Girdwood adventure

 I had the best adventure with the kids the other day. My phone was almost dead when we left though, so I didn't get pictures of everything.

We drove to Girdwood, and our first activity was to play in their amazing playground.
Then Van found the skateboard park and ran up all the obstacles. It was empty and mostly dry. But there was just enough ice and snow that I didn't have to worry about disrupting any skateboarders.

Then we drove to Alyeska and took the tram to the top of the mountain and split a bowl of chili. After that I found a place to plug in my phone so I took some pictures of the kids at the top of the mountain.

Then we took the tram back down. 

 Esther was a little nervous.

 Van pretended to be a puppy on and off throughout the day.

After our tram ride we walked through the hotel. Van's favorite part was a watching the Go-Pro videos in one of the sports shops. He was impressed.

 At the hotel

 We found a stream in front of the hotel.

Then we drove over to the Winner Creek trail to see if the hand tram was open. It was not, but we still went on a little hike.

Then I loaded everyone up and we drove home. Such a fun day with my sweetest peas.

Dinosaur painting

This is a project he started with his dad the other day. I just walked in after work today to see him finishing it up. It was a kit he got as a present from Cam and Mira for his birthday.

 Ta-da!

McHugh

We went out to McHugh to play in the woods and climb on rocks. Here they are getting a treat.

Van said this was his castle.

Crawling on logs

In the yellow coat is Anna, Svea's au pair who just arrived from Denmark on Wednesday night. She'll be staying with the Lunoe's for a year. The kids like her; she is pretending to be the troll for them in this picture.

I thought this picture would be really cute until I got the camera in position and realized Van was licking the handrail. gross.

Watching windsurfers out in the inlet.

So in the beginning of this hike, Van had a plastic shark, but he kept putting it down to climb rocks so I was carrying it. I was immediately tired of carrying it, and even though we were on the edge of the parking lot, I hid it under a bridge instead of putting it back in the car.
When we got back to the bridge after the hike, it was gone! Someone had taken it!
Poor Van was so sad and I felt so bad. He wanted to call the police, but instead once we got home Andy, Esther, Van and I all piled in the car, went to the toy store and got him a new shark, this one came with a diver in a diving cage as well. He played with it by himself in the bath for over an hour.

Esther talking

People ask if Esther is talking a lot yet. She is, but she is shy around most people.

Here are a couple recent conversations with her. We still have no idea what she's saying.

Happy Birthday to me

Yesterday I turned 31.

One fun comparison for me was to look at my CrossFit journal this year and last year.

2/18/2014 -
Worked on power cleans. did #65. Tried #75. no go.

2/18/2015 -
5 rounds for time:
10 power cleans (#73)
10 burpees
time: 10:10

So although the workout from yesterday was supposed to be at #95, and nearly everyone who did it later in the day did it faster than I did, you can't say I'm not improving :)

Here I am at work, wearing the necklace Andy got for me.

Some friends from work took me out to lunch. We went to Fat Ptarmigan.

Then here was the view as I walked in from the garage getting home from work. 

All the kids in our nanny share (they are watching Wild Kratts), I love this group!

 All the kids plus Zamzam

Andy made his delicious chicken tacos at my request and mom made this wonderful lemon cake.

Glad to be 31, it was a great birthday.

Nemesis

Van: "Hey do you know what my nemesis is?"
Andy: "What?"
Van: "Spicy"
Me: "Like spicy food?"
Van: "Yeah. And do you know what my nemesis will be when I grow up?"
Andy: "Not spicy?"
Van: "Bears."

Off to work

Anyone need their driveway shoveled?

Sunday Hike

It was so warm today, we hiked up from Upper Huffman, there were some areas that looks like summer!

This is as good as it gets for a group shot.

Nobody could keep hats and gloves on, much less snowsuits and coats.

 Climbing trees

 Heading back down, after their treat at the top.