California Trip: Beach Outing

On the last full day in California we decided to go to the beach. We drove down to the boardwalk and spent the day in the sun. Kyle and Logan loved Boogie boarding in the ocean while Kaitlyn and I decided it was too cold so we just stuck with tanning and building sand castles. We all made sure that we had put sunscreen on but as you can see Kaitlyn and I forgot to put it on the back of our legs. Big mistake. My legs still have that horrible tan/burn line on them and it is so embarrassing at volleyball practice when everyone comments. But it is a good reminder to how much fun we had!

California Trip: Hangin' Around

On Monday we decided to go see Harry Potter 7 part 2. Some of the pictures above are of our group before we went to go see it. We were all so excited! During some of our free time at Grandma and Grandpa's house we loved to go in the backyard and try new tricks on the swing! We got pretty good at it! The picture at the bottom is what kyle and logan looked like most of the trip. Playing their video games! Boys will be boys!

California Trip: Hairstyling

Alaska: Eagle River Nature Center

We also took a trip to the Nature center which is quite close to Stephanie's home.  They had a little musuem type area teaching about the area's wildlife and vegetation and then a beautiful hike. 

Alaska: Biking to Girdwood and Hiking @ Alyeska.

Our next adventure took us on a twelve mile bike ride along the waters edge.  Steph and Eric borrowed bikes from their neighbors (some better than others, I understand...mine was one of the better), we loaded them up and coasted down the coast line.  It was so awesome...the wind in your hair, the beautiful scenery, the sense of freedom.  I like to bike ride and it was grand.  We followed up the bike ride by going to Alyeska and hiking to a gorge and to the hand tram.   The tram crosses a beautiful gully...it is a little intimidating at first but a thrill as you look around and down from so high in the air.  Eric, Scott and Greg did the traditional "head in the icy cold water ritual" as well.  We followed up with a trip to see the Anchorage Temple and dinner at the Moose's Tooth...each couple buying a huge pizza and sharing.  We had enough left over for lunch the next day!

Kayaking in Valdez at the base of Columbia Glacier

We went on an out of this world Kayaking trip in Valdez.  We got our gear and headed out to sea.  It was pouring and we kept reassuring ourselves that we were complete water-resistant in our gear.  We saw orka whales swimming in a pod close to our boat which was spectacular.  Amazingly enough, when we got to the kayaking spot, the sun came out just in time for our sightseeing.  We spent the next several hours paddling through the ice chunks that had calved off the glacier.  Some were bigger than our house, even our church and that was just above water.  We were told that 90% of the ice would be underneath the surface of the water.  We could hear cracking as we paddled around as chunks of ice would break and fall off into the water.  Bruce and I were headed toward a big ice at one point (our guides had told us not to get to close in case ice fell and the pull of the water could pull the canoe into dangerous situations) and I told Bruce I didn't think we should go any closer.  Just then a huge crack and a huge piece of ice broke off and fell into the water.  I started back paddling scared.  It was amazing and a little frightening, but awesome to view so close up.

Alaska: Worthington Glacier and Valdez Camping

We continued on from Matanuska Glacier to Worthington Glacier.  After hiking around Matanuska, Worthington seemed a little anti-climatic, but we livened it up with a stone throwing contest, that if I remember right, I took the title.  Won't say which title, but THE title is sufficient.  We then continued our journey toward Valdez stopping at Bridal Veil Falls to admire the beauty and then on to our campground which included our own private waterfall, stream and flower garden.  Not something you get around these parts.  We arrived close to 11:00 pm which you can see from the picture is still looking like daytime to us Utahns.  It was wierd to go to sleep in the light and wake up in the light not ever knowing if you had slept in or woken up earlier.  The clock was your only real indication.