Random Fun in Alaska

We had such a good time in Alaska doing all sorts of things.  One of the best parts was spending time with my brother, my sister-in-law and my sweet little niece.  Kendall has been missing her dear cousin since we've left.  She and I had a heart to heart on why Alice wasn't able to attend her princess birthday party.  She was quite upset over the fact that Alice would be missing it!

One of the first nights were were in town, my parents volunteered (or maybe got snookered into) to host the first ever cousin sleep over.  Matt and Mere took us to the Yukon Bar to hear a local favorite Alaskan singer.  His name is Hobo Jim and he is HYSTERICAL!  He sang some original songs about life in Alaska and some other well known artists like Waylan Jennings, Johnny Cash, etc.  This man jumped up on a table to play his guitar and sing with broken ribs - and he's no spring chicken!

There was one song in particular that stood out to me and to Andy that had us in stitches!  I actually recorded it on my iphone because I wanted to remember it!  Here it is:

We cracked up for days listening to this on my phone.  Most of you know how much of a beer lover my husband is, so you can imagine how much he loved this too!

The cousins had fun no matter where we went or what we did.  These two girls had a blast (even when they fought like sisters!)

The girls enjoyed playing dress up together

Enjoying Alice's toys

Love that she's wearing a glove!  It's the princess version of Michael Jackson's gloved look!

Tea for two

Using Nanny as a jungle gym

Pizza Night at Cristo's

Getting ready to go eat the boys Catch of the Day!

Me checking out what to order since I don't eat things that swim - Some places only offered limited choices for picky eaters like me!

Trying to show Uncle Matt his DS games for the millionth time - Matt's as excited as we get!

Look at Riley and Andy's eyes - making sure they'd get their fair share of the fish (or at least their share and everyone else's too!)

Even Kendall was brave enough to give it a try

And she actually liked it!

Comparing Alaskan beer choices

The Apollo had lots of helmets on display

Riley can't even see out of this one!

Trying to do some exploring of their own

Having fun playing in Alice's backyard after dinner

Teasing poor Hannibal

Kendall started telling her Pappy that his hair looked "funky" and that she needed to brush it for him

He was a very willing client

Getting it just right

More teasing of poor Hannibal.  I think Kendall was missing Penton and all torture she pours out on her!

They were good buddies all the same

 An array of choices of toys

Matt and Mere's garden - with all that sunshine it grows like crazy

Here's a prime example of "monkey see, monkey do."

Lots of great memories were created that week.  I think what Kendall will remember the most is time spent with her cousin.  Riley can't seem to pick a favorite memory - he claims they are all great ones!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

We had scheduled a kayaking trip for Thursday of our vacation, but had to reschedule for the following day because I realized 30 minutes before we needed to leave to go to the Landing for our trip, that I had lost my license, credit cards and some cash the day before - after we returned from our Gilligan Tour...Abnormal amounts of stress and anxiety consumed me because all I was thinking about was how the heck was I gonna get through security at the airport without my ID?  Thankfully Andy grabbed the envelope with the kids birth certificates in them, which also contained mine, as well as both of my social security cards!  But what a pain!  Retracing steps, visiting the dock stores, harbormaster, police station all in hopes that someone had turned it in.  Then calls to the credit card companies to cancel the cards and get replacements.  Calls to TSA to find out if and how I could get back home in just a few more days.  I'm grateful to my husband who just took charge of the situation while I wallowed in my own anxiety.

So to take a kayaking trip, just the two of us, after all the craziness was dealt with, was such a great reward.  It was wonderful traveling with my parents because they were willing babysitters!  We took a water taxi across the bay to Humpy Cove.  It was such a beautiful morning.  The sun was shining and it was actually pretty warm (for Alaska standards) in the cove.  

The scenery would have been enough to relax this stressed out mom, but we were blessed with the opportunity to see lots of incredible wildlife as well!

