Utah to Alaska

Were you wondering if we were still alive??

I'm sure you were. 

The last 3 weeks have been so insane. I'm certain I've completely forgotten how to be a normal, stay-at-home mom who's single.

But yet, I'm sure I'll spring back in no time. 

Until then I have some blogging to do!

I would post pictures of my house, but it's not complete...

yet. 

Here is a rundown of our road trip:  

Remember Alberta Beach? The place where I locked my keys inside my trailer:

The cutest, quaintest little place. 

With nice people. 

Toad River:

(I'm pretty sure it's hard to even find this on a map and I have no idea if it's in British Columbia or Yukon Territory)

I thought it was going to be hard to hold Henry in his spot and smile in mine at the same time. 

But no, he just climbed right up and held himself. 

We saw "some" wildlife. 

I was a little disappointed in the end, but I guess I can't complain. 

This was right along the edge of the road, we could have reached out and touched them if we wanted. 

But who wants to touch a goat? (Stone sheep to be exact)

This guy was not interested in smiling for our camera. 

We made a pit stop at Laird Hot Springs. 

If we hadn't had 2 more hours to our nights stay we would have jumped in and swam around. There were a lot of tourists soaking in the natural hot tub. 

Alas, losing Henry's shoe under the dock was enough for us. 

Thank heavens for playgrounds where Henry can work out his mad climbing skills. 

I may have given birth to Spiderman. 

A few cries, movies and fruit snacks later:

Bada bing Bada boom

We made it to our destination. 

Thanks to Gentri's help we're pretty much settled in our house. My bedroom is still a mess, and so is the garage, but the rest of the house is set to go. 

Unless you count painting the poo brown walls in my family room. 

But that will have to wait.

Traveling update.

I'm blogging here from (a surprisingly nice) Super 8 in Fort St. John, British Columbia.

Just wanted to throw it out there that we are all alive and well!

So, day 1 and day 2 were relatively uneventful. Normal kids screaming, fighting, and crying...ya know!

Today got a little more interesting. :)

Our hotel last night was in downtown Edmonton. I was surprised to find that it is a VERY big city. Who woulda thought? We had some serious confusion getting out of the city that involved a lot of U-turns. We had also begun driving without breakfast because Comfort Inn & Suites in downtown Edmonton doesn't believe in a continental breakfast....come on!!

So, Gentri and I just wanted to get out of the city to make things simpler, then stop somewhere for breakfast. That took about an hour. The kids are starving. When we finally make it out of the city we're instantly in the middle of nowhere. So I get off the first exit that says there is a gas station and a grocery store. Then we find out it's 6 miles off the ramp to actually get to this place. But I am determined, so we proceed.

When we arrive to "Alberta Beach" we discover it's the cutest little down right on a huge lake. We buy donuts and cheese rolls at the "Market on the Beach", and head out to eat breakfast on a picnic table right on the beach. It's really cold, so I run back to the car to retrieve the kids jackets which are in the suitcase, in the Uhal trailer. I'm in such a hurry I suddenly realize, as the pad-lock clicks that I have stupidly locked my car keys along with the pad-lock keys in the Uhal. A few bad words may have escaped my mouth.

Yadda, yadda, yadda...several VERY nice Canadians later I have a sliced up pad-lock on the ground and a shiny new one in it's place, with my keys in my hand. What a great way to start the day!

Several hours later Mapquest throws Gentri and I for a confusion flip and we made a wrong turn. Turns out the road still connected to our destination, we just added about an hour and a half on to our daily driving. It was only okay because we met a very nice lady who gave us a map at a dinosaur of a gas station.

But yet, we are here. At our planned evening stop. This place even has a Walmart which we wandered through and bought Canadian treats.

Thanks for the prayers and thoughts!! TRULY I have felt them carrying us through.

xoxo~ Chablis

Road trip extreeme.

* 3,050 miles

* 56 hours

* 2 countries

* 5 days...maybe 6

* 3 children

* 2 sisters

(my sis Gentri and me)

I'll let you follow the little red line on the map from Provo, Utah to Anchorage.

Provo- Helena - Calgary - Edmonton - Whitehorse - Anchorage.

And a whole lotta nothin' in between.

We leave Tuesday morning and hope to arrive sometime late Saturday night/Sunday morning. 

Prayers are appreciated.

:)

My insanely beautiful and most talented friend spared an evening from her precious 3 yr. old to take portraits of my lil' charmers.

I'm so glad I have great friends with photography skillz cause heaven knows I aint got game in that department.

So without further ado...

the pictures speak for themselves.

Remember when...

I was freaking out about whether we should buy a house or just look to rent?

Well, we have since made our decision.

We are now proud (& intimidated) home owners!

Welcome to the Adams Family Crib:

Please try to see past the power line and electric post.

And the garage.

I'm gonna need some serious advice on how to "cuten" up that huge, boring, long, garage wall that is also our walk way. I see how the lady of the home has Sheppard hooks lining the wall. Cute, but a little to "wedding reception" to me. What do you think?

I'm thinking little garden lanterns that line the walkway, some shudders and some sort of big fake window or something. I can't wait to put a "Chablis" touch on this home and yard!

Here are the stats:

built in 2007

1770 sq. ft.

3 bedrooms

2 bathrooms

1/2 acre

fully fenced backyard

a doggy door (heaven help me resist)

a BIG pantry (squeeeeeeeal)

The current owners are still packing up and moving out, so I don't have inside pics I can share yet.

YIPEE!!!

It's as though I can see into the future

 I have a hunch.

Today: I

Next week:

 Yes, I can feel the psychic powers brewing within.

A VERY important date!

This girl had a birthday.

7 years old.

Welcome to the Mad Hatter's Tea Party:

But first, Alice and the doormouse must figure out which way to go!

Watch out for the Queen of Hearts!  She's crazy.

Ah, here's the Mad Hatter! She's sure to entertain.

A Wonderland feast has been laid for your delight.

All sugar free and calorie free too!

(a Wonderland special)

Sandwiches dipped in rainbow juice and lollipops to make you grow.

Wait! Before you can eat, you must look the part you know!

Of course we went to the Mad Hatter's Hattery to make our own hats.

And now the tea party can begin!

Remember to mind your manners, or the Queen of Hearts just might make your head roll!

Gifts!

Alice was very particular and thankful.

I think she approves of this party!

You never know what will happen in Wonderland.

The wind might be blowing too hard to keep the candles lit.

It's a good thing Alice has a big enough imagination to pretend to blow out the candles.

Even Tweedle Dum enjoyed himself.

Highlight

Definitely one of the highlights of my stay in Utah has been the 2 days I spent with my

incredible,

beautiful,

spiritual,

fun,

talented,

"soul sister", Heidi

We met and only had a year together in Virginia before the Navy moved her family to North Carolina.

So, when we discovered we'd have time to see eachother in Utah we were elated!

We spent a night at a condo in Midway, played with the kids and watched The Rachel Zoe Project.

LOVED IT!

Then we spent a day shopping at Dear Lizzie...

and eating lunch at The Blue Lemon.

A few days later I met up with Heidi again at her sister's gorgeous wedding reception in SLC. 

How cute are these two?

It's been 2 1/2 years since we've seen each other, but the kids re-connected in nano-seconds.  

Such a sweet, sweet family whom I adore!

Thanks my dear friend for some great times!

The other half of our "soul sisters" will be here in July!

It's so nice to have these moments to look forward to.

(my inner child is jumping around and squeeling with delight: think Jesse when she meets Woody in Toy Story 2)

((whoa...too much Toy Story lately))