Alaska

Aaron and I got to go to Alaska. 

Alone. 

For 8 days! 

I know, we were freaking out too. 

It was so weird and so awesome and so quiet with just us adults. 

(We totally missed the kids like crazy, but you guys already know that)

We started off the trip with a day and a half in Seattle.

We were super spoiled with hot, sunny weather and the best tour guide around (my cousin Dave and his wife Amy).

We loved Seattle. So many cool spots to see and eat at. 

And then we set sail for our week cruise to Alaska which was a trip Aaron earned through his work.

We sailed on Princess and stopped in Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan and Victoria (Canada).  

Alaska was amazing. 

Aaron and I have been all over the world and I can honestly say Alaska is like no where else I have ever been.

It seems so untouched and raw. 

And green and fresh and beautiful. 

If it had a Target and didn't get so cold I might have been lured into living there. 

View from our hike in Juneau

One of the things that was so crazy to me was how late the sun went down. This was the view at almost 11:00 pm. 

Wow. Just wow.

Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau

The White Pass Rail, Skagway

a peek into the port from one of our hikes

Where's Waldo...I mean Aaron?

One of my favorite parts of the trip was sailing through Glacier Bay.

The glaciers totally showed off for us while we were there.

We saw and heard lots of "white thunder" when large chunks of ice break off the glacier and fall into the ocean. 

So cool.

It was freezing but worth it. 

 Ketchikan was another really cute and quaint town. 

One of my friends actually grew up here. 

How cool is that?

And our last stop was to Victoria which I loved!

It totally reminded me of Europe just a whole lot closer.

I can't wait to go back and spend more time there in the future.

We also got to see tons of wildlife. 

Lots and lots of whales, bald eagles, seals, dolphins and even a grizzly bear (from far away...which I was thankful for). The only thing we missed were the orcas. 

All in all it was an amazing trip that we felt so blessed to go on, but by the end of the 8 days we were so ready to get home to our babies. 

They had so much fun with our friends and family while we were gone (a big, big hug to those people who entered into our crazy life while we were away and held down the fort) but they were ready for us to be home too.

And I got a fresh reminder how full and sweet life with the 6 of us is. 

Crazy to be sure, but absolutely blessed to the fullest.

Dating my boy

When Mackenzie was little we started dating our kids. 

Every few weeks (sometimes more, sometimes less) Aaron or I take one of the kids out on a Mommy or Daddy date. 

Just us and one kid. 

one. kid. 

It's so good to be able to have them all to myself. 

To hear everything they have to say, to go slow (or fast...oh the things you can do with only one kid), to soak them all up and enjoy every last bit of them.

This year Wesley and I have been spoiled because every Thursday we have 2 whole hours all by ourselves while Mackenzie is still in school and my mom has the littles at her Bible Study.

It has been so much fun to hang out with my biggest little man every week. 

Every Thursday he runs out of his class with a giddy smile to ask what I have planned for the day.

Usually we go out to lunch 

or I pack us a lunch and we go out for dessert. 

Sometimes we go on a bike ride to the park (or Yogurtland...my fav). 

I don't think Wesley stops talking the entire time. 

He has a lot of say and I love hearing all of it.

Sometimes we will run an errand together (you guys I forgot how easy it is to have one kid. Especially one who can walk, and buckle and unbuckle themselves and obey instructions...well most of the time). 

The one thing I have learned is that it does not matter what we do, he thinks it is the best day ever because we are together.

Just the two of us.

It's one of my favorite parts of the week too. 

Yosemite 2014

Yosemite is our family's spot. 

I think I would go as far as saying that it is my favorite place in the world. 

There's just something so magical about it. 

The trees, the stone, the animals, the streams and fresh mountain air. 

It's definitely God's territory.

This year we decided to visit Big Sur before we headed to Yosemite. 

We made it all the way to San Louis Obispo by breakfast time.

Aaron and I are big fans of leaving early. 

Like really really early (think 2:45 am). 

We decided to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium on our way up to Big Sur as well. 

It was amazing!

Our favorite exhibit was definitely the jelly fish. 

I never knew there were so many different varieties and all of them were so interesting and beautiful. 

What a cool Creator God is! 

He sure came up with a lot of interesting animals.

Monterey seemed to be a really neat town. 

I wish we had more time to explore there (I did get some tasty clam chowder though!)

We met two of our close family friends in Big Sur. 

Those redwood trees are awesome. 

These two. 

I can't even handle it. 

I'm pretty sure we will show this at their wedding slideshow one day. 

Little cuties on a big tree. 

After a couple days in Big Sur we headed to Yosemite.

I think this was one of our best trips yet. 

We spent lots of time in the river, 

riding bikes, 

and going on hikes.

The kids claimed this area as their island and spent hours imagining and exploring there

We visited the nature center and learned all about animal poo (among other things)

picture perfect

Oh and we saw a bear!!! 

Like rode right by him on our bikes.

our gigantic biker gang of bikes

Our happy place

Hasta Luego Yosemite! 

See you next year!

June Lake

Camping is our thing. 

We just can't get enough of it. 

Over Memorial Day we went to June Lake.

It was it beautiful!

The best part of road trips are eating at the yummiest places along the way. 

Thank you yelp. 

Letting the kids run around after a delicious lunch at Schat's bakery  

June lake, 

you purty. 

 I could stare at that view all day long. 

We tried and we tried to catch some fish but they just didn't like us. 

Our campground was pretty cool. 

It was super private which was nice and quiet but it was also super far from the bathrooms (which we quickly learned is not so convenient when you have 3 little kids who use the bathroom every 5 minutes...lesson learned) 

 We were too close to our favorite place in the world not to go so we headed over to Yosemite to see Tuolumne meadows. 

It was beautiful and we even saw a coyote.

This picture captures it all. 

The kids doing their thing, Aaron fishing and that beautiful landscape in the background! 

Another day we explored Bode, a local ghost town. 

We even got a ghost to take our picture. 

 One of my favorite parts of camping is hanging out around the campfire. 

This trip the kids were super into Old Maid. 

It was so fun to be able to actually play it all together.
I love that they are getting to the ages where we can do stuff like this. 

And you guys already know how I feel about campfire treats.
This trip I switched out the graham crackers for Speculoos cookies (from Trader Joes) and was blown away. 

So goooooooood.
Try it. You will thank me. 

I also have a strong love for Banana boats (bananas stuffed with chocolate chips, PB (or Nutella!), marshmallows, then wrapped in foil and cooked on the fire until hot and gooey).
I think I might even love them more than smores (did I just say that?!).

It was such an amazing trip filled with adventure and lots of family time. 

And such constant reminders about God's glory as it's revealed through creation.

It was good. 

Real good.  

And now we are counting down the days till our next adventure...which is only 2 weeks away!