Days-3,4,5

We had some showers here and there these last few days so I don't have alot of pictures, but here is a rundown..
Thursday we woke up to bad weather so we just caught up on some laundry and headed out to pioneer park, which is a local pioneer themed park with an old gold rush village, gift shops, museums, a train...
we took the train ride around the park to here the commentary and found out the oldest church in Fairbanks is within the grounds (we will have to look at that when we don't have a 2 year old with us) and were given a few other interesting historic facts about the area.
Friday we went fishing, canoeing and had a BBQ at Grayling lake, the boys were really into the fishing, so much that they only ate one hamburger and skipped the smores.
Saturday the boys did some more fishing just down the road until they said they were getting looked at funny by the rivers resident moose, the girls went shopping and had to have a matching outfit and the boys did some 4-wheeling after dinner, Zack was a little more confident and tried the trails.
I don't have pics of everything, but here are a few for now..until next time..

Day-2 Mushing,moose and more

The day started at about 5:30 AM when Colton crept into my room to get his DS that was taken away from him the night before..so I thought boys want to get up early, we will get out of the house early! We decided on a day out to Chena Hot Springs. We spotted 8 moose along the road on the way there, much to the Floridians excitement! Including a mom and her baby, ahhh.
At the Hot springs they fed goats, went mushing (sled pulled by dogs, in summer time it's a cart on wheels) and we swam in the hot spring, which the kids so intelligently noted that it was the opposite as the springs in Florida.
We came back home built a fire, roasted hot dogs and smores, rode 4-wheels briefly until they were out of commission. The day ended with a huge water fight and me cleaning up muddy floors, and thats all I have to say about that.

It's a Zack thing

Kids enjoy cooking their own food over the fire, twisting it, twirling it, catching it on fire, but Zack had a different approach he built this first one then proceeded to line a few up some donning hot dogs others marshmallows while he sat back and stayed out of the smoke, smart thinking!!

Day 1-Zack found the white stuff

Cayley could hardly stand still as she anxiously awaited her "Florida" Cousins (well at least 2 of them) to come down the hall, Rylie not so anxious was asleep on my shoulder totally oblivious of what was going on. Zack and Michaela appeared from the long hallway nicely sunkissed, even the smelly guy in the elevator pointed out they must of come from Florida!
They both informed me they hadn't slept a wink and were not tired AT ALL!
When we left the terminal to go to the van parked on the top of the parking garage, first remarks from Zack were "it's cold" (it was an Alaskan warm 68F) then he saw the enormous mountains in the horizon and mentioned he felt like he was going on a journey to the center of the earth. Michaela in the meantime was caught up chatting with Cayley and aknowledging how big Rylie was.
It was cloudy when we left Anchorage and for half the drive home. Zack kept mentioning how bad he wanted to get on top of one of the mountains to play in the snow. His wish was granted, while driving through Denali we found some remnants of snow! I can't even imagine what he would think about the several feet of it we have in the winter!
As we approached Fairbanks, it was about 11:30 pm and it was as bright as noon day, the energy amongst those in the car elevated, I know it's an over-used phrase, but I must..."if only I had their energy!!"