We've Made it!

After being displaced for almost two months, we finally made it. We arrived almost a week ago and have begun the seemingly never ending process of unpacking boxes, and boxes, and boxes....
Progress can be seen almost daily, which is encouraging.
Sadly after being here for only a few days, we received news that Bran's Grandmother had passed away, so she flew out to be with family. Meanwhile I am experiencing life as a single dad and surviving thanks to the many wonderful people in the community having us over for meals and helping with the kids (I managed to give the all the kids a bath tonight, and then realized I now have to figure out what to do with the girls' hair for school in the morning, I'm thinking baseball caps?)

Fire in the Sky


Had to be Taken. Tanalian Bible Church w/ Tanalian Mtn.


The view across the bay


Snow covered trees out our upper deck

Mi CASA es su CASA

The larger of the furniture items were transported in a CASA. Quite a remarkable aircraft, sort of like a flying Uhaul and we had it completely packed.

CASA-212-Aviocar



Our washing maching on the back door

Progress in the Cold

Our container arrived and is now unloaded with the contents awaiting shipment by small plane.
The Prowler also arrived from Fairbanks, Alaska, strapped to the back of a semi-truck. We got it thawed out, cleaned up (somewhat), and running good. Then we loaded back up in a Uhaul and delivered it to Everts Air Cargo to go out on a DC-6 charter. The Arctic Cat Prowler will be our family's new mode of transportation, taking the place of a car, around Port Alsworth. We were thankfully able to find one with the fully enclosed cab, block heater and cab heater already installed.

The container sitting at Merrill Field


Snow covered airplanes at Merrill Field


The Prowler fresh from Fairbanks


The prowler ready to go

Mac the Moose and Her Mystery Meal

Mac is a yearling moose that has been hanging around the house as of late. She is often seen just up the road, munching on branches or sauntering into the woods. She used to kneel down and get a drink out of the little goldfish pond in the flowerbed in front of my folk's house. Now that the snow has covered up the pond we don't see her as much, but this afternoon here she was, eating on the raspberry bushes!

Happy Birthday!!!

Yesterday was our son's birthday! It is hard to believe that he is already 7 years old. Of course this year we celebrated at Grandma's house in Alaska, just like we did for his first birthday. The kids enjoyed cake and ice cream and then played Grandma's Wii after opening presents.

Today is also my older brother's birthday so a big Happy Birthday to my big brother as well. It would have been fun to spend the day with him and his family too.

Boy and his cake


The Wish


The Model

It's Cold Out There!!!!

It's crisp, it's brisk, and boy is it cold!! The forecast was for -30F, it only got down to -26F (which really isn't that bad). My favorite sub-zero, re-discovered activity from my childhood is to inhale quickly through your nose to see if you can get both nostrils to momentarily freeze shut. (stick your head in the freezer and try it!) The other advantage of the cold temperatures is that the wind doesn't howl when it is this cold, allowing the trees to remain coated in a white sparkly coat of frosty ice crystals. It is very pretty and fun to look at through the window while playing my folk's WII.

The messenger


Sunset at 3:30pm


Lazy Mountain (taken with nostrils stuck shut)