Helllllooooooo, my pals! (Cue Mrs. Doubtfire voice). Guys. It’s been a minute. I say this each single time, I do know, however life has been a bit chaotic over right here within the coronary heart of interior Alaska these days. Ryan left this weekend for one more 5 weeks, so I’m solo-momming while my youngsters proceed to ping-pong the identical chilly backwards and forwards between one another time and again. We’re right here although. We’re trucking alongside. We’re gaining daylight, and we’re staying (considerably) sane. It’s time for Presently: April in Alaska, during which we’re sharing 5 issues we’re at the moment doing.

Loving // I’m completely loving these hotter days! My definition of “heat” is significantly skewed since transferring right here to Alaska, however when it’s over 35F nowadays, we’re exterior with bells on. Not actually, in fact, however we’re spending each second we will absorbing the near-warmth that we’re experiencing as our third perhaps-spring hits in earnest.

Wanting Ahead to // The boys have their spring jiujitsu event in Anchorage subsequent weekend, and I’m excited to see their progress on the mat. You may keep in mind they competed for this primary time on the no-gi grappling competition in Anchorage final October, however this subsequent competitors is in gi, there’s a correct competitors workforce, they usually’ve been placing within the work. I’m much less stoked to do the 8-hour drive solo with the youngsters, however what do you do?

Shopping for // We’re not shopping for a ton these days, however what we are shopping for is to equip us for a summer time of adventures. We’re gaining six minutes of daylight day by day now, and in three Fridays, the solar will set after 10 PM, and it gained’t set earlier than 10 PM once more till September. It’s such a bizarre and excessive shift from darkness to full daylight, however all the things we’re shopping for (like black trash luggage to cowl the home windows) is to organize us for that!

Prepping // Spencer and Mieke had their passport appointments the final week of March, so we’re eagerly anticipating the arrival of these! I at all times overlook that the youngsters’ passports are solely legitimate for 5 years, and it kind of crept up on us this time. We acquired the youngsters SOFA passports in 2021, in order that was on the forefront of my mind. Their final private passports, nonetheless, had been in 2019, so it was time. Might we be prepping for a visit quickly?! We’ll see…

Cleansing // There’s a whole lot of spring cleansing occurring over right here now. Homes in Alaska are so extraordinarily well-insulated that when spring rolls round and also you lastly crack the home windows, all of the mud that’s gathered all through the winter seems in full pressure. There’s one thing refreshing about cleansing all of it although and, within the course of, we’re cleansing out previous youngsters’ gear, bikes, strollers, and so forth., that we’ve got zero need to PCS with once more. It feels good!

It’s been a protracted, lengthy, lengthy, lengthy, longgggg winter, and we’re so prepared for hotter days and summer time nights forward – and all of the adventures we’ve but to have while right here within the inside. So, cheers to April in Alaska and setting the tempo for a ravishing spring and summer time forward!

Inform me – what are you loving, trying ahead to, shopping for, prepping, and cleansing this month?