The second hike we did after moving to Alaska was Thunder Bird Falls. In April of 2017 we climbed the ice covered paths to the viewing deck overlooking the falls. At this time we were unaware of what microspikes are. We slipped and slid with Jasper strapped to my husbands back. It would have been so much easier with microspikes!
Jasper’s first Easter egg hunt was last year, in 2017, a few short months after we moved to Alaska. A church in our town puts on an egg drop for the local children. This means that a helicopter flies over a field next to the high school in town, and drops tons of eggs all over while everyone watches. Then the children are set free to go collect the eggs like a normal Easter egg hunt. Children have to be four before they can participate in the actual egg drop hunt, so Jasper was and still is too young to participate. However, that year he was able to have fun at the toddler egg search, and we all enjoyed watching the helicopter drop more than 30,000 eggs!
We live in America. So like many people here, we are a little bit of everything. I have a tiny bit of Irish in my Ancestry, in addition to Polish, French, German, Slavic, English, Scottish… My family has been in this country for quite a long time, I could go on and on. However, you don’t need to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Of course there is a certain crowd that celebrates with lots of drunken antics. That’s fine for them, but we start the day with the “traditional” kid St. Patrick’s day breakfast, Lucky Charms and green milk! Read More
Being a former daycare teacher, I love to do themes! I think teaching with themes helps your child to explore the world in different way than they normally would. Yes, we paint a lot, but under this theme we are painting on snow! Sometimes I let Jasper help me with recipes, but now we are incorporating snow into a recipe! Below is everything we did under the winter “theme” this year! Read More
Are you looking for some cute t-shirt designs? What about some twinning shirts so you can match your little one? Hop on over to Foxy Mountain and check out their gear! Read More
Last week we visited Barbara Falls for the third time. Barbara Falls in located in Eagle River. I believe it is also referred to as South Fork Falls. This is a super easy trail and probably the easiest waterfall to visit in the Anchorage area. There is some elevation going up to the viewing deck. However, Jasper can walk to both the viewing deck and the bottom of the falls, and he is only two. Read More
The first time we visited Eklutna Lake was in the summer of 2017. With Jasper strapped to my back, I approached a lake that was a good distance from the path. Some areas of the bank were dry and cracked. I had never seen mud cracked in patterns like that Read More
I keep reading about how its freezing back home in Illinois. While the lower 48 are locked in subzero temperatures, we reached the 40s in Anchorage earlier this week. It was absolutely horrible. In my limited experience, I have come to find that warm days during Alaska’s winters don’t mean lighter jackets and outdoor activities, as it does back home. Read More
We love to do themed projects at our house! When I ask Jasper if he wants to do a project, he is always super excited. I am so glad he loves to learn!
I have a degree in education. However, I graduated from college around the time many school were losing funding and letting teachers go. For this reason, I spent a few years at a daycare as their lead School Age teacher. Read More
In the Fall of 2016 we learned that we would be moving our little family 3700 miles from Southern Illinois to Anchorage, Alaska! I was both excited and scared. I had lived in the same small town my entire life, as had my father, and his father, and his father… and his father. However, I was ready for a change!
My husband had to report for his new job in less than a month. He moved to Alaska at the beginning of December, 2016. My son, Jasper and I packed up everything we owned, and followed in January of 2017. Read More
Thunder Bird Falls – Alaska
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Posted on April 12, 2018 by fromthestates12
The second hike we did after moving to Alaska was Thunder Bird Falls. In April of 2017 we climbed the ice covered paths to the viewing deck overlooking the falls. At this time we were unaware of what microspikes are. We slipped and slid with Jasper strapped to my husbands back. It would have been so much easier with microspikes!
Read More
Easter in Alaska
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Posted on March 31, 2018 by fromthestates12
Easter Events in Alaska
Jasper’s first Easter egg hunt was last year, in 2017, a few short months after we moved to Alaska. A church in our town puts on an egg drop for the local children. This means that a helicopter flies over a field next to the high school in town, and drops tons of eggs all over while everyone watches. Then the children are set free to go collect the eggs like a normal Easter egg hunt. Children have to be four before they can participate in the actual egg drop hunt, so Jasper was and still is too young to participate. However, that year he was able to have fun at the toddler egg search, and we all enjoyed watching the helicopter drop more than 30,000 eggs!
Read More
St. Patrick’s Day Themed Projects
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Posted on March 17, 2018 by fromthestates12
We live in America. So like many people here, we are a little bit of everything. I have a tiny bit of Irish in my Ancestry, in addition to Polish, French, German, Slavic, English, Scottish… My family has been in this country for quite a long time, I could go on and on. However, you don’t need to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Of course there is a certain crowd that celebrates with lots of drunken antics. That’s fine for them, but we start the day with the “traditional” kid St. Patrick’s day breakfast, Lucky Charms and green milk! Read More
Winter Themed Projects
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Posted on March 6, 2018 by fromthestates12
Being a former daycare teacher, I love to do themes! I think teaching with themes helps your child to explore the world in different way than they normally would. Yes, we paint a lot, but under this theme we are painting on snow! Sometimes I let Jasper help me with recipes, but now we are incorporating snow into a recipe! Below is everything we did under the winter “theme” this year! Read More
Foxy Mountain – Review
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Posted on February 28, 2018 by fromthestates12
Are you looking for some cute t-shirt designs? What about some twinning shirts so you can match your little one? Hop on over to Foxy Mountain and check out their gear! Read More
Finding a Frozen Waterfall
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Posted on February 20, 2018 by fromthestates12
Last week we visited Barbara Falls for the third time. Barbara Falls in located in Eagle River. I believe it is also referred to as South Fork Falls. This is a super easy trail and probably the easiest waterfall to visit in the Anchorage area. There is some elevation going up to the viewing deck. However, Jasper can walk to both the viewing deck and the bottom of the falls, and he is only two. Read More
Winter Adventures at Eklutna Lake
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Posted on February 8, 2018 by fromthestates12
The first time we visited Eklutna Lake was in the summer of 2017. With Jasper strapped to my back, I approached a lake that was a good distance from the path. Some areas of the bank were dry and cracked. I had never seen mud cracked in patterns like that Read More
Wintertime in Alaska
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Posted on January 21, 2018 by fromthestates12
I keep reading about how its freezing back home in Illinois. While the lower 48 are locked in subzero temperatures, we reached the 40s in Anchorage earlier this week. It was absolutely horrible. In my limited experience, I have come to find that warm days during Alaska’s winters don’t mean lighter jackets and outdoor activities, as it does back home. Read More
Thanksgiving Themed Projects
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Posted on December 2, 2017 by fromthestates12
We love to do themed projects at our house! When I ask Jasper if he wants to do a project, he is always super excited. I am so glad he loves to learn!
I have a degree in education. However, I graduated from college around the time many school were losing funding and letting teachers go. For this reason, I spent a few years at a daycare as their lead School Age teacher. Read More
Moving to Alaska
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Posted on November 25, 2017 by fromthestates12
In the Fall of 2016 we learned that we would be moving our little family 3700 miles from Southern Illinois to Anchorage, Alaska! I was both excited and scared. I had lived in the same small town my entire life, as had my father, and his father, and his father… and his father. However, I was ready for a change!
My husband had to report for his new job in less than a month. He moved to Alaska at the beginning of December, 2016. My son, Jasper and I packed up everything we owned, and followed in January of 2017. Read More