Alaska Vacation

We had the opportunity to go on a vacation to Alaska to see Joshua and his family, who live up there. We got to spend a lot of time with them, seeing the sights and playing with the grandchildren.

Here is Jacquelyn and I with the three grandchildren - Julia, Ethan, and Christian.

One day we took a sky tram up the side of a mountain right by where they live.

Grandpa with Julia up on the mountain after the sky tram let us off. The scenery is just as spectacular as you always hear.

There was still snow up on the mountain. Joshua and Christian, slippery steps.

We also went to a wildlife park. You could drive through or walk. Here's grandpa and Christian with a raindeer.

Downtown Ancorage has lot of interesting shops and stores. It was fun just to walk around there.

Julia in front of a totem pole.

We went on lots of walks and trails. This one hike we took was up to a glacier. Here's grandma with Julia.

Up at the glacier here's grandpa with Ethan. It was cold there with the wind blowing right over the ice.

We went camping down at Seward and stayed in a tent for two night. That was fun. Here we are roasting hot dogs.

At the town it was interesting to look at the boats and docks and the fish brought in. We saw this otter swimming along the docks.

Along the side of the road we saw a group of Dahl Sheep (Bighorn) right on the clifts next to the road.

One day we went to the library and we saw a acrobat/magicians/juggling show. Julia and Ethan got posters (because they read a lot of book in a reading program) that said "Reading Champions Live Here" to put in the window of their house.

We did go on a lot of walks. This is at a playground near where airplanes park that land on water rather on runways.

A nearby boardwalk through a marsh.

We saw a giant brown bear. He was really scary and we had to run for the car and lock the windows. No, not really. One day we went to the zoo. We did see a lot of bears and moose at the zoo, but none in the wild.

A polar bear at the zoo.

One day we took a hard hike up Flattop Mountain. It was a hard hike up but we made it. I think that was my favorite thing we did.

Jacquelyn and I at the top of Flattop Mountain. You can see Anchorage in the distance.

Joshua and Julia at the top of Flattop Mountain.

A really fun thing was going to the market. Here's Julia with a big dog.

We had lots of time for playing games and watching some TV and grandpa got to play some catch with Ethan and Julia.

Christian is a happy boy, all you have to do is tickle him a little.

On the last day we went to a store that had a giant chocolate waterfall and chocolate bars that were Alaska size.

Thank you, Joshua, Rebecca, Julia, Ethan, and Christian for a great vacation. We had a wonderful time.

Fourth of July

We had a lot going on this Fourth of July. It was a great weekend. It was also Malachi's birthday and we started things out with a big party that he and Layne were having in their backyard.

Malachi was the cook and we had outdoor barbacue food for all.

They had lots of things to do in their big backyard. Here's a couple of grandchildren in a wading pool. The weather was just great.

They have a basketball arcade game on the back porch. This is Evan and Ashton.

Tucker and James were showing their patriotism by eating red, white, and blue popcicles.

Caleb and Malachi in a friendly game of horse shoe.

Penelope on a rocking horse with grandpa. I think grandpa was enjoying the ride more than she was.

The next day we went camping in Sourthern Washington at Timber Trails where Talitha and John have an RV parked and own a campsite.

John kept us well supplied with campfire. If you look closely you might see Talitha, Doranda, Ashton, Bob, Tucker, Dallen, Penelope, James, Scarlett, Evan, and Penelope. Also there, but not in this picture, was Malachi, Layne, their two children, Tianna, Jacquelyn, and I.

Of course you can always find lots of deer wandering around the campground.

They have a swimming pool there. Here's Dallen doing all the work while James gets a free ride. What fun for James.

Tucker getting a ride also. Tucker's not one to be happy laying calmly on his Dad's back and enjoying the scenery. He going to try it on his knees too, and then standing up with his arms out like he's got his own living surfboard. What a good life children have.

We were back home for fireworks on the street in front of our house.

We had some good ones this year. We usually don't spend the money on any but this year was an exception.

Ashton liked the sparklers. James did one too but no one told him not to touch the end of the sparkler after it went out. He had to be rushed into the house to have cold water run over his fingers. And that was the last one he wanted to do.

Evan with a sparkler.

Not all fun and games though. Rats, I just got my big toe healed up and then I cut the tip of my thumb nearly off out at the campground. It didn't hurt much, I'm tough, but there was lots of blood. The next day I went to the doctor and got a tetanus shot and some tape type stutures to hold the cut part in place while it heals back up. No problem. I'll live. And it's cool looking.

Scarett Baby Blessing and more

We all went over to Doranda's to see Scarlett get her baby blessing.

This is Scarlett. She seems like a happy baby.

It was also Tucker's birthday. He is four years old and growing fast. He had a Spiderman cake and several cousins over to help him celebrate.

We also celebrated Father's Day. Here's Jim and Evan and Molly and Ashton and Tianna.

Here's Malachi's son and Malachi.

Here is James and Molly.

Here is Talitha and John.

Here is Evan and Tucker.

Here is Amery and Scarlett.

Here is Penelope and Jacquelyn and Scarlett and James.

Here is Tucker.

Here is Jarom. On Thursday he got his Mission Call and he is going to go on a mission to Chile.

Here is Caleb, Bob, Jim, Jarom, Tianna, Amery, Ashton, Doranda, Evan, James and Tucker. It was a fun visit. Thank you to Doranda and Bob for having us all over.