I LOVE Alaska (Part 2)

Week 2 in AK was a lot more low-key, with very little travel, but a lot of visiting and playing with relatives. The kids loved playing with their Alaska cousins, but Mom never thought to take a picture of them together. (What was I thinking?!)
They loved Grannie's house, riding bikes, throwing rocks in the creek, playing at Aunt Carol's and Aunt Lila's houses, and especially playing on the pond in Grannie's front yard. They loved the paddle boat and the little kayaks. So fun!
We all also enjoyed the garden vegetables and berries, which were available at every meal and anytime in between.

I got to spend some time wandering around through the gardens and greenhouses at Grannie's and Aunt Carol's. (Below is just one of Carol's three gardens.)
Between wandering around there and going on a farm tour around the valley, I spent plenty of time admiring (but NOT coveting) the vegetable gardens,

admiring (but NOT coveting) the flower gardens,

and admiring (but NOT coveting) the DIRT!!

I LOVE these little flowers and think I definitely need some of these in my garden next summer, so Mom, if you know what these are, can you order me some next spring? Thanks!

The kids also really loved playing with Scamper, the three-legged dog.

On the last night in Palmer, I decided to take the kids on a drive up Hatcher's Pass, which must be one of the most beautiful places on earth, and which, of course, I didn't take any pictures of. But, on the way home, we finally got lucky and saw a mama moose with two babies on the side of the road. You can only see one baby in this pic, however. We were all pretty excited about them!

Aunt Bonnie was gone on vacation most of the time we were there, but on our last day, we were able to go visit her at her home in Eagle River. This is the view from her deck. Fantastic!

Although the entire trip was amazing, I think what I loved most of all was just spending time with and around these two wonderful people and the life and legacy they have created there in Alaska! I am so honored to be a part of their family, and I hope that I can somehow carry on their legacy of faith, ingenuity, hard work, self-reliance, and charity. They are truly two of the best people I know, and I felt blessed each day I got to spend with them.