This is Chena... our "God Puppy". We puppy-sat for a few days while Erin and Shawn were back in Minnesota. Chena and I went for a hike up Arctic Valley and enjoyed the first snow of the season up in the mountains! Obviously the mountains in the background had already accumulated, but little flakes were flying around us and she loved it! :) She is an awesome dog!
This is when Adam and I were scouting for his moose hunt. The area is tag was assigned only yielded a 10% chance of taking a moose.... eeesh! You basically have to be on horse-back and trek in quite a few miles for a better chance. We'll have horses some day! He had a few days off work and enjoyed sitting outdoors, glassing for moosers. His buddy went along with him for one day and I was able to go for a couple days on the weekends. Saw quite a few cows, but no bulls! We also scouted by going up and over another mountain up the valley, it was quite the day hike! We started counting the bear poo after awhile because it was quite amazing how much there was. We ended up with 26 piles.... plus the usual moose...... and even some WOLF! eesh!
Glassing the valley on a beautiful day, keep this photo in mind for future pics!
This is the same valley..... lil bit different conditions for hunting! :) We were bummed, the fog was playing peak-a-boo with the valley, which made the situation worse.
Hiking to our spot
A nice cow we saw in between the fog
We watched these two for awhile as well. My new Canon took these pics at .6 miles away! (GPS told us the distance)
The valley is there... beneath the fog. This is shows how it seriously just ate us up within a matter of minutes!
Bye-bye mountains across the valley!
The sun trying to burn through the fog... we were hoping! But no---the fog ended our hunt for the day. :( 
The Nabers and us at a public use cabin on Nancy Lake. We took canoes out, across the lake and stayed for the weekend. We fished for northern...no luck! I had one follow my lure up on the second cast and THAT WAS IT for the entire weekend! It was pretty chilly, we had to keep breaking the ice from the eyelets of our fishing poles. We were also making last calls on whether or not to go, depending on whether or not the lake was freezing over! That's Alaska for ya and we love it! :)
The main room in our cabin, holy moly this wood burner can heat things up. I woke up completely sweating through my sleeping bag and Adam ended up sleeping outside in the grass for awhile- he was so hot! Haha... we had a good laugh about that one- we were worried about getting cold! :)
Right on the lake! 
The cabin and canoes
Sunrise over Nancy Lake!
Shawn has quite the lil beer brewing gig (brewing is VERY popular up here... adn Shawn sure knows his stuff!) .... he let us girls borrow equipment and guided us through brewing our own wine!!! We made white wine and it is delicious!! These girls all work with Adam at the pharmacy!
Here is Angel- watching us do P90X! She follows us downstairs every morning and falls asleep in her cat bed (well, it was actually Snickers, but she loves it!). Once we get warmed up, we shed our clothes on to her and make her nice and cozy! She's so lazy! I don't remember how detailed Adam got in teh last post- we were having trouble with her urinating on the carpet in one room. We took her to the vet right away, worried she might have infection and a little anxious it might spread before we caught it (this is what happened to Snickers)...... after all the pricey tests- she was just being a stubborn/sassy cat. We tried all kinds of "environmental" things but ended up just blocking off the one room with a baby gate and moving her litter box. Now she is fine. We figured the dog from teh previous owner must have left his mark, but we're not sure why it took her 3 months for her to do the same--- I even shampooed all the carpets.?!?! Either way-- luckily it was just in that one room and we were planning on tearing up the carpet anyway to lay down tile for our "dog" room. We had some friends over last night who have a brand new black lab puppy--- it was the first time he had met a cat. Before any of us could catch him he pounced right on top of Angel...literally jumped on top of her, wanting to play. Well she put him in his place. It was pretty funny! She has to get use to having a puppy around, we are plannign to get one soon. The plan is to bring one back from Iowa during Christmas break! She is getting along with Chena pretty well now-- I think it just takes time! :)
My screen wasn't working on my old camera-- this was just a point and shoot, but I had to try it, the mountains looked like they were on fire!
A curious young moose in our next door neighbor's trash cans! News alert-- we also have an active pack of wolves in another neighborhood in Eagle River, thankfully not ours. But unfortunate it is happening at all, the pack drug off a family dog last week. The area is on high alert--- public safety!
Adam and Chena cuddling!
The Halloween party night.... we're getting too old for this partying stuff. I fell asleep with Chena!
Adam.... er Napolean, dancing! ---Chena was very interested/confused!
Adam and I..... Napolean and Deb. I was selling keychains and taking Glamour shots to make money for college. Adam was campaigning for Pedro! There were also HeeMan and Shera, Mary and Joseph, and Juno and her boyfriend/babydaddy. Mary and Juno were our preggo friends. Kara is due in December with a girl and Sara is due in January with a boy- we are having baby showers and loving how big their bellies are! We have been putting a lot of work into the house....still painting, doing some decor/curtains, getting ready to tear up carpet and lay down tile, getting Christmas lights, little projects here and there, etc etc. WE NEED to take pics and/or video and put it on the blog. I've just realized only our Alaskan visitors have seen the house since we've moved in and made it ours!
Just a couple more things before bed....
My brother Adam has been having fainting/dizzy spells- he had a pretty intense episode last week and is still waiting for tests to tell him what is going on. Please keep him and his wife/girls in your thoughts--- the women in his life are worrying like crazy as we are not use to him being weak in health.... but of course he is still tough and stubborn as ever!
Our sister Jess and her husband have had someone very close to them battling the most difficult battle imaginable. Within the last month they have discovered and lost his mother to cancer. It was an unbelievably short amount of time and an extreme rollercoaster of emotions as they found out and were a part of the good and bad days. My thoughts were, "how could something so horrible happen to the most amazing and perfect person?" Yet I found my thoughts immature and weak compared to the strength of their family's. Their family is made of strong, devoted Christians and I just find myself in admiration and amazment of how brave and mighty this family is. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as well! I am very proud and thankful this family shares the faith and beliefs to carry them through, it was very powerful to witness.
On that... I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving..... give thanks for your health and family members adn enjoy every minute you can with them! We have a lot to be thankful for.
love you all
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