My Wonderful Mother-n-Law's Visit---June 2009

Sandi and I enjoying our beautiful day in Friday Harbor!

Sandi getting ready to go orca Whale watching!!!

We were so excited to see some orcas!

Tyler and I having a blast on the boat headed to the orcas!

Sandi freezing her booty off on the boat!

Enjoying the beautiful weather!

Amazing!  There were so many orcas all around us!  Our captain didn't know which way to go to get a better view!  

I was so excited to see the orcas!!!  It was awesome!

Absolutely amazing!  You can see the orcas eye in this photo!

Ashley's Visit--August 2009

Ashley and I standing in downtown Seattle with The Puget Sound behind us!

This was our first bus ride ever!  It was an absolute blast!

Ashley and I riding the ferry across The Sound to Seattle!

On top of The Space Needle!!

Again....on top and outside of The Space Needle!

Standing outside The Space Needle!

Lake Cushman

Waterfall near Lake Cushman

This place is called Staircase!!!  Not really sure why, but it was HEAVEN!

Sitting on a tree stump at Staircase!

We found this old, broken down tree and decided to check it out!

Lake Cushman is actually in the Olympic National Park!  Beautiful...

My Mom's Visit--July 2009

Mom on the ferry car deck!

Lake Union

Mom enjoying her ferry ride across The Puget Sound!

City of Seattle

Mom and I standing outside, at the top, of The Space Needle!

It's Been Too Long

Wow...it has been a while since I last blogged! A lot has gone on in our lives throughout the past couple of months.

1. We have had some pretty incredible weather here in Seattle this summer. It has been absolutely beautiful---sun shining and blue skies almost everyday!

2. I just recently accepted a position in one of the public school districts around Seattle. My position is titled Sub/Para. I will be working mainly with Special Education students in all different age groups.

3. I have had family come and visit throughout the past couple of months. My mom was here at the end of July helping Tyler and I get through one of the most difficult times of our lives. Ashley, a friend of mine, was here in August visiting the beautiful city of Seattle.

4. The most difficult time of this year crept up on me at the end of July. Tyler and I were expecting our first baby in February. Come to find out, 10 weeks through my pregnancy....I miscarried. This was a horrendous shock to both of us. Baby Gauthier was due Feb. 28th and we were so excited to become parents. When we found out there was no heartbeat, our world collapsed. My mother flew out here and was present for the entire process. I thank God everyday for our family. We think of Baby Gauthier daily! We love and miss Baby Gauthier in every moment of our lives.

I have been catching up on reading many of the blogs and it is so good to see all of you doing wonderful!

Seattle Weather

SO....everyone states that Seattle, WA receives the most rain throughout the U.S. I have to definitely beg to differ. We have lived in the Seattle area for almost 6 months now and seem to think that in reality it is not that bad. Yes we have had some rainy days, but when it clears up and becomes a sunny day, it all pays off. When I wake up and can see the Olympic Mountains out of my kitchen window, it seems to make my days much brighter!

Finally...Port Orchard, WA

This is what we see from our kitchen window and our dining room! It is the Olympic Mountains!

We are finally settled in Port Orchard, WA. It is an amazing little town! We are renting a three bedroom, 2 1/2 bath house! We love the house to pieces! We are settled in the house and waiting to see what the future holds for our lives!

Journey to Port Orchard, WA

Trying to get through customs!

We saw a sign that is our last name in Canada!

In November, the Coast Guard transferred us to a 378' boat in Seattle, WA. When traveling down from Alaska, we took the Alaska Marine Ferry to Canada. From Canada, we traveled down to Seattle. We knew before moving down to the Seattle area that we didn't want to be in the city. We looked in the outer skirts of Seattle and found an amazing little town called Port Orchard. It is so beautiful where we are living now.

Sunsets in Alaska

There were many awesome sunsets in Alaska. Tyler and I actually captured an amazing sunset one night around 10:30. I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing! It was absolutely beautiful!

Sitka, AK House

This is a picture of our back porch! It wasn't huge, but it was a decent size for the two of us!

When we were stationed in Sitka, AK, we had no choice but to live on base! I hated the thought of being surrounded by other coastie wives, but I smiled big and lived through it! Once we got moved in and everything set up, I really enjoyed my home. I always look forward to arranging our many different houses the way we love!

Take a look across country

When the sun went down further! It was very cool to see the change of colors!

A sunset in Sitka, AK! This was the best night! It was amazing!

The best sunset I have ever seen!

Sitka, AK at dusk.

Mt. Edgecomb, a volcano, in Sitka, AK!

A view of the harbor from the water!

A lighthouse in Sitka, AK!

A sunset from the water!

Bald Eagles are everywhere in Sitka!

A view of downtown Sitka from a mountain!

Tyler standing in front of a gigantic mountain!

A view of downtown Sitka from the water!

Our welcome sign downtown for all of the tourists!

Pictures just don't do the city justice! It is gorgeous!

Starrgaven....this is a beautiful park in Sitka, AK!

Sitka, AK

Finally....Sitka, AK!

The second ferry we traveled on. We took this ferry to Sitka, AK (our destination)!

Welcome to Juneau, AK!

Traveling through the Narrows located in Alaska.

Everyday was gorgeous!

Alaskan beauty

Beautiful

Ketchikan, AK

Ketchikan, AK! This was one of our stops on the ferry!

Our room on the ferry!

The sunset on the water the first night we were traveling on the ferry.

The beginning of a cloudy sunset!

The ferry

Our first ferry on our adventure towards Alaska.

Ferry Terminal

Yay! Almost there...we were so ready to get out of the car by this time!

Entering the city of Bellingham, WA! This was our last city before getting on the Alaska Ferry!

Snowy mountain in Washington! It was absolutely gorgeous!

Mountains of Washington!

Pure beauty!

This was just a neat bridge we went under! I loved it!

Again...Washington landscape!

Washington territory!

Entering Washington

It's beautiful in Idaho!

Idaho scenery

Entering Idaho

Leaving Montana

More landscape pictures!

The landscape of Montana!

We hit 2,000 miles in Montana!

Entering Montana

The landscape of Wyoming!

Entering Wyoming

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore National Park in South Dakota!

The beautiful colors throughout the Badlands.

The Badlands

Daddy with his girls in the Badlands

Me and the girls in the Badlands

The Badlands

The Badlands National Park in South Dakota

The landscape of South Dakota!

The Cabela's that was right next to where we spent the night! Tyler's favorite store!

Entering South Dakota! I loved this place!

We hit 1,000 miles!

Entering Iowa

The "Arch" in St. Louis

Entering Missouri

Entering Illinois

Entering Kentucky

Entering Tennessee