First adventures in Fairbanks

A few of our first adventures in Fairbanks include going on for Wheeler rides with our new four wheeler’s, walking at Creamer's Field for something fun to do before school started, and also hiking around birch hill with new friends from church. Melanie and Nicole said the hike went so much better with my big kids as carriers and leaders for the pack of younger kids.

 The countryside really is beautiful, the trees and forests— thankfully the mosquitos were not as horrible as I had thought they would be- at least this year they weren’t. It is always a little tricky to find friends, and I have to say that everyone from church and the neighborhood has been so friendly. I was put into phone number groups and online contacts right away, which makes it easier to get involved. It can sometimes be awkward to invite yourself along, or reach out for playdates at the park, but I've tried to push past that uncomfortable stage and just go for it! I find that it can really be the difference between feeling sad leaving  where your were (your friends and such) and being more comfortable in your new place. 

Walk around Creamers Field. The paths around this field and forest are flat and easy, on this day it was a little warm so we were hunting for the shady paths to walk along. The kids were mostly in good spirits, but there was some weeping and wailing from a few (Cael wanted to stay in the car, Brielle was too hot, etc). And don't ask me why I can't get them all to pose nicely for a "normal" sibling photo-- it just never works!

Birch Hill trail- We were sitting in the hotel, which hadn't been horrible, but we were getting pretty tired of the same breakfast every morning and the feeling of being right on top of one another-- when I looked saw an open invitation to join some ladies on a hike. I was pretty sure I had met them before (or maybe not) at church that Sunday-- it's tricky to keep track of who you have met or not- but regardless... I quickly sent a message that I would like to join and got the location and details. I had to pry the kids away from the cable television and endless cartoons (not always a bad thing) and we loaded up in the car. There was a little wait at the meeting point and the boys joked around that I had been tricked "are you sure there are people coming?" Hahaha.... And they did show up and it was really fun to walk in the forest and get some fresh air. The brightly colored mushrooms were so fun to look at- different shapes and sizes of natural decomposers!

So here are some of the first adventures of living in Fairbanks... there will be more to come!

First day of school 2019

It’s always a little tricky moving and making sure everyone is ready for their first day of school. This year felt a little more difficult moving out of the hotel and into the Hulls house (a missionary couple that has their house available for people who need it while they are away)— driving the kids to school and then picking them up at the end of the day. We did this for about a week before we would move into our empty house on the base, where we will have a bus to complete that task for the elementary kids.

Cael- 10th grade at Lathrop High School

Brecon- 6th grade at Ladd Elementary

Connor- 4th grade

Brielle- 2nd grade

Moving to Alaska

July 19-23 Our journey up to our new home in Alaska would require all the modes of transportation and we would eventually use them all- by air (flying to Utah for our visit), by sea (the ferry from Bellingham to Haines), and by land (hours and hours of driving --at least 12+ after our 3 day ferry)... and I have to say that our kids really were fantastic travelers!

One thing I want to remember is how refreshing the ferry ride felt- to simply relax and watch movies or take naps instead of driving- it was just nice to recover from the “lost wallet” incident and not have anything to worry about.

Also- driving through Canada was gorgeous, but long. We had made reservations to stay in Beaver (in Canada)  and the smoky skies, smell, and oppressive heat made us wondering and questioning what we were getting ourselves into? Also the summer heat and swarming mosquitoes were not making us feel very happy- trying to sleep that night wasn’t easy and everyone was feeling frustrated... we actually wish we had kept driving because the hotel wasn’t that great either. Oh well! 

The truck looks a little crowded.. .and it feels crowded too! Even though we had room for all of our gear and bags from the traveling, our food shopping and bringing along extra "just in case" things began to add up! Plus our families were handing us our treasures that they had held on to for us for years. Finally they were able to be in our possession.

WE MADE IT TO ALASKA! Only 8 more hours to go until Fairbanks.....

On one side in the YUKON Canada sign... and ALASKA on the other. The forest has a clearing separating the two countries... a line of demarcation. We jumped from one side to the other before the kids ran back to the truck so we could continue on our journey.

