Alaska Trip

We got back Monday from our trip to Alaska to visit family and celebrate my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. We had such a good time. It was great to see cousins and relatives I hadn't seen in over ten years. We met lots of cousins' spouses and children. The kids did really well with all the new situations and new people and had a blast with new cousins.

This was at the airport, waiting in the security line. Our kids had never flown before, so it was all very exciting.

Aubrey wasn't too sure about the airport, but she made it through. She really thought it was strange that we all had to take off our shoes. I think it's strange, too--very odd behavior at the airport.

They all really liked the "people movers."

 

They were pretty funny during take-off: "Why are we still on the ground? Are we in the air yet? WE'RE IN THE AIR! WE'RE UP IN THE AIR! WE'RE FLYING!!!" We tried to shush them but it was obvious to everyone around us that this was their first time on an airplane. :)  The older kids all did well on the plane. We brought plenty of snacks and activities. Grant did pretty well, all things considered. I wrestled him for the first two hours. My arms were so tired by the time he finally gave in and fell asleep for 40 minutes. Then I wrestled him some more after he woke up. He wanted to get down and walk around and constantly tried to twist his way to the floor. It was a pretty exhausting flight, but he didn't cry too much, so we were thankful for that.

We had breakfast at my grandparents' house the first morning. It was a yummy breakfast, too, with eggs, sausage, fruit, and Grandma's muffins and coffee cake. Mmmm. The kids had fun riding the four-wheeler and playing outside with the tether ball and squirtguns.

We went over to visit my cousin Heidi and her kids (her husband is a police officer and works the night shift, so he was sleeping), and the kids hit it off. Bryson and Blake are a year younger than Kari, Eli is a year younger than Joel, and Brook is a year younger than Aubrey. They had fun drenching themselves in the sprinkler while we were there. The weather was great the first few days, better than the weather at home when we left.

The kids got to play with more cousins when Greg's cousin Janelle and her family came over to where we were staying at the Wick's. Here's Aubrey with Adrian. Their kids are ages 8, 6, 4, and 2, and ours are 7, 5, 3, and 1. All together we had ages 1-8! :)

Kari and Joel on the trampoline with CJ and Megan. I love how Megan is the only one smiling for the camera--so sweet.

We went over for a waffle breakfast at my cousin Cheryl and Philip's house Saturday morning--more kids to play with! Can you believe the view off their deck? It's unreal, and I didn't even get photos of the entire view of mountains and the glacier. It was great to catch up Cheryl and to see her family in person. It sure would be nice if Oregon and Alaska were a little closer. Sigh!

family photo on their deck