What is uuuuuuup

AK is FANTASTIC. Aaron and I are loving it! We spend all day working and play so hard at night watching Doctor Who, I mean, going on adventures, that we're pretty much exhausted all the time.

Even though we're in this amazing place, most of the time we're just busy living our lives. We sleep, run errands, make meals, go to work and relax in the evenings. 

The real difference between being here and our home in Utah is the beautiful peace this place brings. We are truly away from family, away from school, away from Aaron's running and away from all that noise that seems to clutter our lives far too easily. Up here, I have found myself truly exploring who I am away from my family and friends. We are setting patterns in our marriage and habits all on our own. We have to rely on each other since there is no one else to turn to. For that reason alone, we are wonderfully blessed to be here.

We've been doing all sorts of Alaskan things, of course - last Friday, for example, after going out for dinner we decide we weren't quite done with our date night. So, because the sun was only just setting, we headed out to Potter's marsh, a wildlife preserve. We arrived at about 11:30. The sky was alight with a milky blue but the air was thick with sleep. Besides the cars zipping past on the highway, we could see no one. The stillness was quivering. It gave a new meaning to solitude, because although the world still boasted of daylight, everyone was fast asleep.

Sorry for waxing poetic on you, but it's fun to do that sometimes. It was beautiful, to say the least. Even though I was fuhREAKING out at the Mosquitos that were taking a bite outta me.

We took some adorable selfies...

...because WE are adorable...

(Cutest couple in the world award!!)

And we were all set to go, when SUDDENLY -

A MOOSEN!!!!

Say whuuuut, we totes saw a moose! Now I've seen moose before at home - I hail from a mountainous region, remember? - but this was my first Alaskan moose. I don't know why, but they seem to be all about the moose here - it's on all of their souvenirs. And, as I've said many times before, I've eaten  moose. So I knew that this baby moose that was standing nary 10 feet away meant something significant!

'Twas then that I took possibly the most Alaskan photo I will EVER take this trip:

AWESOME. That pic just oozes with Alaskan majesty. All it would need was a great big pick up rumbling in the background and it would basically sum this place up!

Whoops, Miss K, the 2 month old I nanny, just woke up! Time for me to go; write more soon, I promise!

Love you all to high heaven!

~ Karen 

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We made it!

Hi everyone!

Alaska is kind of AMAZING! I used to think that maybe, possibly, somehow, kinda in the back of my head, like I-don't-want-to-but-I-will-if-I-have-to-because-I-love-you; I could live in Alaska one day. You know, maybe if I peppered my house with sun lamps I could just suffer through it nobly because of my great, sacrificing love for Aaron.

Now, I'm mulling over how many years it would be before we could live here for real.

Holy cow, Alaska is BEAUTIFUL! I LOVE it! I love that it is so bright all the time; I actually like the taste of moose meat; I appreciate how much better the drivers are here and I love feeling secluded in the woods but having a grocery store around the corner.

We are so happy and excited to be here. Honestly, there's so much about it we are just loving. It's great to be far away from everything and to rely on each other. Meeting and hanging out with Aaron's uncle's family, Gavin and Ashleen, is super duper great. 

We both started our jobs. I'm actually really loving being a nanny; the first day, though, not so much. Turns out I had a LOT to learn about 2 month olds. (NOTE: they eat, burp, sleep, and poop on a RYTHMN! Learn it first before you try disrupt it by taking the kids to the park or suffer the consequences) I'm still just trying to grasp it. But nannying is something I'm very compatible for and I'm very happy doing it. I'm taking care of two kids: Little Man and Miss K. Of course those aren't their real names, but because I'm not related to them or anything I think I should try and keep their actual names private. 

Little Man is not quite two and obsessed with trucks. He knows all of the truck names; even names that I wouldn't know off the top of my head, like "excavator". He's pro at naming all of the cars that zip past us when we're out and about. Little Man is smart: he counts to ten, names all the animals at the zoo, knows his ABCs and has a huge lexicon. It was a surprise to discover how well he can communicate with me - it makes things really fun!

