Ugh - what a mess

 If a picture is worth 1000 words....This picture should scream volumes! 

Going about my morning chores - jumping back into life... 

...and then! BAM!  I slipped on the ice/snow...and went down. My head landed softer this time...and I just have a minor headache....

I had collected 12 eggs. 

I broke 10 of them. 

You'll be happy to know I made it to the compost box without further incident. 

Since I can't possibly write a post that is focus' only on the boos.....here are some of the Yay's of being back in Alaska. 

1. family

2. tea

3. candles

White Sandy Beaches to White Snowy Mountains

Michael and I transported between white sands and white snow...78 degrees to 6 degrees. 

Bellows Beach 

It snowed while we were gone....

A Moosey Welcoming Committee

It's a very Alaskan thing to plan for a winter getaway to somewhere with sun! and warmth. We participated in this practice for the first time this year. We flew home today from a glorious week in Hawaii. I will spend time in the upcoming week blogging our Hawaiin adventures. 

One thing fellow Alaskans had not warned us about, is the disorientation and SHOCK when one comes back to Alaska from Hawaii, Arizona, or Florida mid-winter.  We found ourselves asking, "Now, WHY did we all migrate to Alaska? What IS it we love about Alaska?"

Josiah was at home watching GG when we arrived. He had shoveled the driveway!  He's done the mid-winter thing every year. Sensing our disorientation, he suggested we take a nap (that red-eye flight is a killer). I had been up for 29 hours at this point and Michael was closing in on 24 hours. 

After our nap we ran out for some dinner supplies and to deliver gifts to BreZaak and CoRielle. The bracing WIND and blowing snow in town made me turn to Michael and ask what we were both thinking, "What do we love about Alaska? Can you remember?"

He promptly replied, "Summer!" ::snort:: 

As we visited with Bre and kids and CoRielle and kids it came back to me....we love Alaska because of all these faces in one place. 

I asked Arielle, "Do you ever wonder why we didn't all migrate to Hawaii instead of Alaska?" ::snort:: 

In all seriousness there were pieces of our family we needed to meet in Alaska, like that little cutie in the middle. And we DO love Alaska. God placed exactly where he wanted us - regardless of the long winters.  We are here because God, and Alaska, called us here. End of story. 

We have decided to save up for an annual getaway. Afterall, "When in Rome, do as the Romans." 

I managed to get our food co-op order submitted while enjoying my first cup of tea in over a week.!

Dad decided to go to bed immediately after dinner. The girls, Michael and I watched episode 7 of Season 3 of The Chosen.  The girls went to bed. It's good to be home. 

BTW if I did it right with the scheduled post over the past week you never guessed we were out of town. Did we manage it? Security and all that....

Better Late Than Never

 My birthday this year spread over weeks.

Annie and I celebrated together at our monthly family celebration.

I was very busy on the actual day this year. I spent the morning with the CoRielle's boys and I spent the afternoon at food co-op. 

 Finally, we found a moment for those who live in the house to celebrate. We went out to noisy goose, one of my favorite restaurants and had ice cream and gifts.

I was showered with gift cards, certificate for a pedicure, lovely tea pot necklace, coffee card, Michael's gift card and more. It was worth the wait. 

*All photos by Allie. 

Making Memories with Aunty Coco

 While we were sitting on Waikiki beach, the girls sent these photos to us. WHAT? LOL  ICE FISHING with toddlers is quite an under-taking.  Looking closely, I noted Aunty Co-co in the back!!!

Arielle, Benny, Danny, Aunty Co-co, Cory 

Krista's job just now involves lots of time away from home and Alaska. She routinely flies to Hawaii, Guam and I've even heard tales of a trip to Japan in the works....and she has a unit she is responsible for in Australia as well.  I've watched her very intentionally investing in family relationships and friendships whenever possible. 

She borrowed Josiah's ice-fishing gear and invited CoRielle to join her to make some family memories with Aunty. What a great idea! 

Honestly, as Arielle said, "...ice fishing with two toddlers isn't for the faint of heart." BUT they made it work and had a grand adventure.  And in the end THIS face says it all! 

Cars and trucks on the ICE...a tent on the ICE...drilling a hole in the ICE... Danny was not sure at all about this idea. This boy is going to LOVE the warm days in Hawaii that I see in his future. 

Such a good daddy! What a blessing he is. 

In the end, even Danny was happy for the adventure! Way to go guys! 

*All photos from Krista and Arielle

Noah's Accomplishment

Photo via JaRissa

 WooHoo! Guess who has regained all of his birth weight?!?! Way to go!

Such a sweet little gentleman, it's already impossible to imagine the family before his arrival. 

Winter Snippets

 Snippets from the past couple of months - those little things I didn't have time to blog which added zest and sparkle to our days. 

Joelle makes the most amazing loaves of sourdough bread. She's agreed to teach me. I have baked sourdough bread before but it never looked this amazing. LOL 

The year began with power outages...this seems symbolic of starting the new year somehow. 

I set up a little winter hot chocolate bar for the girls and the kids that come through here. 

How fun to have such an exciting event to count down to in the winter! Noah, Jared and Larissa's baby boy will make his debut before January is over. 

The winter garden. Somehow, I'm not motivated to buy seeds...but I should. 

The sunrise...the sun sort of circles around the horizon. 

I'm enjoying the candles we made. They aren't very fragrant...I especially like the little teacups which will reveal fun surprises as the wax melts down.  AND we can refill them when we burn them down.

We weren't sure if our egg shortage was localized due to the supply chain or if it was national. It turns out it is national. My phone began to blow up on New Years Day with people wanting to buy eggs. This was a good nudge for me to contact a local market and ask if they would buy my extra eggs to sell. 

Yes, I'm a crazy chicken lady. I have started telling the girls who they are laying for. I went out on morning, and they'd only laid 3 eggs. I told them, "You have to do better than this. These eggs are for Hopey's birthday, and I need you to produce." They did. LOL  They are currently doing their patriotic duty and laying for the members who work at JBER since the commissary is out of eggs. LOL 

Allie is working hard on her college assignments. She will be halfway done with her AA when she finishes this semester. Nolan is doing the same (but I don't venture into his study habitat). Nolan is over halfway finished with his Bachelor's in Business Admin. 

Larissa and Noah - such a fun way to brighten winter! 

📷from JaRissa

There were FOUR moose in this spot as we drove out of our neighborhood. Nice of this one to pose for us. 

Freezer meals ready to send off to a new family. 

The boys love to play Hungry Dinos when they come to visit. 

Danny, Benny & Little Buddy 

We are looking to have the older Gherkins help with GG care from time to time. They came over Saturday to go over instructions so everyone would be ready to go as we need them. Little Buddy and Danny took reading over the instructions very seriously. Danny took pen in hand to make needed changes. LOL 

Can you believe its the end of January already???? WHUT is going ON? 

Noah Goes Home

I was happy to hear Larissa and Noah were going home today! 

 Aunt Carrie, Larissa and Noah, and Jared

Do you remember the surreal moment when you were alone in your car with your first child? I do. 

"What?"

"They are really going to let us go home with a tiny HUMAN!" 

The fur babies were happy to have Larissa home and were certainly willing to welcome Noah to the family. 

Is this not the cutest photo?