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 1959 as one of eight Nike missile installations in Alaska. Armed with Nike-Hercules missiles, its mission was to help protect Anchorage, Fort Richardson, and Elmendorf Air Force Base from a potential Soviet attack.

The location alone makes the site impressive. Building a missile installation thousands of feet above Anchorage meant reshaping part of the mountain and constructing facilities capable of operating through Alaska’s snow, wind, and extreme cold. Site Summit remained operational until 1979, and today it is considered one of the best-preserved Nike-Hercules sites in the country.

Getting there with the Alaska Army National Guard made the experience even more memorable. Seeing Anchorage from above and then getting to explore a piece of Cold War history tucked into the mountains was a pretty incredible way to spend one of our final kid-free days. It was also another reminder of just how much military history is woven into Alaska and how unique this assignment is going to be.

Then came the moment we’d been waiting weeks for.

The kids are back!

After weeks of being split between Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah, all six of us are finally under the same roof in Anchorage.

And honestly, that was enough excitement for one week.

Their arrival meant lots of hugs, lots of snuggles, and lots of catching up. The kids had stories from Trek, the ranch, cousins, Pioneer Day, and all the adventures they managed to squeeze into their summer away. We had stories from Alaska, new jobs, unpacking, exploring Anchorage, and everything we’d been doing to get the house ready for them.

For the first time, the bedrooms we’ve spent weeks unpacking actually have kids living in them. The dining room table has six people around it. Shoes are appearing in places they don’t belong. Someone is always looking for a snack. The house is louder, messier, and considerably more alive.

Exactly how we like it.

Of course, it didn’t take long before we returned to one of the activities that has become a huge part of our family’s life.

Hockey.

We got all four kids back on the ice for a free skate after several weeks away. After a summer filled with horses, handcarts, hiking, cousins, ranch life, and very little ice, we were curious to see how those first few laps would go.

Turns out, they haven’t forgotten a thing.

More importantly, they still love it.

Watching them step back onto the ice felt like another piece of our normal life clicking into place. New rink. New state. Soon, new teams. But the same four kids who can’t seem to get enough time on skates.

There are still plenty of transitions ahead. Hockey tryouts are coming, school is around the corner, and we’re all learning what everyday life looks like for a family of six in Alaska. The kids are also eager to put all of our newfound bear and moose safety knowledge to use so they can start exploring their new backyard and neighborhood with a little more confidence.

But those things can wait.

This week wasn’t really about checking things off a list or packing in as many Alaska experiences as possible. It was about hugs on the couch, stories around the dinner table, hearing four kids moving through the house again, and enjoying something we’ve been waiting weeks for.

After an entire summer of moving, road trips, grandparents, cousins, Trek, ranch adventures, and living in different states, the Davies Herd is finally home.