New Beginnings: Countdown to Alaska

Yippee! Only 27 more days, until our little family boards an airplane to head to The Last Frontier! It's been less than a year ago that we were in Alaska visiting. Iszak was only 2 months old during that trip, because of course the family had to meet their first grandson/nephew sooner than later!

As we were flying back home last August, we decided that we weren't going to go back for a few years.. 5 to be exact! There's plenty of places to see in Utah and neighboring states that Chris hasn't seen and the excitement to show Iszak as well for the first time. It was less then 2 weeks of being home, that we found out that not only 1 sibling... but 2 got engaged. Darn it, back up to Alaska! Our plan so far hasn't worked in our favor. A wedding on May 22nd and another on August 9th.

I imagine that someone else had a hand in this plan to make sure their grandson was getting the attention and love from Baba! As it has been 11 years this month of Chris' father's passing.

As I think about Chris interacting with Iszak and developing their father/son relationship, it's amazing and priceless to watch them. I'm thankful to have such a loving husband that would do anything for Iszak and myself on a daily basis. I can only imagine how Chris' dad was as a father with unconditional love, nurturing and admiration for his own children. A wonderful father,that I'm sure of, as all of the 3 kids are very respectful as adults.

Thinking about it more and more.. I'm excited for Iszak to see his daddy's side of the family more often as we currently live in different states. Plus who wouldn't want to go to Alaska, right??

I really enjoy spending time with the family too, as I haven't gotten to know them as well as I've hoped, with the long distance between us. I do have to give myself kudos for doing a better job in keeping the phone lines busy talking to mom in Alaska.

One night, Chris had called his mom to chat as they usually do on the weekends. We put the phone up to Iszak to "talk" to his Baba (Babushka is grandma in Russian) and he actually made joyful sounds and laughed with her. It was priceless! I'm sure once Iszak is talking non-stop, then learning the phone number.. we won't have any say in what our child does when the phone is dialing to Alaska!

Congrats to Patience & Mike!

Congrats to Josh & Jennifer!

Here's some pictures of Iszak's 1st trip to Alaska, August 2008: