Friday, November 4, 2011

What I've learned about Fairbanks in 9 months

Tips for living here as a military wife:


  • Wear gloves when getting gas.
  • Don't follow too close to the car in front of you, rocks fly and hit your windshield.
  • You can get anywhere in less than 10 minutes.
  • Live on post. Houses and utilities cost a fortune out here! Plus, the housing is awesome.
  • Shovel your driveway every time it snows.
  • Find a good church.
  • Be involved.
  • Have a good camera and learn how to use it.
  • Sign up for text alerts from the Aurora (Northern Lights) forecast. They'll text you when it's out.
  • Get a membership at Sams Club.
  • Sign up for Rewards at stores that offer it. It's free.
  • Get out and do stuff.
  • 15 above zero is no jacket weather. LOL
  • Visit Chena Hot Springs, get fully prepared.
  • Get good snow tires.
  • Get auto start.
I'm sure there's so much more that I haven't thought of, soooo... maybe I'll add some later.




Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Yea, it's been a while....




So for the last 9 months....

We are settled in to our home and have made so many awesome friends! Aaron deployed in the spring, so here we go again for the 4th time. I'm ready for deployments to be OVER!!!

The summer was, well, quick. The snow was completely melted in June. My parents and Melissa/Arlen came and visited. We had so much fun. We went to Chena Hot Springs, did the Riverboat Discovery tour down the Chena River, Mom and Dad took Kylie and Korbin and did the Eldorado Gold Mine, visited Santa's house at North Pole for a Fourth of July parade, went to Pioneer Park and road the train several times, ummmm, trying to remember what else... Anyways, it was fun. They took the kids home with them and I came a week later.




In Oklahoma, Aaron came home for R&R. He surprised the kids at Orange Leaf. They loved it, they still talk about it. We did a lot of fun stuff while he was home for 2 weeks.
We returned back to Alaska just in time for the kids to start school. Kylie is in 1st grade and Korbin in part day preschool. They both love going to school. They are both very smart and do well, with the exception that Kylie always gets the "N" (needs improvement) on the 'uses time wisely' on her report card. =)






I still make cakes, but I think I'm getting burned out with it. I just don't feel like I'm making enough profit for the time and energy I put into them. So, I decided to take on another job, Thirty-One Gifts. I LOVE IT. The products pretty much sell themselves. Plus, I have some great friends who are always supporting me! ;-) I think I may slow down on the cakes for a while and focus on raising my kids and being the Proverbs 31 MOM! Nothing is more important. I will blink my eye and these kids will be out of the house. THEN I'll start doing cakes again.... =)



Since moving to Alaska, my relationship with the Lord has grown immensely. I could not ask for better friends than the ones God has blessed me with. They are prayer warriors, spiritual mentors, faithful, loving, honorable, bend-over-backwards for ya kind of gals! I love them! These ladies rock my world!!!


It started snowing here a couple days ago and I'm already looking forward to it to melt, "cuz that's when Daddy comes home" says the kids. We plan on doing a lot this winter, sledding, tubing, skiing, ice parks.... So excited!

Ok, hopefully it won't be another 9 months till my next post..........

Monday, January 17, 2011

Chena Hot Springs


I loved this place! It was so fun and beautiful.



It took us about an hour and 15 min to get there. We checked in the hotel and signed up for the Ice Museum. Waiting for our tour, we got the sled out and went walking around the resort. The Ice Museum was really neat, they served a $15.00 Appletini in an ice glass, we just watched... ;-)



We went swimming in the indoor pool and outdoor hot tub. Yes, I said outdoor! It was crazy! Our hair froze! The kids had a BLAST! Aaron and I had to take turns to get in the 'grown up hot springs'. (18+) It was awesome and SO HOT! It was a huge rock hot pool.

After swimming, we ate dinner at the restaurant. I tried the Halibut, and it was very delicious!

The Northern Lights we at their brightest and most beautiful at about 1:00am. The front desk called our room to let us know. I kinda remember answering the phone and saying.... "ok thanks" Next thing I know, it's morning. Man, we are so upset that we missed them! Aaron will never forgive me! Next time, HE can sleep by the phone!!!! Haha!

The next morning, we did the dog sled ride. It was so much fun! Although, it was -30 outside and we were completely numb at the end of the ride, Korbin says... "Let's do that again!" It was great.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Skiing!





Man, today was quite an experience. We took the kids skiing for the first time! They did ok, kinda like the ice skating trip.... Korbin did pretty good, Kylie wouldn't even go up the lift. She's like a noodle, so clumsy. We stayed on the bunny hill, so it wasn't that bad, and Korbin went to the top with Daddy and came down the whole way without falling! Kylie and I went to the clubhouse to warm up.

We decided we wanted to buy a Tubing Pass and as soon as we pulled the tube up to the lift, they told us they closed down because of the weather being -20. We were so bummed. Oh well, better luck next time. Kylie got in the tube and I spun her around and pulled her all over the place for a little bit to make up for it. She had a blast! Then Korbin joined us and loved it! We'll have to go back soon!