January

Ok, here goes nothing... Chris here trying my hand at publishing the blog. It's been decided that I will be the primary blogger as I have more opportunities to do quick entries during the day- nap times etc. Another part of my role as Mr. Mom I suppose. We'll see how it goes. As March is quickly drawing to a close I will do a little catch up- starting where we left off.

January- We went from a very snowy December into a big warm spell that made us think it was going to be Spring. Our snowman did not fare well but we enjoyed the warmer temperatures and were getting out on the boat a couple times a week, working our crab and shrimp pots really hard. The skis had nothing to fear though, and by the end of the month winter returned and things got unusually cold for around here. We ate lots of fresh crab and shrimp and filled the freezer with more. Calder is getting used to going out on the boat and is fascinated by the wildlife we see- eagles, sea birds, sea lions, etc. He loves getting out on the beach and throwing rocks. He's running and jumping around and his babbles sometimes even make sense, with added words everyday...more and more a little boy and less of a baby...it's happening quickly. Jen and Calder on a cold hike in the muskeg behind our house with Petersburg Mountain behind them.

A nice warm day on Wrangell Narrows with the ferry Matanuska headed into Petersburg. This was the same ferry that we took from Haines when we moved to Petersburg last summer.

We took the boat down the narrows to a public dock on Kupreanof Island and went for a little hike.

Calder the monkey man still likes to put on his hat from Halloween and run around- or draw with his crayons. Most of the time he draws on the paper (sometimes the cabinets or table) and has only chomped off the tips of two crayons, so we're making progress on his artistic side...future architect?

Erik and I after a good day crabbing. We've been getting up to 20 king crab in each pot, but getting legal sized males has been a little tougher. To get 2 keepers in 1 pot is a great day!

Processing a load of nice shrimp.

Jen, Calder and I went out on a blustery day and were only able to pull 1 of our 2 king pots and the shrimp pots as it was too rough. It was pretty high stress but we were rewarded big in a record number or shrimp (for us) and 3 species of crab- king, tanner, dungeness. That's a 5 gallon bucket nearly full of shrimp!

Jen admiring the catch. Calder is taking a well earned nap after the craziness of the day.

Calder smiling for the camera. He scrunches up his face if you ask him to smile...funny guy. He and Jen are having a little "pic nic" in our living room.

Ok, Chris's blog post #1 is complete. If January was all about crabbing, February was all about Hawaii... will work on that post shortly.

December Festivities and Family 2010

December was a wonderful month of holiday celebrations, as we had both the Burger and Hyer families visit us to celebrate the Christmas month. We spent much time on the new boat, crabbing and shrimping, and enjoying many meals of the freshest (never frozen) crab and shrimp. Have we mentioned how much we love living here? Here's Calder enjoying the snow in his new snowsuit and boots. He will run to the front door with his boots, just begging to go outside and play:

St.Nick's Day, Southeast Alaska style - put out your X-tra Tuffs and see what St.Nick brings. Here's his friend Zia Hulebak joining in the fun:We had a family first - harvesting a Christmas tree from the woods only 12 miles from our home. We parked Chris' old Chevy truck, then hiked down a side road in search of the perfect SMALL tree. We found this Western Hemlock, which looked so much smaller in the woods than it did in our living room. I also gathered boughs of various trees to make my first wreath:Ready to make my wreath:Chris and I have been waiting for the moment when we could harvest a Christmas tree with his red Chevy:The tree was MUCH bigger than we had anticipated (18 feet!). We had to chop a few feet off both the bottom and top. Here is Chris holding the top of the tree on his head:Our home, Petersburg, from the water:First, the Hyers (Terry, Erin, Barbara, and Travis) all visited. Here's Trav and Chris hauling up a King Crab pot:

Chris recieved a special present of a workbench vise that was his Grandpa's:

Grandma bought us three gals matching pj's for Christmas:

The frozen muskeg in winter, right out our backdoor:

Chris, Calder, and I with our house in the background (the tan house), standing on the frozen muskeg:

Uncle Trav reading to Calder:

Trav, Calder, Terry, and Chris with a fresh King Crab:

Next, the Burgers visited for Christmas. Here's Grandpa with the rocking orca he made for Calder:

On a boat trip, Calder with a shrimp:
Tired mama and baby:

Jen, Calder, and Wisconsin Grandpa:

Calder's first snowman, made on our back porch:

My folks enjoying a drive out the road, almost to the end:

Happy Holidays!!!!

November 2010 Highlights

Out for a sunny walk in the muskeg, Calder enjoying (and often trying to eat) nature: Chris and Calder on the Hungry Point Trail in town:

Two weeks later on that same trail. This was Calder's first sled ride and he loved it (thanks Gina for the idea and sled!):

The "Christmas Tree Lighting Parade" down Main Street. The Hulebak and Hyer families...yes, everyone is IN the parade down to the tree, where it is lit, and then the band starts playing:

Calder playing on our back porch:

Chris and Erik with our new fishing boat, shortly after its arrival by ferry from Washington. It's a 24 foot Hewescraft:

Launch Day!

Chris hauling a crab pot. We have 2 crab pots and 2 shrimp pots:

October 2010: travels and Halloween

October started off in Petersburg with "The Humpy 500," a soap box car race down main street. The kids were pretty creative with their cars:

Chris and Calder went to Washington and Idaho for 10 days (I stayed home in Petersburg and worked). First stop: Tri-Cities Washington to visit Aunt Betty. Here is a pic of Travis and Calder enjoying the sun:

Next stop: Kilroy Bay in Idaho. Calder enjoying the warmth of the fireplace:

Calder and Chris napping by the fire:

Calder, his Grandma, and his Great-Grandma out for a walk:

Another nap by the fire, this time with Grandma:

Enjoying a book together (Erin, Calder, Travis, and Terry):

Back in Petersburg for Halloween. Chris and I carved pumpkins this year:

Chris and I with our little monkey (we are trees):

High Endeavours being pulled out of the water for the winter. This was quite the production: