North to ALASKA

Wedding week starts today!  We leave for California (driving of course we estimate about 22 hours) in a few hours so I of course can't sleep so I decided to catch you up on our trip to Alaska.  We took a 7 day Disney Cruise through the inside passage.  The weather was pretty good for us.  Don't get me wrong it was cold  (they have icebergs in their ocean for heavens sake!) but we never had rain and we even had sunshine.   I decided it was best just to tell it by pictures.

When we arrived in Vancouver my resourceful brother found out that a limo was cheaper than 2 taxis - so our trip started out in a limo. (I think he is just use to SO CAL and all those celebrities and he secretly wishes he WAS mickey mouse!)

We stayed at this great hotel right where the Disney boat docks. 

Cutest Grandparents on the ship!

First order of Business on the ship is to PARTY.  So David Got called up to represent the rest of us!  we were so proud!

Some of the group - behind them is actually a bridge we just went under leaving Vancouver.

These were our professional videographers we took along!

Grace trying out the Mickey Slide

Although it was cold outside the pool was a warm 88 degrees and one of the perks of an Alaskan cruise ...... No one goes swimming! So we always had plenty of room in the pools!  We're not afraid of a little cold weather! HA

I found this handsome devil on the ship!

The scenery was beautiful.

The lovebirds - just always kissing!  hahaha Lauren had to force David to take a kissing picture! 

One of the perks of a Disney Cruise is you get to have Breakfast with the Big guy!

Haley and Grace just hanging out

Glacier day was COLD!  But we got so close and the scenery was incredible!

Yes those are iceburgs just floating in the ocean

Grandma keeping everyone warm on Glacier day!

Grandpa LOVED this cruise

The color didn't turn out well on this photo but the water is light GREEN and yes that is how big the iceburgs are that is a BIG boat next to it.

The glacier was unbelievable.  Photos do not do it justice.  But that is a HUGE boat next to it.  And yes we did see part of the glacier break off and fall into the ocean and cause a HUGE wave for that boat.

In Skagway the 4 of us took a helicopter tour and saw some glaciers up close.  I was a little nervous because the wind was really blowing that day and I have been in Steve's little plane in wind and it is quite bumpy but we didn't feel anything in the Helicopter.

Taking off

Later that day we took the kids on a 7 mile hike - wasn't our intention but we ended up really enjoying the Alaska wild that day! HA

Derek of course fell in the water right before this - that is what all the cheering is about!

Hiking is NOT Savannah's Favorite.  Quote "What happened to doing fun stuff for our shore excursions." hahaha

Good thing the next day in Juneau we only did fun stuff for her birthday!  We walked right by this Nissan. Some of you may not know but Savannah was born in a SUV just like this.  What a crazy thing to find it on her birthday.  So we of course had to take a picture.

In Juneau we also went panning for Gold.  Derek was more interested in throwing boulders into the river.  But the good news is I did get his gold!

Steve finding me some Gold! 

If you squint you can see it!

There is so much you have to use an eye dropper to get it! HA

I was a natural!

Here is Grandpa Celebrating Savannahs Birthday! 15 years old - where does the time go!

Lots of Singing and cheering for SAV P

Ketchikan was our last stop

zy

We watched a logger show of course we knew my dad could have done all that stuff and probably better! 

Me and my cute Dad

Derek and Diana.  I made him continually tell me who his favorite sibling was the entire trip.  You'll never guess the answer.  ME - because I was the only who went to the FROZEN NORTH.  ha No actually we couldn't have had better weather and don't tell him but I really had fun!

Oh don't be deceived by their angelic faces -These two are a hoot!  They just love each other and cause so much trouble!  Actually I think  the one in the white shirt is the team leader!

Someone always has to put on a show!  This time it was Lauren while we were all waiting for a Movie to start!

This is one of our Waiters - Rodrigo who put up with all the chanting and cheering and brought 1 million smoothies to our table every night!

Well he had to know it was coming........ You don't take your sister on an ALASKAN cruise for your 50th birthday and not have a surprise celebration!  We all wore black and commemorated the death of his Youth!

The whole crew!  The kids gave you're so old toasts - some of my favorites were  "You're so old when you were young rainbows were black and white!"  or  "You're so old your birth certificate says EXPIRED" .   We went around the table a few times and everyone got to toast uncle Derek!  It was GREAT fun!  My siblings all sent toasts also- so through out the dinner I would read one of theirs!  It was a great way to celebrate such a great big brother!

We of course had to sneak in a few days at the lake before we leave for the wedding.  Here is Savannah getting some air. 

Derek had never been so proud of his sisters - they were just catching air right and left! Here is Lauren bringing a tear to her brothers eye.

Of course he couldn't be shown up!

