Just Some Local Fun

The snow is almost all melted away, but today we are heading to Alyeska Ski Resort for some last bit of fun in the snow. It is located about an hour south of Anchorage, right around the town of Girdwood. The 34th Slush Festival is going on this weekend. There are all kinds of ski and snow activities though the reason we are headed up...the Idiot Swim Competion. Where people jump into the freezing water and swim!!! Yes keep your eye out for photos. I have uploaded one I found online from last year! Keep in mind these people are standing bare foot on snow and ice and everyone in the background are wearing jackets, gloves and hats!

http://www.alyeskaresort.com/info/calendarevents/calendarevents.winter-09-event11.empty.aspx

Christmas Cookie

Florida vacation came to and end and before I knew it I was back on the plane headed for Alaska. For the two weeks I was gone I got a phone call everyday from Josh about the puppies. Stella wouldn't go up stairs or eat she just sat at the end of the stairs waiting for me to come home. Kingston on the other hand threw up for two weeks straight and also decided to chew up a pair of jeans and shoes. So you could say the dogs were "acting out".

So when I flew back to Alaska Friday I only expected the dogs to be acting a little strange, and didn't even think twice about stella's new mood. She would just sit and stare at the coffee table or she'd be laying down by it or she'd be flopped over the love seat by it. It wasn't until this morning when we came down stairs together that I knew what was up. Stella was fine running around and eating her breakfast...so I decided to sit down on the couch, and I walked over to the coffee table and lit a Yankee Candle called christmas cookie...and like clock work from across the room stella came over and sat by the candle. SO it dawned on me, Stella had been begging this WHOLE time.

...But came you blame the little

girl, sometimes I forget that its a candle and I go look for the fresh baked cookies...

Madelyn Enters the WORLD!

WOW so two days before my sisters planned C section I flew home to suprise everyone! Let me tell you that those were the longest flights of my life! I just couldn't wait to see the look on my sisters face! So after two flights and a red eye I had made it back to FLORIDA! While I was looking out the window of the air plane I couldn't help but wonder why doesn't everybody live here. Its bright, beautiful, sunny and warm. Everybody walks around with such a glow about them, something that is missing in Alaska durning the winter (but can you blame them?).

But all thats another blog, I suprised Kerry and was about to be with her for the next two weeks to watch her baby grow! Madelyn was born April 1 and weighed 5 pounds 10 oz. She is the most beautiful baby and it makes me so happy that I was able to be around my family for a little bit!

SuperMoon

...okay I cheated and took these the night before the moon was the closest in 18 years. So we can call this the closest the moon was in 18 years before that day when it was closer.

Same View Different Year

Took photos at Earthquake park last year but couldn't resist heading back! These photos are all taken over a period of an hour

When in Alaska...Do as the Bears Do

This winter has been freezing, we never saw temperatures like this last year. Through the whole month of March I drove to work in negative temperatures everyday. On the other hand because it is so cold it hasn't been dumping snow on us. As each day grows longer and longer by five mins slowly Alaskans are waking up and getting out!

Josh and I drove to a park called Flat Top the other weekend. I heard you could view all of Anchorage and the greater area, so the second that it was above freezing we were in the car. I don't know if it was my Florida roots, but when I pictured a park named "flat top" I pictured an easy drive to a hill or possibly a small mountian.

Well just the opposite, we almost turned around when we saw sign after sign saying, "4WD ONLY, ALL OTHERS TURN AROUND". We were driving up a 90 degree angel and the roads were 100% ice...oh and of corse the road was wide enough to fit one car.

All great things don't come easy, and the view ended up being amazing. It put in perspective how big the Mountains are and how small we are.

This is zoomed out...look closly and you will see Downtown Anchorage all the way to the far right with the red arrow pointing it out

This is zoomed into Downtown Anchorage

Spring Break Up...

Its that time of year...or at least I am hoping that it is. We finally have gotten a few days above freezing and it is helping with the snow melting. Though that hasn't stopped the snow from coming, we have gotten a few more inches. Though we finally can see some of the cement on our driveway from the ice and snow being chipped away! Last year we got over a foot in April so I am not holding my breath but hopefully we are going to have an amazing summer!

Last chance to come visit, we are leaving at the end of July and will be finding out where we are being relocated by the middle of April!

Real Men Wear Fur

Fur Rondy 2011. Yet again another freezing festival day. The temperature was in the single digits and the wind chill in the negatives. However, Alaskans needed another reason besides freezing to death to stop them from coming out to celebrate Fur Rondy.

Dog sled races, carnival, helicoptor rides, ice sculptures, fur auctions and lots of food are some of the things that take place downtown for t

wo weekends. The Fur Rondy is the largest winter carnival in the United States, and the day is ended with fire works.

Girdwood, AK

About 35 mins south of Anchorage is a tiny town called Girdwood. So small I don't even think they have a stop sign. Just about three resturants, a gift shop and a gas station...with a Subway! Basically a pit stop along the Cook Inlet when your driving down south to Seward...or for us a saving grace when your "E light" starts showing up.
Josh and I had a long weekend so we decided Monday to drive down. Clear blue skys and about 20 degrees made it perfect outside.

Alaskan Sunrise

Goodmorning!

I can't believe Josh and I have been back in Alaska for over a month and half! We are both working full time, and trying to stay warm.

The really exciting news is that we found out that we will be leaving Alaska this summer. (August) This was unplanned and over a year earlier than we expected. This April we will find out where we will be moving to, and since its the military we have heard anything from California to Florida...so that covers just about everything