Sumer Vacation #2 Alaska 2013

So...basically I spend by summer going from one reunion to reunion to one vacation to another.  Poor Dan, I barely saw him.

I was super excited for this trip.  Dan was very bummed that I didn't take him.  I promised him that we would go and visit..I promise!

My sister in law, Erin and I flew to Ketchikan, Alaska and stayed with Aunt Wendy and her family.  The whole week was amazing.  Well, first we visited Seattle, WA, then headed to Alaska.  My Alaskan family are such great examples of how to raise a family.  I was so impressed.  My cousins are awesome also!

Here are the highlights:
Alaska Vacation--July 23-29th, 2013

Tuesday, July 23rd-Seattle
-took train in to downtown, walked down to Pike's Market.
-walked down to shoreline, sat in the yellow chairs, late afternoon, and someone asked us if we wanted, "ball weed".  Saw the Ferris wheel and then walked on down the boardwalk/street to the Space needle.
-Visited the space needle, ate Mt. Rainer Sundae, saw chihuly art. It was a clear day so we could see all around.
-Saw a protest and saw people dancing (Lindy Hop) at the plaza.
-Very HILLY!
-Ate dinner at Sharp's

Wednesday, July 24th-Alaska, Ketchikan
-arrived in Ketchikan and is was drizzling and a little chilly.
-Took the ferry across to Ketchikan.  (about 5 mins.) Wendy picked us up and we went to the Pubic Library with her, Cooper and Preston.
-Went to wendy's and ate lunch.
-That night we took Preston to scouts and Wendy took us to the dock where all the cruise ships dock.  Luckily, no cruises there so we could see the town.  --Posed under the official sign and then walked down Creek Street.  She took us down south a bit too.

Thursday, July 25th
-woke up really early to go fishing.
-out their kitchen window we saw some killer whales in the ocean.
-Out on the boat, the weather was beautiful, calm seas and clear skies.
-we saw porpoises a far out. Far out also saw a spouting of a humpback whale.
-We brought luck to the boat and they caught 11 halibut.  One was even 50 lbs. Blood and guts filled the deck, we choose to stay inside the cabin :)
-that night we had fresh halibut.  DELICIOUS!  Best is blackened.  Also tried fried and breaded halibut and crab.  Hum...not so sure about crab.

Not so sure about crab.

Yummy seafood!

Rock fish



Hard work pulling from the bottom of the ocean
 



A little to big!

view from the boat

Friday, July 26th
-slept in. 
-Went to the beach (Refuge Cove) and saw all the sea animals at negative tide.
-Took Cooper to work, saw Clover Pass dock, Taylor's work place, Knudsen Dock
-visited Wendy's classroom
-and then drove to the end of the road.  North side. 
-At the end of the road we saw a beautiful waterfall at Settler's Cove.
-ran errands with Wendy, we went to the postal office, the dump-Erin saw a bear running down the trash, and visited the City park.  Also, saw a school with the playground under the school.
-watched the movie, 42 with Jackie Robinson and made paper flowers for her classroom.

Alaskan beach



Look close, how many are there?

Settler's cove



Cuz (Taylor) at his work)



Erin and I at a beautiful waterfall

Saturday, July 27th
-took Cooper to work
-saw Totem poles at Totem bight State park
-went to town and saw the lumberjack show (local special cost)
-walked around with all the cruise ship passengers and bought souvenirs.
-wend to Walmart
- Alaska Sea Cycling at Historic Ward Cove.  Saw lots of seals, crab pots and the 78 million dollar navy ship prototype. Perfect afternoon with beautiful weather.  even cycled under the ship.
-returned to Wendy's and ate dinner and played wii with Preston and Taylor.

Sea Kayaking--the BEST EVER!

Most peaceful place full of seals

YUCK! I won't touch it!

 Sunday, July 28th
-went to church, locals made the building with local wood
-tried salmon dip
-walked around ward lake, found watermelon berries and can tell what salmon berries are.
-played rummicub and  skipbo
-watched the other side of heaven

My awesome cousins!

watermelon berries

Over all, it was probably one of the best and most relaxing vacations that I have ever had.  What would have made it perfect---Dan.  (but Erin was a close runner up ;)

Summer Vacation #1--VA 2013

I'll have to post more pictures later because I don't remember exactly what order we did things in.

