Las Vegas Vacation

We decided to get away for a Vegas vacation before Jenny enters her 3rd trimester. We were hoping to warm up and catch the sights. The temperature barely broke 50 degrees, but since we left -30, it was an improvement. We toured most of the casinos on the strip and we went to every free show we could find. We took turns doing a bit of gambling while the other person entertained our daughter. Amazingly we suffered rather minor losses over the 6 nights there.

Family shot at Ceasar's Palace.

Isabel learned to fall in love with water fountains on the trip, and with throwing small change into them. Since every casino has elaborate fountains, she was in 7th heaven.

Since 2010 is the year of the tiger on the Chinese calendar, a few of the casinos had large tiger displays like this one.

At MGM Isabel got to see two lionesses and two lion cubs. At MGM Jenny lost money in every machine she played on.

Isabel and daddy suiting up for our trip to Death Valley.

Isabel had a banana every day and ironically she learned to make monkey sounds whenever we say monkey.

Hiking in Death Valley.

The lowest point in the United States.

Red Rock Canyon just outside of Las Vegas.

Red Rock Canyon turned out to be an incredibly beautiful hiking area, pleasantly close to Vegas.

January in Alaska = indoor activities

Isabel decided to take up playing an instrument to broaden her horizons. My makeshift mandolin proved to be just the right size for her. She sings too and sticks her tongue out like Gene Simmons from KISS.

Bell has become an enthusiastic little bookworm and Sibley's bird field guides are her favorites. She spends many minutes every day paging through looking at birds.

No I'm not breaking any child labor laws, the broom has become one of her favorite toys. I need to get her a kid one, because this one is metal and rather heavy for her.

Isabel on the loose outdoors

Isabel her first time walking outside! She was super excited to have free reign.

One of Scott's Christmas gifts to Jen was this 1008 piece Isabel puzzle, which proved quite difficult but fun.

Shameless Christmas cute baby photo spread

On Christmas Eve we all got dressed up for midnight mass. Since we don't do that very often up here in Alaska, we took copious pictures.

Of course Isabel is still enjoying her new found independence as an ambulatory being, so we had to literally chase her with the camera.

This photo looks like we commissioned someone to take her photo or paint her portrait.

Doesn't she look like we lifted her right out of a Renoir painting here, somber expression and all?

Christmas photo spread

Christmas day morning the three of us opened our presents together as a family. Isabel loved her gifts and finally got the hang of opening them. Of course she wanted to stop and play with each item as she opened it so the whole process took a very long time.

Grandma Priscilla sent this book which has a bluebird building a nest and adding real fibers, increasing the nest size with every page. The last page is a pop up with baby birds and Isabel makes this funny face in reaction every time.

Christmas evening, we went to Matt and Jaime's house for dinner. They gave Isabel another present and by now she is a gutty veteran at the art of opening presents.

Family trip to Seward

As always seems to be the case when we travel to Seward, the sun busted through the clouds and we had beautiful weather. This time blizzards raged behind us, but we kept ahead of them.

Here we are in front of the Sealife Center which is free for Alaskans on Wednesdays in winter. We practically had the place to ourselves. Isabel got to touch sea creatures, like anenomes, and to see sea lions, octopuses, and many fish. Her favorite part was stepping outside to view sea birds up close. They splashed her and made funny calls and made her laugh. I think she'll be birding with mommy in her future.

I guess I'm a sucker for pretty mountain scenery.

Isabel in a new outfit from Grandma Karen. She looks like such a little lady.

Christmas activities

Isabel opened a gift from Aunt Kristin a bit early and felt she needed to try the clothes on immediately.

Jenny made the cookies her mom always made around Christmas and Isabel helped with the sprinkles, but proved to be a bit over zealous with the shaker.

Isabel squatting in intense contemplation....should I grab a present, tear off an ornament, or turn and play with my nativity set? She does each of these things several times a day.

While visiting family in MN Isabel fell in love with uncle Jonny's taxidermied deer, so Jon and Christa sent this whitetail backpack and Isabel loves it and hugs it all throughout the day.