Alaska Adventure Part 2

Our first day without Dad was really rough. The kids were still wound up and excited about being here & trying to adjust to a new place. However, we survived. We spent the rest of the week exploring the beaches and doing a lot of beachcombing. Thursday we had the treat of watching one of the shot's, which the boys thought was super cool. After that the kids & I went down and explored Totem Bight (a really cool Totem Pole park) that was right across from where the shot was. On Friday we celebrated Elizabeth's first birthday...we made a cake & went to storytime at the local library. It was a lot of fun. :-) That Saturday, Ray didn't have to work so we went fishing at one of the lake's. It was a beautiful day & there was hardly anybody at the lake. The kids even managed to have their first experience of skinny dipping in an Alaska lake! They had a blast...it was so cute to watch the three of them play around in the water & laugh at each other. The next day was Father's Day & Ray wasn't feeling a 100% so we just took it easy. We went to Church & then took Ray to Totem Bight & the Gun Museum and then out to Settler's Cove (a really neat beach at the end of the road...litterally). Then we came back to "the office" (as the kids have been calling the apartment) and Ray took a nap & we relaxed.

Alaska Adventure Part 1

So we are currently in Alaska while Ray is working on a road expansion/bike path project outside of the Ketchikan city limits. We left at 3:10am on the 10th and drove to Prince George...all in the same day. Upon loading up the car to leave Lewiston, I came in the house to find Nicholas coming out of the bathroom. I said "Morning, Spud". He gave me this "Look" and then proceeded to tell me "Daddy woke me up...I'm NOT happy." It was hilarious, I think it's important to laugh at 3:00 in the morning when you are going on 3 nights of no sleep and overloaded with the stress of packing 3 children, yourself, plus all of the things you are probably going to need during the several weeks you are going to be gone...all while trying to consolidate all of that stuff into the back of your car. Anyway...on with the story...
We arrived at Prince George around 7:30 that night with only about an hour and a half stop for a potty break/change clothes & lunch. The kids were troopers and did really good. That is until we made it into the motel. They were wound up and happy to be out of the car (they had slept a lot of the trip) and Ray & I were exhausted & ready for bed. Needless to say it was a very rough night. The next day we left Prince George around 6:00am and headed for Prince Rupert. This was a much lighter day of driving and we stopped for an hour and played at the World's Largest Fly Rod park (yes there is such a place I'll post pictures when we get home) and then for lunch later in the day. We got into Prince Rupert around 3:30 and then headed downtown for a little sightseeing in one of their local museums. The next morning we got up and headed to the ferry around 5:15am and finally loaded onto the ferry around 8:30am-3 hours in a car with 3 kids who only want to get on the "boat" made for a very round morning and lots of "Is it our turn yet?" and "Why can't we get on the boat?" Once we were on I don't think they were nearly as excited as they thought they were going to be. They played for a little while in one of the play areas and then took a much needed nap...We arrived in Ketchikan about 6 hours later & spent the rest of the weekend getting settled and Ray showed us the sights.

Elli's Broken Rule

Yep, I know...the girl's not even one yet and already breaking rules. You are probably asking yourself...What?! When Ray left for Alaska 3 weeks ago, I made a rule for Elizabeth; no walking until Daddy gets off the plane. Well, Sunday evening she braved a couple of small baby steps. Then on Monday she braved another one. She thought about it today however, I think all of the "POOP, NO WALKING!" and the "mommy look" made her think twice! :-) heehee, just kidding I think it was her pants that were too big for her that made her hesitate on braving the footsteps today! Anyway, she's still pretty unstable and not sure of how this whole walking thing works. I'm okay with that since we are still not sure on when Daddy is going to be home....Hopefully soon, I'm not sure how much longer I can put her on her hands & knees when I set her down, she's already fighting me on it & wants to be on her feet!