In July, Dad, Mom, Alisa & Matt, Grandma and Dan & I spent an entire week in Williamsburg, Virginia.  Dan served in Portsmouth, VA Naval Hospital as a corpsman.  He promised after we were married that he would take me there and show me where he served.  So the main reason we went so I could see and learn about the place Dan had lived and served for 3 years.  We used our timeshare and stayed at this gorgeous plantation.  We ran around crazy for the whole week.  I needed a vacation when we got home.  We saw Williamsburg, Yorktown,Jamestown, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Washington D.C.
It was really cool, we went on a cruise down the river and saw the hospital Dan worked in.  All the ships on the Naval Base.  We toured the USS Wisconsin.  We watched fireworks on the beach and hear an amazing orchestra concert on the grass by the beach and watch fireworks over the ocean. And so much more!

Plantation

USS Wisconsin

Portsmouth Naval Hospital in the background

USS Wisconsin

Yorktown

Fireworks on Virginia Beach

Matt, Alisa & Grandma Lamoreaux

USS Wisconsin




 

Another year of school & Oct. Break 2013

Aug-Oct. 2013

Basically, my year goes from August to August.  This is the 2013-2014 school year.  My birthday used to be in the summer still.  Now it always falls either on the first day of school or near too it.  Look what Dan gave me for my birthday :)  I sure do love my hubby.  He takes great care of me.

Yes, I am still teaching Kindergarten.  I sure do love those little guys.  And the best part, they love me :)  This is my 11th year teaching.  I begin the 2003-2004 school.  I have taught 6 years of 1st year and am in my 5th year teaching kindergarten.  This is also the 5th year at this elementary school.



So far, I love this school year.  My students are sweet and so cute.  Instead of starting the year with 40, we have consistently been at 22-24 students.  This is a fabulous number, especially considering that my students are ELL, mostly pre-emergent English speakers.  Also, this is the 4th year of being a TAP teacher, and boy, I am learning how to be a super teacher.  It is a very effective, though high stress program.  I know that my students are gaining a better education because of it.  I am more effective and efficient.

As always, I still count down and love my breaks.  This year, for October Break, I flew to Omaha, NE for visit half my family.  It was really funny since of the 4 siblings that live out there, 3 just bought houses.  Also, each house fit each sibling's personality.

Alisa bought this super cute house built in 1890's and lives in this little town in the middle of nowhere.  I loved the peace and quiet of her town.  Plus, there is the super cute old school park right in front of her house. And you know how much I love parks!

Charisse and Will are fixing up their house,  It will be perfect for their little family.  I loved the time I spent with them.  And I love Brady boy!

 

Levi bought a condo with the best couches ever!!  He is a party animal now and works super hard with his masters. We were able to go swimming at his place a lot.  Only got in trouble by the old ladies a few times.

 

LanaMarie's house is full!  Elsie (first time I was able to see her) gave up her bedroom to sleep in a laundry basket for me.  I love Barrett boy!  He loved looking through all the pictures on my phone.  Wesson is a smarty pants.

 

 

Mom and Dad are growing this cool vertical garden on the side of the shed.

 

We took a morning off to go exploring out in the fields near Alisa's.  We found lots of apple trees and grass!

I sure love my family and feel extremely blessed and grateful to have had this chance to visit my parents and family.  I love my parents so much.  They are truly the best parents for me.

 

Dan's Summer Break

June 26th, 2013

Dan's summer break. This was the only Tuesday when I would not be out of town, so Dan and I decided to go camping.  We drove up to the Pinal Mountain near Globe.  We decided that instead of staying at the cabin, we would actually camp and sleep in a tent.  We drove to the campsite and tried to find a good place.  Mind you, we were the ONLY ones on the entire mountain. NO  ONE was up there.  Well, me being the wise guy that I am, told Dan that he could drive his care up through the bushes to the road.  Silly me, I think my corolla is a truck.  Nope, it isn't.  We got stuck in the dirt with wheels spinning.  We dug and dug.  Finally, we walked up the road to the cabin and found something that would make digging easier.  We finally got unstuck and moved to a different campsite.  This only took 45 minutes. 
Now, this added to our pain, because Dan's stomach was having real issues that day.  We had to stop 4 times between Mesa and Globe so he could go to the bathroom.  So, it had been a very long day.
Finally, we set up camp, enjoyed a game of Ticket to Ride, and even took the roof of the tent so we could see the stars.  We saw a fabulous sunset and enjoyed time together.  The only con was that due to the heat, there were bugs and flies everywhere.

The next morning, Dan woke up with a terrible toothache and we had to go straight home so he could get to the dentist.   
Dan's summer break lasted from 3pm to 7am the next morning.  Hopefully, next summer will be better :)