Release the Pics!

Our recent trend of blogging only occasionally, yet with ever increasing dumps of photos, continues unabated. On the other hand, we unashamedly embrace our excuse of juggling three kids, two careers and one house, with a handful of pets and assorted activities thrown in for good measure. That said, here we are again, some months after our last genuine entry.

Life has been BUSY. That hasn't changed for us, either. Whether it's checking out the new "Mammoths and Mastodons" exhibit or the expanded Imaginarium at the Anchorage Museum, visiting the Alaska Wild Berry shop, playing in what little snow we seemed to have received this winter (it was more wind than anything else - so much so, that we lost four grown trees to the wind; two of which were actually snapped in two at the trunk!) watching Chloe's first school music performance or Malcolm's continued adventures with Cub Scouts, we've been up to our usual frantic shenanigans. We even made our already crazy lives a bit crazier with the addition of a new puppy! Rigby is a half Shih Tzu/half Mini Schnauzer ball of smoky fluff. He looks like a furry burrito, but the kids are in love. Even our Great Pyranees-mix Olive has taken a liking to him. Stephanie knows someone who watched her small dog picked up and carried away by a bald eagle once, so we'll have to keep a watchful eye on him. :D Speaking of eagles, Brandon snapped a few pictures of one from the shore of Wasilla Lake this morning on his way to the grocery store.

Baseball season has started for Malcolm (necessitating a major haircut), and Chloe is still loving her bi-weekly horse lessons. Brandon also recently bought his dream car - a classic Saab. He's such a nerd about it, he actually went and started the Saab Club of Alaska, which he somehow managed to get recognized by the official Saab Club of North America. We worry about him sometimes, but he seems harmless. Everyone is happy, excited about our new warm weather,and enjoying themselves. Life is good.

The coming months will hold more adventures for us, but till then, enjoy the photos. No doubt we'll post another bunch after we've had fun in the beautiful Alaskan summer days!

♥, the Tuckers.

Right Back Where We Started From!

This is the slideshow we put together for the kids, to get them properly chopming at the bit for our upcoming road trip. It worked like a charm. :)

Well into Winter

It's been a cold season thus far. We've repeatedly had daily highs below zero, with overnight lows approaching -20°, not counting the often significant wind chill we experience in the Matanuska-Susitna area. Before winter began, we'd read that a La Niña system would be altering our weather, bringing us generally colder temperatures and less precipitation, and that's been dead accurate so far. We don't mind the cold, but we love the snow, and winter isn't nearly as fun without mounds of the white stuff to play in. Also, we suffered through a major windstorm, along with an extended melting period, which wreaks havoc beyond description. Still, we're enjoying ourselves, as ever.

Halloween was a blast, and Stephanie particularly nailed it this year with Calvin's fabulous garden gnome costume. Chloe began horse care and riding lessons recently at a nearby family ranch, and it was an immediate success. She's been loving it ever since, though we do have to skip days that dip lower than 10°. Malcolm's and Brandon's birthdays were great, and Malcolm's party was pirate-themed, complete with a traditional Alaskan piñata ceremony out in the snow. Christmas was also wonderful this year, especially now that Calvin has finally grasped the notion of an old fat guy sneaking into our house and leaving mysterious presents.

We've been up to our usual cavalcade of family activities, like swimming, ice skating, New Year's fireworks (they're legal in these parts) and even a snowshoeing and cross-country skiing day today at Hatcher Pass. In fact, Malcolm enjoyed it so much, we're thinking of joining the local ski club and taking up yet another hobby.

Brandon just bottled what he hopes is a most excellent double IPA, and Stephanie recently cashed in her day spa Christmas gift certificate, so we're doing well, too. :) Now if it would only start snowing a bit more....

♥