Prince William Sound/Whittier

Today we went to Whittier and took a boat tour of Prince William Sound. Whittier is about 60 miles from Anchorage so it is a manageable day trip.  I'm having some issues posting the pics so bear with me and the disorganization.  We had a really good time but, in the end, decided that 6 hour boat cruises with 2 smallish children really wasn't a good use or our time or money (I think the people near us probably felt like it wasn't a good use of their time and money either!!).  Clay refused to wear his coat (rain, wind, low 50s) outside and much preferred rolling around on the cabin floor to anything else :)   Kara liked looking for animals but was disappointed to not see any whales..  We did see a black bear, sea otters, many birds and salmon.  The big blue glacier is Surprise Glacier and it was amazing.  Truly, the pictures do it no justice.

Book your tickets today, kids.. this place is for real.

First Day of School

Here is Kara on her first day of kindergarten!  It was hard for me to believe she was already ready for school.  She had a good day... was a little teary when it was time to be left in the room but I think that was mostly due to the other crying (both parents and kids!!!) going on at the time.  I didn't expect to be emotional about school but I kind of was.  Anyway, she had a great day and had lots of stories to tell afterwards.  She was EXHAUSTED last night so even though school doesn't start until 9:00am, we're going to have to have a much earlier bedtime (darn).

I'm throwing in a pic of our new kitchen even though it's dirty.  

I'm on my way... home sweet home (sing with me!)

Well, it actually happened.  We closed on our house this afternoon.  Never fear, it was not without its fair share of drama and even a surprise at closing.  Fortunately, it all got worked out.. the banks got their respective monies to the title company and we got keys (and a big fat mortgage!!!).   We'll enter the internet dead zone for a while until we get phone and internet service, hopefully sooner than later.  

If you're interested in our physical address, I can get that to you when we're back online.  For now, I still have my cell phone but Clayton doesn't have his (not that he ever answered it anyway!).

The movers are supposed to bring our stuff tomorrow so it's going to be a big, long day for everyone.  We went to Kara's school tonight and met her teacher, saw the classroom.  We get to have a one-on-one meeting w/Mrs F on Thursday where Kara will get a tour of her school and then she starts on the 26th!  UGH!  So much to do, so little time (I sound like Willie Wonka but feel like an Oompa Loompa!!)

Thanks to everyone who's been so encouraging during the last few weeks.  It's been a long haul. I did think of one thing I would miss not living in TLF: my walking route.  It was pretty.  C'est la vie :)

Ways We Waste Time While We Wait on Spinell Homes :)

Show Me the Way to Go Home.. I'm Tired and I Want to Go to Bed

I have been trying to upload a photobucket album of pictures of what we've been doing these last few weeks but it's not working out.  Suffice it to say, we've been getting pretty desperate trying to find ways to keep ourselves occupied while the builders go on about their snail's pace. Actually, in all fairness, it does seem like we've bullied our way to a Tuesday closing, Wednesday delivery of the household goods.  I THINK!  Keep your fingers crossed.  April doesn't have it in her for many more delays at this point.

We're all doing well.  We've been hiking the Glen Alps pretty much every weekend.  We got to go with some new friends this week but the clouds were so low, the view was gone!  The kids have been bowling and to the zoo as well as playing non-stop with our new neighbors in TLF. They aren't in any rush to move because they love their friends and the playground here.  

Kara starts school in about 10 days.  She is mostly ready but she is nervous that she won't make any friends.  That is very painful for me to hear!!  However, you all know Kara is very social and we think she's going to be just fine.  Clay-Clay is getting more "active" (to borrow Grandma's word for "totally psycho") every day.  He gets in trouble all the time because he can't/won't sit still enough to listen.  I think he's in for a rotten surprise when Kara's gone to school every day. There is no such thing as Mom's-Day-Out in AK.. I know.. I've looked :(

Clayton is good, too.  Work is work.  Flying is great.

  

Housing Update (or lack thereof)

I thought I'd give you an update on our house situation.  As many of you know from my ranting and raving on email, Facebook and otherwise, we've hit some rough patches getting into our new house.  The builders are your best friends before you start signing papers... afterwards, you're at their mercy.  We're there.  We were originally supposed to be moving into the new digs on August 12 or 13.  Today is Aug. 11 and we aren't scheduled for our final walk-through until August 13.  After the "punch list" is compiled, the builders will let us set a closing date.  We're HOPING for August 18.  Our realtor is being as helpful as possible but it's the builders who are the problem!!!  We're going to do out best at peaceful negotiation at the walk-through.  You all have seen TLF.. you know it's time for us to leave after a nice (cough, cough) 6 week vacation here.  I have threatened to move all of us in w/Spinell's realtor if we're not in by the 18th. I suspect that may be what gets us some action :)

Glen Alps: Listen.. Can you hear the Sound of Music?

Well, we did a little more Alaska hiking this weekend.  There really is so much to do here that it's hard to choose sometimes.  We consulted "Alaska for Dummies" and decided to head over to the Glen Alps, about 20 minutes from Elmendorf.  We wanted to hike to the top of Flat Top Mountain.. the book said it was a "moderately difficult hike appropriate for fit adults and school-age children".  What the heck?  Off we went...

Well, suffice it to say, it was indeed a moderately difficult hike and probably better for school-age children (i.e., 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade).  The scenery was BEAUTIFUL and above the tree line which meant not as much bear risk...  When you come visit, this will definitely make the "to-do" list.  It reminded me of the mountains at the beginning of "Sound of Music" :)

The kids did great on this hike (well, Kara did, Clay rode on Clayton's shoulders most of the time) but they didn't make it all the way to the top.  I hung out w/them about 500 ft from the top while Clayton finished.  It was pretty steep and rocky and I was afraid all 4 of us would go over the edge with just one misstep....  Anyway, we had a great time except for the descent: Clay-Clay took a spill and got a nice scraped up knee.  He missed his nap so you can imagine how well that went over.  Everyone we passed knew something was wrong either from the blood or the hysterical screams :)  Ah, 3 yrs old.   It's such a lovely age.

Naturally, the week started off with a bang, or a kick to the gut.  Our realtor called to say that Spinnell, the builders of our house, weren't going to be finished for us to close on 8/12.  After I breathed in and out of my nose, counted to 10 in Korean, and prayed, I asked him how it was possible to speed things up.. so, we press on, make lots of phone calls, pray and shout (internally and literally).  I hope it gets resolved.  The house is finished, for all practical purposes and our financing is ready....   You'll hear from me sooner or later or you'll see me on the news "Crazed Military Wife Goes Postal in Alaska" :)