We had a fantastic time in Utah for a month, but when we got back I wanted to enjoy the last month of summer with these boys! My foot has gotten better little by little which I've been so grateful for so I can be the active fun mom that I like to be. Unfortunately it's rained for the past month straight, but it hasn't stopped us, we get up and go out enjoying Alaska's beauty. I love my boys and how active they are and that they never complain about getting out in nature with me.
Playing at the gym on one of the rainier days. I love when they put their creative minds together to create fun.
When the clouds parted for a brief morning up in the mountains we took advantage and went on a drive up hatchers pass which is beautiful this time of year. The boys favorite part is always stopping at the old Independence mine and playing on the old mining train. These imaginative boys could play here for hours if we let them.
And we finally stopped at the ice cream shop on our way down the mountain. It's kind of an inside joke, but every time we pass Parker wants to go and I say no because one of the three is sleeping. Everyone was finally awake!
Eddie learned to climb out of his crib on our trip to Utah so when we got home Parker and I have been putting him to bed together as we've transitioned him. E always chooses Daddy to read to him and I love sitting there listening to them. At nap time when Parker's at work Eddie begs over and over for Dad to read to him before naps, but he has to settle for me:)
The boys have both learned to bike without training wheels this summer and now beg to go on bike rides every chance they get. It's so fun going on the trails with them and exploring. On one trail we found this homemade tire swing that they love to go back to.
We biked along the coastal trail to this park with a beluga whale rock slide and we happened to see beluga whales jumping around in the inlet while we were there!
The boys are walking along this balance beam in the park when I overhear Henry say "we should ride our bikes on it!" They crack me up! I'm amazed that I've kept these crazy boys alive this long!
Ok, maybe I lied about nonstop rain, there was another Saturday that the clouds parted and we jumped at the chance to go on the portage glacier hike in Whittier that we've had on our bucket list but haven't fulfilled because it's always rainy and cloudy in Whittier and you can't see the glacier if it's cloudy. It turned out to be a gorgeous day in whittier! The glacier view was perfect! I love my family and beautiful Alaska! It was a very steep hike and B did a little whining in the beginning(Henry is my tough kid and just chugs along without complaining usually), but at the end when we got to the top he loved playing in the lake and exploring and said it was worth the hard hike! Great mommy moment and of course I took the opportunity to rub it in(I mean teach him:))
This is the ocean view behind us and in front of us was the glacier view we were hiking to. Alaska is breathtaking!
After the hike we played at the Alaskan beach and had a picnic until it was time to catch the tunnel back to Anchorage. They could throw rocks in the water all day, well until Eddie fell in! It may be a beach, but it's glacier water, needless to say our fun was done after that:)
Before B started Kindergarten I took him on the coastal trail scale model walk of the solar system. This year I took Henry, but since B is so good at biking on his own he joined us too! He made it 6 of the 13 very hilly miles then dad came and picked us up. I was very proud of B!
We didn't quite make it to pluto, but Uranus is pretty good!
Once Parker figured out geocaching he's been hooked! It's a great family walk for sundays and the boys love searching for treasure!!
E takes a bath while I get ready in the bathroom in the morning that way he doesn't get into trouble while I'm busy. I guess I was distracted by my hair because when I look over at him he's brought the toy bucket into the tub to sit in. Goof ball.
The last saturday before school was sunny! So we biked to our favorite sandy lake to play. When we got home we took showers right away and I hear B holler, mom there's a bug on me. I go and brush it off to find out it's a leech! Yuck! Not our favorite lake anymore! B was brave and waited for Dad to come rescue us and pull it off with his plyers.
And that's it! Back to school time!! B's in 1st and Henry's in Kindergarten! We moved houses and they are going to our new neighborhood school Susitna Elementary and get to ride the bus! They were both excited yet nervous and brave at the same time! They waved me out and didn't cry, but at least they aren't too cool for my hugs and kisses! They had a great day! B was proud he was one of only 4 in his class that got his name on the behavior chart moved to the top and got to choose from the treasure box!
Henry is trying to smile but between being cold and nervous this is what came out:)
And this is how I left my big boy. I held the tears till E and I got out the door. I'm not the only one who misses them! We did shopping after dropping them off and every time we got in the car E looked around saying "where's eting, and where's eny" And while in Joanns he was playing with one of Henry's cars and said over and over "Eny, Eny, Eny, Eny" We are going to be lonely without these fun boys all day! After dinner we made sure to go on a bike ride to a park again since we missed getting out with them during the day!
