O' Christmas Tree

Arriving in time for Christmas we were able to successfully resurrect the tradition of getting a real Christmas tree. We were able to enlist the help of Uncle Theron to assist with the process.
The kids enjoyed hiking/riding in the sleds in knee deep snow up the ridge at the back of Grandma and Grandpa's property. Hidden among the many moose tracks, we finally found the perfect tree.

Prep Work


The Search Begins


The Supervisor


The Specimen


Successful


As requested, Here is the finished product

North to Alaska

We made it! Three kids, two cats, two exhausted parents, 200 lbs of baggage, but we made it. (Only mildly disappointed that Sarah Palin didn't come meet the plane.) We arrived in Anchorage at 1:00 AM Alaska time (4:00 am Kansas time), drove to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Palmer, and went to sleep. This morning my oldest daughter excitedly exclaimed, "Look Papa! A moose!" as a moose casually meandered across the snow covered yard. With this sighting the moose count is up to 6, and we have only been here for 8 hours.

Waiting for Papa to get the car in ANC

Dust in the Wind

The big question is, "How does one move from Kansas to Alaska in December?" Apparently, if you are the Voran Clan, you load it all into a 40 ft shipping container, wave goodbye, and hop a flight to Anchorage. With the much needed and much appreciated help of our friends and family, a grueling 9 hours or so of loading and cleaning, I shut the door of the container and watched it roll on down the road. I wonder if we will see our stuff again?

The Shipping container and our house


Loaded


Ready to go