Our First Year In About Four Minutes.

Last year on this day exactly, we landed in Kodiak.

Whoa.

Here is a little movie with a year's worth of fun and adventure. Mostly my photos. A couple of Jeff's and a bit of video taken by Jeff too. If you only knew how obsessed I got about finding a good song to help tell our story, you would probably worry about my mental health. (It's "When U Love Somebody" by the Fruit Bats.) Even now that all is rendered and compressed, I still have reservations about the song because it says the word "blood" in it so many times. It also says "love" a lot so I figured it all worked out in the end. I am sure you wouldn't have really noticed if I didn't say anything about the blood part. All part of being kind of obsessed.

So! Without further crazy-lady talk...

here is year one.

Now onto living year two.

Have a great Monday!

Destination-KODIAK...

It has been too long!

So much has happened. Has it been an action packed couple of weeks for you too? I am writing this from a teeny desk on an even smaller computer so this post will be brief. I am just here to say that after 3 adventurous airplane rides (gulp, that last plane was oh so very tiny!) and with severe aircraft-seat-hair and plugged ears and one of us (ahem) with a mouth full of brand new dental work...

...we landed. Safely. In Kodiak, Alaska. Just like in the movies we ran across the tarmac into Jeff's open arms and our new life began. Just like that.

Plus-I now own a warm pair of boots and
there's a creek and a little old bridge in my back yard.

Just like that.

(Stay tuned. Posts may be sporatic for a while as I get used to things and I get over missing my computer set-up and photo editing gadgets. I have so many pictures to share! We have been busy with the important work of exploring our new town and we have been working hard I tell you! Can't wait to show you.)

Have a great night!

Unpluggin'...

I am surrounded by mountains of clothing.

My poor girl hustled around with me in her jams all day folding and putting stuff in the right suitcases for me. I tell ya, an extra pair of hands is crucial in packing for five. We will be living out of these suitcases for quite some time too. For two weeks here and then some more in Kodiak until we find our new home.

I can't wait to make a new home for us. This one is feeling less like ours as we pick things apart and make piles and clean everything before it is all whisked North.

I am posting the first ever Out Here'n Two Rock photo so it can also be the last. It captures the feel of our lives and home here so well. It will be exactly how I remember it here too. I can smell that grass. I can hear the boys running through it in their squeeky boots. I remember how next to me, Jeff and Minna squinted into that evening sun. Minna's grinning baby face was glowing.

I also remember how lucky I felt to be out here.

I can't wait to find that one special shot that captures the feel of our new home and the lives we will make for ourselves in our new town. I am excited to share it all with you when I have my computer back. I am excited to go even though this move is hard for me. I don't know for sure if it's a good thing or the right thing. What I do know is that it is the thing for us right now.

And we are pros at making things good.

See you on the other side...

Kodiak Move: Phase 1-COMPLETE.

So we were near the docks today shipping off our truck. She is Kodiak bound and I am faced with the reality of it all.

(Yeah, we are moving. It's real Natalie.)

Before we sent our gal on her cruise we gave her a new look.

It was unanimous in the decision to get a camper shell. Dry groceries and a warm, dry dog seemed like nice things to have in Alaska.

So, she got her sleek new (mismatched) shell and we all like it. The kids love (loved) playing in there,

and Miss Roo seems to like it best.

Bon Voyage Truck! Have a relaxing trip and don't worry, we will be reunited in a month or so.

What's happening next?

Phase 2-Ship Household Goods
Phase 3-Ship Dad and Dog
Phase 4-Ship Mama and Babes

There is a lot to do and a lot of precious cargo to get over there safely.

Oh my. It's real.

Happy Monday!