And no lake trip would be complete with out some tubing!

or hanging out watching stupid You-tubes like the new favorite  BABY MONKEY

As busy as I claim to be, I still have the greatest job in the world!

We started out the week celebrating Grace's birthday. I know, I know her birthday isn't for a month. We will be just getting home from the wedding and getting ready for the reception and I didn't want her to feel like we had to hurry and get her birthday overwith - so we celebrated a month early and took some friends up to the lake for a sleepover!

regardless of how cold the water STILL is - they went swimming

They were so much fun!

We saw Cars 2 in 3D

I have done so much travel planning for the kids this summer.  Kids are coming and going every week!  This week as the travel agent I should be fired.  Lauren was suppose to fly to Utah to meet David and look for apartments and have the final fitting for her Wedding Dress.  Well........ I took her to the wrong airport to fly out (in my defense we have 3 airports we can fly out of) and needless to say she missed her flight and it was the last one out for the night from any airport within100 miles.  NOT GOOD!  So her Dad came to the rescue AGAIN!  He flew her the next morning and all worked out well.  Glad to report that - Laurens Dress is finished and on its way with David to California, David and Lauren have a place to live and the best news of all was WE GOT TO SEE THE BABIES!!!! Since we had to fly Lauren out to Utah we all tagged along and visited with Jackie & Justin for a day! YAH!  Okay I know what your thinking.......I would think that too........ but really it was all an accident that worked out in my benefit! ha

sleeping the flight away

Grandpa and Addison doing some light reading

OK she is the funniest - she would keep closing her eyes like the flash was hurting her eyes!  HAHAHA  There was no flash!

Weston LOVES to stand up!

Weston loving his daddy and Savannah sneaking in the picture!  She has also been gone for 2 weeks.  The first week at EFY and this last week she was at Jackie and Justins - we were so glad to see her!  We miss her!

Derek has been out at my Brother Darren's in South Carolina.  They have had a GREAT time.  WAIT is that my son smiling in a picture......... is my brother the child whisperer?

Nope I guess not!  HAHA

4th of July ...... At least it didn't Snow!

This has got to be the coldest start to summer we have had in a long time! The sun was shining all weekend and I think the temp may have hit a high 80 degrees! Needless to say the water is still only in the low 60's. Still too cold for me! We had a great time up at the lake! Some did swim a little, we did some surfing, wakeboarding, kayaking and lots of eating! I did beat everyone but Steve in Ping Pong. I know surprised everyone! HA Steve also finished up his IFR rating (pilot talk for flying with instruments.) It was great to just sit around and do nothing but play! I know, I know we only have a little over a month until the wedding! That is why I had to come home! HAHA
All we needed to make it the perfect weekend,  would have been Jackie & Justin and the babies!

Savannah on the Sea doo

Goofballs messing around

Derek got a sunburn and had to spend some time in the shade!  No one believed me that you could get a sunburn even if it wasn't hot! ha

She even caught this!

making a Grace pyramid

We got a smaller surfboard that you can do tricks with....... just give him a few days and he will have some to show!

Doing a little Kayaking

Gotta love the flag girl!

David catching some air

These two play an intense game of Ping Pong.  Right after Derek beat Steve I beat Derek!  HAHA He was  not happy about that. 

Watching Fireworks right off our Deck

Neighbors on both sides had great shows!

It all started with a KISS

We have been blessed through out our lives to have the greatest of friends!  Two of my friends (Ricki & Sarah) threw a Bridal shower for Lauren last night and it was a full house with so many of our  friends!  It was so fun!  David even skyped in for a game where Lauren was asked questions and David had to guess what she would answer.  It was really fun because not very many of our friends have met David.  He was a great sport! Lauren got soooo many LOVELY gifts from soooo many LOVELY friends!  She just had the greatest time!

Filled up the house!

Skyping in for the party!  I love technology!

Favorite gift of the night!  Poptarts and Chocolate milk so David won't starve to death!  HAHAHA

Our Adopted Grandma Carma!  We were so happy she could make it!

Lauren and some of her girlfriends!

Bring on the Sunscreen.......finally

Okay.....could be a little premature.  The high today was 70 (sad we were soooo hot!), water temp was 58 (did not feel good!) But we put the boat in and opened up the lakehouse! Woot! Woot!   Savannah, Grace and Steve all braved the elements and did a little swimming. The term swimming used loosely with water temp so low, hypothermia symptoms come on quickly. HA   Northern Idaho has had the LONGEST winter!  So even 70 seemed so lovely!  But we are hoping by putting in the boat and putting on the swimming suits that summer will now come!

view from the front deck

1st time out in the boat for the year - Yes that is Grace with a blanket, but you do what you have to do to start summer.  Lauren sporting a lovely Swim Sweatshirt (sad there could actually be a market for that here in Northern Idaho! ha)