Surprise Visit from Brothers!

Last weekend, we hosted some unexpected guests (well, unexpected for Ken that is)! His brothers Aaron and Chris flew out to Anchorage from across the country and surprised my husband for his 30th birthday. Ken had no idea his older brothers would be stopping by and the look on his face when Aaron walked up to him late Friday night was priceless. I had taken Ken to the airport for a late-night frozen yogurt run on Halloween and thankfully, our favorite yogurt joint is only located there at the airport (so it made sense). After eating our ice-cream-like treats, Aaron and I stalled while we waited for Chris to arrive. Unfortunately, his flight was delayed by an hour. Just as Ken was starting to wonder why were still at the airport (when we could instead finish our conversation in the car on the way home), Chris walked up. Perfect timing. Together, we spent the weekend connecting with family over shared meals, cooking together, playing board games, watching movies, and hanging out by the fireplace, with several cups of coffee, cookies, and pieces of chocolate consumed over their four-night stay.

The adventures that stand out most to me during their stay were:
1. Going to Chuck E. Cheese's and playing skee-ball for at least an hour on Saturday night, along with other video and tactile games. (Those 10- to 15-year-olds who took up the bulk of the play center couldn't compete with our A-game.)
2. Sliding along and playing near the edge of the the mostly-frozen lake near our house, watching the guys throw boulders and trees at the ice, trying to break through it. (Yes, we were cautious and didn't do anything dangerous.)
3. Dinner with Ken's parents, G'ma, and extended family at a delicious Thai restaurant (thanks again to Aaron for sharing his panang curry - yours was the best dish out of everyone's.)
4. Home-cooked Indian Dinner made by the guys on Monday night. I love garlic naan!
5. The blessing of having close family in-town. It was great hanging out and playing with the laser-point thermometer Chris bought for Ken, watching the guys roast coffee together, and beating them all at the board game Blokus! (Ok, I actually tied with Chris for the win, so we both won...)

On Saturday afternoon, Ken's parents and brothers blessed us by going grocery shopping and stocking our nearly empty fridge with fruits, vegetables, meats, snacks, and the best cheddar cheese. Thank you so much for your generosity! I felt extremely encouraged by this loving gesture, and continue to enjoy the things you picked out for us. I don't think we've ever had such a full fridge before. What a blessing.

Here are a few photos of our time with Ken's brothers, mostly taken at the frozen lake near our house. We already look forward to the next family reunion!

P.S. We were approached by multiple dogs at the park. They seemed to gravitate toward us anytime we were taking photos. Haha.