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...

PSA

 Just a friendly Public Service Announcement from your Alaskan Mountain Millers...

Alaska's waters have leeches.

Note: All the children in the picture lived to tell the tale.

Teamwork

 They road their bikes to our mailbox 1.5 miles away and they rode their bikes home again (several hills involved)... but the real hard work was checking to see if there was any mail.

All Aboard!

All Aboard!

 

Repeat

 I apologize for the lack of attention my blog has been getting lately... I'm not sure if it will continue into the future or not, to be honest.

It just comes down to hours in the day, and the time I do NOT want to spend on my computer.

But, I'm here tonight... I thought I'd clue you in on a song I have been playing on repeat that has been encouraging me and giving me joy every time I hear it.

John Denver's Alaska and Me

I listened to it a few nights ago and shared it with my husband and the song speaks to both of us in an incredible way regarding this move.  The only part of the song we find not really fitting with our story is the second verse about the women who became a bush pilot's wife -- not so much the case here.

The first verse talks about how the man came to Alaska (it echos very closely with my husband), and the bridge at the end has a line about what the couple hopes their children will gain from Alaska.

It is such a wonderful song, and like I said, I've been listening to it on repeat.

Lyrics:

When I was a child and I lived in the city

I dreamed of Alaska so far away

And I dreamed I was flying over mountains and glaciers

Somehow I knew I'd live there one day

Well it took me some growing, and a fair bit of schooling

And a little bit of trouble to get on the move

And I felt like a loser but I turned out the winner

When I came to Alaska the land that I love

Here's to Alaska, here's to the people

Here's to the wild and here's to the free

Here's to my life in a chosen country

Here's to Alaska and me

I was born in a cabin on Little Mulchatna

Raised in hard times but I had a good life

From the first time I flew with my father a singing

I knew that I'd wind up a bush pilot's wife

We sleep near the sound of a slow running river

And wake up most mornings to a drizzling rain

And we face every day like the first or the last one

With nothing to lose and heaven to gain

Here's to Alaska, here's to the people

Here's to the wild and here's to the free

Here's to my life in a chosen country

Here's to Alaska and me

Oh, for the fire on a cold winter's night

And once more to gaze at the great northern lights

For all of the beauty my children will see

Here's to Alaska and me

Here's to Alaska, here's to the people

Here's to the wild and here's to the free

Here's to my life in a chosen country

Here's to Alaska and me

Not Fast Enough

 Brady's second birthday was in May, and by then, we knew we were moving to Alaska and selling many belongings.  So, my parents agreed, at my request, to delay sending Brady a birthday present until we were settled in our new home as I didn't want to have to move the new gift.  They said that sounded great and we all agreed that a toddler basketball hoop would be great for our little man (we had one years ago when Howard was 2, but it was fell apart a few years ago after much wear and tear).

We ordered Brady's hoop yesterday... and if you ask me, it can't come quickly enough.

Alaskans Now?

 As we've walked this path of moving to Alaska, I have found myself asking myself from time to time, "Can we call ourselves Alaskans now?"

Of course, not yet... but moving to a new place, we don't know what we don't know.  So, what traces must we navigate before we can claim this as our home?

We drove the Alcan highway... are we Alaskans now?

We've seen a moose in our neighborhood, just down the street.. are we Alaskans now?

We've caught halibut and cooked it for dinner... are we Alaskans now?

Sign Post Forest

 We saw some interesting sights on the trip...

What a Trip!

 What a trip we had from Rangely, Co to Palmer Alaska!