The drive back to Anchorage was not as gorgeous....it was rainy and super windy and super foggy....not nice outside. Mac was ADORABLE in the truck though!!!!!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
To & From Homer, AK
The past weekend we spent down in Homer. The drive down to Homer was completely gorgeous. It was sunny the whole way and just beyond beautiful! We stopped at one point because you could see the volcano Mount Redoubt. That is the volcano that erupted lots of ash the spring before we moved up here.....
The drive back to Anchorage was not as gorgeous....it was rainy and super windy and super foggy....not nice outside. Mac was ADORABLE in the truck though!!!!!
The drive back to Anchorage was not as gorgeous....it was rainy and super windy and super foggy....not nice outside. Mac was ADORABLE in the truck though!!!!!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Matanuska White Water Rafting
The water is running really high so our trip to 6 mile river was canceled and we got rescheduled for Lions Head (which runs off of the Matanuska Glacier). The day was completely gorgeous! It no lie got up to 84 degrees up in Matanuska! CRAZY!
We got to the loading place for rafting and there was a wall of helmets. These would definitely come in use later (completely unbeknowest to me)...
Let me preface this next story with the assurance that I am completely ok. Seriously. Morgan and I were in a boat with a young couple from Indiana and our guide (who had rafted the river since he was little and professionally for the past 9 summers). They told us NUMEROUS times that the river was running really high so that the rapids were going to be intense. They gave us the rescue speech (which I had heard numerous times because I have rafted a lot). I knew what to do if anything happened. We got in the boat and set off. At first everything was awesome! We were laughing and having a great time. We were the smallest load boat (the other boats had over 7 people on them) so we were the lightest boat. This doesn't sound like a problem until you hit the rapids. Where the rapids got intense was where the river we were on hit the water coming off of the glacier. Then it got intense. It got class 5 intense. We took the first hit pretty well. The next rapid hit us back and caused my entire boat to flip out including our guide. We got back in pretty quickly because all of us popped back up right next to the boat. I was one of the first people hauled back into the boat (keep in mind we are still hitting rapids at this point) so I head up to the front of the boat to grab my paddle. Then we got DRILLED by a rapid known as "Clubber". I proceed to cartwheel out of the boat in the middle of class 5 rapids by myself. The boat continues on while I am ripped around by the rapids. I had no idea which way was up or where anyone was. I desperately tried to put my feet downstream and every time I thought that I was in the air I stuck my hand up in hopes that someone would grab it. I did not panic to where it affected me but I was freaking out in my mind. I flipped down almost the entire string of class 5 rapids for over 30 seconds before I was caught. Morgan was apparently freaking out in the boat but she was the one who grabbed onto my life jacket and yanked me in the boat. She watched my bright yellow helmet bob along through all of the rapids. Once I was in the boat, I threw up glacier silt river water everywhere and just tried to catch my breath because I couldn't breathe while I was in and under the water. We had to get through one more massive rapid before there was a spot that everyone could pull over. Our guide dragged us to the side of the river where all of the other boats had stopped in case they had to catch me as I came through. The guide was sitting indian style in the river next to me while I threw up and he just kept apologizing over and over again. After I was done throwing up, I said my first phrase. This phrase cannot be written because it involved some very bad words. However, that phrase let Morgan know that I was ok and it definitely eased the stress/tension that was in our boat. After a while, the guide asked if I was ok to continue and paddle to which I nodded. NOTHING GETS ME DOWN! He then told us that was the first time he had ever been out of his boat as a guide and that it was the hardest hit that he has ever taken. My story of flipping down Class 5 rapids now rates in his top 3 of crazy stories during rafting. I never cried afterwards and joked about it for the rest of the trip (I also kept stating that I wanted a drink)....apparently I handled that incident better than the majority of people. Our guide said that if anyone had to go for that "swim" that he was glad it was someone like me who has had experience. IT SUCKED though. I will probably not be going white water rafting for a long long long time.
I AM OK.
The pictures that are next are after I had taken my "swim" but still in some big rapids.....
I am the bright yellow helmet on the left.
We got to the loading place for rafting and there was a wall of helmets. These would definitely come in use later (completely unbeknowest to me)...
