Here we are somewhere between Alaska and Seattle, most likely over Canada. This was baby girl’s first flight, and she spent most of the flight in this posture, watching Curious George on my computer.
She did peek out the window a few times to make sure we were still up in the air, and then she would announce to me that we were “flying in an airplane.”
Wish I could sit that comfortably in an airplane seat. There are benefits to being that short.
Last month you spent more than 3000 miles in the back seat of grandma’s overpacked car. It took us 10 days to drive from Seattle, Washington, to Soldotna, Alaska. But then we took the long way through the Canadian Rockies, and did a little sight seeing as well.
I was a little worried about how you would handle all that change, and all that time in the car, but you were a little champ. It turns out that you are a great traveler.
You tolerated the tight quarters
You slept in a different hotel every night
You picked too many dandelions to count
You explored a “castle”
And after that, anytime you had a chance to get your hands on a couple rocks, you stacked them together and told me you were “building a castle”
You saw rock sheep
and buffalo
and bears
oh, my…
And spent a lot of time walking around on trails
exploring
and running around
You played in some of the coolest playgrounds anywhere
but it didn’t matter how cool the playground was
you were mostly interested in playing in the sand, and building a sand castle
And through it all, you kept a smile on your face (well, most of the time) and made the trip fun for me, and grandma, too.
Since we got back from that trip, just a couple weeks ago, we moved to a new home. Now there’s a big adjustment for you, too. But as usual, you roll with the punches, and find all the fun new things to enjoy about your new home.
Thank you for reminding me to look for the joy in everything.
I’m so lucky that I get to be your mommy.
I love you.
Camels, tigers, polar bears… what animal at the zoo would most capture a toddler’s attention?
Could it be a squirrel?
Dee took us to the Alaska Zoo during our recent visit, and Gem was captivated by this little red squirrel.
He didn’t move a lot at first
But I promise he was real
see…
They played peek-a-boo and hide and seek for a while
Then one last peek as we said good bye.
I took this photo at my friend Dee’s house in Chugiak, Alaska, on Friday night. It was midnight.
You’d think after all those years growing up in the land of the midnight sun, I’d be used to this. But no, I had to stop and take a picture. I can’t believe the days are already getting shorter.
In the few short days since I returned home from Alaska, the summer solstice passed and the days are already getting shorter again.
A few minutes at a time.
I love dandelions.
They are such simple, earnest, friendly, happy flowers. I understand that people tend to despise the weed, but they warm my heart. They’re like children; they may make a mess of the yard, but really they just want to make you smile.
Besides, their greens are yummy.
These bear cubs thought so too. They were making quite a nice meal of Dandelions right alongside the highway. (We were a little east of Whitehorse, YT, here.)
This is where the wealthy, well-to-do beavers live.
On our drive through Canada, we’ve encountered countless beaver dams and lodges, but this area covered acres of stepped dams with lodges back farther away from the road.
These little lakes created by the beavers were surrounded by babbling brooks, mosses, and wildflowers.
As it was, I spent quite a while traipsing around their back yard, and invading their privacy
I would have stayed longer, but mom and the baby were waiting (besides, I was wearing flip-flops and shorts – and walking through an area where all the little trees and bushes were sawed off by the beavers at ankle height)
