White Winter

In case you haven't noticed, my blog has a new look!  I designed it using a digital scrapbooking kit by Baers Garten called "White Winter". 

The inspiration for my blog makeover came from the view I see out my window these days.  It is for sure a "White Winter" over here!!! 

We got our first "measurable" (there were a few days when a few flakes fell, but none of it "stuck") snowfall on Sunday, November 8th.  This is the second latest "measurable" snowfall Anchorage has ever had.  Their latest "measurable" snowfall was in 2002, when it didn't snow until November 13th.

Some of you will remember last year how excited I was when it snowed right before Christmas.  I love snow, so I have no problem thinking about having to "endure" snow for the next 4-5 months.  After all, I lived in Saskatchewan for the first 11 years of my life, so I have an idea of what I'm "in for".

On Monday, Kendra wanted to go outside to play in the snow, so I stuffed her feet into boots that are too small, and her hands into gloves that don't stay closed over her fingers, and out we went.  She had a blast, and promptly had to lay down to make a snow angel!

(Don't worry, we are going this weekend to get boots, gloves, and snow gear for the whole family.  She won't have to stuff her feet into boots that are too small for much longer.)



 

For those of you that have asked, it hasn't been too cold yet.  One night it got down to -12 C (around 12 F, for you Americans) but mostly it's been around -4 C (around 28 F), which really isn't that bad.

And again, for those of you that asked, here are a few pictures of the house:





I plan to do a video tour of the inside once all my pictures are hung and I've done some decorating.  That might take a few weeks, so you'll have to be happy with a view of the outside for now.  :) 

And last, but not least, here is what I see from my bedroom window every day:





(That second picture is of a raven sitting on the fence.  Those birds are HUGE!  They make the crows back home look like chickadees!) 

Now, I should go and feed my children and get the little one down for his nap.

Welcome to Alaska!

My first glimpses of Alaska were from the air, when we were getting ready to make our descent. 

I was in complete and total awe, and even Kendra and Kingston were saying, "Oh wow!"





(Breath-taking, eh?)




We didn't get to do much sight-seeing the first few days that we were here, since Curt was working, I had no car, and I was also super busy unpacking the house.  We did go for a drive the second night we were here, but I was under the impression that we were going out for groceries, so I didn't bring the camera along.  I sure wish that I had, because it was a beautiful drive.  It's probably a good thing that I didn't though, because we would have been having to stop every few seconds for me to get out and take pictures! 

On our first Sunday here we went to church and then stayed for a potluck after the service.  It was great to meet everyone at our new church, and have a chance for some fellowship.  I had brought my camera along in hopes that we could get out and do some more sight-seeing before going home, and that's exactly what we did! 

We went to a park up a hill not too far from the church.  From up there you can look down on Anchorage.  Such an amazing view, and the camera doesn't even do it justice!  Here are a few for you to enjoy though:





(In the picture below, if you look closely, you can see some white mountains on the horizon.  One of those is Mt. McKinley, the tallest peak in North America.)





Then, of course, we had to take some pictures of us and the kids with all this gorgeous scenery!

























And so, yes, I'm enjoying living in Alaska.  The little I've seen so far has been gorgeous, and I really can't wait until we have more time to do more sight-seeing and exploring!  

I Promise....

....to try to come back with a post in the next few days.  I also promise to try to be a better blogger.  I've just been very busy making hats and taking care of my family that I just haven't had much time for the blog.

Sorry. 

I will try to be better. 

We are doing well though, and life is starting to take on a new "normal".  I've been dealing with a lot lately, and life has thrown some real curve-balls my way, but through God's Grace, I'm taking life a day at a time. 

So.... hope to "see you soon"! 

We're "Home"!

The kids and I arrived safely in Anchorage at 7:05 pm (local time) last night. 

The whole "flying with two kids" thing was pretty stressful.  Kingston cried the entire pre-flight and take-off.  The flight was delayed an hour, and we sat on the tarmac for 45 minutes.  So, it was a rough start to the flight, and the flight itself wasn't much better!

Kendra did great, I'll give her that.  I rented one of their "DigEplayers" and she watched cartoons the whole flight.  Kingston on the other hand, had ants in his pants and didn't sit still for 3 consecutive seconds!  Add to that the fact that we were on a FULL flight, so the older gentleman that sat next to us had to stay there.  I feel really sorry for him.  Bet he has something to complain about to his family and friends!

Halfway through our 3.5 hour flight, Kendra decided that she had to go pee.   Let me just say this:  I HATE AIRPLANE BATHROOMS!!!  I mean really, can they make them much smaller??  And then Kingston needed a diaper change as well, so there we were in line, in an airplane aisle (you all know how much room there is in those as well!), Kingston on my hip, huge diaper bag on the floor in front of me, and Kendra doing the "pee-pee dance" in front.  After waiting for 5 other people to go the bathroom and then somehow trying to find a way to let them by us without sticking my butt in the faces of the people seated in their seats, Kendra got to go to the bathroom!  After she went potty, I realized that they only have one bathroom with a change table, and that it was "occupied".  So, we wait, and we wait, and we wait some more, and then we wait some more.  Finally I knock on the door.  Then we wait some more.  After about 5 minutes of waiting, with Kendra bouncing up and down (cause she can never just stand still) and Kingston crying so loud, saying, "bum, bum, bum", the door opens and this woman (who was busy doing her make-up) wonders why we knocked.  Hello, there's only one bathroom with a change table in it, and you're using it to apply your make-up!  Grrr.....

The rest of the flight was pretty much the same as the first half.  Kendra watched more cartoons and Kingston moved around like a druggie on crack.

Then the seatbelt sign went on for the descent.  I had no choice but to hold Kingston still in my lap once again, and he, once again, screamed his head off for the half hour descent.  Lovely......

But, even after all of that, it was so worth it to walk off the plane and see Curtis there waiting for us!!!  Kendra was thrilled to see daddy, and promptly asked him, "Where is my lovely bouquet??"  We laughed pretty hard at that!

It was great to see my house for the first time, and I worked really hard to try to get the kids rooms set up so they could go to bed, and then I unpacked a few things in the kitchen, set up our room a bit, had a shower and CRASHED in our bed!  It felt sooooo good to sleep in my own bed once again!

There really is "no place like home"!  Even if it's a new home that needs lots of work setting up, has boxes everywhere you look, and could use a good vacuumming......

Some Pics and a Shameless Plug

Since I know you've all missed seeing pictures of the kids here on my blog these last few weeks, here they are! 











And this is also a great chance to let you know that Chugamugs Baby Wear is back in full swing.  Well, almost full swing.  Once I'm in Alaska and have my house unpacked, then I'll really be back full time. 

I do have room for 12 more hat orders for Christmas though, especially if they're ordered before Wednesday.  That way I can pick up the yarn before I head to the airport.  I have no idea how long it will take for the yarn to reach Alaska once it's ordered, and I can't buy it up there.  So my best bet for Christmas orders is to get them squared away now.

So, if you're thinking that a hat is the perfect idea for a Christmas gift for a little someone in your life, please visit my Etsy shop or send me an email.     

And aren't my kids just the cutest things ever???