Let me preface this next story with the assurance that I am completely ok. Seriously. Morgan and I were in a boat with a young couple from Indiana and our guide (who had rafted the river since he was little and professionally for the past 9 summers). They told us NUMEROUS times that the river was running really high so that the rapids were going to be intense. They gave us the rescue speech (which I had heard numerous times because I have rafted a lot). I knew what to do if anything happened. We got in the boat and set off. At first everything was awesome! We were laughing and having a great time. We were the smallest load boat (the other boats had over 7 people on them) so we were the lightest boat. This doesn't sound like a problem until you hit the rapids. Where the rapids got intense was where the river we were on hit the water coming off of the glacier. Then it got intense. It got class 5 intense. We took the first hit pretty well. The next rapid hit us back and caused my entire boat to flip out including our guide. We got back in pretty quickly because all of us popped back up right next to the boat. I was one of the first people hauled back into the boat (keep in mind we are still hitting rapids at this point) so I head up to the front of the boat to grab my paddle. Then we got DRILLED by a rapid known as "Clubber". I proceed to cartwheel out of the boat in the middle of class 5 rapids by myself. The boat continues on while I am ripped around by the rapids. I had no idea which way was up or where anyone was. I desperately tried to put my feet downstream and every time I thought that I was in the air I stuck my hand up in hopes that someone would grab it. I did not panic to where it affected me but I was freaking out in my mind. I flipped down almost the entire string of class 5 rapids for over 30 seconds before I was caught. Morgan was apparently freaking out in the boat but she was the one who grabbed onto my life jacket and yanked me in the boat. She watched my bright yellow helmet bob along through all of the rapids. Once I was in the boat, I threw up glacier silt river water everywhere and just tried to catch my breath because I couldn't breathe while I was in and under the water. We had to get through one more massive rapid before there was a spot that everyone could pull over. Our guide dragged us to the side of the river where all of the other boats had stopped in case they had to catch me as I came through. The guide was sitting indian style in the river next to me while I threw up and he just kept apologizing over and over again. After I was done throwing up, I said my first phrase. This phrase cannot be written because it involved some very bad words. However, that phrase let Morgan know that I was ok and it definitely eased the stress/tension that was in our boat. After a while, the guide asked if I was ok to continue and paddle to which I nodded. NOTHING GETS ME DOWN! He then told us that was the first time he had ever been out of his boat as a guide and that it was the hardest hit that he has ever taken. My story of flipping down Class 5 rapids now rates in his top 3 of crazy stories during rafting. I never cried afterwards and joked about it for the rest of the trip (I also kept stating that I wanted a drink)....apparently I handled that incident better than the majority of people. Our guide said that if anyone had to go for that "swim" that he was glad it was someone like me who has had experience. IT SUCKED though. I will probably not be going white water rafting for a long long long time.
I AM OK.
The pictures that are next are after I had taken my "swim" but still in some big rapids.....
I am the bright yellow helmet on the left.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Summer solstice and go carts
Morgan and I went on a walk with Mac today around Campbell Creek. He had a great time kicking his legs in his stroller.
We went to a birthday party today. It was the son of Joe's friend from work. They just moved up here and they don't know anyone. We went to a go-cart park for Gabriel's birthday! Mac went on his first go-cart ride today as well! He got in the go-cart with Joe! He was not super sure about it but he did not cry or fuss! Joe also did water bumper boats!!!!
We went to a birthday party today. It was the son of Joe's friend from work. They just moved up here and they don't know anyone. We went to a go-cart park for Gabriel's birthday! Mac went on his first go-cart ride today as well! He got in the go-cart with Joe! He was not super sure about it but he did not cry or fuss! Joe also did water bumper boats!!!!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
And the sun is still shining!
Today is also gorgeous! It was a super lazy day! Joe had to be at work early...which sucks. We played around the house for a while and after Mac's nap we headed to walk around downtown. Mac LOVES new stroller and it makes me super happy!
When we got back, we were super hot (and Mac had peed through his clothes) so Mac had nakey time outside. Morgan got some funny pictures!!!!!
Since it is super gorgeous, we are grilling out (bbq chicken and baked potatoes on the grill). After dinner, we are going to go to Menchies which is a frozen yogurt place that we LOVE LOVE LOVE.
On the Cleo house: we are not going to close on Friday because something about the appraiser didn't get the appraisel turned in on time. So we are closing sometime next week.
On the Jami not answering the phone: my new phone supposedly gets here tomorrow. That is what Joe says. I am super excited. It is really weird not having a phone....I don't like it.
When we got back, we were super hot (and Mac had peed through his clothes) so Mac had nakey time outside. Morgan got some funny pictures!!!!!
Since it is super gorgeous, we are grilling out (bbq chicken and baked potatoes on the grill). After dinner, we are going to go to Menchies which is a frozen yogurt place that we LOVE LOVE LOVE.
On the Cleo house: we are not going to close on Friday because something about the appraiser didn't get the appraisel turned in on time. So we are closing sometime next week.
