• The Rhythm We Came Here For

    There are certain moments in every move that make a new place feel a little more permanent. The boxes disappearing helps. Starting new jobs helps. Finding the grocery store, the hockey rink, doctors, piano teachers, and figuring out how long it actually takes six people to get out the door in the morning all help.…

  • Determination Looks Good on Us

    This week brought a little bit of everything: something to celebrate, something to learn from, a busy week at work, and one exciting step toward something new for our family. A big part of the week revolved around hockey tryouts for Ana and Zoe. We knew coming into Alaska that hockey would be competitive, but…

  • Finding Our New Normal

    Before leaving Virginia, we had our morning routine down to a science. From the time everyone woke up to the time we were walking out the door, we could have all six of us ready in about 20 minutes. Alaska Sam and Zed are not quite that efficient yet. Right now, mornings are taking closer…

  • Six Under One Roof

    Before the herd came back together, we managed to squeeze in one final adventure. We had the opportunity to fly with the Alaska Army National Guard up to Site Summit, the old Nike missile site perched high in the mountains above Anchorage. Built during the height of the Cold War, Site Summit became operational in…

  • Finding Our Alaska Rhythm

    Little by little, Alaska is beginning to feel less like our new assignment and more like our home. This week marked our final stretch before the kids arrive, and while we miss them every day, we’ve tried to make the most of this short season together. Between unpacking another wave of boxes, organizing closets, and…

  • Making It Ours

    There’s something satisfying about watching a house slowly become a home. This week wasn’t filled with grand adventures or thousands of miles on the road. Instead, it was a week of steady progress. The kind of progress that doesn’t always make for exciting photos, but quietly lays the foundation for everything that comes next. The…

  • Building a Home, Making Memories

    While Alaska was beginning to feel like home for us, Oregon was becoming an unforgettable summer for the kids. Monday marked the beginning of a new chapter as both of us checked into our new jobs. Zed officially joined his new unit, while Sam started her roll supporting Eleventh Air Force, Alaska Command and Alaska…

  • Becoming Alaskans

    Becoming Alaskans

    The road trip may be over, but the adventure is just beginning. After nearly two weeks on the road, it felt good to spend a few days without watching mile markers disappear behind us. Instead of unpacking suitcases every morning, we finally started unpacking a home. Our first full day in Alaska was dedicated to…

  • Trek #2, Day 14: Home

    Trek #2, Day 14: Home

    We made it. After nearly two weeks, thousands of miles, countless fuel stops, a few mechanical hiccups, an unexpected highway closure, and enough memories to last a lifetime, we pulled into our driveway in Anchorage. Home. One of the highlights of the day was our first close-up look at Matanuska Glacier. Pictures simply don’t prepare…

  • Trek #2, Day 13: Back on the Road

    After an unexpected day of rest, we were anxious to get moving again. Our alarms went off at 4:00 a.m. We checked the road report…still closed. Back to sleep. At 7:00 a.m. we checked again…still closed. Rather than stare at our phones hoping for an update, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast. At 7:45 the news…