Day Four: The Redwood Forest

The Redwood Forest might have been the place I was most excited about visiting on this move, and today was the day! :) We left Coos Bay, Oregon for Eureka, California with a detour around the Redwood Forest this morning. Again, I picked Eureka because it was a big dot on US-101 after the Redwood Forest.

This morning we woke-up to rain and it. did. not. stop. IT RAINED ALL DAY. We knew the Pacific Northwest was a wet part of the country, but we didn't realize that it can rain along hundreds of miles of the coast, over the course of the day without letting up.

Despite the rain, we had a great day. Again, Caroline and Bella did well, and Tyler was a fantastic driver through all the rain. And even though it rained I loved the Redwood Forest. If you ever have the opportunity ... please go!! The forest is so very neat. We did not get out much because of Caroline, sink holes, flooding and the rain, but I took some pictures of the Oregon/California coast and the Forest from the car. Tyler and I did venture out once at a turn-out while Caroline was sleeping (this isn't as scary as it sounds ... we were right beside the car). I was sad to not hike at all and to have had to miss Fern Canyon (really sad about that), but it was still beautiful and I'm so glad we drove through!

 First glimpse of the Pacific Ocean on this vacation.

 Caroline getting her first stamp in her National Parks Passport. Thanks, Sara, for the wonderful idea!!

 That stuff that appears to be almost glowing is moss. The trees look velvety from the moss. It is the most bizarre, cool thing ever. This moss was on trees along the Oregon coast all the way through the Forest. I think it is neat.

 This is how Bella PCSes.

We arrived in Eureka in the early afternoon because we were unable to hike as much as expected, so we continued on to Ukiah. This was another 373 mile drive. One that we didn't anticipate, but we made with few stops and a happy child and dog. We have far less to drive tomorrow and no driving over the weekend.

Day Three: Drive, Baby, Drive!

Again, we  awoke and headed to the Market! All of us ventured down that way for breakfast and a quick walk before getting in the car for a day of driving. Today we left Seattle for Coos Bay, Oregon. Honestly, I picked Coos Bay as a stopping point because it was a good distance to drive in one day (395 miles), and it was on the coast and a big point on our map.

Yesterday, Caroline traveled over her first state border in a car. Lower-48 family and friends ... do you know what a privilege it is to cross a state border in a car?! My oh my I have missed being able to cross state borders in a car!! I don't feel quite as trapped as I did in Alaska. 

Caroline and Bella both did quite well!! We stopped for lunch after Caroline got up from her nap. A few hours later we stopped at a rest area to play with Bella and stretch our legs. One thing that was quite nice about Oregon was the luscious grass and plants at all of their rest areas. Portland looked a bit dirty when we passed through, but otherwise the state of Oregon was pretty and super green.

I was amazed at the farmland immediately beside the highway. We traveled past lots of farmland that was then surrounded by mountains on the other side ... quite pretty.

**Please excuse the glare in the above pictures ... taking pictures out of a window in a fast car is still a challenge for me!**

Day Two: Seattle

After a good night's sleep we were ready to see Seattle!! We were thrilled to spend the morning at Pike's Place Market. The morning after Caroline was discharged from Seattle Children's we happened upon the Market during a quick walk for breakfast. Although we were excited to find it, we did not have time to explore it that day. Needless to say, we were excited to go back!

Bella went with us to the market. The hotel staff said that Seattle was dog-friendly and that we'd see many dogs at the market. Although a bit out of my comfort zone, we took her. She did fantasticly well!!! Bella loved being out with us and she brought so much joy to children throughout the market and random vendors we passed. She got lots of treats, and was even invited behind one booth so the wheelchair-ridden vendor could pet her.

The Market was about 1.5 miles from our hotel. It was a bit overcast, but by the time we'd made it to the market, we were stripped of all jackets and our sleeves were rolled up! We had breakfast from a bakery in the Market and a coffee from Starbucks (appropriate, right?!). After breakfast we watched the fish throwers, they were great, and Alaska Halibut was the big hit because it just came back in season .... oh, how we'll miss you fresh halibut!