Miss K is 2 months old and an adorable, terrifying and beautiful challenge. The first day I tried to take her to the park without knowing her rythmn - I didn't even know that infants had a rhythm!

She cried for half an hour straight.

'Twas awful.

But, the next day I felt like I could finally see what she needed when she cried. I feel much more adept at taking care of her now. Little Man and I went to the Anchorage Zoo and she slept the ENTIRE time - score!

Aaron's working for the roofing company that he worked for last summer. He's basically 3rd in command and is getting paid super well, but the work can seem tedious to him at times. He's been learning how to blow torch and came home from the first day with melted shoes - oops. Unfortunately, he sprained his ankle the day before we left from Utah, so he's been limping off and on. Poor guy! The good news, though, is that he is now forced to take a break from running, which we are both enjoying.

We hiked Flat Top peak Friday night for our date and it was a complete BLAST! Quite literally a blast, too, because we were greeted with 60+ mph wind as we staggered our way to the top!! I pride myself in being a keen hiker and was a bit sheepish since I was huffing and puffing as we climbed. But gosh dang it, those winds were STRONG!! They were constantly blowing us off balance; Aaron always knew when the wind had made me misplace my foot because I would screech.

Loudly.

He sure is a nice husband. He listened to my belting "Colors of the Wind" from Pocahontas as we climbed and didn't even think it was annoying!

That's love.

Well, no one else could hear me anyways, since the wind ripped the sounds right out of my throat. The hike was great - about 5 miles, but the end was an unmarked climb to the top of the peak. Strenuous enough to make it fun and so beautiful! 

When we reached the top the winds were even harder! I was, as Aaron put it, "freaking out". We huddled behind a make-shift rock wall people had made to block the wind and ate our fruit snacks. Nathan, you should be proud to know that I stood and sang the African opening of "The Circle of Life" at the very top, even though the winds seemed like they were going to knock me right over!

That's about all the adventuring! So...

Random things about Alaska:

1. The light thing is completely disorienting. I go to sleep when it's bright at 11:00 and wake up when it's bright! The shadows grow longer throughout the day but the sun still blazes like it's noon. It is never dark. The sky dims for a few hours but the sky just looks like dusky. 

2. Everyone owns big dogs and big trucks - including us. 

We're borrowing Aaron's grandpa's truck while we're here: a huge Ford F-150 with raised suspension and a custom muffler. I'm surprised to discover that I LOVE that truck. It guzzles at 12 mpg, but I still love it. I feel so secure in it and often say things like, "This is my truck, little cars - fear me!" 

3. THE FOOD PRICES HERE ARE RIDICULOUS.

It's still a touchy subject.

I bought our groceries today and was aghast - everything costs 3x more!!! Produce was boasting apples for $3 a pound and watermelons range from $7-10. I was furious, and it remains the only time I've missed Utah.

4. Mosquitoes. Mosquitoes mosquitoes mosquitoes mosquitoes!! 
I guess every paradise has a downside and Anchorage's in their stupid mosquitoes. They have been FEASTING on me as well as on Little Man. Aaron, somehow, doesn't have a physical reaction to mosquitoes at all, while I keep finding new ones on my scalp and shins. Yuck. Ah well, bug spray works - I'll just have to forget about smelling nice this summer. 

We've also done a session at the Anchorage Temple; driven past the house Aaron used to live in; finished season 2 of Doctor Who (cya later Rose - finally!); eaten all of the cereal the owners left in the house we're house-sitting; ate moose chili 3 days in row (yum); walked on mountain trails; played with Gavin's kids; etc. etc. 

So things are going super well! We love you all and we're so happy here!

~ Karen

Airplane view - Alaska at 1 AM on a cloudy day. Note how it's LIGHT outside?

I'm too lazy to rotate this picture, but sweet little Miss K! She's so cute! 

Anchorage at 11 at night. Don't be deceived: the sun's not setting. 

Aaron's cousin North feeding one of their family's chickens a worm. It's kind of his most favorite thing ever.

Aaron and his cousin McKinley aka Kiwi.

This is Little Man at the zoo! This is basically his permanent facial expression.

Our hike to Flat Top! This was the end we had to climb up.

