These Are a Few of my Favorite Views

Jay and I departed for Alaska the day of our 11th wedding anniversary, and celebrated his 40th birthday while we were there.  It was AMAZING.  We flew to Anchorage, and headed south to Girdwood for our first leg of the trip where we climbed mount Alyeska and hiked onto a glacier.  The first time we tried to hike to the top we encountered a moose a short way in, who decided we did not belong there, so we had to walk (slash run) back to the hotel.  On another hike we used a hand tram (and when I say we I mean I stood in the cart while Jay used his hands to crank the pulley that pulled us in the tram) to cross a water passage that was maybe just shy of a football field across.  We spent a day in Whittier, not to visit the strange little town (strange is putting it mildly as I could not even comprehend a town of 225 people all living in the same apartment building) but to board a glacier day cruise.  We also did a short stop in Seward, and then onto Homer where we stayed in a condo on the spit with an incredible view (last picture), saw the largest Halibut we'll probably ever see (5' 2" and 125lbs), ate salmon for dinner that Jay's fishing guide had caught that day (and I hate salmon, but apparently not fresh Alaskan salmon!), and we think we saw Mt. Augustine erupting across the bay as we departed for Anchorage to begin our journey back home.  We both agree we would love to go back and see more of Alaska, maybe we'd get a bit more of the sun next time (not that the rain or fog stopped us from doing anything) and who knows maybe even winter, after all it's apparently colder in Wisconsin than it is in Homer that time of year!

First Family Football Game

We took the kids to the Tosa West High School football game a few weeks ago and the girls were excited from the start. (Joseph took a bit more convincing but quickly warmed up once we hit the bleachers).  They had great fun picking out their red outfits to wear and getting their hair done like "cheerleaders".  You can tell in their poses they are quit the "fashionists" (a word I still find a bit scary!) 

First Day of 2nd Grade AND Junior Kindergarten!

In a surprising turn of events, Joseph was the first one to be ready for school this morning and was dressed and done eating breakfast at 7am.  (not only surprising because he is usually the last out of bed and slowest to get ready, but also because at 9:30 last night he was still awake.  He "forgot how to fall asleep" and "he just doesn't know how anymore".)  The girls wore outfits that they picked out well in advance, and were happy to put on their back packs and head out this morning.  Joseph was super excited to see all his 2nd grade friends and the girls ready to make new ones in JK (1/2 day kindergarten for 4yr olds).  Before even entering the classroom, Hannah had already asked another girl if she could hold her hand and Leah had asked the same girl if she liked her (Leah's) clothes that she was wearing.  Hannah the forever social butterfly and Leah motivated to keep up or looking for compliments....I'm not sure which!  Both girls were wiped out after their  2.5 hour school day, and passed out right after lunch.  We will see if first day of school had the same effect on Joseph - odds are he will remember how to fall asleep tonight!