New Adventures

This summer we got a boat.  It has been so wonderful.  We have taken three trips so far, and the girls love it!  I love being able to get out and enjoy this beautiful state even more and I love exposing the girls to wonderful opportunities in nature.

We usually head out of Whittier and try to camp for one to two nights.  We have tried something new each time from bottom fishing, to trolling, to shrimping.  It is all such an adventure and new to us.  The girls have been learning to fish as well.  This last trip we gave them each a hook and V even caught one!  A pink salmon on her little "Frozen" fishing pole.  It was great.  

The hook and fight.

Reeling it in!

 We paddle to shore to stretch our legs and of course give Tisuk a break. 

 V "caught" a dead jelly fish.

 Beautiful sunsets.

 Lots of treasures to find on the beaches.

 We call this "Jellyfish Town."  Moon Jellies usually surface and we have had to raft over them. 

 One cove had berries galore so we spent our time picking.

The girls holding their first shrimp. (And our last, we didn't catch any the next time.)

More adventures await us.  For now we are lucky to have this opportunity to get out and enjoy our Alaska Life.

Seward

We started off our journey in Seward at the Alaska Sealife Center.  It had been 14 years for me since my last visit. I have been wanting to take the girls for awhile and thankfully Zeb had a nice stretch of time off work that we could wait for good weather.

The girls really enjoyed it.  They went back to the sea lions and seals several times!

Next we went on the hunt for a nice camping spot.  We researched a few before we left but "happened" upon a new one as we were leaving Seward. 

A "diamond in the rough."

V successfully toasted a perfect marshmallow!

 The girls and Tisuk enjoyed some nice beach time.  It is amazing how they can entertain themselves.  They built sand castles, threw rocks and found "treasures."  We were so happy to camp by this lake and river.  

The next day we played at a wonderful community playground in Seward.  Another "hit."

They have already been asking to go back!  

I am so glad they love adventures.

Bug Garden

Phew!  I finished graduate school (again)……. and the 2014-2015 school year.  It is time to enjoy, well, time.  Time is something I have lacked the past school year.  This week I finished all the gardening projects around the house.  I had a few open barrels that really cannot grow much due to the lack of sunlight, so I decided to give one to the girls…..

We made a "rock" bug garden

 We all picked different rocks to paint and got right to work. 

 V got very creative and even painted spiders on her paper. 

When we finished we placed the "bugs" in the barrel.  The girls picked out some plants to add.  One pansy and 2 kale will keep the "bugs" company…. until the moose discover the delicious treats. 

Happy Summer! 

Kotzebue!

Before school started we were fortunate enough to spend a weekend in Kotzebue, Alaska. The weather was amazing. It was windy…. but that kept the bugs away. We were able to take the girls berry picking and spend lots of time at the beach.  

 We found a jellyfish….. V wanted it in her bucket for observation. Now she knows, "No touching or it could sting you!"

 They also enjoyed lots of four-wheeler rides.

It is so nice that we can share different places around the state with our children.  

Enjoying our State…. Weather Permitting

A fishing trip we had planned to Kodiak was postponed due to the fight canceling in Anchorage.  After  3 hours at the airport the flight finally cancelled.  Visibility went down to 1/2 mile and the ceiling was 200 ft.  So we adapted…… we decided to take the kids on their first camping (in the tent) trip.  They have been to cabins before since birth, but never tent camping.

We headed to the Portage Valley area.  We stopped at the Wildlife Conservation Center along the way.

 The girls enjoyed the "blue" water of the glacial stream right by our camp site.

 V used her new bug kit to collect worms.  

The girls didn't nap…. the tent was too fun.  But at bedtime they finally settled down and each parent slept by one.  Successful….. with room for improvement.

Start to Summer

A few updates as we start our summer here in Anchorage.   

We were fortunate to have family visiting the first part of May, and fortunate again to have beautiful weather!  So we took a ferry ride to Portage Glacier.  A really nice 1 hour tour around the lake and glacier and not far from Anchorage.  The girls loved it!

We also planted the garden.  This year we have raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb, potatoes, lettuce, carrots, onion, melon, broccoli, cauliflower, and beans.  So far the planting was successful.  Zeb built one more raised bed with the "moose proof" top.  

 We all look forward to the fresh fruits and vegetables.

 Our last stop on the UPDATE train is "Kincaid Beach."  A hidden beach in Anchorage.  Not heavily traveled on the weekdays for sure!  After about a 1 mile hike on the costal trail one can veer off to the oft and climb down a steep embankment to a wonderful beach.  

 It really reminded me of Nome!  The girls had a great time, finding shells, playing in the sand, having a picnic and riding this train!

We are looking forward to many other summer adventures.  For now we are sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying our back yard fire pit on "rainy" calm days……….. so we don't start any forest fires!