The top!

Gosh, I just think he's cute...

Can you understand why I want to live here????

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We're the Fletchers!

About Us: Aaron and Karen

Her

She is a bumbling 19 year old filled with good intentions. Born and grown in Utah valley, Karen loves drawing, painting, singing, playing the guitar and piano, writing, reading, spending time outside and drinking smoothies. She comes from a big Mormon family and met the man of her dreams right before her Freshman year at Brigham Young University. She loves her husband, nieces and nephews, and the show Avatar: The Last Airbender. She thinks life is a beautiful learning experience and that everyone should know how much God loves them.

Him

He is a 22-year-old dedicated distance track and cross country runner at BYU studying Economics. He served a mission, teaching others who were willing to listen about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in Warsaw, Poland from December 2010 to 2012. He is the oldest child and cousin on both sides of his family. Aaron is a hockey enthusiast and loves to teach Karen all about the game! An avid Star Wars fan, he knows all anyone could ever possibly know about the movies. He is a great husband who finds joy in the little things and can make anyone smile.

Their Story

They met at their first church activity in August, 2013 - Fall semester was about to begin! Karen was planning on serving an LDS mission in the winter and Aaron had only been back from his since December. Karen saw Aaron across the way and thought him immensely cute. Aaron noticed her and hastily ended the conversation he was having to introduce himself. Luckily for Karen, Aaron didn't know she was a Freshman the first few times they hung out: if he had he says he wouldn't have hit on her! He asked her to the football game, where the sky broke and poured icy rain. The situation wasn't too bad, though - Aaron saw his opportunity and put his arm around the shivering Karen for the rest of the game. 

They were dating a week later and became engaged on January 3, 2014. Five months later exactly they were married for time and all eternity in the Mount Timpanogos Temple on May 3, 2014. 

Now, here they are: miles and miles away from Karen's home in Utah and eating moose instead of ground beef. Life couldn't be better.

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Why AK?

Here's a question we've been hearing a lot:

Why are you going to Alaska??

Well, for several reasons:

1. Aaron is originally from Alaska. Except for years 7-13, Aaron has always lived here. Anchorage is the only place he truly hails as home. It's a super awesome experience to come up here and see all of the places that made him who he is today.
2. I've never lived outside of Utah. This might not seem like a good reason to pack up and move across two countries (Canada). But, we felt as a couple that it would be a huge growing experience for me. I have finally stepped outside of the town I've grown up in and I'm away from my enormous family. 
3. We are newly weds. Alaska is our chance for us to rely on each other and grow in our brand new marriage. Away from family and friends, we have the chance to explore this whole marriage thing and become established all on our own.
4. We still know people up here! Although Aaron's family moved back to Washington yet again after he returned from his mission, Aaron's uncle Gavin and his family are still up here. He and his wife Ashleen are only a handful of years older than us and have an adorable little family. Having them around is just enough company that we don't feel lonely but still have room to breathe :)
5. The church is true wherever you go. Our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, has a very strict and consistent doctrine and religious order. Our religion is very important to us. We can count on our church being the same in Anchorage and in Utah. The church is also organized so every member is looked after. All members are assigned other members to minister to through monthly visits. These visits are called Visiting Teaching for the women and Home Teaching for the men. The members are called to be true friends to those they are assigned to teach: they look after them, make sure their needs are met, and let church leaders know if they need help. Because of this, Aaron and I can rely on the members of our church here to be a safety net for us.

What are you doing up there?

Well, working, primarily. Aaron works for a roofing company and I nanny an adorable family. But, in the hours we have off and the weekends we have plenty of time to go and explore this beautiful place!

We are also house sitting: turns out there's nothing available for a broke college couple to rent. We'll be jumping around from house to house in Anchorage until the last month of the summer when we're staying with Gavin and Ashleen. We're borrowing Aaron's grandparent's truck to get around town.

The only reason we have this opportunity is because of the generosity of others. Our family members have worked hard and sacrificed so could come here. We are so incredibly grateful.

Here's to an awesome summer!! Love you all!

Picture from our hike to Flatop

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