Our first winter in interior Alaska saw average snow but fairly intense cold snaps. We spent about a month hovering around 40 below, I found myself on crutches and a boot due to frostbite, the whole FIRST WINTER experience one would expect moving to the actual coldest city in the country ( that is NOT an exaggeration my friends) . Year two brought much milder temperatures never hitting 40 below zero but snow that was basically as tall as my entire being. It nearly reached the top of our backyard fence by the end and the final bits still lingered into May. Third and final round of winter still feels a little hard to believe! We lasted until Halloween without extreme cold or snow, sure the overcast sky and perpetual lack of sunlight was a bit painful to the soul but overall the Elsa came on slow and steady. January brought a quick cold snap that allowed for one more fun morning in the 40 below club but she didn't stick around too long. The darkness this winter ate at me harder than the previous years and when my brain and heart have fully processed it I will absolutely be writing more about this here. HOWEVER...
Here we stand . Marked in the books. An unbelievably... like it's uncomfortable a little bit to even think about... early breakup season has restored deep hope amongst us here in Fairbanks. Between running in shorts on dry pavement and watching the neighborhood kids frolicking around like summer afternoons, life feels restored. The taste of Alaska summer magic is just lingering in the extended sunsets well passed bedtime .
Knowing we only have two months left in this house, the house that has become possibly our most memory filled home yet, made this extended summer backyard time so sweet. The snow has melted the lights are lit the trampoline is up and of course the yellow umbrella is shining bright. To some this may be a little 500 sq feet of muddy grass and a tiny slab of concrete in the middle of base housing but this backyard is my place, OUR place . The memories from different seasons of time here, different chapters of friendships, first crawls to first steps, birthdays celebrated , prayers prayed together, meals shared with friends, late night drinks under the midnight sun, ice baths in baby pools after long runs, lazy summer afternoons of chatter while the neighborhood floods with bathing suit covered kiddos, cupcakes and la croix and veggie straws, water balloon fights and blow up pools, swimming in the ice melt, lonely nights while he was away simply reading and sunbathing at 11 pm... there could actually be a memoir of the stories under the yellow umbrella. For now though I will tuck every last one into my heart .
TONIGHT though- the twenty seventh day of March- is the sweetest gift after quite a 'charm' of a third winter. Daddy set up the trampoline as a fourth and final season of afternoons under the umbrella have officially begun !
The signs of breakup season in Fairbanks Alaska...
XOXO
B
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