raining it actually rained all day long. By the time we got home, our pants were so wet.

Our first task was to find shoes for little Sophia who already outgrew the one she has. Let me tell you that was almost mission impossible. We went to 5 different stores ( we actually visit more than that, but for her shoes we did look into 5) including walmart and none of them had shoe of her size. We ended buying some Merrill shoes that cost us an eye it is probably the most expensive pair of shoe we had bought for kids yet. $40.00 !

We also went to try to figure out what kind of winter gear we should buy, man it is a hard task . For Danielle we have to buy -40 F boots, and the coat we weren't 100 % sure so we did not buy anything just yet. We have to hurry up because it can start snowing as earliest as end of september. In less than month the temperature is going to drop to 30 and below So exciting! not really. We also went to Mc Donalds for lunch and to this place a hole in the wall Mexican place. We pay as we were eating at Chuys but we were actually eating at Arandas if that makes sense. I decided that I will be come an expert in Mexican food because my chicken enchiladas and refried beans are much better and cheaper, so I will have all our new friends over for Mexican dinner every so often! we were told prices should go down after the tourism season ends! which I am looking forward to because there are some restaurants that i would like to try I just heard great things about it!

Here are some pictures enjoy them.

In Downtown Fairbanks crossing one of the river

The park down town

A picture of some of the building in down town!

These are the kind of slippers that I want!

One of the cutest little street in down town!

Neighbors night out!

Last night we attended to this event. It was nice to be out and have a little taste of life on post. Pinky, who is the lady in charge of housing, has become our very good friend and has taken us under her wing. She came to pick us up after her work and took us to this activity. She is from the Philippines, so Charles believes that me being a foreign has helped us a lot with this lady. For instance, we got our very first house ever! we signed up papers yesterday and now is official. We are moving in on August 18. Charles realized the more he talked about me the lady would showed him a newer house, so now we ended up with a brand new house!

Pinky has been extraordinary, she introduced us to every person she knows and finds in her way. Her philosophy I have come to conclude is we have to help each other we just have each other. Don't you love that? I do. Like Michael and Teresa said to us "in the Army you become each others family" and I can see that materializing. It is so nice to talk to people and here al these pieces of advices that everyone has for us. Thus, last night this couple started talking to us telling us how we should prepare ourselves. The husband was very funny, he told me that around Christmas if I see something that I like buy plenty of it right on the spot because next time I come back it will be gone! lol

We ate what I think it was the best hamburger ever...I was starving so it was delicious to me. We saw the Eskimos dance. etc.

We are doing well the girls are ok so we keep on going that is the latest.

We are here!

After a whole day of traveling we are finally in Fairbanks! We came last night around 5:15 which is 8:15 Texas time. Overall our trip was ok. We had to run around but the important ting is we made it alive .

The girls went straight t bed, so Charles and I got chance to watch a movie and plan for today Sunday. We got up quite early 5 am, but we were awake at 4:30 thanks to sophia who was asking for food at that time. We took showers and headed downstairs to get some breakfast then came back and got ready to go to church.

The weather, well let say it was cool 50 degrees! good thing is summer time. The lady who picked us is so very nice! she is such a go positive woman, our ward seems very nice I met a few ladies today looking forward to make lots of friends!

Danielle has such a good day, during sacrament meeting she asked this little girl if she could be her friend and the little girls replied yes. So Danielle turned around with a huge smile in her face and told her daddy and me " I made a friend" You just can't imagine the joy in my heart. That just made me realize one more time we all need a friend!

I will post picture when I take some so far haven't had the chance. Fairbanks is pretty country I still haven't seen downtown if there is such a thing; and it might not happen for couple more weeks which is when we will have our car.

People in the plane where very friendly this lady flight attendant who is a retiree military welcomed us and told everyone we were just moving to Fairbanks people in the plane just clapped and cheer us I felt so grateful.

That is for now I will keep you up dated!. love you all

Just in case!

You wonder what is going on with us. We are in our way to Alaska. We left San Antonio, Texas last friday and we spend the night at April's. The same night we stopped by to see Sarah and the kids for couple of hours I could not leave texas without holding baby Zachary. Danielle held the baby too.
We left Houston and came to Atlanta to spend a week of vacation and pampering at my in laws. we got here saturday at midnight got up super early on Sunday to go church. Micahel was so kind to set up the alrm for me! We met tow people at church who lived or are some how living in Alaska, so they came over for diiner and gave us all the scoop about the place we will be calling home soon.
Yesterday, Teresa, the girls and I went shopping to the mall and in the evening Charles and I went to see harry Potter. I have so many questions reagrding this movie any one would like to provide answers?
Today Danielle and Gram have their Gram camp thing they went to a diary farm, so Charles is studying for his test while Sophia and I hang out.
We are enjoying Atlanta I stil lhaven't taken any pictures so I will post them soon.

Swimming Lesson

This is a bonus picture of Sophia! She is a little princess she loves shoes and purse. Every time she gets a new pair of shoes she bring them to me and wants me to put them on. For instance the pair that Sarah gave her last month and the pair my sister got her yesterday. It does not matter that they are a little bit git she still wears them!

My dad and Sophia were always picture ready!

At the pool right after of swim torture ups I meant swim lesson!

Danielle waitting for her turn to get in the pool and show the swim instrcutor all she learned

The first thing we did this summer was taking swim lesson at Fort Sam Houston. There were two full weeks full of fun and work for me but it did make lose a few more pounds so that was a gain ! Danielle finish the class and graduate but Sophia is a different story she was not having any of that she cried all the time she did not want to be put in positions or any of that, so of course she did not graduate! It was fun thought now we practice and she does a little bit more. Let me tell you Sophia has a mine of her own. She likes to pinch her sister or her mom if she does not get what she wants and through fits etc you get the idea but she has gotten some not very soft touch in her bottom and looking forward to time out

Sea World again and again!

We bought season passes for Sea world as soon as we found out we were going to be living in San Antonio and it has been really worthy! We have been there so far 4 times and hopping to go one more time before we leave our dear Texas! here are some pictures of the girls having good time.

Danielle enjoying a snack while she takes a break from dancing

My daddy loved Sea world so we went couple of time with him.

Sophia putting her things back in the car

My dadddy and Sophia dancing to the rhythm of the music !