Spring Break Alaska Style

 Spring Break - when it warms up enough to enjoy the snow! ::snort:: 

This is Spring Break. Our youth group is opting for daily activities again this year...and I love all the fun they have together.  We decided to cancel school all could enjoy the week without the added stress of "being behind." 

Allie and Stacia

The week began with a trip to Hatcher's Pass for sledding. None of the youth team could join Stacia so Grandpa and I joined the kids to be 2nd and 3rd needed adult. It was the perfect day for sledding - and there weren't too many folks up there. It was bright, sunny and in the 30's. 

Grandpa and Krista - youth pastor

This was our first stop. The kids were able to work out the kinks on a "small hill" - MERCY. It had the added bonus of an outhouse. Dad and I stayed in the car and watched, read, snacked.  Here are some shots of them at Gold Mint Trail. 

The girls on the trip 

Evan 

Josiah, Evan, Jessie, Krista, Allie, Stacia 

I love this shot of Jessie

They called it quits at Gold Mint and asked me to drive them further up the pass. There are several trails  people sled and snow board down in the winter. I can't even imagine......MERCY.  They were all excited to give it a shot.  Krista took some pics of the group along the way. 

📷 Krista 

📷 Krista 

📷 Krista 

 Grandpa and I drove to the bottom to wait for them to appear. Evan was first on his snowboard, followed by Jessie on his...and then others came sliding in.  This is the spot we waited. I believe they did Paradise Trail and not 16 Mile. 

Jessie

Josiah

Allie and Stacia

Krista

Stacia

Allie

Allie

A sweet family came by....this is a great cross country skiing essential with kids. 

Tuesday their activity was rather tame. They met at the Annex for dinner and a movie. 

Sensational Saturday

 Our Saturday began with the mundane. I have 2 big stock pots of broth to can. This seemed a good day to can...I knew we had company in the afternoon, but a canner can work with company in the house....I got the first pot settled. I asked Nolan to bring in the next pot....Um...Frozen solid. He began to work with boiling water and levers....

Meanwhile Allie and Stacia continued our goal of trimming up Millie. She looks presentable again - a bit odd, but lovable. 

The struggle with the stock pot continued. 

Not even team work helped

Bad photo - but Nolan pulled the  strong, sturdy handle of the stock pot off. The pot was still stuck. 

Michael got involved with a crowbar and mallet and freed the broth.  Unfortunately, the solid block of broth in the pot was still thawing at bedtime. I'll finish this project tomorrow. 

Cy, Carrie and Olivia arrived. This was our first time to hear Hawaii stories since the boy trip to Hawaii. I'm thankful for the military friendships of our boys and the Harding boys - 16 years and going strong. Below you see Steven, Mikal, Jared, Jamin and Josiah...

📷 One of the guys via facebook 

CoRielle arrived. Benny yelled, "I got you, Uncle!" I had to check it out....not sure who has whom in this situation. 

Cy, Carrie and I ran out to check out local thrift stores. Carrie and Olivia have found a new apartment and she is outfitting it.  The rest of the afternoon was spent with games. Alex came and left. It was loud and chaotic. Jamin came a bit after Arielle and boys left...Krista was out all day with Luke...busy house....

Cy and Carrie

Arielle and Benny

I love this photo. Benny is a determined spoons player. 

I was the first out and so filled my time taking pictures. Carrie won the spoons extravaganza.  I finished two canners of broth. We cleared out the fridge with a YOYO night (Your On Your Own).  Grandpa, Michael, Nolan, Allie, Stacia and I watched the last episode of WandaVision....

We LOVE Fridays!

 We love Fridays and Saturdays!!!! The "work week" is over and we breathe a big sigh of relief. We had just settled into Friday after-school when Arielle and the boys surprised us. 

Baachan - look! I'm floating.

Benny jumped in and helped Stacia make brownies. I made some sugar free brownies.....

Papa helped with the mixer...it was a multi-generational project! LOL 

It occurs to me I have several Benny in the Kitchen photos where he is sampling the goods. 

We did not simply have a sugar attack. We knew we were having Aaron and Elise for dinner and Cy and crew are coming out tomorrow.  Brownies - and a sugar free option - were called for.  I was glad we had opted for pizza for dinner. There was no fussing or worrying about dinner. We were able to drop and while the afternoon away with CoRielle and still be ready for Aaron and Elise. They are expecting their first in one short week. We added a salad and fruit plates and were ready.  The laughter and conversation was perfect to send us into a relaxing weekend. Grandpa loves having folks drop by. It was a win win.  The only "sad" element is Nolan and Krista weren't able to join us. 

Nope, I didn't take one single picture. 

Winter P. E.

Stacia is perfecting on new skills. The driveway is a good spot to practice a bit of an incline...I knew she would like cross country skiing if we could make it happen. We found all but the boots for me....must make a trip to Play it Again Sports soon. 

Millie is not 100% sure Stacia should be outside without her. At this point Stacia doesn't need the chaos factor of our whackadoodle. 

While Stacia enjoys a bit of winter PE, Nolan works away on his new class at Western Governor's University. 

Sun. We have sun. We have 12 hours and 11 minutes of light to be exact. It would be an error to think we have warmth, tulips, or green shoots; but we have sunlight. It's been -2* the last few mornings when I take Alex to work. 

Seriously, do you get it? WE.HAVE.SUN. We can get OUT in it - and soon it will warm up enough nostril hairs won't freeze when one plays in it. LOL 

A Visit from The Boys

 This, of course, is the highlight of our day.  Arielle and the boys visited.  Nothing else to say. LOL  

📷by Arielle

Benny was game to try a new game....he invented his own rules as he didn't like the bouncing ball effect. 

The face of success!

Danny is full of smiles and giggles at 4 1/2 months old. 

We love having Nolan home more often - though it means he is working very late nights....GG made Benny a balloon with the bag his newspaper came in. He promptly turned it into a weapon to get an uncle. 

Benny LOVES Papa's late breakfasts. He can always score a bowl of cereal. 

Playing with G. G. 

Baachan's heart is captured. 

📷 by Arielle

📷 by Arielle 

March has been a hard month for our family since 2011. Playing together is good for all of us.