March in Phoenix- Heavenly

We were glad to be back in Phoenix with Jason in tow. The weather in March was great so we played outside a lot and the spring sports season kicked off.

Rare picture of the three kids

Enjoying Phoenix winter at the park before baseball practice.

Baseball season is in full swing:)

Our social butterfly must bring her sunshades, purse and phone with her on all outings.

Ellie loves cooking dinner with me each night now. 

Date post- dance class

Jason took Willem up to Snowbowl outside of Flagstaff for one last ski of the season. Willem couldn't wait to go. By the end of his lessons in Alaska he could ride up the lift alone and ski down the mountain safely. 

From Fairbanks to Phoenix

Jason had a weekend off so we headed up to Fairbanks to try and take in the Northern Lights.

Like we had 3 years prior, we stopped in Denali to take a few pictures. While last time we were here it was Summer, this time around it was -15 degrees and bone chilling cold. The kids were only out of the car for a minute or so but Jason and I had to take off our gloves to work the camera and it took a long time for our hands to warm in the car.

It took 6 hours to drive to Fairbanks. We left when Jason got off work on Friday and it was a LONG DRIVE!! What's crazy is there is almost nowhere to stop along the way, literally 3 gas stations at most that were open between Wasilla and Fairbanks. No drive thrus, no open restaurants. Extremely isolated. Definitely not a typical road trip with kids. To top it off, Ellie had the stomach flu so we did a few stops in -15 degree weather to change her clothes, clean up the car, etc. Needless to say, we made it and had a new perspective on how spoiled we are in the lower United States with modern day conveniences like gas stations and Taco Bell.

On Saturday we went to the International Ice Sculpting Festival. Again -10 degrees and after being outside for 20 minutes, we were ready to go. We warmed up in the "warming" trailer which gave us another 20 minutes to check out the exhibits and then we were done.

The kids loved all the exhibits which were slides and tunnels.

The kids did not seem nearly as bothered by the cold as I was. Willem could have played ice hockey all day with the other kids there. 

\We stayed at a bed in breakfast and each night Jason and I took turns waking every hour to see if the Northern Lights were visible to no avail. I guess we'll have to go back in the future! By the end of the weekend the flu bug had hit Ellie, Audrey and Jason. Fairbanks will be remembered for a range of memories....

The drive home was much easier with no kids getting sick and wiped out children. Plus we knew what food and drinks to bring this go around since we would be traveling through the deserted tundra.

Willem's Alaskan invention- the double decker PB&J. Spending a couple weeks in the apt with the kids led to a lot of creative activities. We got out each day for ski lessons or to go to the Y. The kids loved swimming in the Y's pool.

Having the kids share a room was interesting. Audrey would want to get out of the crib to play with Willem and Ellie and would cry which would then upset Willem and Ellie. Hence they often ended up sleeping on the floor outside the bedroom until we carried them into bed each night. 

 

The flights to and from Alaska are at the strangest times. On the way home we caught the red eye. The kids had a few hours sleep before we woke them up at 11pm to catch the flight, but Jason and I hadn't slept. 

The kids had their first Cinnabon at the Alaska airport and thought it was heavenly. Jason and I could not wait to get home. The flight went well and luckily Mom and Dad met us at the airport to collect all our bags and get us home so we could sleep.

WIDE AWAKE... Status didn't change much on the flight. 

Alaska Continued- Snow and more snow

It only snowed one day while we were in Anchorage, so that day we went out and attempted to build Olaf and snow forts. After the snow forts were built, the snow ball fight commenced.

Willem's first time going down solo.

Living like an Alaskan

March in Alaska: Snow and more snow 

It was surprisingly warm overall in Anchorage. As you can see the kids took their coats off. The snow on the ground was pretty compacted but it was snow none the less and was played in immediately.

Our 1st day in Alaska was the start of the Iditarod race. Jason's friends from work were having a tailgate party for the parade so we went to their neighborhood to cheer on the teams. The natives knew the drivers names by heart, like Phoenicians may know the Suns players. The whole parade was fascinating to watch.

When we could no longer feel our limbs, we went to the tailgate party to warm up. They had a firepit and an Alaskan special mulled wine. The kids immediately asked if they could roast marshmallows and the hosts brought out a bag for them. Needless to say, many a marshmallow was consumed that morning.

How cute is Audrey??

So happy to be with Dad:)

Sisterly love

In Alaska the winter sport for kids is skiing so we decided to sign the kids up for lessons while we were there. For their first lesson we took them to the only resort near by, Alyeska but the rest of the week I took them to a local ski hill in town. Ellie was fearless and silly in her lessons. Willem was focused and determined, he wanted to be able to ski down the mountain alone.

In Weiss tradition, Ellie went ice skating for the first time in Alaska. (Willem's 1st time was circa Summer 2011 at the same rink). Again, Ellie was fearless and whenever Jason let go, she would think she was an ice dancer and start trying tricks. (Maybe we watched a bit too much of the Olympics)

Willem had fun skating with Jason and watching the kids on the rink who were practicing their routines.

Audrey watching the ski lessons.