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 NORAD Region. Like every new assignment, the week was filled with introductions, new acronyms, learning where everything was, and trying to absorb as much as possible. It’s always exciting to start over, even if your brain feels completely full by lunchtime.

Midweek brought one of the moments we’d been waiting for since leaving Washington, D.C. The movers finally arrived.

Within a few hours, our empty house became our home. Furniture returned to its familiar places, pictures came out of boxes, and our kitchen finally looked like a kitchen instead of a camping setup. Even better, our blackout curtains arrived. Between those and the eye mask Zed had already bought for Sam, we’ve finally figured out how to sleep despite Alaska’s endless summer daylight. We’re also getting the hang of cooling the house the Alaskan way, opening windows overnight to let in the cool air before closing everything up during the warmer part of the day.

For the Fourth of July, we skipped fireworks and headed to one of Alaska’s most unique traditions. The Glacier View Car Launch.

If you’ve never heard of it, imagine decorating old cars, driving them to the edge of a cliff, and launching them hundreds of feet into the valley below. That’s it. That’s the event. Thousands of people gather every Independence Day to cheer as each vehicle takes its final flight. It was one of those experiences that perfectly captures Alaska’s personality: a little unconventional, a little wild, and completely unforgettable.

While we were settling into our new routines, the kids were making memories of a different kind on the ranch.

Their days were packed with branding cattle, horseback rides, hikes, endless cousin adventures, and learning ranch life from Grandpa and Grandma Davies. It was the kind of summer kids dream about, where every morning starts with a new adventure and every evening ends with stories around the dinner table.

The highlight of the week was celebrating Ana’s 12th birthday. Surrounded by family, cousins, and the ranch she loves so much, it was a birthday she’ll remember for a long time.

Being separated wasn’t easy, but there was something special about knowing all six of us were exactly where we needed to be. Zed and Sam were building the foundation of our new home in Alaska while the kids were building memories that will stay with them forever.