In our first post, we wrote about all the major life events that preceded our blog. One of those was making good friends while we were in Alaska. Those friends are two couples, Meg and Neil and Kyle and Abbey.
Joe had a conference in Alaska early last week and we used the opportunity to extend his tickets and use our miles to buy me a ticket so we could spend time with friends. Kyle and Abbey are still there, but Meg and Neil have since moved to the warm land of Texas so Neil can go to flight school. Meg joined us all in Alaska, but Neil was pinned to the books so our set was incomplete. This is Meg and Neil...just as a tribute to our missing part.
Most vacations to Alaska involve whale watching, cruises, kayaking, hiking, skiing, hunting, snow mobiling (machining if you're from up there), and other such outdoor pursuits. As former AK residents, we pretty much skipped all that. We spent the week cooking, playing cards, chatting, sitting in the hot tub, running, rearranging furniture, setting up a new TV and sound system free of cords, contemplating new furniture, and racing to see who could find out the implications of an infant not urinating the fastest to assist Abbey in her homework. We did spend a day sledding, and I shoveled Kyle and Abbey's back deck while playing fetch with Kenzie, but overall it was low key. We also hit up a few of our favorite Anchorage eateries. Moosestooth and Thai Orchid were delicious as usual. Joe and I also had our first visit to Simon and Seaforts amazing happy hour. The rest of the crew had already been and let us in on the secret. Yum!
Really, while it might not be great reading material, the great thing about these friends is the every day. We've had many an adventure together, and I suppose we had a few this week as well, but the ease of just existing together is what makes it special. It's also what makes it so hard to say goodbye each time. Before we left, Meg reminded us we'd see each other again and I think I said something similar about our last dinner not actually being the last. Later, on the way to the airport, I remarked to Joe and Kyle that it wasn't that I wanted to see them for another great extended get together, it's just that I wanted to be able to call and invite them to dinner.
It really is amazing to have such good friends who are so supportive of each other, enjoy their spouses, and are always funny and enjoyable. I am incredibly grateful for all our time together. It was a wonderful trip.
Some photos from our adventure:
Frosting Abbey's Turtle Cake. I haven't perfected it yet, but I will. Meg and I cooked for about 10 hours that day!
Meg and me doing a yoga tribute to Eeva, our amazing yoga instructor. Meg will be an expert on this soon!
Abbey taking a break from studying to join us in the kitchen. She jokingly called us her "wives" for the week. We were delighted to fill that role.
Me, Joe, Kyle and Abbey at Kincaid Park.
Kenzie and Joe doing his slow motion sledding.
Meg and me doing a yoga tribute to Eeva, our amazing yoga instructor. Meg will be an expert on this soon!
Abbey taking a break from studying to join us in the kitchen. She jokingly called us her "wives" for the week. We were delighted to fill that role.
Me, Joe, Kyle and Abbey at Kincaid Park.
Kenzie and Joe doing his slow motion sledding.
