Camping trip to Homer and Russian River

Well this summer has been pretty pathetic. First off the weather has sucked compared to last summer. After having the worst winter on record you would think we would deserve a nice summer. It's been super rainy, mosquito infested and pretty cool. Plus to top it off, I have the worst work schedule imaginable. So Yes, I finally got 4 days off in a row so we took advantage of it and headed down to Homer. I have never been here, Jeff has twice now and has loved it. We camped in Anchor Point and enjoyed the time alone. We love being together and now that the count down is on until the baby comes we embrace every moment.
(Please forgive the pics... some are terrible. I left my nice camera back in Utah so had to resort to my old digital one. It was quite upsetting to see the quality. None of the pics really turned out nice, oh well at least I had a back up)

Homer Spit. It was fun to finally see this place. It literally is a road leading to a small island with tons of shops and camp grounds. Pretty unique place.



Walking along the beach was so relaxing. the sand was super soft so much that when our dogs ran they would sink. We loved it... to bad it isn't the kind of beach you could enjoy with a swim suit, slushee and a sun tan.

The hill side was gorgeous. sadly these pics don't do any justice. It reminded us both of being in another country. We went driving through the country side for 2 hrs enjoying the views, the homes and all the farm land. It reminded me so much of Bear Lake and the town my mom grew up in.

The Eagles were EVERYWHERE... so much the poor dogs weren't outside as much as they would have liked. This guy was the boss and the poor seagulls new they couldn't mess with him.

I love this pic because of the Eagle and the flag in the background but I feel bad for the guy on the right... ha ha! Wish I had a program where I could crop pics.

Our first camp site in Anchor Point... We loved it and I would recommend it to anyone. It was so peaceful, no traffic and just perfect. It was nice that it rained earlier that day cuz the mosquitos were not out... thank heavens. We walked away from this whole 4 day trip with only 1 bite on the back of Jeff's neck, all thanks for occaional rain and tons of mosquito burners all around our campsite, we were sooo prepared and it paid off.

Anchor Point really should  be called Eagle Point. We easily saw more than 25 Eagles in 2 days. One night walking along the beach they were literally feet away from us chowing down on dead fish. what beautiful birds.

6 eagles all in one shot... it was fun to watch them fight over food.

Welcome to Russian River Campground... home of bear country!!! We decided to head back from Homer due to a nasty rain storm coming in and we headed back up to the Russian River. Jeff has stayed here a time or 2 but I haven't. I wanted to see some grizzlies so bad but when we were actually there I was terrified. It didnt help that when we first pulled up I asked the ranger what the bear activity was... he said "Well 2 days ago a black bear in the same campground you will be in pounced on a tent, luckily no one was in it. We have had a big population of black and brown bear this year." So not what I wanted to hear, did he not notice when I asked that my face was already full of fear. Needless to say I didn't sleep much that night, if at all, thanks to the campers next to use trying to shew a bear away over and over. I had to pee so bad but didn't dare leave the trailer, so I held it and ended up suffering from some major kidney pain the whole next day. Hmmm, failed kidneys or death by a bear... seems like a no brainer to me. But if I had my own gun, I would stay in this campground again, it was so gorgeous and really a nice area.

Walking along the Russian River looking for fish.... and bears. Again, I was terrified to run into one but so desperately wanted to see one. We didn't have any luck this trip.

On a 2 hr drive to see Skilak Lake... it was HUGE!!! We loved it.

Our first night camping people were lighting off bottle rockets  and the poor dogs are scared from fireworks after being shot at in pleasant grove a few years ago :) So they both started shaking uncontrollably. Chewy cuddle up next to my head and I grabbed KO and held him til he settled down. Well the next morning I woke up to this... KO never found himself out of the sleeping bag. What a spoiled dog. I couldn't stop laughing!!!

