Visit to Iowa

We've been enjoying a few laid back days in Iowa. We accomplished something that's rarely been done: we caught Grandma smiling on camera!

More to come, and from North Dakota too!

Zoom Zoom

Enjoying time back on the 'farm'

This guy just loves to be around people

Landscaping project

We met up with this lovely lady and her new hubby

practicing for photo ops in Asia

Enjoying a tasty brew from the Broken Bow brewery

naughty dog

Soaking up the rays while the grill was warming

Love this goofy pair

Enjoying another beer from BB (there were several to try)

A little Sunday morning coffee and atlas studying

After all that hard work, it's ruined in one foul swoop

Updating pictures for the 'pet photo board'

pure evil

Until we meet again

Monday, April 27: Our last day in Alaska

All done on base!

Enjoying Moose's Tooth lunch with Nick

Soaking up a few last minute cuddles

Gonna miss this face for the next few weeks

World's tiniest white mocha from my favorite joint in ANC

Caught this lovely lady before she went to work... what a gracious cat sitter she is!

Kelly, Amy and I

Amanda, Carlyn, Lt Col Gundel- so glad you 'crashed' our party :)

Morgan & Steve

Beautiful Wholly family

Amanda and I

Love these ladies!

It was a Wilson fan circle

Kayla & Evan (and of course Wilson)

 After many (many!) tears, we were off. Of course we left Anchorage on a red-eye, but we're looking forward to spending a couple weeks relaxing with family before departing for Tokyo via Seattle in May. Thanks for all who made such a positive impact on our life there in Alaska. I'm dealing with many mixed emotion; grateful for the military for stationing us all together, yet bitter that we will eventually all move away. Consider us there in Japan when making your next vacation plans :)
Until we meet again!

We're off!

The final countdown

Saturday, 25 April:

We thought we'd enjoy one last hike in AK- but alas, Wilson and Nala ran off, so we had a hard time enjoy the muddy Mt Baldy experience. 

Sunday, 26 April:

Final drive down Turnagain Arm

After a short drive, we met for Midnight Sun brunch and afternoon brewery visit to Anchorage Brewing Co

This guy... very nervous about what's going on :(

The last of the 673d

Thursday, 23 April:

Van ride to move about town

enjoying cable at our temporary abode: bizarre foods, tokyo even!

Nick and Cody at the Midnight Sun Brewery tour, can't believe it took us 4 years to make it to the tour

Friday, 24 April:

All done at my first assignment! Now just to sign out of JBER on Monday

 And checking out of our rental of two years:

And turning in our Kia for three years in storage:

Enjoying one last reindeer dog downtown

singing to Kayla for her 24th birthday

Last days and Asian pickles

Tuesday, 21 April:
My last day on shift at Elmendorf! Thanks for all those that put up with me these last four years! (and thanks for the pizza!)

Wednesday, 22 April:
Our to-do list grows longer and longer, but we've made some headway, including selling Cody's Taurus! whoop! Progress continues on purging items, especially cleaning and kitchen supplies. Any takers?!

how appropriate! one of our last mail days, our favorite magazine featuring Asian pickles