We toodled through the Market and were in awe of the amazing produce, coming from Alaska it is nice to see such good looking fruits and veggies! The vendors all had handmade items for sale. There are many of these types of vendor/markets in Alaska, but the vendors at Pike's Place had different things. After talking to one vendor we learned that they have a roll-call at 9:30am to pick where they will be that day; each day they must unload at the beginning of the day and pack-up when the Market closes.

When we finished the Market, we took Bella back to the hotel and then we left to just tool around the city. The weather was nice and so we chose to stay outside and enjoy the opportunity to be warm and walking free of snow and ice. It was also nice to stroll in- and out- of stores ... good stores!

We were fortunate enough to have dinner with an Alaskan friend before calling it a day! I think it's safe to say that we all enjoyed Seattle and would be open to visiting again soon.

No Internet

We have no Internet for the night. Stay tuned for the last of Seattle, our drive through Oregon and the Redwood Forest!

Day One: Seattle

We flew out of Alaska at 12:30 am on Monday morning. Flight times out of Alaska are crazy, so in an effort to be kind to the friends who took us to the airport, we picked a time that where we could go to the airport and they could get home at a decent hour.

Despite not having a routine or sleeping well over the last week, Caroline did incredibly well. She got a little sleep while waiting for the flight and then she slept all the way to Seattle ... Tyler and I didn't sleep. We arrived in Seattle at 5:00 am, collected all of our bags and a trembling Bella and waited for the shuttle I had arranged ... that was an hour late and entirely too small. Tyler quickly arranged different plans that took us to our truck in Tacoma and that worked out better than our prearranged, late shuttle.

After getting our truck, a quick Target run for a pack-and-play and breakfast we headed into Seattle. It was a bit overcast, but looking as though the sun would come out. We were too early to check-into our hotel, but they allowed us to park in their lot while we tooled around the city. We unpacked Caroline, Bella and the stroller and went to a park around the corner.

Caroline's first view of flowers in the ground! Pretty exciting to me, not so much to Caroline.

 

We were vaguely familiar with the area because we stayed one block away (unknowingly) from our current hotel when we were discharged from Seattle Children's a few weeks ago. The park around the corner, Denny Park, was the first public park in Seattle. I believe it was founded (correct word?!) in 1816.

After our short stroll we came into the hotel for a short nap and reorganization, and then headed out to the Space Needle a few blocks away. It was really fun and the weather could not have cooperated more!!

This is how Caroline made her way down the Space Needle and onto the next few errands. So very peaceful and sweet.

We walked to Walgreens to pick-up dish soap to wash Caroline's bottles, to REI because its REI, and then to Whole Foods to pick-up dinner. We enjoyed a nice, quiet evening at the hotel. Early bedtimes were welcome and exciting for everyone!

Our Beloved Church

Alaska was quite good to us over the last three years, but Sunday was our last day there! We so enjoyed our time in Alaska and we made many, many friends who I'm certain we'll see again; some who are civilians and some who are military.

Many of you know our love for the church we found the second Sunday we were in Alaska. The church is quite different today than when we first stepped through it's doors three years ago. Sunday, before we began our journey out of Alaska, the minister called Tyler and I to the alter to pray for us as we are being "sent out" to do missions in our great world.



The minister and elders of the church really saw Tyler and I as a sign from God that the church was going to reach military and young couples in the community -- something they had been faithfully praying for. We walked into a church of 30ish-people three years ago and left a church of 400ish on Sunday. It is incredibly humbling to think that God used us to reach a certain population in the Eagle River/Anchorage community without us even knowing how we were being used.

ACF: We are thankful for you, and we will continue to follow your good works in Eagle River! We are excited to see how you will continue to change the community around you.

 Caroline received an ACF Staff lanyard as a gift on Sunday.

It's a Beautiful Morning!

Ice fog is one of the most beautiful things ever. I have loved the quiet surprise some mornings in Alaska. A few mornings ago, I awoke to a wonderful new coat of ice fog, and I just couldn't help but capture its beauty and share it with you. I hope you get to see this peaceful, beautiful act of nature one day!

 These are my rose bushes in the winter. 

