Alaska: a day at the beach

I couldn't resist slipping in this picture that shows off Kate's mullet so marvelously.

Alaska: wicked versatile park

This was the sweetest playground I've ever seen! And the really cool thing is that it was built entirely by volunteers from the community! The pictures don't do it justice, it is enormous. An added bonus is that the ground is covered with delicious recycled rubber chunks (taste-tested by k8).

Alaska: the tram

We took a tram up almost to the top of a mountain, then hiked around when we got off. Kate followed Darin around like a puppy and had to do exactly what Darin did. She is his biggest fan :)

Alaska: a cool park in Douglas

CHEESE!

Alaska

Kate and I (with G-ma & G-pa) flew up to Alaska to visit Brent, Amber and Darin, and their new baby Alison! We had such a good time, and it was so beautiful there. Even though it was overcast almost the whole time I was there, the weather was just right. Darin taught Kate how to jump in puddles, and she couldn't get enough of it. (now, back home, she jumps on patches of dirt or mud. We haven't had a lot of puddles this summer :) )

I loved everything about Juneau. It is much smaller than I had imagined, just narrow rows of homes between the coast and the gorgeous mountains. You have to fly or take a ferry to leave, but luckily there is plenty to do. There are hiking trails all over the place, just minutes away. I loved it! (another thing I can't find much of at home) The people there are very down to earth and love being outside. I finally felt like I was in style, because there isn't one - an "in" style, that is. Amber told me that the people there don't care so much about appearances, but more aobut what is inside a person. Everyone jogs, walks or cycles, not because they are trying to fit into a swimsuit, but because they just want to be healthy. It was very refreshing!

Below are some of the pictures of our adventures.

On Sunday morning we arrived at church to see this little guy waiting for us! He looked so cute and friendly, it was hard to fight the temptation to go pet him. So I just reminded myself that he would probably chew my arm off, and that helped.

Baby Alison loves her new dress!

This is Mendenhall Glacier. It is enormous and beautiful. The picture doesn't show it well, but it almost shines bright blue. Kate and Darin mostly wanted to throw rocks at the "bodacious glacier."

This iceberg shows the blue glow really well.

Brent and Amber's new place is really cute. They were so nice to let all of us stay with them after they just had a new baby!

Uncle Brent is fun!

Mysophobia Support Group

Every week, Mike gets together with his mysophobic friends. They discuss their fear of dirt and germs, and come up with plans to eventually sanitize the entire world.
(ok actually this is where Mike works. It's a clean room)

It's a Human!!!

That's right, I had my midpoint ultrasound this week and the little life growing in my belly is definitely humanoid. Further scrutiny caused my physician to declare, with only slight uncertainty, that I am growing a human of the female persuasion! Yipee! Kate gets to have the sister I never had! They are going to be best friends, I'm sure of it. Because we all know that girls don't fight (sugar and spice and everything nice, etc). Judging by the way Kate carries around her baby doll (often upside down), she will be a very attentive big sister. She will also likely give her new sister lessons in basic anatomy, pointing out facial features (especially eyes) with gusto.