Baby Harris #1 finally on the way

Well by now most the world knows that finally after 2 years of trying Jeff and I are finally expecting our first little one in January 2013. I've kinda kept a casual update now and then on the blog but just to update. We ended up doing IUI after Jeff's sperm count increased drastically on clomid. I'm not going to go into IUI detail but the MD said that since everything was perfect with me and the meds helped Jeff that there was a very small chance that IUI wouldn't work for us. So on April 20 we went in to get implanted. Such a strange feeling knowing your walking into the MD to get pregnant that very day. I had to sit and lay flat for 15 min after the procedure but I ended up laying there for 30 min, just to be sure :) I took a pregnancy test 2 weeks later and was beyond relieved, excited, shocked, happy, emotional about the fact that it said "YES" (I had to buy the yes/no one, I wasn't going to waste time trying to read if the line was dark enough, etc :) We went in at 6 weeks for an ultrasound and heard the heart beat, 135. We were soooo excited. I then heard the heart beat at my 12 week appt and it was 160. And now within a matter of weeks we will be able to find out what the sex is. The first trimester was the LONGEST EVER!!! I'm definately glad it is over. At week 6-7 I hit some pretty unsettling nausea, although never threw up (well minus the fishing charter we went on, but being on the ocean water and pregnant doesn't make a good combo) The nausea was gone at week 8, unless I went too long without eating, it was exhausting to eat every 2 hrs but I managed. I never really hit the exhaustion/taking nap stage, probably because I knew life goes on and I had to work and I just told myself to keep going. I don't have any cravings... but lots of dislikes!!! I eat lots of fruit and veggies and I lost my sweet tooth (this is very devasting to me, I wish I craved my sugar) Well no pregnancy pics yet, still waiting to pop I guess so there is actually something to photograph. I haven't gained any weight, although I feel as if I have!!! We are just so very blessed to have a baby on the way, it is just so surreal.

Jonny's home!!!!

A few weeks ago (first week of June to be exact) I had a very quick trip home to see my family and see Jonny for the first time in 2 years after returning from his mission in Boston. I hadn't been home in 6 months so it was nice to get away, even if it was for just 5 days. I was so glad I was able to be there for Jonny's homecoming. It sure is nice to have him home and I can't wait to have him come visit Jeff and I in Alaska the end of July. Since I'm so behind in blogging I'm just going to upload my pics and save time from typing :)

First thing we did was hit up Orem days. It was soooo nice to wear short sleeves, flip flops and feel the sun beating on my skin. Alaska's summer has been super depressing and rainy so I was enjoying every minute I could outside.

Later that day, Kim and Dan came down with the kids to spend the weekend for Jonny's homecoming. This was the first time I meet little Skylee Kay... man was she so edible. I loved every cuddle time we had together.



I love my sisters... wish I looked as good as they did but being 10 weeks pregnant was giving me little desire to get ready this trip. But here we are sporting our Boston Red Sox Shirts Jonny gave us from his mission.

 The whole family... anxious grandkids and all. (Even I have my baby in my belly in this pic :) Mom was taking the pic. She wanted just all the kids but then my dad jumped in... we had to do a lot of retakes cuz we were all laughing so hard. Good times.

The next day the fam and I headed to the new City Center Mall... man was it huge and gorgeous. We met up with my in-laws Gary and Diana for dinner. Sure loved that they drove down to come see me, even if it was for a few hours. As always, we laughed and had a great time.

This trip really went way too fast. I didn't get to do half of what I wanted or see everyone I wanted to see. But I'm greatful for the time I got to spend with my family while Jeff again stayed home with the dogs (he actually was suppose to go on a bear hunt but cancelled last minute, he really wished he was in Utah with me.) Few more pics of my time playing outside with  the fam.







Jeff's fishing trips

Jeff has been busy enjoying his summer this year, and I have been majorly lacking at blogging his adventures. He has had the opportunity to take out his boat and go Halibut fishing out of Homer and then went up north with Ryan Nolan to Chitna River to do some of the first salmon fishing of the season. He isn't one to share stories despite his near death experience so this is the best I can do to blog his memories and summer adventures. Sure glad he is getting his chance to enjoy his summer because with starting work next year who knows what his time off will be like.
Here is Jeff and Ryan showing off their King Salmon. They caught them up in Chitna. Jeff was OVER the top excited to catch this guy. He weighed 24 lbs and we got some of the thickest fish filets from it, not sure how I'm going to cook it :)