First snow

You would think that afte going through 2 Alaskan winters my kids would be sick of snow( we usually have it for 4-7 months) but this weekend we saw our first snow fall and my kiddos went crazy! All they wanted to do was get on their gear and go play in it, let's hope they are this excited in 3 months ;P

Alaska Wildfires

 

So, if you have never been to Alaska it probably isn't what you would expect. You have the usual snow and cold, unbelievable cold. But did you know that the Fairbanks area is also considered an arctic desert. That's right a desert, it is insane how dry things are around here. Well with that dryness comes this crazy summer wildfires. Generally, if you are up here in July/August, you will see smoke or haze from one wildfire or another. Last summer, because of one storm, lightening caused over 30 fires in one night. Well this summer there was a lightening strike just south of us in June. Because it was on government land and wasn't endangering anyone they let it run it's course and eventually the rains put it down, but they didn't put it out. In August we had a little heat wave which made it flare up once again and the smoke was spooky to see. Well here it is September and we had a little windstorm which once again made this fire flair up. This time though I was able to see it from my bedroom window. I took these photos right at dusk so they aren't very clear but at the bottom of the page the orange you see is the glow from the flames. You can see an initial smoke line in grey and a secondary line in white. It was eery and very cool to watch from my bedroom. Anyway, just thought I would share a little bit of my Alaskan life!

Baby star

This is a great little fleece star that I made for a friend up here in Alaska. I figured it would get a lot I use up here

Igloo idea

Well I had this wonderful idea to make an igloo out of milk jugs for the kids in the backyard. Seemed simple enough; hot gluing a ton, and I mean a ton, of milk jugs together to form an igloo they can spend the winter playing in. Man was I naive, hot glue doesn't like cold weather and gorilla glue doesn't hold up to the Alaskan cold and wind. Unless I can figure something else out we are going to have to scrap this idea, it's do frustrating!!

Labor Day Hike of Birch

Labor Day weekend was our last weekend with Scotty for a couple months so we decided to go for a hike up on Birch hill. Turns out our hike was around 3.84 miles and took us about 2 hours. We took the long route up, up the road. It definitely worked the muscles but was also fun too.

The whole family took turns working with the dogs on the leash, of course by the end of the up hill climb the dogs were pretty easy to train, they just wanted to lay down and rest, lol. But eventually we made it to the top and of course we had to celebrate with a jump picture that my computer won't let me load.

 

 

All and all it was a great trip. We always talk about random things when we are hiking and learn alot about the kids and the dogs. I can't wait until the weather turns and we can do this on snowshoes.

First day of school

This year we were able to have Daddy be home for the kids' first day of school and it was so nice to have him join us as we walked to school. Sassy is in second grade this year and couldn't wait to start socializing! Topher is starting fourth grade and wasn't excited to start school but likes all the activities that come with school. Thud had no desire to go to school but knows its a part of life. Jack is doing online schooling and had already been attending school for a couple weeks but we still needed a pic! I have to say I had a panic moment when I realized that next year would start a cycle of 9 years of having children in high school!! OMG!!