This is the direction we started in - towards Orca Island

There are these cute little yurts where you can book overnight kayaking trips - if we get to go back to Seward, this is on our list of things to do, along with kayaking to some of the glaciers

Lots of little ducks around without a momma in sight

Getting closer to the yurts - it was so nice, quiet and peaceful there.  I could picture myself on the deck of one of the yurts while enjoying a morning cup of tea

To my surprise, there were starfish on the reefs in this little cove!  We also saw a few jellyfish floating around and came across some harbor porpoise while we were there!

 My handsome kayaking partner - we booked a tandem so it would be easier for me to take pictures

Here's the little harbor seal we came across in our adventure.  He was so cute!

Isn't this just incredible scenery?  We were headed to a waterfall that our tour group was getting out to hike back to, but Andy and I decided we'd rather just paddle around than go see a waterfall, and luckily we did because we came across 4 little river otters playing!

These guys were so cute and much more fun to watch than seeing a waterfall!

They were so playful!  Otters are one of my favorite animals (along with dolphins)!

One actually swam under our kayak and popped up to take a closer look at us!

Such curious little guys

I think I could have watched them all day!

The water was so calm and the view so breathtaking!

I was sad to see our time come to an end

We then paddled back to shore just in time for the water taxi to pick us up and take us back across the bay.  If you ever get the chance to get to Alaska and have the time for a kayaking trip, the Humpy Cove/Orca Island trip via Miller's Landing is one to consider!  I think this was my most favorite thing to do while in Alaska!

Invaded By Princesses

We finally had a friend birthday party for Kendall this year.  Last year we just celebrated with our Utah family but this year we decided it was time to invite all her little friends over to the house.  She decided she wanted a princess themed party, big surprise there, huh?  We started a list of friends she wanted to invite and once we started writing down all the names, the list was quite long.  We didn't realize how blessed we are to have so many friends (because the mommies of her friends are my dear friends, so we both won!)

She talked about her birthday party the entire week as I was busy preparing for it.  I only had 3 days after we returned from Alaska to get it all ready, but thankfully it all came together in time!

We started off her party with everyone playing dress up and playing in our playroom.  Afterwards we moved the party into the kitchen where we had some crafts to work on.  We decorated princess mirrors and created beautiful beaded bracelets for the girls to wear.  I also made felt crowns for all the girls to wear at the party which you will notice in the pictures below.

Decorating our princess mirrors

Coloring and foam stickers

Thankful for helpful Mommas

Eating our princess food - heart shaped finger sandwiches, chocolate covered strawberries, fruit kabobs, pretzels, bugles and raspberry lemonade to drink

Fruit kabobs are always a favorite of Kendall's

Brooklyn is such a natural in front of the camera

Kendall requested pink princess cupcakes.  Whew!  I thought I was going to end up having to make another doll cake like last year! 

 Trying to come up with a birthday wish

Blowing out the candle - love Natalie's enthusiasm in the background!

Such a happy little princess!

LET THEM EAT CAKE!

Yum!

Bailey loved showing off her icing mustache!

Avery eating her cupcake like a little princess

Princess Katelyn didn't like the paparazzi

The princess throne

Adelyn enjoyed the icing

Finally time to open presents!

Noelle was a helpful friend

She just opened a princess card - check out that smile!

Princess Katelyn didn't realize I was taking her picture!

Our little princess in training

Each of the girls took home a bag of goodies with wands, ring pops and earrings as well as a homemade princess picture frame and their mirrors, bracelets, and crowns.  Kendall was thrilled that all of her little friends could come to her party.  It was great seeing her smile all morning and having such a good time.  I'm so happy that her first friend birthday party went so well.  We are both so blessed to have such great friends here in Utah!

What Is A Little Girl?

She's a bundle of sweetness,

Brightness and fun

The beauty of springtime,
The warmth of the sun

She's innocence covered with mud,
Sand and soot

She's motherhood
Dragging a doll by the foot

She's the composite picture
Of giggles and tears

Of trantrums, excitement,
Amusement and fears

A bundle of michief
And often a tease

A creature of moods,
Not easy to please

Who'll capture your heart
With her pixie-like grin

Or chatter and beg
Till your patience wears thin

But obedient, naughty,
Mischievous or coy

She's Mom's little darling
And Dad's pride and joy

Happy 3rd Birthday Sissy!