While We Were Gone...

While we were in Alaska Jenna and Jackson spent some quality time with the grandparents and the rain. The first leg was Grandma and Grandpa.



They did some crafts, practiced a little soccer and even got to spend some time with their cousins Quinn and Chloe.





The second leg was G Mommy and Granddaddy. Again, the rain continued. Granddaddy got to break out those elementary school math skills which brought back flashbacks from him being my 3rd grade math teacher.



On Saturday morning Jackson played his first soccer game and he played his friend Brendan's team.





Then Saturday night G Mommy and Jenna then went to Rylee's birthday party at Sweet & Sassy. Happy 6th birthday Rylee!



G Mommy and Granddaddy finished Sunday with another soccer game. This time Rylee's before picking us up at the airport.

Alaska Days 1 - 5

Day 1 of our Alaskan cruise consisted of a 7 hour flight from DFW to Anchorage.

Day 2 we walked around Anchorage until our train left at lunchtime. We took a 3 hour train ride through the mountains to Seward.

 

You can click to enlarge. From top left clockwise - the Alaska Rail Road train, window shopping in Anchorage, glaciers on the mountains, the starting place for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, me looking at the view (the broken trees are from the 1964 9.4 earthquake - apparently this is what happens to trees when the salt water hits them) and a different glacier.

Once we hit Seward we had the Ellis Island check in for the cruise. Went to through security and made way to our cabin.



We didn't have long before our scheduled formal dinner. We left Seward at 9 pm Alaska time (midnight Texas time).

We spent the bulk of Day 3 on the water. At around 3pm we visited Hubbard Glacier. We didn't have to go anywhere to view it but our balcony. I had taken the sea sickness pills so I was a little out of it. I spent the afternoon in the sun with a blanket. I did mark a couple of items off my bucket list such as hearing a glacier calf.

 

Saturday was our first formal dinner night. I was still a little sea sick so I wasn't too big on throwing on layers of clothes. I made it until dessert before I had to excuse myself.



Day 5 was a port day which was happy news for a sea sick Jennifer. We spent the day in Juneau. We took a bus to Mendenhall Glacier. We walked around and saw a bald eagle. Juneau was cold and rainy. We then hiked uphill to the State Capitol. Not quite the same as the huge Texas capitol building. We then briefly walked by the Red Dog Saloon where the favorite gift shop item for cruisers are red panties. Jason spent the afternoon watching the seaplanes land beside our ship. Then he fell asleep watching his favorite channel - the navigation channel. Why he needed the navigation channel when we were in port I am not really sure.

 

More to come in the next day or so...I am slowly catching up on everything.

Alaska Here We Come!

Well Jason and I are officially in Alaska. After a 7 hour flight to Anchorage, we landed at 10:30 pm Texas time. We leave for our cruise ship tomorrow and tonight will probably be the last of the communication since I refuse to pay the cruise ship Wi-Fi fee.

Soccer, Soccer, Soccer!

Jackson started soccer practice last week. The great thing about the practice is that they are right out our back gate at the school. We walked to practice on Thursday. Isn't he cute?



They got their uniforms and couldn't wait to put them on. Jackson is #5.



Then Friday and today Jenna had a soccer tournament in Lewisville. Last night they played a team that was in their league last Spring. This morning they had the pleasure of playing a club team. Notice even the parents match.



This afternoon they played a team from the Denton league.



Only that game was hot! You can see the effect of the heat on all the players!


Jenna did an awesome this weekend as a defender. Way to go Jenna!