Chasing the Sun

This has been a long winter. We have had record breaking amounts of snow and not a lot of sun. I chose this particular winter to have a baby...and Bobby. With long, dark days I have been going a little crazy. My parents have recently built a house in Nevada and have turned into "snowbirds", traveling there in the winter and home to Alaska for the rest of the year. My dear, sweet, wonderful husband who has the most awesome job in the world(with a lot of time off) suggested I go visit them for a week over spring break. Yes, I really was that bad! It was a wonderful break and the shot of Vitamin Sun that I needed.

Here I have with my brothers Mitch and Chris standing in my parents back yard.Can you tell I am nursing? Chris happened to be down in Nevada too and our trips overlapped by one day. Mitch drove down from Phoenix to see me. He is so wonderful.




Mom, holding Jack while he slept. She did this a lot while I was there. Thanks Mom. I sure do love my mom and miss her when she is gone.


Me and my beautiful niece, Rebekah with Jack. I have 4 wonderful nieces who loved to hold Jack!

Me and another beautiful niece, Molly, on a hike called Shaw Butte overlooking Phoenix.


Mitch suggested we go for a hike and asked if I wanted easy, medium, hard or very hard. I chose medium and was glad I did because it seemed a little on the hard side to me.



Mitch and I out for a spin on my parent's new 4-wheeler.


My SIL, Laura, holding Jack Henry.




Dad and Jack.


We visited Warm Springs which is about 20 miles from my parent's home.


Sunny and I on a walk with my Dad.

Mitch holding Jack.

Night at the Museum

Hannah is involved in the art club at school. One of the pieces her club worked on was on display at the Anchorage Museum of Art, so we decided to visit for Fabulously Fun Friday.



This is the fish that her entire group worked on.


The Imaginarium was open and free that night so we ventured in. Bobby was so excited about the toddler area.




We decided to try out the new revolving Sushi Bar in town.....fun!

5th Grade Survival Camp

The first week of March was a great week for Hannah and her Dad. On March 1st and 2nd Hannah went on the long anticipated 5th grade survival camp. Dad got to go with her as a chaperone. This camp is something that Hannah has looked forward to for several years. It is very well organized. They entire 5th grade stays at The Birchwood Camp for two days and one night. On day 1 they are taught survival skills and play games. On the second day they are put in a survival situation. I am so glad that their school really promotes a love of Alaska.

The entire 5th grade camp.


Hannah's survival situation group. This group worked together for weeks planning a meal to cook on the fire. In the situation they had to find a spot to set up shelter, make a shelter, make a bathroom, bench and refrigerator, build a fire and cook a meal all on their own.


Hannah was the "injured" person in the situation. She had to have her left arm in a sling, so her job was to tend to the fire.


Skit night.

Hannah snowshoeing in the winter games.

I had Hannah write in her journal about her experience. Here is what she wrote:

"A few days ago I went to a survival camp at Birchwood Camp. It was so fun. I even spent the night. We learned how to build a fire out of flint and steel, made butter, looked at several different shelters, learned how to use a GPS, talked about avalanches and did skits and did snowshoe races.
I slept in a cabin called Willow Ptarmigan. I was so hot! On the second day we took all the information and made a little camp. We made a shelter, a fire, a bathroom, a fridge, and a bench. We cooked Top Ramen, hot dogs and smores. Dad came too. It was so much fun."

Character Day

Last Friday the girls ran up stairs before school to inform me that it was dress-up as your favorite book character day. A little advanced notice would have been welcome, but I think we did OK.


Hannah went as Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. She was dressed in black pants and my white collared shirt and long black sweater. It was completed with a Gryffindor badge.




Winnie was Laura Ingalls from "The Little House on the Prairie". She wore a flowered dress and the awesome old-time apron Nana had made for her.

Twins

Jr. Nordic

This girls have been doing participating in the Jr. Nordic cross country ski club this winter and have really enjoyed it. The ski tuesday and thursday nights. Robert usually goes with them, but I have gone a couple of times. They are really progressing and have become quite good little skiers.

Two Months

Jack Facts:

Sleeps 10 hours a night.
Weighs 11 pounds 10 ounces.

25 inches.
Wears 3-6 month clothes.
Smiles all the time.
Likes to "stand".
Bats at toys.
Tolerates being poked by brother.
Makes our home a piece of Heaven.