The Hyer Family: November: Petersburg and Baby's First Thanksgiving

November was a month of huge decisions for the Hyer family...we went to Petersburg in Southeast Alaska for one of my rural rotations...and accepted a job! In August 2010, we will be packing up our home in Anchorage and moving to an island. Petersburg is a Norwegian fishing village of about 3,000 people (4,000 in the summer with the cannery) on Mitkof Island in the middle of the Tongass rainforest. They get twice as much rain as Seattle! But they also get snow and the setting is amazing...lots of islands and waterways to explore by sailboat and kayak, hikes in the rainforest, and hunting and fishing opportunities year-round.

My new job is exactly what I was looking for. As a small town family doctor, I will be doing a combination of clinic work, ER coverage, hospital work, and the long-term care facility. I will joining on as their 4th family doctor. The other physicians there are great mentors for coming out of residency and the staff is supportive and friendly. We felt VERY welcomed into this community and look forward to starting life in our new home.

Here are some pictures from our month in Petersburg, including Calder's first Thanksgiving. Chris and Calder out for a walk on our first snowy weekend in Petersburg:

One of three harbors in Petersburg off Wrangell Narrows:

Hammer Slough:

Keeping dry in the rainforest:

Calder is not too sure about that bird:

Grandpa Hyer and Calder doing airplane time:

Jen going for a walk in the woods:

The Sons of Norway Hall:

Sunset over the Narrows, South of town:

That's our grumpy guy! He's also wearing a cute sweater from Wisconsin Grandma:

Hammer Slough:

Happy Calder with Dad:

Calder's first Thanksgiving card (from Great-Grandma Hyer):

The Stikine River Delta:

The Tree Lighting Parade and ceremony on Main Street in Petersburg. This was a KEY moment for us in deciding to move there. We went "downtown" to watch the parade and found ourselves IN the parade with many other young families and their children. Calder soaked it all in. I looked down at Calder, the candlelight reflected in his eyes, and said to myself, "Yes, this is where I want to raise my little boy."