Getting Going Again

Well, I've been gone a long time, haven't I? We are enjoying our first real snow of the season up here in Alaska! Very pretty. I don't think that I'll have any problem getting into the holiday spirit this year.


Back in July Stephi and Ethen visited us here. We went down to Homer and Stephi and Jason went Halibut fishing while Henry, Ethen and I drove around and saw the sights. We also visited the Alaska Zoo and Portage Glacier while they were here.



In August Henry started the 6th grade and we are enjoying the better schools here in Alaska very much. I am seeing great improvements in Henry's Math and writing skills. We also started see a lot of moose in the yard in August and September. Fun, FUN!


Just last week Paul also came for a visit from Diego Garcia. We didn't go do a lot while he was here, but he seemed happy to just sleep in, play W.O.W. and eat some home cooking.



Jason and I are enjoying our new jobs at the Providence Alaska Medical Center. We are both making lots of new friends!

Settling In

It's starting to feel like home here. We have a beautiful neighborhood and our neighbors are really nice.

I got my Alaska drivers license last weekend. Cool. You'll notice that I edited my personal info out of the pic.... and my weight. Haha!

I am really liking my new job, even though there are a lot of things here that are different and some things that I think would be better if they changed....

I love looking at the native art up here.

Our first 2 weeks in Anchorage

We have finished our first 2 weeks at our new jobs and we are finally done with orientation. I'm sure it will take more time before we start feeling like were really comfortable in the hospital, but at least the boring part is over. The sunrises from the 5th floor hospital window is beautiful!

The weather has been very nice since we got here. Sunny and in the 60's! A very nice change from Phoenix, AZ. Talk to me again in the winter and I'll tell you if I still like it...


We've planted some flowers and veggies. Some of the stuff that we've planted I wouldn't have dreams of trying to grow in Phoenix.


We are enjoying taking hikes in the woods down by the park.

This past weekend we went to a cabin down on the Kenai River. Henry caught a nice trout and I enjoyed staying in the cabin and spinning and reading.

Finally in Anchorage and all moved in!

We spent 3 long days on the ferry from Bellingham,WA to Haines, AK. The scenery was beautiful, but the cabin was small and the food was not great.





We were so happy to reach Haines on May 4th and start driving again! The passage into Canada was interesting. The Canadian customs officer tossed the car in front of us (looked like he found some interesting green loose "tea" in a zip lock baggy. We got through without any problem.




We were very happy to cross back into Alaska. Lots of beautiful things to see!




We spent the night of May 4th in a sweet little bed and breakfast called A Mooseberry Inn. We awoke the next morning to the smell of fresh brewed coffee and waffles stuffed with fresh mixed berries!


The afternoon of the 5th we arrived in Anchorage and picked up our mail, new cell phones and the keys to the house. Since our shipment arrive before we did, we set up delivery of my car for the 6th and the delivery of our furniture for the 7th. Here are pictures of our new home and of the homes around us.




Today is May 9th and we are starting to feel settled in. Henry had his first day of school yesterday and this afternoon we went down to Portage Glacier. Henry had a blast tip toeing out on the bits of ice. He did eventually have one of his feet drop off into the very cold water.

Waiting for the Ferry

Well, we've made our way up here to Washington. We left Arizona on April 21st at 3:30 pm after 2 days of the movers packing and loading our stuff.

We spent the first night in Santa Clarita, CA.


You can see the LOVELY LA smog!

The next day we arrived in Roseville, CA.

Lovely Northern California rain!

We decided that it would be best to be on the north side of Sacramento for an easy departure on Friday morning.

While we were in the Sacramento area we visited with my dad and my little sister Cecelia and then went to dinner with my grandma.


After dinner I met my dear friend Jody for drinks.

I have known Jody since I was 5 years old.

Late Friday afternoon we arrived in Hillsboro, OR and we spent that evening and the whole next day at my friend Michelle's house. I've known Michelle since I was a senior in high school.

Michelle and our traveling gnome.

We departed from Oregon on Sunday late morning and made it to the Seattle area about 3 hours later and checked into our hotel in Lynnwood.

We've had a blast here in Washington these past few days.

We went on the Seattle Underground tour.

A skylight from the surface of Seattle's current streets to where the sidewalks used to be.

Then we went to the Pike Place Market down on the pier.





I could have spent the whole day there! But we had a great dinner that night. We grilled fresh halibut steaks on the grill at the hotel and fresh corn and salad. Glad we have been staying at Residence Inn (kitchen in each unit).

Tuseday I was force to go on the Boeing Tour. Sorry.... no pictures allowed. But it was worth it because yesterday we all went to Whidbey Island and we saw the Meerkerk Rhododendron and Azalea Garden and then to the Lavender Wind Farm.


We took a ferry to get over to the island.

It was so beautiful at the garden!

It was so much fun walking around and seeing all the flowers.

I would have loved to have spent the whole day there.

My new retirement goal is to have a lavender farm on Whidbey Island!

Packing etc...

Well we listed our house yesterday. Given the poor housing market, it is hard to say how long it will take to sell though.

The cleaning and packing is exhausting...

Just 2 more weeks before we leave for Alaska. I wish I could just click my heels and just be there already!

Last Night at Work

Well.... last night was my last at Banner Estrella. I will really miss so many of the people that I've worked with the past 2 and 1/2 years. I've made some great friends there.

So now I pack and get ready for the big move. Henry's last day with Connections Academy is April 10th. The movers will come April 20 and we leave on April 22nd. We plan to drive up to Sacramento to visit with my dad and then up to Oregon to see my friend Michelle. After that we go to Seattle. We catch the ferry on May 1st and then it will take 3 days to get up to Haines. From there we drive the rest of the way.

Our jobs at Providence in Anchorage start on May 11th!

And this will be our new home.