Montana Bike "wind" Ride

We took our first family bike ride yesterday. After spending 2 hours putting together Mia's carriage and roll cage we were finally off. WE convinced Gma and Gpa to come with us. It was short on account of the wind up here, but still a blast. Cora enjoyed pedalling her way to victory and Mia just chilled with a booger face in the back as daddy blocked all the wind. It was fun no doubt about it.

Faith has continued to enjoy her time in Montana despite ripping the pads off her feet twice already. See, in Alaska she was spent most of her time indoors and at the park. However, here in Turner we have been running her on the 4wheelers, bike rides, back roads, and highways. Needless to say, her paw pads have been red...but she has been loving every minute of it becoming more and more a better dog each day. She is a lot of fun. Get this...Anna even likes her now!

By the way, if you are interested in some funny reads...my previous blog, "What The..." has some decent ones in there from over the years...starting at the begining of them. Just incase you are bored one day. Also, the "other blogs worth reading" really are worth it. Some with great photography, poems, story of adoption, life of Kris and Kate among others. You should cruise through them when given the opportunity.

Big Sky Country

Yesterday evening Anna and I took out the 4wheelers and drove around the Big Sky Country for a couple of hours. Stopped every so often to rid the countryside of its most annoying varmint and "field rat". I tell you what...Anna is scary good with a rifle and there is something definitely sexy about it. Must be the Montana redneck in me still. What can I say...my wife with a gun...wow! anyway, we really just enjoyed cruising around the prairie and taking in the openness of God's country. We will soon be leaving Turner and heading south to the Beartooth Mountains in south central Montana...and no, that isn't the ghetto. More to come!

Real Carrousel

Yesterday Cora got to ride her first horse. The horse belongs to the neighbors next door and they were just out giving it some exercise and we asked if Cora could ride her. The horse is actually a record breaking barrel racer for this area of Montana. The owner, a 7th grader, and one of dad's students took Cora on a little jaunt down the street. Even Mia was impressed with the large thing. Oh, just one more thing to do in Turner, Montana.

More edmonton shots...

Edmonton

WE really enjoyed Edmonton. We spent three nights and four days there...well really only three days because we got an odd look at checkout when we left at 0530 in the morning on Monday to head to Montana. We didnt see a car on the road until after 0900. Canadians...oh well. We took the girls to the indoor Amusement Park, the indoor Water Park, did some shopping, saw some shows, and just really enjoyed our first ever Family Vacation. Cora conquered the water slides, Mia discovered swimming pools and the shocking temperature change between the sauna and pool. Anna explained to me the importance of shopping when the prices are so much cheaper then Alaska...not sure how she continues to trick me out of my wallet but she manages to word things exactlyso...man I am a sucker. It was a lot of fun. Faith continues to sleep in the car and couldnt be a better traveling dog. Well Edmonton was full of firsts and good times. We were excited to leave, but sad to do so. However, the next 580 miles would bring us back to America and to the Hahn house in Turner, Montana...home of 48 people.

Through the night

The drive was full of wild life. Just amazing creatures and views. WE saw them all...bears, moose, elk, goats, deer, birds...you name it we saw it. One particular bear was on the road...feet from our car. I told Anna to grab my camera and snap away. You could see his boogers. We went back to check the shots on the playback, well...no memory card. So we backed up quickly, loaded it and snapped some more. to bad I didnt listen to my wife and check everything out before hand...would have had some nice portraits. Oh well, enjoy some of the other wildlife we spotted on our way.

We then hit Lake watson, or is it Watson Lake? this was an interesting point in our trip. Canada decides to close all gas stations at 8pm. No doubt so you have to get a hotel. We, were able to fill up but the next town with 24 hour pumps was 320 miles away. Through passes, creature filled roads, around lakes, and into the night. We were averaging about 340 miles a tank of gas because of our weight. We knew there would be no more fill ups for 320 miles. However, kids were asleep, we were awake...we pressed on. Setting cruise at 60mph to conserve gas, putting it in nuetral down hills, and praying for good mileage. God provided. At 0400 we pulled into Fort Nelson, filled up, and continued on towards Edmonton. We drove almost 20 straight hours through the night to get to edmonton. Over three hours of that drive was at night, with bison, moose, elk, and countless deer linning the road. We crept through the canadian rockies and made it to the plains just as the sun was rising. No problems, no issues, and arrived into Edmunton where we would spend our first couple of days of vacation. So from Tok, Alaska to Edmunton, Alberta...we never stopped, ate ketchup chips, drank lots of coffee, paid over 6 dollars a gallon of gas at some spots, pee'd on the side of the road, and grew even closer as a family. Oh, and continued to answer, "Are we there yet?" Wow, we are crazy, but it was fun.

The Alaskan Highway

Being we got a late start we ended up in Tok for the night. We misread the border timeline and thought it closed at 8pm. We were wrong but had already mentally prepared for a good night rest, one last Alaskan dinner, and a good microbrew. So we stayed in a nice little cabin, almost bought a sleddog puppy, listened to Mia scream herself to sleep in a new place, and laid our heads down preparing for the massive journey. After some homemade belgium waffles in the morning we continued forward. The Lord blessed us with a new birth certificate for Cora with Hahn as the last name, and me as the father. This would prevent us from any paperwork headaches at customs. Turns out...Canada doesnt care who comes into their country. I think I barely got the van into park before they waived us through. Interesting I thought. Nevertheless, it was painless and into the Last Frontier we journeyed.

the move begins

May 14th 2008 the journey across north america begins. It all starts with a quick awards ceremony, picking up of personnel files, signing out of the Last Frontier, drawing some canadian monopoly money, and hitting the road. It was early afternoon when the drive began. Both kids and dog nestled into their respected areas, playing with their new toys for the trip and the van pointed North. Only minutes into the drive Cora sounds off with, "are we there yet?". Yeah, it was like that. Even though we filled up and left on this day...our departure actually started in the days leading up to it. Our friends...nevermind that...our Alaskan Family said their "c-ya laters", helped us pack, helped us clean, and refused to make eye contact as they drove away from galloway loop. It was hard, it is still hard...we left some of our closest friends Anna and I, Cora and Mia have ever been blessed with. For that we are greatful, and to you all...we already miss you and thank you dearly! May the trip BEGIN!!!!

the move begins cont...

Ball of Fun

Standing Fool