Alaska

So this is a long overdue post but one that I didn't want to go unposted!  Last year when Karl was in Korea he had a temporary duty assignment in Alaska that fell over Labor Day Weekend.  We made a last minute decision for me to go up and spend the long weekend with him and it was the BEST DECISION EVERRRR!

My time with Karl was so fulfilling and needed for us after such long periods of time apart.  Beyond that, Alaska was and is one of the most beautiful places Karl & I have ever seen.  The air is so fresh and crisp and the view was different in each town we went to but equally beautiful no matter where we were!  I cannot express how much I loved that weekend!  It felt like such a long trip, even though it was just 4 days.  We saw so much but both of us would love to go back!

We rode the train all day to a super cute town called Talkeetna (which is apparently where most people start their climb of Denali) and stayed there that night in a little apartment over a bakery and cafe.  It was adorable.  Next time, we want to take the train one stop farther to Wasilla and go whale watching!  The whole train experience felt like we were in a movie or a dream or something out of this world.  The mountains, greenery, the snow, the cabins in the middle of nowhere.  There was a car with a glass-dome roof that we sat in on-and-off for the whole train ride that gave us a 360 degree view, the train had great food and hot drinks... I could go on and on.  I would never have thought that a long spontaneous weekend in Alaska would end up being one of my favorite vacations ever!  God is good and so fun!!

Then we went on a hike.  We were in Denali National Park and we chose a "strenuous" trail.  I was feeling really confident.  I don't work out.  Ever.  I have the endurance of a large, mouth-breathing lap dog.  But I figured, like, there were A TON of old people and kids at the park so surely they mark the trails based off the physical capabilities of the weakest human.  The trail was 2 miles, each way.  I haven't walked a mile since my freshman year of high school.  WHY DID MY HUSBAND AGREE TO THIS??  I will boil the whole thing down to 3 points:
1) I literally thought I was going to die on that mountain.  Die of cold.  Die of exhaustion.  Die because I did smell bears.
2) My legs did stop working.  They stopped over and over and over again.
3) While he didn't say anything even remotely close to this, I knew 100% for a fact in my mind that if I didn't make it to the top of the mountain my husband would be crushed.  His soul would die.  Right then and there.  He was counting on me for the absolute greatest moment of his life.  What is wrong with me??
But we made it!  It was literally the coldest I have EVER been at the top.  And going down was possibly worse than going up.  And I felt SO ACCOMPLISHED when we made it!  But not accomplished enough to ever do it again.  ever.  That mountain owned me.  Here is picture proof, in chronological order...

 ...and there is my mule of a husband who didn't break a sweat and Richard Simmonsed me up that mountain.

Then the weekend was over. I remember how hard it was to leave him.  It always is.  But if I remember right, we only had to endure about 6 more weeks before he was home for good!  Since then, I have only been separated from him once- for Lucy's birth.  When we say goodbye it feels like we are saying bye for months and months.  It is the worst feeling.  My mind cannot comprehend a short-term separation.  I say to myself over and over, "it's just a weekend," or "it's just one week," but literally in my mind it's months!!  It's like a weird form of PTSD or something.  IDK.  A weird after-effect of 6 years of goodbyes.  I cannot wait until November, when we feel safe that we don't have to say goodbye anymore.  Goodbye is so lame. Alaska is so cool.

Hannah K.C. Burton

Hello from Arizona!

Hi there, friends!  I'm writing from the nastiest hotel room EVER (negative) but my husband is laying on the bed in front of me (positive) so those two things cancel each other out, right?  We are in Arizona and staying on Luke Air Force Base, Karl's new duty station, until our new apartment is ready to move in to on Friday.  By the time we check out of this dump place, we will have spent 10 lovely nights here.  I have never been more excited to live in an apartment.  I feel like I've flashed back to that two weeks where Karl & I shared a twin size bed when I visited him in Korea, except we are sharing a full size bed, which may as well be a twin size bed when it is 85 degrees in the room and you can basically see the germs closing in on you from every side.  But who's complaining about really little lame things :)  See paragraph #4.

