Anchorage

Alaska Aces Game

Skating inside a mall

Napping in chair..... "Mom, I am not tired!"

It's not my birthday!!! (but he ate the cake anyway)

Chocolate Waterfall

Sledding outside of hotel

It started with a wake up at 4am - held off getting out of bed until 6. Breakfast at the City Diner- coffee, grits, banana pancakes and reindeer sausage - it was scrumdiddleeumtious. Nap at 8 am and then to the Fred Meyer (nothing else is open that early on Sunday). Tried to find moose, did not see any. The view from our hotel is amazing... looked like we could see mountain ranges, but upon further investigation, it is actually 1 huge range. Went to Glacier Brewhouse for dinner - had a wonderful wood-fired pizza and amazing seafood chowder.

Day 2 started out early again...this time Daddy got up and played with Holden while Mommy slept a little longer. It snowed 7 inches today. We were going to go to the Alaska Sealife in Seward, but the hotel concierge told us "no - you need to stay off the roads - white out conditions" so we went to the Alaska Zoo instead (back roads). The unique part of the zoo is that majority of the animals are there because they were injured in the wild. We saw a pack of wolves (6) who were "relocated" to the zoo. The polar bears were sound asleep in the snow - go figure. Did not see any moose either today. Went to Humpy's for dinner - saw the last of the Monday night football game as it was not even 8pm. CRAZY. Holden fell asleep at dinner.

Day 3 Holden and I got up early 6ish - went to get coffee in the lobby and let Daddy sleep in a little. Played airplanes in one of the many seating areas while in our PJ's. Life is good that way! Went out after breakfast ( oatmeal in our room) and tried to find a moose - no such luck. However, we did come across the Alaska Aces Hockey team store and bought 3 tickets to Friday nites game. Today, it was our mission to get Holden on our time schedule - so we went to this awesome place for lunch - Snow City. Thought of Mom-Mom - the icon is a snowman with a spoon and fork for arms. We all took a nap at 1pm - and as I am typing the boys are still asleep. I looked out the window and I can see the peak of one of the ranges today. Going sledding and then having dinner with Kathy, Terese, Wilma and Angela.

Holden and I went to an indoor water park for the day on Day 4 as Kyle was teaching. We had a blast. Water slides, pirate ships, wave pool, etc.

Alaskian have to be creative when it comes to winter activities.. so we went to an Alaska Aces Hockey Game. Talk about FUN!!!! Weird having a "dry" side and a "wet" side. Wilma took us to an indoor skating rink that was inside a mall. The mall had doctor's office in the upper levels and stores in the lower 2 areas. A true one stop shop. Holden and I walked the city of Anchorage, hung out in the hotel, went swimming in the hotel pool, drove around and spent time at the conference.... but our favorite time was being together as a family.

I do have to say that although we are in love with Alaska ..... we all could even move there... we really love Fairbanks. The ruralness, northern lights, friends, etc. is what draws us..... maybe one day!