Pioneer Park

Wednesday, Sarah and I started off the day with another bike ride, this time just to Safeway and back (just about 4 miles or so).  I love how easy it is to ride bikes where you need to go there.  Yes, bike riding is big here in the Seattle area, but there are also quite a few bike snobs around here - you know, those people who give you dirty looks if you don't know all of the bike-riding etiquette and such!!  Also, I don't know about you, but I don't feel comfortable or confident riding down to Safeway (even though it's SO close) because I don't want to ride my bike on Bothell-Everett Hwy by myself, let alone with Samantha either in a bike seat or trailing behind me in a bicycle stroller.  Of course, it doesn't help that the other day on the way to work, Ed and I passed a car/bike accident on Bothell-Everett Hwy...hmmm.  Anyway, so bike riding in North Pole = big thumbs up!

After we got back home and made sure everyone had breakfast, we packed up and headed out to Pioneer Park.  This is a huge park in Fairbanks with some local history museums, playgrounds, historic houses, and shops.  It's a lot of fun!!  We even toured the train car that President Warren G. Harding used when he visited Fairbanks. 


Just chillin' out!




Gretta, Elana, Emma, Dieter - their annual picture spot!  So cute!



So happy!

Touring the train

With all of the flowers in bloom, we took advantage of some photo opportunities with Samantha and then headed over to the playground.  Oh my word, Samantha loves the swings!!  She cried when I took her out of the swing the first time - I had to put her back until she had her fill!  Big smiles, ear-to-ear the whole time she was there!






On the way home, we stopped at an ice cream hot spot called Hot Licks for some local, homemade ice cream.  True to himself, Ed got the strawberry ice cream, his favorite.  Sarah and I branched out and got the Aurora Borealis  flavor.  It was a vanilla base with swirls of blueberry and cranberry!!  It could have used some more swirls, but no complaints here - it was yuuuuu-mmy!  Samantha loved it too! ;)



Here's lookin' at you!



We had to get back early because Kurt had a meeting for church so while he was out, Sarah, Ed and I finished dinner: Buffalo Ribs and Moose!  It was mine and Ed's first experience with moose meat.  Ed liked it but as for me, well, moose is not my favorite.  A bit "gamey" for my tastes.  Oh well, it was fun to try something new.

Again, we got all of the kids off to bed and while Ed and Kurt watched 'Tron: Legacy,' Sarah and I got dinner ready for the following night: my recipe for chicken enchiladas with homemade tortillas (again, yuuuu-mmy!).  We knew the next day was going to be crazy-busy so we wanted to at least check dinner prep off our list!

We sat down and watched the rest of the movie with the guys, ate more homemade cherry ice cream, and reflected on a beautiful, fun, full day!  :)