Cannon is 4 years old

HAP- HAP- HAP- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
After telling us for weeks what he wanted for his birthday, we had a fun party up in Star Valley with Grandma and Grandpa Hoopes in Fairview. We even sang the Perry Gripp birthday song 4 times and let the birthday boy blow out his candles 4 (or more) times. We are so happy for Cannon- he is our fun little buddy. He says the cutest things and always makes us smile at his enthusiasm for life.

End of school 2019

Brecons 5th Grade graduation- A fun program put on by the teachers and staff for the graduates-- even though Brecon will be back in elementary school when we move to Alaska! They had a few speakers, a hula group performance, and Brecon (with a few other students) played their ukulele for the school song. When they finished the song, Brecon had the biggest smile on his face, looked at our neighbor Sam Wiggins and then put his arm around him in a cool side hug "way to go- bro" way!
At the end of the program, the entire 5th grade danced to "Best Day of my Life" with motions, jumping and clapping! They looked like they were having fun, and it was so fun to watch them all. I thought Brecon looked the best- but I'm his mom so of course I would think that! I know that Brecon's teacher Mrs. Doster was a big influence for learning for him. I'm glad that I was able to reach out and help chaperone field trips for her class-- even if I was late sometimes-- oops! They were a pretty great group of kids!

WHAT A GOOD LOOKIN' KID-WAY TO GO BRECON!

Brielle's 1st grade teacher Ms. Kinsey pose for the end of school picture. The class party refreshments were heavy on sugar and carbs-- which is okay once and a while. I'm happy to say that Brielle did NOT finish her plate... I mean... that is just too much! Brielle thought her teacher was nice (and she was not married) which was something she would always tell me "Ms. Kinsey is not married." When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Brielle would say "I want to be a teacher like Ms. Kinsey. I don't want to be married and I want a dog."

Connor and his teacher Mrs. Distefano. A kind and loving lady who had class projects for the English, Science, and social studies. Connor had to research an influential person, memorize the story and recite it back for a living history museum. He chose Walt Disney and it was interesting to learn more about this innovator and his creative imagination. "If you can dream it, then you can do it" --Walt Disney

CAEL FINISHED HIS FRESHMAN YEAR AT LEILEHUA

What a busy year for this kid. Out the door at 6:05 for early morning seminary, school all day, and then an extracurricular sport for every season, usually getting home around 7:30 at night. Cross Country, soccer, and then Judo. It was sometimes a crazy schedule trying to get him everywhere he needed to be, but we also were glad that he was involved with his school and still had a 4.0 GPA. Way to go CAEL!

LAIE TEMPLE TRIP
What a good looking group of youth doing the good work at the temple. I'm always glad to send them off to this activity, and Brother Asato makes sure that everyone gets a full tummy when they are all finished. Loco Moco or hot cakes... he is a good man to provide the food for these hungry teenagers on an early Saturday morning.

CUB SCOUTS RAINGUTTER REGATTA- Connor
Even though we had weeks to prepare a boat for the cub scout race- with everything going on and getting ready to move, this task had become last on the totem pole. About 30 minutes before we are supposed to leave for this activity, I yell "YOUR BOAT!" and we got to work on it right away. A quick spray paint job and hot glue gun for the sail really did the trick for our quick put together job- and surprisingly Connor won each of his races to get the 1st place ribbon. What a funny night!

Bro and Sis Rigby (and Leia) are stalwart cub leaders. They were always there to help their boys and I know that Connor sure loved having a cute baby in class ("she's so cute, mom")

Sock hop and surfin’ fun

SOCK HOP at Daniel K. Inouye Elementary. 

Family dance and fun for everyone. Food and goodies, a photo booth and a hoola hoop competition. Highlight of the night was Cael swining his hips so hard and so fast to keep his hoop going and then looking over at some ladies that we easy breezy without even trying! Ha ha ha!!

SURFING in HALEIWA

It was another enjoyable beach evening complete with a rainbow. Watching the big boys catching waves, swimming out and starting all over again. I am amazed that they can get out there so easily, for Ben and I it is a killer shouder & neck workout. Cannon and Brielle stay on the shoreline and let the waves crash into them and carry them out before they are pounded with another-- giggling and laughing the whole time. We sure are lucky to live where we are!