Spring 2014

This spring was very dry compared to last.  We enjoyed a warm Easter and have been putting in appearances at the tiny Episcopal church in town.  We also hit the Elks Club where, of course, the Easter bunny arrived by helicopter and the kids hunted for eggs on the lawn.  I had no idea they would be hard boiled eggs.  Although I was happy not to have all the candy, it was almost worst going home with 4 or 5 dozen hard boiled and dyed eggs, many cracked.

Turns out Kate recognized the Easter bunny, played by a 12 year old girl, from school

We spent a spring day visiting Mossy Kilcher's farm.  Feeding and petting animals both new and old,

climbing aboard tractors,

and admiring her beach cabins

Brian's favorite cabin

Kate poses for a photo next to her dream house

We also spent some afternoons at the beach playing Kate's clever beach games...

Baseball

Bocce

Soccer

First learn stand, then learn fly.  Nature rule Kate-san, not mine.

The last days of school ended with a full day of tide pooling for all the schools.  

School was out May 19 and James was ready to get the summer started right away.

We signed up for the library's summer reading program and James signed away for his first library card.  

Kate ran two more 5k runs, including the culminating Girls on the Run event.  Since the ship was out, our friend Natalia was Kate's running buddy. 

Kate, the poster child for Girls on the Run, inspiring girls to be healthy, confident, and joyful!

While James dabbled in soccer,

and learned to "stride" on a pedalless bike,

Kate turned the fort into a homestead equipped with wash basin and clothes line.

  We also hiked Diamond Creek as a family.  It's always fun to compare what the adults are wearing versus the children in our Alaska summer beach photos.

Mud bath

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Strangely enough we also attended a USO sponsored rodeo-esque event.  The group consisted of several legit cowboys and cowgirls with titles like Miss Rodeo USA, Mounted Shooting World Champion, and a country singer I'd never heard of until he started singing.  I heard one of his songs performed on American Idol this year.  Apparently, they specifically targeted small Coast Guard towns in Alaska for their tour this year.  When I heard their itinerary, I realized it was probably an amazing trip for them.  Our kids still enjoyed lassoing chairs and or parents, dancing, and hanging with our Coast Guard friends.

Kate tries to lasso James

Shortly after the Memorial Day rodeo, we said good bye to our Coast Guard friends who were transferring.  Fair winds and following seas...tis the life we lead.

Yes, that is Cheetos residue all over their faces

March...might be my favorite month here

No joke, March might be one of my favorite months here.  On the East Coast, March is synonymous with sloppy melting snow and my emotional need for winter to end.  Here, March means blue sky sunny days and the best skiing all year.  We made another trip back to Anchorage after the Iditarod this month to ski.  The Air Force base in Anchorage has a small ski hill that is both inexpensive and perfect for the kids.

They have a little terrain park where the kids can do little jumps over missiles and other defunct military equipment.  The kids will try to jump anything!  Kate has taken to riding the ski lift alone and or jumping on with other kids.  Making friends is effortless for her. From the top of the hill you can see Denali when it's clear.

Skiing Hillburg at Elmendorf AFB with Mt. McKinley in the background

There is also a tubing hill adjacent to the ski hill on base that is good times as well.

On Sundays, there is a tow rope hill in Homer that is open and has been a blast.  Like all of the clubs in Homer...Nordic ski club, Cycling Club, Yacht Club, Snowmads (snow machines), Kachemak Running Club etc., The Kachemak Ski Club is a small group of extremely friendly people who volunteer to make it happen for the love of the outdoors.  

You have to hike in a bit to get to the hill, so we are usually hot and sweaty before we even ski.  This is in stark contrast to skiing in Anchorage where it is significantly colder than Homer.  Every week, we improved our technique of getting to the hill.

Week 1:  Post hole through the snow in ski boot carrying skis.  This was relatively awful and we were so glad James was with my parents on this day.

Week 2:  Snow shoe in carrying skis and boots

Week 3:  Ski or snow shoe in combo pulling ski boots and other gear on a sled.  Ideal.

Apparently the club purchased a new and improved tow rope this year, but it will still tear up your gloves pretty quickly.  There is a box of loaner gloves you can borrow, or many of us opt for crab fisherman gloves. 

Kate ready for take off

There is one tiny bump on the hill so the kids can get in a little jump.  Hysterical

Our next door neighbor, and Kate's good friend, skis as well, so the girls just do their thing all day on the hill.

James, Thea, & Kate skiing the thin snow covering

When we need a break, there is a super cool little clubhouse.  There is usually someone grilling and lots of people bring baked goods to share.  There is a wood stove inside that we've yet to see in use because it's so "hot" skiing in March.  The kids always opt for Gatorade over hot cocoa and make slushies with the snow.

I think it's possible that James was the youngest skier on the hill this year.  He holds on to our legs to get up the tow rope, but he was not the youngest on site.  Check out this little one asleep in the sled while her family skied.

Although I Nordic ski a couple times a week, the kids only skied once in January with Junior Nordic because there was no snow for most of January and February.  We forced the kids on a family ski in March, but they are too accustomed to zooming downhill and Nordic skiing is a lot of work.  Kate and Brain actually got in a pretty good ski and James plodded along (happily, thank goodness) with me for maybe 2.5 kilometers.

Kids working hard at Rogers Loop trail

At the end of March we participated in Homer's Sea to Ski Triathalon as a team.  Another Coast Guard spouse ran, Brian biked, and I skied.  I have never skied for time and it was exhausting.  I bought some used skate skis this year, and I had been out on them twice before using them in the race.  They were faster on the straight aways, but much slower going up hill than my classic skis?  I definitely need more lessons.  It was a lot of fun though and it's always amazing to see the athletes in this town who can pull off all three legs of the race no problem.

Brian after finishing the 7 mile ride uphill

We were truly sad to see the snow melt since last year's snow melt uncovered dead grass and stinky mud.  This year, however, our spring was relatively early, dry, and full of more family adventures.

Here's to hoping next March is just as beautiful...

Brian joined the ladies one Friday morning while kids were in school to ski the McNeil trails and play photographer for us.