1000 Words

 1000 Words

Her Whole Life

 Lee Lee has been waiting her whole life for this day...

She started kindergarten!

Happy Birthday Mom!

 Happy Birthday to my wonderful Mother!

Happy 70th Birthday to my mother and very best friend. 

7️⃣0️⃣🎂🎊

You live every day full of strength, joy, service, love, laughter, stories, faith, and purpose. 

✝️🥰📞🍳🧺🏃🏼‍♀️🥦🏈

You truly exemplify the fruits of the spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

💕🕊️💪🏻🧎🏼‍♀️🫖

You are my confidant, my cheerleader, my sounding board, my reality check, my prayer warrior, my call for help, my advice column, my safety net, my compass, and the secret ingredient to every recipe. Everything I am is from your loving guidance, patience, and direction. 

📣🙏🏻📞🧭💕

You are the best Grammie on the planet. Keep up all your healthy habits. You are so loved and still have so much to teach us. 

We can’t wait to see you in a few months. 

🌎🍎🏃🏼‍♀️⏳💕

Wondering

 For those wondering, here are some stats on Alaska...

Friday Adjusting

 Most of our working years in Colorado have been four-day work weeks.  Hubby and I had been married about one year when the school districts in which we worked began saving money by switching to four-day school weeks.

It was really nice -- three day weekends nearly every weekend, and in motherhood, there is no question it was essential.  One day for laundry and chores, one day for chores or tournaments, and one day to prepare for the upcoming week.

Well, now we've begun life in a school district with five-day-a-week school days, and we're actually really excited... and we need to adjust.

We know our kids learn less with 4-day school weeks.  Curriculums are still written for five-day-a-week schooling, and schools skip lessons.  We know because we work in schools.  We know that kids in AP classes have to cram five classes into four days and are accountable for the same knowledge.

We want our kids to be raised to know that five work days are expected.

That said, in all of motherhood, I have never had five days away from my children, all day, every week... 

And when it the laundry supposed to get done?

Nonetheless, I like that kids are going to learn the meaning of Friday Funday -- actually on Fridays.

In other schools, Thursday would be the Funday... which means, they're really down to only three days of learning.  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Funday.  Time to get these kids some quality learning.

Beluga Point

 We also spent some time Saturday at Beluga Point... were we saw no beluga whales but we are led to believe they can be seen there from time to time.

It was windy but a lot of fun to climb around the rocks and have our kids get up close to the ocean, some for the first time.

Saturday Exploring

 Yesterday we had our first day of family exploring since we've been in Alaska.  Hubby and I had a chance to plan the day on our Friday night date, and so we had our plan, and then we were able to be a little spontaneous as the day progressed as well.

We visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center where we saw a lot of native Alaskan animals that for one reason or another are not fit or able to survive in the wild, and so the conservation center has provided medical care and then created a healthy environment for each animal, similar to the wild, but where they are protected.  We packed a picnic lunch, walked the trail to see all the animals, and had fun.  I'm glad we went and know what's there, but it was more expensive then I expected so we will not need to go back.  Now we can recognize Alaskan animals when we see them in the wild because we've seen them at this center.

We saw wolf, grizzly bear, black bear, moose, elk, reindeer, musk ox, porcupine, a bald eagle, wood bison, and black-tailed deer.  Seeing musk ox for the first time (and pretty close) and watching the grizzly bear swim were two of the highlights.

There was more to the day but I will save that for another update:

First Date - AK Version

 Last night, Hubby and I had our first date night in Alaska.

The four big kids attended a "kid's night out" art event at a local art studio, and I was able to find a new baby-sitter for the two little guys.

Hubby and I found a lovely steak and seafood restaurant with several stuffed grizzlies, moose, caribou, and salmon decorating the lobby.

We enjoyed a dinner on the porch overlooking the Alaskan mountains (I'm not sure what range), and had plenty of time to pick up the big kids and then get home to the little boys.

Lee Lee told us this was her favorite night so far in Alaska.  It might have been mine too.  Hubby and I needed the time to connect for a minute amidst all the change, commotion, and little ones who need us.

Unique Perspective

 People in Alaska keep a unique perspective on things...

This is a poster I saw hanging in the office of my new elementary school secretary...

Big Minute

 We had a very exciting minute here at our home... two teeth came were lost within one minute of each other - and without tears or a collision involved.  I do think some competition was involved.

More Like Home

 This house is feeling more and more like a home every day...