Molly's sled for next year

she almost fits

She will be ready for the snow next year!

Iditarod and other fun times

This week we have done many random things so here are some pictures in random order of what we have done. My friend Sarah came into town and we all went to the Iditarod and we are going to take her to some of the scenic views in town while my mom watches Molly. Only a few more days until Jon leaves so we are making the most of every moment - it is so fun to have friends to hang out with to make it seem like life is normal.

Jon and Molly

Jon getting up close and personal with a moose near our house

Jon and our friend Sarah running into each other while sledding down Dyea. One day soon I will get to go sledding and tubing again but I just need a few more days to recover (so says Dr. Mom)

Wolf fur at Fur Rondy

Sarah and I posing as gold miners

Jon and I with the dogs running the Iditarod behind us- one of our last times to do something together before he leaves.

Molly in a newborn outfit - this is her cousin Taryn's - a little big on her right now though

Snow sculptures downtown

More snow sculptures

Jon sledding down Hilberg - our friend's Vince last day before he deployed. His wish was to go tubing with some friends and then he went on a date with his wife. Once again Ashley got to watch but when they come back I will be joining them.

What a difference a week makes

Two weeks ago we were going out with friends spur of the moment, sledding and tubing down hills and had no major responsibilities.
Last week we had Molly and life has changed (for just a short time until we get everything under control). We have gone out but it takes 30 minutes to get out the door trying to make sure we have everything we need - we learned the lesson always bring more than 1 diaper and something to put her on in a diaper bag the hard way.

Our Week of Firsts:
*Molly's first bath - therefore Jon and I giving our fist bath together
*Molly's first manicure - professionally bitten nails by Jon - I highly recommend his services since there was no blood, crying or scratching of the face after one session
*Jon's first diaper change - and a few hundred since then
*Molly's seeing her Grandma and Grandpa McPherson and Granny Head
*Molly's first, second, third, fourth and fifth skype session to meet all her family all over the world
* Jon and Grandma's first sleepless night with Molly taking shifts waking Ashley only to feed
*Molly's first night to sleep until woken for feeding - Praise the Lord
*Molly's first outing to the mall to get her pictures done
*Jon's first time to be pooped on by Molly during the photo shoot

Here is when Molly pooped all over Jon - not once but twice

Jon and I are enjoying all our time with Molly that we can while he is here - we only have a few more days until he deploys.

Newest Army Brat

The last post was by Jon - the much more eloquent writer in the family. Here are the pictures of us coming home and a few other fun ones.

Leaving the Wolf area where Molly and I were holed up for 46 hours to make sure we would be alright.

Molly's first non-government issued outfit - the bunny toes are our favorite!!

Molly in her Army brat outfit and daddy

Can you see the camo baby?

This was after Molly's first bath - let me tell you it is great to have family that you can learn from. We are slowly learning how to be parents and how to do things - luckily Molly is pretty calm and ok with us learning on her. She however does like to turn into a completely different baby come 11pm at night until 7am - she turns into THE CRIER! I am thankful for grandparents and a husband - between the 4 of us we are able to get enough sleep to survive and make it through those fun night hours.
For those of you that were wondering no we are not going to all the fun Fur Rondy things I thought I would be able to go to right after having Molly - recovery time takes a little longer than I thought. Luckily some friends took Jon's parents for a few hours of fun so they can tell us all about it - next year Molly and I will go experience it all first hand.

Feeling Like One of the Shepherds

In Luke chapter two a few shepherds are out tending their flocks when they receive some good news. The entire host of heaven comes to tell them that the Savior of the world has been born in Bethlehem and that they need to go check it out. The shepherds go and discover things exactly how the angels had told them. They found baby Jesus lying in a manger and they got excited. After all, this baby was going to grow up and rescue the world from sin. This was good news for everyone so, "they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."
The McPherson have some good news to announce to the world, too. It's not the kind of news that is going to save the world from sin, but it is the kind that needs to be shared with all. On 25 FEB 2009 at 1718 (or 5:18PM) Alaska time, Molly Frances McPherson came into the world. Ashley and baby are doing well. The name "Molly Frances" means "freedom from sorrow" and thus far Molly has lived up to her name. She hardly cries and she is so patient with Daddy as he learns how to change diapers.
Spread the news far and wide, Molly is born. And if you did not know, two thousand years ago God sent his son Jesus into the world to save you from sin because he loves you very much. Enjoy the pictures below.

Fur Rondy

Remember Jon and I live in Alaska - people up here have to make their own fun. Saturday is the Running of the Reindeer (like running of the bulls in Spain but with reindeer) part of the week long celebration of Fun Rondy. What is Fur Rondy you ask - this is the time of year all the trappers brought back their furs and traded downtown - since they were all in town they decided to make a festival of it so we have tons of random fun coming up.

Fun things like:
Championship Dog Sled Racing
Frostbite Footrace
Snow Sculpture Competition
World Ice Bowling Championships
Outhouse Races
Running of the Reindeer
Dog Pull
Snowshoe Softball
Trappers and Miner's ball (supposedly protested by PETA)

Since Molly is coming Wednesday I know we will be good to go when things start Saturday! Or at least so we can see a few of the random things I mean how many people have gotten to ice bowl or see snowshoe softball (which I would participate in if not for the aforementioned delivery) or run away from reindeer chasing you down the street??
I will at least be sending Jon to see some of the fun so pictures will be posted along with pictures of Molly when she comes out after a 30 minute delivery tomorrow (ok at least not a 4 day delivery).

Winter Carnival Fun and McPherson's made it!

Today the base had a Winter Carnival at the sledding hill. You got free rides up the mountain to go tubing, there were dog sled rides, a hockey shot, food like reindeer sausage and many other fun free things! We met up with our friends at the hill to have some fun.

Jon coming down the half pipe

Jon at the bottom of the half pipe which they let us all tube down today - yes us. All 9 people in our party went down the hill in a tube don't worry it was perfectly safe.

Tina getting ready for her snowmobile ride through the woods

Olivia going over the stopping mound at the bottom of the half pipe

Olivia and Tina getting ready for the snowboard limbo - if I wasn't pregnant I would have tried this one but I don't think I could bend that low

Jon and I before our scanoe race - yes we rode down the hill in a canoe. We lost the race but didn't fall out of the scanoe or cause Molly to come out.

Vince and Ashley beating Jon and I to the finish - Jon had to get out and push to get us into the orange finishers circle.

After our loss at scanoing we headed straight to the airport to pick up Jon's parents. We took a scenic tour of downtown, came home for a few minutes and then took them to Bear's Tooth. This is the theater/restaurant in one. We saw The Tale of Despaurx and then came home so they could get to bed. They had been up since 5am Eastern Time so it was close to midnight before we let them come home and relax. Since I was exhausted and I have only been up since 9am Alaskan time I know they must be a little tired.

Waiting for our food and the movie to start!

We have until Wednesday when they induce me to get as much in as we can. Tomorrow we are going to watch some Outhouse Racing! We will be taking the McPherson's out to see the town and all the random fun they can handle for the next 3 days then we will let them see their granddaughter!!

Molly update: She is still in, I am having a few contractions but nothing major. She has such a sense of adventure that is why I am doing all the sledding and tubing and scanoing - it is my "cravings" - some people crave food - Molly craves FUN!!! (or at least I can blame her right??)