Iditarod 2012

The day was fantastic!  The bright blue sky was amazing!  Our hosts were beyond gracious!  To top it all off, it was grandpa's first Iditarod!

Big grandpa hugs!  3.4.12

Complete comfort!

Grandpa is rooting for Kristy and Anna Berington.  They are 28 year old twin sisters who live in Kasilof.  Kristy in the photo above placed 29th last year!  Oh and PS they are beautiful blonds.  :)

Everyone gave grandpa a hard time for running out to high five Kristy so Anna (the rookie) only got a wave and a good luck.  :)

This is Dallas Seavey.  He is my pick.  He is a third generation musher, the 2011 Yukon Quest champ and has placed in the top 8 in the last three races.  Besides that, he is a kid...only 25 years old.  Go Dallas!!

Here is Lance Mackey.  He won four straight Iditarods in a row.  He is Levan's pick.  Lance was very friendly to my enthusiastic seven year old!

Here are my boys being well...BOYS!  This entire experience is aligned with their souls.  Don't get run over by the dogs B!

Wrestling...of course.  Levan is a very good big brother. 

Snow fight!!

Thunderbird Falls Fun

Up the first tiny hill and Bensen says, "Hey dad, we forgot my backpack." What does this mean?  It means it has been a cold Alaska winter and we are out of practice.  Our four year old wants a ride.  Thankfully he bucked up a few minutes later and was full of energy the rest of the trip (1 mile in - 1 mile back).  No whining from that boy.  My seven year old didn’t share the enthusiasm, but this momma enjoyed every breath of the fresh crisp air!

Heading to the Thunderbird Falls

Guster - enjoying every second!

Grandpa, Grandma and B

Family shot ~ 2.18.12

Grandpa and Grandma

View from the trail

Giggle Time

Kincaid Park, Little Campbell Lake

Besides Church with my family, our mini snowshoe adventure around Little Campbell Lake tops the chart for my 2011 Christmas Eve events.  I sure love Alaska and I sure love having my family surrounding me!

Go Gussy Go!!  He has no idea that he is a bulldog.  Outside he is a wild grey wolf and super entertaining!

Levan Patrick always up for exploring the great outdoors!

Happy Day!!  12.24.11

Love you bunches Dad!!

7200 Squirts

Some hikes are simply not glamorous and it has nothing do with the scenery.  Our hike up Pioneer Ridge Trail will be remembered simply for the circumstances of the day. 

Eager to soak in Saturday, we got moving early, hung out at Barnes and Noble for an hour or so, loaded back up and drove north on the Glen.  (To get to this trailhead – exit onto the Old Glen before reaching the Knik River.  Follow this road until reaching the bridge…don’t go over it, take a right and stay beside the mountain.  Continue for 5 miles and look for a parking lot on the right hand side.)

We bundled up and took off up the trail.  Within 500 feet the saga began.  Bensen got a bad case of what he affectionately calls “the squirts”.  If you know Bensen, you know that outdoor pooping is not really that big of a show stopper.  This is the same kiddo who was running and playing with all his buddies at a campground this summer and needed to poop, so he simple dropped his drawers, squatted and got the job done….to our friends complete amusement.  It became a show stopper when we came to a halt to “squirt” every 5 minutes…no exaggeration. 

At some point we decided to set a goal of getting up the mountain 7,200 feet and then we would simply turn around.  We made it, but it was nasty.  This time I’ll spare the details. 

About ½ ways down, Levan declared that we should pray to God to stop Bensen’s squirts.  So we all took turns praying for Bensen’s butt.  Not another squirt the remainder of the hike and most importantly the 45 minute drive home!!

Daddy and Bensen heading up the trail ~ 10.1.11

Levan and Gussy having a chat ~ Gussy was the only one who truly loved this hike!

The view

7,200 feet of pure fun!

Whittier ~ you couldn’t be prettier

Catching Whittier http://www.whittieralaska.gov/ on a blue sky day is fantastic.  Hiking the Portage Pass trail in these conditions is nothing less than phenomenal. 

After you pass through the Whittier tunnel, the longest combined vehicle-railroad tunnel in North America http://www.dot.state.ak.us/creg/whittiertunnel/, take a right past the restrooms.  Head down a little gravel road and soon you will see a Portage Pass sign. 

Levan reached Portage Valley first.  His exact words, “Oh mom hurry, it’s like a wonderland!”  And that description…pretty much nails it!

Picture Perfect ~ 9.25.11

What a great valley to explore!

Looking Back at Whittier

Portage Glacier

Mt. Baldy ~ our final hike before the termination dust

Fall is my all time favorite season.  In Alaska, it comes and goes super quick, so when it is here you better suck in all its glory. 

View from Mt. Baldy

Have you ever put your face into the side of a mountain full of crow berries?  If not, put it on your bucket list.  I will remember that smell. I will remember this day because of my momma’s strength. What an accomplishment, when only 8 little months ago her lungs couldn’t even breathe on their own.  How great is our God! 

 Hand in Hand

 Hike down the backside

 God's Promise

Levan with a handful of crow berries

Days like today stain your brain. 9.11.11

It was a pretty normal Sunday in our world…woke up, relaxed, went to church, then out to eat, and messed around downtown…normal, normal, normal.

Until I decided our freedom was best celebrated with a hike.  The sky was blue, the sun was blazing, the trees surrounding us were turning yellow, and the smell of the air was incredible.  We loaded the boys and the dog in a matter of 4 min…we certainly have this down to a science…and drove a whole 17.8 miles to McHugh Creek.  On this day of remembrance and thankfulness we choose the McHugh trail heading toward Potter. 

One of the many things I appreciate about my stomping ground is the fact that in two years and tons of hikes, this trail was brand new to us. 

Right away we went off the beaten path (Bensen’s choice).  We found ourselves down in a valley immersed in the beauty, at total peace.  Until a voice from up above us, shouted, “Hey there is a momma bear and two cubs behind you guys.”  My first thought was breathe and don’t pee your pants!  We huddled together and steadily made our way out of the valley, where at least we would be able to see what was going on around us.  When we reached the top of a rock formation, we found ourselves with an amazing view.  We hung out there for a good chuck of time and then decided the path (with people) would be our best bet today.  I wanted the beauty to stain my brain…not a mad momma bear scare. 

Brian looking for the bears

The amazing view

My loves

Gussy looking for bears