These Boots Were Made for...

Guess what y'all? The snows gone, the suns out so that means it's time to get your boots ready. No not your cowboy boots. You're hiking boots. It's summer! It may only be 40 or 50 degrees but it's summertime here in Alaska! It's time to reach he top of every peak. We set out on our first hike his season with my parents since they were in town visiting. We went on one of our favorite hikes, turn again arm trail from rainbow peak. It's a beauty. You have views of tour again arm (hence the name) from the trail and there's a great lookout point at the top. It you want to be really adventurous you can swing back right and hike all the way to the top of rainbow peak. It's a fun, long hike too. Here's a few pictures of our first adventure hiking this year.

Until the next hike...

Xoxo, 

W, M, Em-Kat

That's the White Stuff... Baby

What do you expect in the winter in Alaska... the white stuff.

Unfortunately 2016 wasn't too heavy in the snow department. We didn't have snow to brighten our short days and long nights. With no snow, it meant that we couldn't fully enjoy the winter we were ready for.

One bucket list item we were able to check off, but not do more of was cross-country skiing. We were really hoping to learn and take Em-Kat alot, but there wasn't a lot of snow. We took her out once in the fancy sled we got.

I want someone to pull me around while I sit hot chocolate in a sled

Picture of a professional looking skier

I may have fell a couple of times. And it may of hurt the next day. It may not have though.

The real champ. Learning to cross country ski while pulling 30 lbs. 

I thought I would be good because I have downhill skied since I was 2.5, but I was like a new moose who was learning to walk for the first time. The type of cross country skiing we did is actually called skate skiing. It's easier to go fast and easier to get the hang of the first time. We didn't take lessons because we thought we didn't need them. We were ok. But people may have had a few laughs at us. We had fun and that's all that matters!

A lot of our winter consisted of sledding in our backyard when we had enough snow. Em-Kat loved it!

Em-Kat's happy place

This is about as bright as it go during the middle of winter. And yes, this picture is even brightened! 

We had a great 1st winter. We are already praying for more snow next winter!

Xoxo,
W, M, Em-Kat

So-white or Snowwhite?

Raise your hand if you love snow! (Everyone's hands should be up in the air). Snow makes me giddy. It makes me excited. I just love it when I see it in the forecast, I love it when it's falling and I love it when I get to play in it. This year we got to experience snow in a whole new light. We went snowmachining on it. I know what yall are thinking in the lower 48. They must be on this big machine like....

Nope.

Or maybe they mean something more like this....

Nope. It's a little more like this.

 And then You lower 48's say that's a snowmobile. Yes, it may look like a snowmobile from the Lower 48 and yes it is a snow mobile in the Lower 48 but these are machines and they are built for Alaska! This was one of our most fun trips this winter. A friend of ours has 4 machines and a little cabin up by Trapper Creek and he invited us along for a day trip. We are so glad we said yes. Ward loved it. I thought it was a blast and Em-Kat. Well she wanted off that machine as soon as she got on it. Luckily it's only a two mile ride back to his cabin. The cabin has no road access, you can only get there by snowmachine in the winter (only boat in the summer) and no running water. Adventurous... Huh! Thank goodness for his cabin and sleds. Em-Kat loved sledding down the big hill by the cabin and momma loved that she had a place to take a nap! 

I think Em-Kat liked sitting on it better than riding on it! 

Nothing beats sledding with Denali as your background

Daddy and daughter

Well after a long day of sledding and snowmachine get (which are also interchangeable terms up in Alaska). We headed home and we were exhausted including Em-Kat. This will definitely not be the last time we take these bad boys out to explore the great Alaskan outdoors. And with this trip, we checked another thing off the bucket list... Snow machining. #andanotheronebitesthedust

Xoxo,

W, M, Em-Kat

Alyeska Adventures

#1. Set the stage: it's Wards milestone birthday weekend. I wanted to do something special for him. So I reserved a condo for us and one of our friends who has twins 2 weeks younger than Em-Kat. The condo has a nice hot tub that we can all use while the babies are sleeping.

And problems arose: Meghan wakes up on Friday morning and she has painful bumps on her hands and feet. She's been sick this week with a cold and took some medicine she had never had before so she just thought it was a reaction to the medicine. She decides to call the dr. (Teledoc is legit if you haven't used it). And Meghan calls the dr and the dr says, Meghan. You've got hand,foot and mouth. And Meghan says what?!? She said I can't get that I'm not a toddler. And the dr says well I've never seen an adult with it but that's what you've got. And Meghan said say it ain't so cause we've got a big weekend to celebrate. And dr. said you're not going anywhere to celebrate. You're contagious and you can't get anyone else sick.

Alyeska Trip #1 You thought I was never getting there. I really didn't get there for wards birthday but I let him! Ward capitalized on the opportunity to enjoy is Friday off and still went skiing with a friend even though I was Codemed to the house. So check one thing off the birthday list so Meghan didn't feel so bad. 

Birthday surprise: Ward woke up to a 7+ magnitude earthquake to ring in his birthday. Wasn't really the wake up call I had expected but e started it with a big and then a little groundbreaking. Luckily we were all ok and we only had one thing damaged at our house,

The real birthday surprise: Meghan with the help of 30+ friends surprised Ward with a book with favorite memories and favorite things about ward! Thank you all for contributing to his book and helping me surprise him! It was the best gift ever and he loved it! 

#2. This trip to Alyeska wasn't nearly as dramatic but a whole lot more fun. We both took a Friday off to go skiing for the day and left Em-Kat in good hands. It was our first trip to Alyeska together and my first time to try out my new skis. We had a blast having a little date day and trying out the mountain. It's not Colorado. So don't start packing your bags looking for your next ski vacation. It's not a tough mountain to ski, but definitely a lot different feel than Colorado. The Rockies will always have a special place in my heart so Alaska for now Rockies 1 - Alaska 0.

Look at the view from the mountain

I spy a man in orange

We will be back more next year Alyeska. Hopefully with a toddler in tow!

Xoxo,

W, M, Em-Kat