Bringing in 2018!

 This is how they bring in the New Year Buckland Alaska style.  May you have brought in yours in as fun a manner!

 

We started our countdown at 1 p.m.

Miss Nia started us off and you can see for yourself how the rest unfolded.

 

1 pm decorating cakes and cupcakes

 

2 pm making gingerbread house

 

3 pm pass the orange

 



 

4 pm hot potato balloon

 

 

5 pm play with cozmo

 

6 pm pizza time

 



 

7 pm Q-tip dart contest

 

8 pm M&M pickup contest

 



 

9 pm exploding kittens (very fun game)

 

10 pm polar bear prowl (instead of swim) and puzzle contest

 



 

11 pm epic nerf gun battle to end all battles (lasted almost an hour)!

 

12 am Welcome New Year!

 



 

1 am they at least made it to their beds, if not in them...

 

 

Bringing in the New Year

My goal this year is to stay more on top of blogging.  There is so much we do on a daily basis that I forget to share, cause it is our daily basis.  But family reminds me of how unusual or unique our life is every time I talk to them.

So here is to a New Year resolution of blogging if not on a daily basis at least a weekly one!

Happy New Year and welcome to 2018!

Not on my laurels

Well I haven't been sitting on my laurels that's for sure.

I looked at the last entry and was amazed that it has been that long since I wrote last.

What have I been doing?  Pretty much everything.

I have been subbing every other week which keeps me plenty busy cause when we get home there is plenty catch up work to do.

We have been enjoying the outdoors as well.  Until recently it hadn't been too cold so even with all the snow the kids have been out a lot in it.

I think the most recent happiest day of their lives was when our Jet Sled got here. 

I ordered it to help with mail and groceries, but of course their first thought was of sledding.

We also have had quite a few opportunities to see moose, foxes and caribou coming through.  The foxes amazed me.  I wasn't expecting them so when I quite almost literally ran into one in my own yard I was startled but amazed.

I also learned that the caribou can move like no buddies business.  When they are on the go, they are ON the GO!

I am not sure what to call the above pictured phenomenon.  I saw something similar once in Utah and they camp guide I was with called them moon dogies.  I just know they are quite pretty.  Reminds you of the Northern Lights but not as big or as many shades of color with them.

Well traveled

Well we went on our first Orthodontist trip to Anchorage.  That was a very interesting thing for Raiden and I.  I also managed to get my Alaska Driver License.  So YAY me!

Without mountains to my east and west I found myself getting lost quite a bit.  They have mountains but they are way to the east.  But thank goodness the main roads and maps of Anchorage are good ones so we still got back to where we needed to be.

From there I got Raiden back to Buckland and then I made my way down to Payson, Utah.  We needed to fix our storage unit problem we had and now when the weather was workable would be a time to do it.

I probably am not a seasoned traveler, but as far as Kotzebue, Anchorage, Seattle and Salt Lake go I think I have learned some valuable lessons and info about each airport. 

Most entertaining is that I left Utah with 70 degree weather and returned home to a brief snow flurry.

Can we say brrrrrrr!.....

Let's all go to Primary

Sunday is chaotic to say the least.  I used to think keeping a child reverent while in sacrament was the hardest thing on Sundays,  but I now know better.  It's even harder when they aren't seen and triple that when they are watching each other over a live video stream.

Home Sweet Home

My mom has asked over and over what our new home looks like.  So I "threw" together this clip.

 

 

 

The first little bit in the house you see is the arctic entry.

No brainer right?  The freezer is located in here and this is were we will also be removing and putting on heavy winter gear...

We are in a 3 bedroom 1 bath home that the school has provided.  We actually have the principals old home as it is the largest.

So enjoy our little bit of Alaska, I know we do.

Fall is here

I love living places ( and that is anywhere that gets this) that has fall.  That is one of the things both Kale and I missed most while we lived in Nevada.  You went so quickly from winter to spring with a long drawn out summer and then a brief dash through fall and into winter again.

 So yes we are loving the fall weather and temperatures.  While a lot of you are still soaring into 80's if not hire we are lucky to top out at 50 some days.  Others 40 is where we spend the day.  Amazing enough you still have to practically tie the kids up to put a jacket on.  I laugh when I see them all out in their shorts, even though it is most definitely NOT short temperatures.

So here is to hoping you had an enjoyable first Saturday as we approach Fall and the first of September.