Alaska Part 1

The day after we got home from Nathan's wedding,

Ethan, Sophie and I left for Kodiak.

Daniel and Samuel stayed home to work and join us later.

It was Sophie's first time flying and she did a great job.

We stayed the night in Seattle.

My dad and jean were able to come visit us for the night

We had breakfast at the hotel

then we got on our flight to Anchorage and later, Kodiak.

Sophie slept some more

Ethan played nicely

We played in the Anchorage Airport

Great to be home

On our way to Uncle Frankie's house!

We got to stay in Dewey's room with a bunk bed and a TV!

It helped a lot to have our own room 

because of the time difference. 

We got up every morning by 5am and Frankie made us breakfast!

On the first day, 

Frankie took us out to the Ram's Site for low tide 

 

Ethan and Aiden hit it off right away

they started tide pooling

They had small fish nets and collected a lot of cool creatures


Showing me his treasures

Frankie and I went waaay out on the tide pools to search for urchins

As I got farther out Sophie started screaming for me.

She got a little scared being on the beach alone

  

So I went back and sat with her 

Smiley Eyes!

Frankie is way out there, right in the middle of the pic

What a great view huh!

Cookin up the Urchins

Native food!

The next morning Frankie made us breakfast

Sophie loves her Uncle!

Every day we woke up early,

ate breakfast as quietly as we could,

then we got dressed and packed supplies for the day.

Then we would just drive and play!

We went to parks and brought Aiden with as much as we could

This was a park I used to play at when I was little

The weather was gorgeous!

One day we went up Pillar Mountain


So pretty up there!


Up so high!


We had fun on the mountain

Another day we went out to Pillar Creek

It was a gorgeous Day!

  

Thanks to Frankie's 4-wheel drive,

we made it down to the beach

We had it all to ourselves!

We bought kitchen utensils from the thrift store 

as shovels and buckets

Having fun in the sand

sand everywhere!

She loved it though

These two had so much fun!

Cousins

giggles :)

Walking up the beach

The tide was out pretty far

 Just playing and having fun

This was taken right before they started swimming,

they stripped down and played freely

it was awesome

I was concerned about bears a bit,

I kept my eye out,

but we were lucky to have "Little Girl" with us

I loved feeling my toes in the sand again :) 

Lovin the Beach!

Nathan and Krystal's Wedding

We were excited for June, (despite the heat),

to go to Arizona! 

Daniel's younger brother Nathan was getting married!

West Texas is a good area to prepare your kids for Road Trips!

There's basically nothing there so they get used to either entertaining themselves,

or getting excited about the littlest thing :)

My kids are Road Trip Rock Stars!

We love road trips! The kids are strapped down, 

we get to sit close to each other and just chat

The rocking of the car puts them to sleep!

I'm so glad they don't get motion sick they way I used to

The kids got restless after midnight,

 so Daniel sat back there with them

But we made it!

The next day we went to the Science Museum!

Along with the other Johnson Boys!

Sophie at 2 1/2 years old! 

Cutie Pie!

They loved the Water Table!

Ethan (5 1/2 yrs. old) doesn't mind getting wet! 

Paul is such a great uncle! 

Eating lunch outside 

Ethan loves his uncles

Johnson Boys!

Sleeping at Grandma's House!

The next morning,

we were at the temple waiting for the happy couple

Sophie was super tired

  

The heat combined with all the activities, 

tuckered her out

Ethan was tired too, but instead of napping like Sophie,

Ethan just gets grumpy.

She was tired until she saw her Papa Ed

Big hugs

  

 Sophie with the other flower girls

Aunt Marianne

Here they come!

 Yay!

So much Joy

Opa!!

 

After the wedding, I looked into the back...

and I saw these two.

with Sophie's hands clasped peacefully.

We went back to the house and got ready to drive.

Saying goodbye to the Happy Couple!!

Ethan scored one of Papa's hats.

Ethan never wears hats, 

so it's fun to see him in one. :)

The Moon was so bright on the way home.

It was a great trip!