Ahoy folks! Happy Spring! (For us here in Alaska, it's called break up... all the snow turns black and starts to melt, leaving us with slush. The other day I heard a commercial on the radio selling 'break-up boots', I had to laugh at that, because what they were describing is what you folks down in the states would call 'RAIN BOOTS'. Gotta love Alaska!
So, in the spirit of breakup, I thought I'd get together an update of the last winter months. I cannot wait for summer! All 90 days of it, 24 hours of sun, 80-90 degrees ABOVE zero... and most of all no snow!
So January... One of the coldest months of the year ... what were we up to? Meeting family! What a wonderful way to stay cozy, but still have fun. We were invited out to my mother in laws for a wonderful 'reunion' dinner. I got to meet more in-laws, and Jeremiah got to see family that he hasn't seen in a while.
The family with Aunt Donna who came to see us from Seattle. Also pictured here are three out of the five nephews we have, Mom and Dad In-law and the nephew’s parents, as well as the youngest son, Bill 
The same group shot, but with Aunt Shelia who came to visit from Anchorage from a day. I had never met Shelia, but she was sweet, outgoing and really fun to hang out with! 
My husband 'fixing' the transformer for a nephew (I honestly think he was playing with it... do guys ever really grow out of transformers or legos?) He is also wearing a hat that his grandfather who builds airplanes sent with Aunt Donna 
Here is Aunt Donna with the her great nephews... aren't they fun? We love 'em bunches! 
here are the three sisters, my mom in law (right), Aunt Shelia (middle) and Aunt Donna (left)
Lookin' good ladies 
All the sisters with Joel (dad in law)
He's planning my demise in this picture (hehe) he loves me, though!
It is truly a blessing to get the family together and I am a firm believer of reunions! 
A fun part of January was discovering our youngest conure, Ginger's new favorite hang out place.
she crawls right up my husbands shirt sleeve and then climbs the inside of his shirt pokes out the neck of his T-Shirt. Then, she hooks both claws on the collar to hold herself up... and she loves to stay there for hours. Just talkin' away as content as can be. Jeremiah doesn't find this so 'cute' but, hey at least she's not getting in to any parrot trouble!!
February came and it got even colder... you'd think this would be the perfect time to snuggle up and bake cookies, wouldn't you? But, I just couldn't let this beautiful and amazing photo opportunity pass me up! 
Yep, we were out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night freezing our butts off getting some great shots of the northern lights (aurora)... it's breath taking! Here are some more shots from that evening: (they were really dancing for us!) 
This is why I wanted to become a photographer, to be able to capture the beauty of not only people, but Alaska as well. 
Recently I've lost someone extremely special to me, someone who gave me a life to look up to and a person who was kind, beautiful, peaceful, had fun and was a wonderful wife. My great aunt Jackie, though I didn't have the best example of "parents" to look up to, she was one of the few people I could look up to and say "THAT'S who I want to be like when I grow up".... one of the things she loved most was quilting. As a way to grieve and keep her memories close to my heart I've started to quilt, already having made my first quilt, 
I have embarked upon one for my husband.
A quilt is a gift that comes close to no other gift, it has the person's love, care and maybe even some blood (wear a thimble!) in it. It is not bought from the store but made from the heart. This goes for all handmade gifts, though a quilt is something that you can wrap up in, it's as close as having that person give you a hug, and on some tough days, it's just what you need. I am comforted by the thought that my great Aunt Jackie is in heaven (an angel) happily quilting away and spending time with her love, whom she has missed greatly since he went up to heaven in 2007.
March was a fun month. I celebrated FIVE YEARS of blissful marriage with my angel, my wonderful, perfect, caring, loving husband. Here's to our fifth anniversary Miah, and to reaching our 100th anniversary! You are truly an amazing husband, great man, and perfect soul mate. I know I say this twenty times a day, but, Jeremiah Joel: I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART AND SOUL! I am super happy to have spent these last five years (six that we've been together) married to the man of my dreams. Let's keep livin' life baby!
(portraits soon to come... life's been a bit hectic).
With age, comes the ability to not care what others think... and I've reached that age. And I'm havin' fun with it. (so is Galen). Happy belated St. Patty's Day! I hope that you had great friends, good beer, and awesome corned beef. 
Can't forget about the World Ice Art Championships 
this is my favorite! Amazing sculpture!!! (only half of it is pictured here...) side note: I wonder if I could trade them parrots? Theirs is a lot quieter haha!
My second favorite, look at the detail!
The whole sculpture
All of the sculptures have names, Jeremiah was convinced that this one was named “Procrastination” haha
Through the ice
Me, basking in the icy sun on the back of a frozen sea turtle
My husband chillin’ out on the turtle
We had a record snow fall of 18 inches in one night!! It was so bad, even the Alaskans didn’t want to move! School was cancelled, work cancelled, stores shut down.
Our friend’s truck that we watched while they were on vacation
And finally some fun parrot pictures… they’re clowns who are always up to something. You can’t bear but to crack a smile at their antics.
Ginger who is determined to keep hold of that cracker! It’s almost as big as she is!
My sweet, innocent Galen, who has decided that his new favorite hobby is climbing the curtains. He’s worse than a cat, I swear! Got to love these guys!
The dogs are doing well, just being dogs.
Other than that, we now look onward to summer. Bring on the Mosquitos!
Have a great day guys, and enjoy spring
- The Igloodwellerz
