Alaska

Alaska speaks to me. It is a place I feel at home, loved, and inspired.  I left Alaska feeling refreshed, motivated, and supported. It was so nice to be around family and to have a clan of people to help hold, rock, and soothe with my cute, but colicky, 2 month old baby.   This vacation Alaska seemed exotic. I drove down roads I have traveled hundreds of times before and I noticed new beauties that I have long taken for granted.

Denali, how I've missed you.

Flying First Class- 

Due to nothing but a logistical loophole, we were invited to fly first class. For 2 flights on our way up North, it was aviation bliss. It was everything I've dreamed of:  flight attendants paid to be extra nice to my 3 tired children, including one that spilt her apple juice 3 times. They also followed us around with steamy washcloths, sharing their Wi-Fi passwords, insisting we eat their baskets of premium snacks, obsessively refilling our glasses, and dishing out desserts like flourless chocolate cake.  Here is Elsie enjoying her slumber in her sprawling seat. 

The entire time we were flying, I was laughing to myself about these funny 1st class jokes.

This was the first time I had been back to Fairbanks, my Grandma Marilyn's hometown, since she passed away 2 years ago.  I was a little nervous about how it would feel to be in grandma's town without her. I was surprised by how much I still loved being there. Even without grandma it is still a place with wonderful memories and cherished family members.

My sister started renting my grandma's house shortly after grandma's passing. It was great to go to her house and see it updated, stylish, and more importantly to feel the love and good times that still flow freely there.  The kids had a great time playing with their cousins Noelle and Liz.  Elsie loved being around other girls who could relate to her passion for princesses and pink unicorns.  Liam liked having kids his age to run around with.

The baby was decorated with princess band-aids, when I turned my back.

Snuggling and napping with grandpa.

Playing with moose bones and eating cotton candy- oh, to be a kid in Alaska.