On the Jami not answering the phone: my new phone supposedly gets here tomorrow. That is what Joe says. I am super excited. It is really weird not having a phone....I don't like it.
Monday, June 18, 2012
The big yellow one is the sun!
It was SO GORGEOUS outside! It is supposed to be super nice all this week (no lie temperatures in the 70s)! Last night, we got our first Alaskan thunderstorm and it was super exciting to us (it's the small things in life...)!
This morning I completed another Pinterest project. This one involved downsizing the space that our massive dvd collection took up.
Morgan, Mac and I went to Babies R Us and got Mac a new stroller! He got a Chicco umbrella stroller. We were looking for one that was tall enough for Joe and me to push around! He really likes his new stroller!
Since it was completely gorgeous outside today, we went for a walk at Westchester Lagoon this afternoon. Mac was able to see Cook Inlet, some ducks, some other bird, and mud. That walk reminds me of why we love it up here so much!
Joe had batting practice (complete with bbq) and then a game. We went for the bbq but Mac was starting to get super sleepy so Morgan and I left with him before they started batting practice. Morgan got a couple of pictures of Mac running around in the huge softball field. He had a great time!
This morning I completed another Pinterest project. This one involved downsizing the space that our massive dvd collection took up.
Morgan, Mac and I went to Babies R Us and got Mac a new stroller! He got a Chicco umbrella stroller. We were looking for one that was tall enough for Joe and me to push around! He really likes his new stroller!
Since it was completely gorgeous outside today, we went for a walk at Westchester Lagoon this afternoon. Mac was able to see Cook Inlet, some ducks, some other bird, and mud. That walk reminds me of why we love it up here so much!
Joe had batting practice (complete with bbq) and then a game. We went for the bbq but Mac was starting to get super sleepy so Morgan and I left with him before they started batting practice. Morgan got a couple of pictures of Mac running around in the huge softball field. He had a great time!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Denali National Park
We (Joe, Mac, Morgan, Bella, and me) left on Friday to head to Denali National Park to go camping for the weekend! The scenery on the way up there is just stunning! We did run into crazy dark weather...
Joe decided to throw Mac way up in the air because Mac thinks it is great fun!
We got to the Riley Campground kind of late but we found a spot for the RV and got everything set up. Mac was WIRED. He did not go to sleep until after 12:30. We woke up the next day for a day of sightseeing, tshirt buying, hiking fun!
On the way out of the Denali Park Road, we pulled over to play on the arctic tundra. It is super bouncy and Morgan had no idea what she was walking on!
My sweet little man in the Visitor center! He had a great time running around (he no longer simply just walks).
Saturday night was AWFUL. Mac REFUSED to go to sleep (as in he literally screamed to the point he was having trouble breathing) and then he got really hyper (as in running laps in his crib). I had Joe go ahead and go to sleep since he had to drive the next day so I just sat next to Mac's crib. After a couple of hours, he eventually went to sleep. I did not. I did not go to sleep until the next morning as we were driving back, I stayed in the RV while Joe was driving to try to get at least an hour of sleep in. On the way back to Anchorage, we stopped at this amazing lodge (Princess's McKinley Lodge) and had breakfast and looked at the views. We were actually able to see Denali!
Joe decided to throw Mac way up in the air because Mac thinks it is great fun!
We got to the Riley Campground kind of late but we found a spot for the RV and got everything set up. Mac was WIRED. He did not go to sleep until after 12:30. We woke up the next day for a day of sightseeing, tshirt buying, hiking fun!
On the way out of the Denali Park Road, we pulled over to play on the arctic tundra. It is super bouncy and Morgan had no idea what she was walking on!
My sweet little man in the Visitor center! He had a great time running around (he no longer simply just walks).
The mosquitos were really bad so I had to spray my boys. Mac had bug bites on his face that looked like devil horns....and after I sprayed him we messed up his hair!
We sat around for a while, ate lunch and drank a beer before we decided to do a hike! We chose to do the Horseshoe Lake trail....
Saturday night was AWFUL. Mac REFUSED to go to sleep (as in he literally screamed to the point he was having trouble breathing) and then he got really hyper (as in running laps in his crib). I had Joe go ahead and go to sleep since he had to drive the next day so I just sat next to Mac's crib. After a couple of hours, he eventually went to sleep. I did not. I did not go to sleep until the next morning as we were driving back, I stayed in the RV while Joe was driving to try to get at least an hour of sleep in. On the way back to Anchorage, we stopped at this amazing lodge (Princess's McKinley Lodge) and had breakfast and looked at the views. We were actually able to see Denali!
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