While the people in charge of measuring things up here assert that there has not been a measurable snowfall yet, Henry knows they are bald faced liars. I pedaled off to work at 6:30 am in the 33 degree sleet wondering if we would make that little turn towards snow. I assumed not given that the temperatures would only rise from that moment on.



I was very wrong. My ride to work was in the sleet, but soon after settling into my cubicle I noticed the snow beginning outside. Becky followed quickly with a text and a snapshot of the snow accumulating on our garage. Henry was pumped and soon had his barn jacket on for a short survey mission (his hat and gloves were buried away).

It would all melt by the afternoon, but the message was clear -- party is over. It's Alaska and even if the leaves are still tenuously hanging on those limbs, it will snow if it feels like it. It wouldn't be the first winter that found our leaves accumulating on a 4 inch base of snow.



MonkeyBear lives!

Randy and I headed up the Yentna river in hopes of harvesting a moose while Becky and Henry remained in Anchorage. All enjoyed the beautiful blue skies and break in the rain across Southcentral Alaska. Our hunt had moderate bugs, beautiful weather, a wolf, but sadly no moose. We knew that an un-scouted 36 hour hunt does not have a phenomenal success rate, but we also know that there are plenty of moose in that region. It was not to be, but a few nights under the stars are never a bad idea.



Becky, Henry, and Lesley headed to Kincaid Park, one of the larger parks in Anchorage. Aside from a fun walk on a beautiful day, they found the legal bull I had been hoping to encounter.

Thanks to some perfect timing and Alaska Airlines miles, Becky headed off for 4 days in San Jose with her high school friend Robin. Henry and I received plenty of texts and a few calls that proved they were having an excellent time. Aside from some traffic annoyances, they enjoyed Alcatraz, San Francisco, and all the sunshine in between.



Henry and I did out best to get outside when the rain abated, enjoyed Saturdays with Daddy as always, and assembled elaborate train configurations over and over again. We survived just fine without Mommy, but it was certainly great to pick her up at the airport on Sunday.



Full set of pictures here.

"Do again." That is the phrase that pays around here.

If we wrestle a bit, generate some giggles, read a good book, play MonkeyBear, or just run around the room in a certain way that brings smiles, Henry will ask to do it immediately again.

It can run a little thin at times, but the truth is that it only happens when we stumble onto moments of complete joy. I visualize it as a record needle sticking in a groove, slowly etching a memory. It may be an opportunity to chuckle and hopefully recreate a fun moment Henry will store deep into his long term memory, but at the very least it brings laughs.

...

Becky held Henry as I measured, drilled, and mounted his new coat rack. Once the job was finished I smiled and instructed, "Go get your drill!" Becky followed, "Daddy needs your help!"

He enjoyed moving the stud finder all over the wall, but using his drill was beyond exciting. As the days tick by since helping Daddy, we witness the memory growing and burrowing. At random moments and upon waking from naps we hear, "Help Daddy drill."