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!

In 15 Days....

We will be on a cruise in Alaska. I will be trying not to think that I am afraid of heights. Here is our room on the top right corner.

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school. Jackson started "Kindergarten" at Montessori. He was so excited not because school was starting but because of his new shoes.



Jenna started second grade and she actually took the in front of the school picture without complaints this year. She walked right inside and never looked back to say bye or anything. I secretly died a little to know that my little girl is not a little girl anymore.



Here are my babies on the first day of school.



I had to take my car in for some upgrades so I worked from home today. I had the pleasure of walking to school to pick her up. Of course, she walked right by me and I didn't see her. Here is Jenna and her teacher, Mrs. Laird after the first day of school. The best thing about her class - according to Jenna is that the teacher has 12 computers and Webkins and if you are good you get to play on the computers with the Webkins. Hasn't second grade changed from when we were kids?



Then we got a snack, watched a little TV and then walked to ballet lessons. Yeap, those started today too. Jenna's class from last year was combined with her old class so she got to see all her ballet friends again.

Ok, God Thought I Needed a New Car

On August 5th I was on my way to work in bumper to bumper traffic getting off 121 to 635 when all of a sudden I saw the back of a Tahoe flash in front of me. It was that momentary flash of "I'm about to crash!" and them boom.



I was going 3 - 5 mph and apparently it was enough of a head on collision to cause my airbags to go off. I just stopped, tried to catch my breath in all the smoke/powder that apparently is in the airbags.



Tried to get my door open and couldn't. Tried not to panic and moved my car to the shoulder of the road. Finally got my door out and walked out to see three wrecked cars in front of me. OK, now the thought was "Oh, crude, I cause a multi-car accident." Then the guys comes running up behind me apologizing for hitting me. That is when the shock started to take course.



Jenna happened to be at soccer camp at the furthest North part of Flower Mound and so I had to handle the police, the tow truck, the body shop, the insurance company and figure out what to do about work all by myself. Jason was finally able to come get me after he dropped off Jenna. I walked away with only a few bruises on my left arm from the airbags. Had I been going faster that 5 mph it probably would have been worse.

Long story short, it was the Tahoe in front of me who caused the accident. The guy behind me paid for ten days worth of rental car, so I only had to pay for one day! Praise God! The bad part is I had to purchase a new car and with that a car payment I didn't have before the accident. Lucky for me it wasn't determined to be my fault because apparently I didn't have enough coverage for that. Lesson learned and quickly corrected. I know, I know - I am in the Auto industry and Insurance industry - I should know better.

I was able to use the Citigroup discount for a Ford Explorer. We got a good deal and they worked with me to get the color combination that I wanted. Of course, it came from College Station because they would trade a truck for a SUV where the one I wanted was in Austin and they wanted a fuel efficient vehicle. Figures! Any way, trying to get use to the new vehicle and hoping this lasts until Jenna starts driving!