Alaska Cruise!

It is finally here! With so many things on the agenda this summer, I was finally able to focus on what I needed to do before the cruise about four days before we left. I was grateful Jon had been keeping up to speed on all the plans, I trusted he knew the plan, I just pack and show up. The day of our flight, we got up long before morning and met up with Sadie and Brent at Cade and Ashley's in the middle of the night. It was so much fun to all be together at the SLC Airport~ Goulding's, Bocanegra's, Taylors and Taylors! Our flight was great, we landed in Seattle for a quick layover. It has been years since I've been in that airport. From there we flew in a tiny plane into Vancouver, Canada. It was such a shiny, beautiful day!

We loved sight-seeing the bustling little city of Vancouver. There was so much to do, it reminded me of a children's picture book with people playing ball at a park, boating on the water, riding bikes, eating outside at restaurants, seaplanes taking off - but it was all happening at once! We had to see it all and decided on a bike ride around the island. It was glorious!

Strolling the streets were so charming. It had a very quaint feel. The weather was just perfect.

We all piled into two joining rooms at our hotel that Matt had secured for us. Because of him we had access to the complimentary snack lounge upstairs. We descended on the drinks and snacks in the room. Ashely danced around while tossing twizlers. We wondered if it's our kids that are the menace in these situations.... Or is it US? 
The next morning we got ready to head out to our cruise ship! I had to chuckle at Shafer and Cade who were mesmerized by the building going on out the window. They pulled us all in with their commentary... "See that guy raises the beam up to those guys... that guy signals to the other guys that it's coming... they have to be ready with their machine..." 

So exciting to board our ship!

You must zoom in on Matt. You must!

Right away on board we sat for lunch and Sadie and Brent showed us how ordering only one meal for yourself is for suckers. Can't decide between two entrees? Get both! All the desserts look good? Taste them all! After lunch we wandered up top to an empty deck and laid in the warm sun while we waited for our rooms to be ready. The party had already started down at the grill and pool below.
Our first day on the cruise was in charming Ketchikan, Alaska. There is so much history here, and it was the perfect weather to walk the streets, hike around and watch the salmon spawning.

I sent this when Paisley texted, "What are you doing right now?"

Shafer, Lindsey and Jon strolling down the street.

My brotha's.

I was really fascinated by the surrounding neighborhoods and houses, and learned that LT had taken all the same pictures of them!

It was so lovely to sleep in, meet up at our leisure out on the deck for breakfast, walk the ship and look out on the beautiful water. Alaska is so very beautiful!

Juno is tiny and so gorgeous! I think we lucked out on the perfect weather, we heard it had been so rainy. We just benefited from the green, sparkling city.

 We took the most beautiful tram ride up-up-up to the top of a gorgeous mountainside. We saw a bald eagle pair, living in the trees! The water color was so pretty! Ashely and I thought we need to find a matching paint swatch.

 Up top we hiked around on trails and watched a movie about the Native American tribe that settled the land.

 I found myself hiking alone, it was so peaceful and beautiful!

These trees get loaded with snow and start to grow deformed until they get tall enough to straighten out above the snowline.

 We took a bus ride to a beautiful trail that lead to a big waterfall and the Mendenhal Glacier. Glaciers are an amazing sight to behold! Truly!

Shafer looked like a J Crew add the whole time.

 I texted Mommy and Daddy: Look what your baby is doing...

 I mean.... the beauty!

 We were able to hike around a neat old cemetery.

 And hike to more falls...

 We wondered what lived in this cave?

 More J Crew photo shoot.

 The Boc's and Cash went on a bike ride while the rest of us shopped... and shopped!

 Our room was the most cozy little cocoon. Like a little IKEA showroom. We could get it pitch dark which was so cozy! I tell ya, after a day or two we were completely relaxed, not a care in the world! I have never felt so well-rested. I surprised myself how much I napped/ slept in. Perhaps the busy summer I was a bit sleep deprived?

It was so lovely to go stroll out on the decks for fresh Alaskan air and always the most beautiful sights! Land was always within view on this cruise which made the landscape always changing and so pretty! We saw some whales jumping up out of the water in the distance. There were many of them, just leaping up and splashing back in. It was amazing!

It was always so fun to meet up for dinner and usually a show after. We definitely had a favorite restaurant we would make reservations to. We got the ordering down of at least two courses each!~ Why not???

Sweet Baby-Angel Cade and his Tapioca Puddin'.

These glaciers got bigger and more close up by the day. Amazing!

 You can't see it, but there were a couple of birds just floating along on the ice.

We were fascinated by the captains quarters. A little Star Trecky, we thought.

The two dress-up nights were pretty fun! We all met up for dinner and then ended up in the Karaoke bar and Brent, Shafer and Ashley took a turn.

Brent sang "Hey, Jude"

Ashley dedicated "Gangsters Paradise" to her kids...

Shafer sang, "Hey There, Delilah"

The best group to cruise with, no doubt! So much chatting, laughter and joking around. I sure love these people!

It was hard to have this come to an end! It was so long in the making, and such a dream.

We had some time to kill in Skagway. We walked around to a little hike/ walking path area that led to a waterfall and then walked the streets and window shopped until our bus ride into Anchorage. It was fun for me to see the city of Anchorage. We walked around a bit and then grabbed dinner together. It was rough paying our first dining tab in the real world!

We thought this looked like a little fairy cave, complete with bar stools.

The red-eye home was brutal! I sat in-between a couple, which was odd. I just sat upright and stared ahead all night. Worst flight ever. Oh, well.

Of course we came home to a Welcome Sign, would expect nothing less from our Paisley girl!

ps~ I spy countertops installed while away!