The drive here was really nice!  While we are basically in the desert, the view from anywhere here is breathtaking!  We are in a valley so there is mountain range in all direction!  Every sunrise (which I have seen, see: bed situation) and sunset are glorious.  There are huge Gumby-esque cactus everywhere.  Beautiful flowers, awesome parks and trails, TONS to do- shopping, outdoor activities, restaurants- this really is a great place to be stationed!!  I definitely don't feel like I'm in the South.  Women dress differently, I've definitely not heard any "y'alls,"and I had the only top knot in sight at church on Sunday... but it's cool, I won't let anyone bring that down.  While people are definitely not rude, I don't feel like I've really had any experiences with people going out of there way to be friendly like I experience regularly in Texas & Arkansas.  I'm excited to be here!  Excited to be a light in a place that may not be as "Christian" as the other places we've lived, excited for Karl to be at a base with easier work hours, excited to be close to California (holla at you, Ardis'!!) and other fun weekend destinations!

In addition to all of that, being reunited with Karl is awe.some.  Reality from Karl & I: it is hard to get reacquainted after a year apart and independent living for both of us.  Welcome to an often overlooked aspect of military life.  We are getting back into a groove while continuing to allow God to use this past year to draw us both nearer to Him and each other.  More honesty: I love him more than ever and cannot wait for this year of adventure with him!!

his homecoming :)

In keeping consistent with this post being all over the place: shoutout to my bestie Jacki, reading this here blog from a hospital bed.  I intend on keeping this thing interesting so she has something juicy to read everyday while Baby K keeps growing. And I can't mention Baby K without asking for some extra special prayers for them- for Baby to stay right where he is for much longer!!

So everyone plan your vacation to see us!  We can see the Grand Canyon, shop & spa in Scottsdale, road trip to wine country, head a couple hours north and ski... I mean, honestly, lets do this people!

And because this was a VERY wordy post and that is lame to not include some pictures...

Our attempt at a family picture this summer.

This is literally as good as it got.  

Emma's Bid Day... yes I know, I've already blogged her initiation.  

Best Pi Phi day ever, every single year!!

Love it!!  

and a random adorable picture of my BIL Jeremy blowing out his 30th candles and Oliver having the time of his life.

On the docket for this week: mine and Karl's unconventional hotel Thanksgiving, Family Weekend in Fayetteville, Baby Lucy and her expected arrival in no more than 3 weeks, our Friday move-in and some apartment deets, and me and Karl's weekend rendezvous in Alaska (which occurred approximately 3 months ago.  Suit me.).  Sounds juicy, right?  Especially the Alaskan rendezvous.  You'll like the rendezvous.

From the state that doesn't observe daylight savings (sounds snobby, right?),

Hannah K.C. Burton

happy days

reminded of these "unreleased" photos of Karl and I that we had done last year.  thanks, 'mate ;)  happy memories of Karl & I in our first home, in our first year of marriage last year- just us, in a tiny town in South Carolina.

Mrs. Burton

Oliver Ryan is here!

Oliver Ryan is here!!!  He was born at 6:48 pm, weighs 7.10 lbs and is 20 inches long!  He is absolutely perfect and I am such a proud mom aunt!!  We had a long day at the hospital and Callie was an absolute rockstar!  Callie labored for 12 hours and went over 24 without food.  And that is icing on the cake that is the past 2 weeks that I have literally and honestly spent questioning my desire for children.  We paced, panicked, prayed, waited, paced more, peeked thru windows, paced more, texted, fixed Callie's hair, couldn't sit, couldn't sit still, paced, and then rejoiced.  So, without further ado, let me introduce you to my precious, perfect, tiny little nephew guy!  Uncle Karl, I miss you more than ever and am aching for you to be here to meet our new nephew- he loves you, as do I, and this late-night-blog is certainly for you because I am SO EXCITED for you to see this little man!

