DeCap ReCap 1

Living in Alaska has been so different from other places we’ve lived.  We were told of things that would happen and I tucked them away in my mind "for later" but then all of a sudden they've happened and now we’re heading back into winter like when we first arrived here! We really tried to enjoy as much of the extra daylight and the sun that we’ve had, on the few days it wasn't raining!  Despite the differences (and all the longing for hot, humid days this summer) I have to keep reminding myself that this Alaskan experience isn't forever.  As much as I'm ready to be back in the lower 48 (where summer actually feels like summer!) there are some things that I already know will be missed.

Here's a first look back at the last couple months...

chatting with daddy…

sending packages to daddy…

easter fun…

the arrival of “daddy bunny”…

daddy’s birthday picture and treat jars…

mother’s day flowers…

and of course, the moose who spent the day in our backyard…

DeCap ReCap

May I introduce to you, the DeCap ReCap Series…

I could come up with a whoooole lot of excuses and reasons for why I haven’t been blogging, but none of them really matter. I just haven’t.  I don’t typically do a whole lot of broadcasting that the hubs has been deployed and for most of you that read this, you already know the details. 

yes, its blurry...

it was the best i could do while trying to hold myself together as i watched my son running to his daddy after being away from him for 6 mo.

But this week during our little family get-away the hubs noted that he checks our blog all the time and finds that I don’t keep up on it…a little heartbreaking knowing that he checks in on us and finds nothing new? Yes. I do update facebook and we are so very lucky this time around for him to have a pretty reliable internet and to have almost daily skype communications but I do enjoy blogging and I wish I could keep up with it better.  So that’s the plan, along with all the other plans I have, to get caught up on this Alaskan Spring and Summer’s happenings…and to stay caught up. Luckily, I’ve had good intentions all along and I have plenty of pictures to share.  So although the task of getting them all posted seems daunting I not only want, but need to get it done!

And here we all are, after so many months apart…

A little sneak peak of that little family get-away I already mentioned!

Much Love…

 Em & The Boys 

Independence Day

Happy Birthday America!

Birthday Wishes

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE SUPER COOL

NEPHEW AND COUSIN!

Hope your day was extra special Bug!

We miss you and love you lots! Good luck to you and your team at the state baseball tournament. We are excited for you!

Love,

Uncle Adam, Aunt Em, and Aidey Boy!

P.S. More from me soon...I hope! :)

Is anyone there?

Is there anyone there?  Is there anyone still checking in on us?  If you are...hi! and yes, I'm still here too. If you're wondering...Life happened.  That's all! :)

I've been getting some pictures ready to share so they'll be here soon if you haven't already seen most of them on facebook! Today I've gotten a bit lost though...

I'm not one of those people who usually gets lost in a good book, although every once in a while I find one I can't put down, I can more often be found wandering around the internet somewhere.  I have a few favorite blogs I follow and like to catch up on regularly but sometimes I come across something new and I get lost exploring it for awhile. Today I stumbled upon Pinterest and I'm wondering how I never knew of it?!? I spent some, ok most, of the little man's nap time enjoying this new place!

Today I also got lost, or caught up rather, with our tv and internet issues.  What's more frustrating than having them is that no one knows why we're having them, where they're coming from, or how to fix them! I guess if all else fails, we'll be moving again in 3 years and that will surely fix the problem! Right?

Even after that, I still had time to get lost in making a batch of these with my favorite little helper...

And tackled a little of this...

I think I really needed a day that didn't require a whole lot from me.  I feel like we should be completely adjusted to all of the changes we've recently been though, but I also think that by the time we are adjusted something else will come along that will require our patience, strength and adaptability. Tomorrow we'll be trying to get back on track (since after Aiden's surgery) and going back to daycare and work part time for the rest of the week. Aiden's in the tub now and I love to hear him splash and play and be silly...but what I love even more is holding him all cocooned up in a towel when he's finished. So I'm off...

Until next time...Much love!

{Emily}

M.I.A. & Spring?

If it seems that I've been a little M.I.A. lately, please let me explain...

Aiden is into everything!! Needless to say, I’ve been one busy mommy left to “do it all” lately.  I started my new job this week as well and that makes for a much longer day than we’re used to. I am liking it though and Im already looking forward to May when my hours will be reduced and we can spend some time enjoying the great Alaskan outdoors. Aiden seems to be liking his daycare, the other morning when I dropped him off he gave me a kiss and a hug and then pointed to me as he ran off to play and said “You, go!”  So off I went a little broken hearted, but so very glad that my son has not only adjusted to moving across the country but also having his dad being gone for so long and now me going back to work. He is more amazing than I ever could have dreamed he would be.

And just like that all of a sudden, today is the first day of Spring! It seems that the breakup season has already (unusually) started here, it doesn't technically start until the end of April, but I will take what I can get! The breakup means that one day there’s still lots of snow on the ground, which is gray because its been there so long, and its still very cold. The next day there’s lots of puddles and road spray because the sun is out longer and the snow begins melting fast.  There is some more snow in tonight's forecast but today was one one of the nicest days since moving here and Aiden and I took advantage of it by doing a little sledding. Although sledding doesn’t really seem like a Spring activity, in the winter it is much too cold to be out sledding for an afternoon. So we’ve been waiting and today it was almost 40 degrees and sunny! The snow was still sled-able since the air is so dry here quite a bit of the snow stays powdery versus melting and re-freezing and getting hard like in the midwest!  Even our Lilly girl joined in on the fun today.

And last but not least, we wished Aunt Jessica a Happy Birthday this week! We already sent hugs...but here’s a few more (((HUGS)))! So glad your special day was so special. (P.S. Claire told me the other day that you had TWO cakes!) Love ya! Miss ya!

{Emily}

Life: Unedited

All of these photos were taken recently and came straight out of the camera this way. No editing has been done to them!  If nothing else yet, Alaska has been a  beautiful place to see.

I've seen many pictures of Alaska and have been in awe of the beauty they posses but there is nothing like seeing it in person. I was also able to see the aurora borealis or the northern lights for the first time the other night as well. However, I was unable to get even a decent picture of them. Absolutely amazing! I never thought I would call a place like this home!

{Emily} 

Birthday Wishes

Today is this special lady’s birthday! A few years ago I found a great friend in an unexpected place at an unexpected time and I have been so blessed that she has unexpectedly stuck around!! Happy Birthday Linds, missing you more than usual today! Maybe in a "few" more years we'll be old ladies gossiping over coffee and racing each other through the nursing home causing trouble!

Friendship isn't about being inseparable, it's about being separated and nothing changes.  It's a promise made by the heart. Silent. Unwritten. Unbreakable by distance. Unchangeable by time.

From all of us today, We hope your day is special!