3223 miles

How do you even begin to pack for a move that is 3223 miles? What to leave, what to take? Only 25 more days to figure it out! CRAZINESS! (I'd better get my butt in gear and start packing more that a box a day. Hee hee.)

My First Bear!

 

 

 

So after listening to me complain that he gets to hunt for days on end, Brent planned a hunt for me on the Prince William Sound from Valdez, AK. It takes 7 hours to get to Valdez from Fairbanks and then another 2 hours on the ocean to get to the hunting spot. It was so beautiful there! The scenery included pristine mountains, glaciers and beautiful ocean views. We had one day that was rainy but other than that it was perfect weather! We even came home with a tan. Anyway, the first night I got my first shot at my bear, but oh my, I was so nervous I was shaking like crazy and I missed him. The second day we spotted a couple bears, but we weren't able to get one within range. Early the third morning I got my redemption shot! We got to within 80 yards of the bear and was able to calm my nerves enough to make a good shot on him. I have to admit, I get it now. I get why my hubby likes this so much. The whole experience was an eye opener for me. It was very exciting! What an awesome hunt! What an awesome bear! Thanks to Brent for planning our hunt. Thanks to Ken for taking us out and letting us use your boats. Thanks to Greg and Shane for helping. Thanks to Jamie for watching our girls!

Brents Coastal Bear

 

 

 

 

Brent went on a 10 day hunt in Valdez, Alaska. To my delight, he came home with a 7 foot black bear! Good hunt babe.

Abby

 

Abby and I were playing outside together and I took this picture of her. I LOVE IT!!!! She is at the funnest age. 4 is my favorite. I love how independant she is yet she still thinks I am the coolest person ever. She is one of my very best friends. I love to play with her and spend time with her. She is so funny and just a great little girl. I am very lucky to be her momma.

Begin Early

As a mother, I always have the best intentions of teaching my children. I try to have scripture study and family home evenings. I try to attend church activities and find teaching moments in our daily lives. Somedays I find myself using the excuse of my children being so young, that they don't really know what I'm teaching them anyway. I was reading the Ensign last month and there was a quote that really spoke to me.

"We have the greatest opportunity with the young. The best time to teach is early, while children are still immune to the temptations of their mortal enemy and long before the words of truth may be harder for them to hear in the noise of their personal struggles.
A wise parent would never miss a chance to gather children to learn of the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Such moments are so rare in comparison with the efforts of the enemy. For every hour the power of doctrine is introduced into a child’s life, there may be hundreds of hours of messages and images denying or ignoring the saving truths.
The question should not be whether we are too tired to prepare to teach doctrine or whether it would be better to draw a child closer by just having fun or whether the child is beginning to think that we preach too much. The question must be, “With so little time and so few opportunities, what words of doctrine from me will fortify them against the attacks on their faith which are sure to come?” The words you speak today may be the ones they remember. And today will soon be gone. "

-Henry B. Eyring
April 2009 Ensign

Too often I feel like I didn't spend the proper time preparing Family home evenings and I just throw somehting together and call it good. "Atleast we did it." Many nights I really do feel to tired or too busy. I can find the time if it is a priority. To really seek the kingdom of God first we must place our energy and time into it. Our children really are treasures. I know that as we replace the good in our lives with things that are better, and truly essential that we will be blessed. We have the choice to choose obedience. We can choose to read our scriptures daily and to keep the commandments and to serve others. As we choose obedients to the commandments I know we can find true joy and our families will be blessed.

Happy Easter!

 

Hope you all had a very Happy Easter! (Like my children obviously did.) Ha ha!

Easter Alaska Style

 

 

 

 

So instead of dying eggs (which we still have not done! I'm such a slacker!) we went to the Holt's house. A family in our ward that has 35 huskies at their home. They have participated in the Iditarod 3 times so they are the real deal. We had expected a little 10 minuute ride so the kids could go dog mushing. We got there and we got to watch them hook the dogs up and they took Avery and I on a 8 mile ride then Abby and Brent went on the same 8 mile loop. It was definately above and beyond our expectations! I am amazed at the work and dedication that goes into the sport. It really is a life style. By the time we left we had been there for 3 hours and the girls had the time of their life! Here is a shout out to the Holts! Thank you for such an AWESOME experience!!

March and the Ice Park

 

 

 

 

So, I'm just a little behind. I was telling someone about the ice park and they wanted to see some pictures. Anyone who knows me well knows that I LOVE the ice park. We get a season pass every March and go all the time. It is the World Champion Ice sculpting. It never ceases to amaze me what people can carve out of a block of ice! They have huge slides and a kids park, an ice maze, tunnells, it really is quite amazing. We always end up staying for hours. Part of the fun is that it is March when the sun starts actually shining and it warms up above 0 here in Fairbanks... we can finally enjoy our snow. We will definately be missing the ice park next March!

Ice Tunnell

 

 

 

 

These were some of my favorites of my girls climbing through the ice tunnell with their friend Ethan.

Ice Park

 

 

 

 

So these were some of my favorite sculptures. I stood next to King Kong to give people an idea of just how big and truly amazing these are!

Happy Spring!

 

 

 

Spring begins!!! Happy first day of spring (yesterday.)

PCSing!

 

Well, it is official! San Antonio here we come!! Yeah. I am so excited. Our report date is August 28. I know, it will be hot then but honestly, I can think of nothing better. We will be getting season passes to Sea World. There is a six flags, malls (actual malls!) The River Walk, restaurants and most importantly a temple! We are blessed to have a temple in Anchorage but it still takes 7 hours to get there. It takes an entire weekend. Not that I'm complaining but it will be nice to have one so close. Flights to Utah are super cheap! Yeah. I am so excited but we have much to do.

Moose Mountain

 

 

 

 

Brent took a 3 day pass and we went skiing at Moose Mountain. It was such a BEAUTIFUL week for Spring Break!! We spent everyday outside. It was up to 30 degrees! Can I say spring fever?! (Then today was -30 but we don't want to talk about that) It was so great to be out and enjoying the outdoors. This was our first time to Moose Mountain. It was so awesome too. Instead of a chair lift, you get to ride up to the top in a nice and warm bus. I wish we had discovered this 3 winters ago....

Hank the Moose

 

 

How often do you get a family photo on an Alaskan Moose?! Hank travels around Alaska for photo shoots. You can track him online to find out where he will be. We couldn't resist taking the picture. I told the girls we were going to see Hank the Moose and Avery runs and changes into her hunting shirt so she and daddy could shoot it. Abby shouts out in tears "We can't shoot him. I think he's a nice moose!" I took her away from Avery to explain that someone else had already shot it. It is like the moose hanging on our wall, it just has it's whole body and a saddle so you can ride it. By then she was excited and ran to put her boots on.

How many months till July?

So we have been back to Alaska for about 2 weeks. It is warming up and we have actual daylight. Words can't express how wonderful sunshine is. It just makes me feel so happy. Today was 15 degrees and little Avery informed me it was too warm for her coat. Can I just say how excited I am to move somewhere where 15 is considered cold!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!! I am looking forward to planning some vacations before we leave. I want to dip my toes in the Arctic Ocean and maybe see a polar bear. I want to walk on the squishy tundra and get a photo by the Arctic Circle (since there's NOTHING there but a sign.) I want to go see the wildlife cruise in Homer and I'd love to tour Denali from an airplane. I'd also really like to ride the train... choices, choices. Then, before winter hits, we will be gone. Yeah. Anyone know someone who'd like to buy a house in North Pole?