HALLELUJAH!
Aunt Hannah K.C. Burton

I can't wait to see the pictures from the professional photographer that was there! YAY!

the best thing, part V

Saturday through today has brought some welcomed monotony.  Our days have consisted of Karl going to work while I'm still in the twin size bed, short work days for Karl (PRAISE THE LORD!!), renting movies and buying episodes on iTunes, grocery shopping together, Karl napping while I clean his room, cooking and baking for Karl & his roommates and friends...  it has been perfectly normal.  We saw Red Tails last weekend and it was good!  Especially fun to watch among Airmen and hear their commentary- very funny.  I've done a lot of laundry and loved every second of it.  I've tried to cook Karl's favorite meals and bake lots of sweets each day.  We've taken lots of walks, stocked up on things Karl has needed for his room, and enjoyed spending tons and tons of time together.  We have laughed a lot, spent $41.00 on iTunes rentals (Hulu, ABC.com, etc- none work overseas), and bought Karl a bike after he depressingly told me that he is wearing holes in his boots from all the walking he does around here.
We enjoyed our 3rd "6 month anniversary" on February 21st, which we celebrate by each writing a list of "10 things I have learned about Hannah/Karl in the past 6 months."  I LOVE this!  I Love this more than anything Karl could get me for Valentines day or our real anniversary.  It is so special to me to see that Karl & I are constantly learning about each other, growing in our relationship with each other, and paying attention to what each other is doing.  And these past 6 months have been especially crazy- I have honestly learned more about Karl in the past 6 months than ever before.  He never ceases to surprise me and amaze me in how dynamic and changing he is.  So, needless to say, our twice yearly 6 month anniversary is the most special thing to me- and I am SO SO thankful we got to celebrate one of those together this year.   I treasure 'the lists' and love looking back on them.  Last night we rented two movies, bought a bottle of wine, snacks we were craving (pop tarts, cherry sours, pistachios, & popcorn) and enjoyed another night in while really taking care of my "movies I must see with Karl" list.  A shameful list full of movies I will not disclose.  One may or may not star Anna Farris.  Today I got to see Karl & his roommate, Eric, rock climb- something they both really enjoy.  Karl has enjoyed climbing for years and since he has been here, he has acquired all the equipment he needs and has been utilizing the climbing wall here as his primary source of exercise- he really loves it, so I too love it for him!  We went grocery shopping so that he can be all stocked up this week... and I had a really sad moment at the grocery store.  I honestly had such a strong urge to buy absolutely everything he may need for the next 8 months.  It was like this really panicky, awful feeling.  The thought of him needing or wanting and me not being able to provide is a horrible feeling- I'm a doer and a mover and a shaker and that has been stripped from me through this Korea stuff.   I wanted to buy 8 months of toilet paper, cleaning supplies, vitamins, bottled water- my mind was racing trying to think of anything and everything he could need.  Annnnd then God was like, "hold the phone.  this is my show."  So we bought a weeks worth of ramen noodles instead.  And now Karl & I will enjoy the rest of our day together, and I shall blog again when I come out of my post-Karl depression in approximately one month.  Just kidding, about the post-Karl depression part, probably not the blog timeline part though.  Enjoy a myriad of pictures.

 made a double batch of some no-bake energy bites

new boots for Karl

enjoyed some wonderful ice cream while out in Gunsan

 wrote our lists on a day date to Starbucks

enjoyed a late night snack including pop tarts, pistachios, and popcorn.

 did a lot of lounging

 enjoyed seeing the tree me and Cookie sent Karl still up.. it is now no longer considered a Christmas tree but a "night light."

 attempted sleep in this twin size bed... that felt more like half a twin size bed

 did a lot of cleaning, even though Karl keeps a very clean room on his own!

 got K a bike so he no longer has to walk to work, through snow, up hill (both ways)

 I know it's blurry but I LOVE this picture of us- mostly because of K's smile.  He is SO handsome!

 annnnd he clicked the shutter on purpose before I was ready.  Whatatrickster.

I'm trying to talk Karl into a guest post soon so we'll see if I can get him on here in the next week or so!  Until then,
Hannah K.C. Burton