Start the new year off right...

Witta buncha good naps...  ;)

...

Grandma's hand...sleeping baby's hand...  So sweet...

 Naps with Grandpa - always so relaxing!  Ahhh....                                                                                              

...NOW I have my second wind!      :)

Love you kiddo...

Had a holly, jolly Christmas...

What could be better than ALL the family members in town and together for the first time in years??  

(You're waiting for an answer, I can feel it....  That was a rhetorical question up there...)  ;)

Here, Michael is being taught how to use a camera effectively...

Some family (oh, just some random family...heehee...) during gift opening - we draw names so that families aren't overwhelmed by cost or gifts, and most of the gifts are homemade goodies, so stuff we feel good about giving...  :)  

Sean's gift - an original Bradley Nugent carving of a penguin!  :)

 My dad (holding an original Joshua Nugent origami owl), Brad, and Jeff...  :)

Ashley and her cousin...  Michael and his cousin...  :)

ADAM!  What a natural...  (Just funnin' ya, Ad - we're so glad you're back!)

 2 Michaels...AND the famous Alaska Baby Salute!

 Again, the famous Alaska Baby Salute, demonstrated by Ashley!  :)

Auntie Colleen and Uncle Dan ready to take their little nephew out for a round o' golf...  ;)

And, the family shot!!!  Wait, this one's a little funny...

HERE we go!!!  ;)  Now we got it right...  ;)

*More pics to follow!*  (We're missing some peeps here...)

Photos taken by Jessica Aagaard, Tricia Nugent, and Colleen Nugent :)

Nothing I could do, total eclipse of the moon

On December 20, 2010, us lucky folk here in Alaska got to experience a total lunar eclipse - the only one in 2010...and the first one I've seen since I was a wee one...  My amateur photographer self thought it would be cool to try to capture this on camera, and despite the glare through the window, I was able to come up with a few shots that weren't too blurry.  :)  

When we got home that night, we all camped out on Michael's floor and watched...

The window glare starts to take over... 

 ...but I didn't want to suit up and brave the below zero temps when I was so cozy inside...

 I like that you can see stars too...

 ...

The eclipse wasn't quite finished at this point, but Michael was, so we had to transfer him from floor to bed and call it a night.  I know right now he doesn't understand what we were watching that night, but hopefully someday we'll get to see another one, and he'll get to enjoy it (and ask LOTS of questions, I'm sure)...  :)

God is good...

All photos taken by Jessica Aagaard, 2010

...

I don't know if Alaska's winters are wearing on me, but one of my favorite things to do is look at real estate and dream.  Not of luxurious homes or huge mansions, no, I much prefer things simple.  Maybe I imagine us being wiser with our next purchase (I love our home, but affordability is an issue), or maybe I imagine what it would be like to be able to go for a walk with Michael at any time of year, but I'm always on the lookout for our next great adventure...  Part gypsy?  Perhaps...  Missionary at heart?  Most definitely!  Although, we moved so much when I was growing up that all I wanted was to lay down some roots when I got older.  Now here I am, hunting on the interwebs... for what?  Despite the interest in wherever we'll end up next, I know that as long as I am with Sean and Michael, I'll be happy...they are my home, and wherever it is that God will use us most, only He knows...

"I'm like a potted plant...as long as you feed me and water me I'll go wherever you want to..." 

                                                          - Sean  (I love you, husband!)  ;)

Growing Like a Weed...

Son-o, son!  You just keep on growing!  :)  It's been 7 months since you came into our lives and you've been blessing us ever since!  :)
So many new things - all around you - every day...

Keep on looking...

Keep on learning...

Keep on growing...

I love you.

:)

I had an AWFUL night of sleeplessness mixed with terrible dreams when I did doze off.  :(  boo.
But then I woke up at the same time as my beautiful son, and he put his little hands on my face and told me stories.  I love love love being a momma!  :)

Sometimes...

Sometimes at night, when putting you to bed, 

I'll linger for a while in our chair, just to hold you in my arms...a little longer.  

I love you, son...