11 Questions

My fun friend Kate, at Daffodil's, tagged me in a question/answer game that is circulating the blogosphere right now. She has a really great blog, you should most certainly check it out!! Currently she is hosting a giveaway for her new photography shop ... hop over and join to win one of her fantastic prints!

Onto the questions ...

1. Why did you start blogging?
I started blogging just before mine and Tyler's first move to Missouri. I started in an effort to share with family and friends what was going on with our family as we began our Army life around the world.
2. Where did you go to college and why did you choose it?
I went to Wake Forest University, GO DEACS!, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I chose Wake because of the small class sizes, beautiful campus and the promise of a good education and friends.
3. Do you love your job? If not, what else would you do?
I LOVE my job as a wife and mommy!! I taught school before becoming a mommy, and although I loved the students and pouring into them, I really hated the paperwork and nonsense that went along with the actual teaching.
4. What (or who) is your biggest motivator everyday?
My family is my motivator. I get out of bed to serve them daily, and to become a better person for them. Some days are harder than others, but they help me get through each one.
5. If you could have one song playing in your head at all times, what would it be? 
Wow, this one is hard because I love all types of music!! I'm really unsure where to begin. My current, "Oh my gosh, turn up the radio song" is We Owned the Night by Lady A. **I also just read they will be in St. Louis, MO on June 29 ... I'm super excited and hopeful we can go!**
6. What would your dream home look like?
Oh, my dream home. One of the neat things about being forced to move around so much is that you find things that you love and hate about houses. For example: our dream home will have a drain in the garage. That sounds silly, right, but it is so convenient to avoid puddles in your garage from rainfall running off or snow melting off your car. The home will have a big bathtub attached to my bedroom, laundry upstairs with the bedrooms and a large kitchen that is open to the family room.  
Most importantly, my home will be filled with my husband, children, other family members and friends. I've always dreamed of creating a home with a revolving front door of family and friends. I've done that twice, and pray I can continue to make people feel welcome in my home.
7. If you had a large sum of money to spend on yourself, what would you buy?
For those that know me well, no matter what the sum of money is I would really struggle with this. I have such a hard time buying anything for myself. If I were to dream though, and finally get over my "don't spend on me self," I would buy clothes, a manicure/pedicure and quite possibly a massage. :)
8. What is the biggest risk you've ever taken?
Hmm..in answering this question I realize more than ever that I'm not big on taking risks!! Looking back my risks were not negative or chancy, they were just a bit out of my comfort zone and that made them risky for me. The greatest risk was joining Tyler's side in the Army. Our marriage wasn't risky or scary, but the unknown of the Army was quite out of my comfort zone and a bit scary for me.
9. What do you enjoy most about blogging?
I enjoy writing. I have discovered over time that when I lay in bed at night words just float through my head. I think I'm a good writer, most of the time, and I enjoy having this outlet to write about my family and our adventures.
10. What do you collect?
I'm not a big collector.
11. Do you have a tattoo? What'd you get and why? If not, would you ever consider getting one?
No, I don't have a tattoo, and no I don't really want one.

Now, it's my turn to pass along the questions. I want to tag the following friends at their blog. When you answer the questions please mention that I tagged you and make up your own fun questions to ask.

Mary Catherine @ Our Happy Little Nest
Sarah @ Finding Hope
Cassie @ Dadakisses
Becca @ Traveling with Mercy
Jackie @ The Misadventures of Aaron and Jackie
Heather @ Life as the Caldwell Family

Your questions: 
1. What is your most favorite holiday? Why?
2. If you could wake up tomorrow anywhere, where would that be?
3. Where is the best place you've lived?
4. What is the single most significant event in your life?
5. If there were one thing you were better at, what would it be?
6. What is the last good book you read?
7. What is your favorite scripture?
8. Why do you blog?
9. What is your favorite season?
10. If you could stop the world for 24 hours and could do anything while the world waited, what would you do?
11. Are you thinking of fun friends to pass this along to?!

Snowiest Winter?!

The city of Anchorage is 6.2" away from beating it's snowiest winter record. The record was set in the 1954-1955 season, and has not been close to broken since. Although Spring is rolling around for most folks in March, we can still get quite a bit of snow. We're hoping to see the record broken before we leave! :)