Springtime Blues

So I had this dream last night, and it was awesome. My mom was here (Imaginary Awesome #1) and she and my aunts were standing on the nice green grass in my backyard yelling for me at the back windows. I went to look and they were all in their swimming suits with towels wrapped around them, ready to lay out (Imaginary Awesome #2). "It's SO warm!" they were telling me, and I hurried down, magically in a swimming suit immediately, since this was a dream. I was intoxicated by the feel of the sun on my skin. "It IS warm!" I yelled happily. And we laid on the grass and soaked up the sunshine on our skin.

And then I woke up.

And remembered that it's March. And we still have 4 feet of snow on the ground. Not. Kidding.

I hated March last year, with a passion, and I don't expect any better this year. I thought I would really struggle with Alaskan winters, and I don't. The cold doesn't bother me, the darkness doesn't bother me. Honestly. But Alaskan springtime? It kicks my butt. It makes me sad. And it makes me homesick.

It's still so snowy, and it's still so LONG until the snow melts. So long. Spring break is just around the corner, but should just be called Winter Break, Part II. They shouldn't be allowed to call it spring break if you still have to wear full snow gear when you go outside. And scrape ice off your windows. Or, have your husband scrape the ice off your windows. Or ice skate on a fully frozen lake. That, my Alaskan friends, is NOT spring. You need some other name for this time of year. Calling it spring is false advertising. (Note: I keep typing falsa instead of false, like I think my fingers are used to typing salsa?)

In California, especially where we lived, spring is the best time of the year. Not too hot yet, but just right. You start BBQing for every meal since it seems like an actual, religious sin to be inside. You go out for a walk after dinner in bare feet, and curl your toes against the sidewalk, still warm from the day's earlier sunshine. It stays light late enough for everyone to take a little bike ride after dinner and before bed, and the whole time the temperature is perfect and the air just smells delicious. Like summer is right around the corner. You spend all the time in the world outside, letting your kids get their energy out as you soak up sunshine and read a magazine while trying not to be lulled to sleep by the comforting warmth. Well, more attentive parents probably don't do the falling asleep part. Or the reading the magazine part. But I definitely did, so that's what I miss.

Anyway, no real point here other than a pity party. We do love the experience we're having here, but it's just a different life, not a perfect one. There are still things that suck, and things I hate. And spring is one of them. I'm a girl who needs my sunshine, and I am not in the mood to wait three more months to get it. But I guess I have to. Good thing we have plane tickets already booked to come to California and Utah this summer. :)

Ice Skating!

While Dad and Joanie were here, we went ice skating at the lagoon. Ice skating outside is one of my FAVORITE Alaskan adventures!

Grandpa and MeeMee come to town!

 Although when we moved here, my dad grouchily swore he would NEVER come visit us in the winter, we finally convinced him this year. Luckily the kids stayed cute, so we had some incentive there. Also luckily, the weather took a break from the sub-zero fun-fest we'd been having and stayed in the 20's and 30's during their trip.

First on the agenda was a dogsled ride. Kind of random, but there was a Groupon, and it seemed like one of those "only in Alaska" type of opportunities, so we went ahead with it. Here are Dad and Joanie all geared up!

Here we are waiting in the car for Dad and Joanie to finish. The kids were troopers this day. They got to tag along during the hour's ride out there, and then wait for both sets of grown-ups to take their ride, then drive home. They did get to go out to lunch twice though, so I guess that's a bonus!

 After that, James and I had a chance to take our turn on the sled!

Is it just me, or do I look like my mom in that pic? ^^

Beautiful Winter

So winter has been cold, but when it's really dry and cold, it is breathtaking. The frost covers the trees, making them all beautiful and white.

 I took these pics of the INSIDE of our front storm door. Note all the ice accumulated in the inside corner.

Adventures in the Freezing Cold!

As my Facebook friends know from my constant whining, we are having a record-setting winter here in Alaska. And not in the good way that everyone else is. Record-setting snowfall and much, MUCH colder than last year. Finally I just had to throw the kids outside, even though it was below zero. We just bundled them up really well!

They had so much fun that the next day they stayed out for a few hours! They went sledding, James built a snow fort, and they even jumped on the trampoline!

Here they are all bundled up and ready to go out. We got these fleece head covering things for Christmas from my sister-in-law and they are AWESOME!

First lost teeth!

Kenley finally lost her first teeth! Her two bottom teeth had been loose forEVER! She lost her first one at school, and her teacher sent her down to my classroom to show me. I look up from teaching and there's Kenley: bloody tooth and tissue in hand! It was so funny, and I was so glad her teacher thought to let me share that special moment. I got to take her down to the nurse and get the famous tooth necklace.

Then when I got home from work that night, I thought the hole in her mouth looked a little bigger. Sure enough, she had lost ANOTHER tooth! She said it was "mostly loose" so she just pulled it out all by herself!

Random Fun

 Claire playing dress up.

 Playing restaurant in the tub....

 Kenley got to go see Beauty and the Beast with my cousins Kelsey and Peter...

 Parker and his friends making good use of the boy dress-ups he got for Christmas.

 We never should have bought that new dining set last year. Apparently they prefer the floor!