Alaska

WOW-- it's been TOO long since I've posted... but it was a VERY busy couple of weeks. I finished up my last summer class on Friday July 8th... and Killian and I flew out to Alaska with my dad on Sunday July 11th. Killian did AMAZING (as always) on the plane. (This was his 3rd trip... we've gone to seattle the last two summers). Actually, after the 45 min. plane to minneapolis (which he slept through), he was a little disappointed that it wasn't cooler. Then on the 6 hour trip to Fairbanks, he was excited.. and ended by saying "more plane?" Meanwhile I was exhausted from 6 hours with a 2 year old on my lap. We did SO much in alaska. Almost too much to say- but I'll put the highlights in:

Sunday: Airport and Airplanes

Here killian is watching for trucks and planes at the airport


Monday: We went grocery shopping in the morning, looked at neat shops around alaksa in the afternoon and went out for ice cream in the evening

 Here is monday morning at 1am our time when we got into fairbanks.. the boys were playing golf.

Shopping together... cousinly love.

Killian throwing a tantrum at the ice cream shop because it was late for us.

Tuesday: Went to Pioneer park (a huge amusement park with alot of fun alaskan things):

Killian on a merry go round that is 1 of 17 hand crafted and hand painted that are still working in the WORLD today (for a dollar).

Sitting outside some of the old houses at pioneer park. All the houses in pioneer park once were real houses used in alaska, and moved to this park (don't worry, they're all about 100 square feet, so easy to move).

Train ride around pioneer park.. Killian really did enjoy it- he was just being his usual no smile/no face for the camera

There were native houses... this one was built into a hill.

There was alot more there, but too many photos.

After pioneer park, we went to Toy Story 3 (because it started to rain).. to the pipeline:

 This post was next to the pipeline... yes this is DEF. alaskanian.

then out to dinner:

The food took an hour and a half (seriously).. Killian got antsy.. so we gave him a margarita. NO.. it's just his lemonaid.. but he saw his aunt drinking it and NEEDED a cup too.

Wednesday: We went shopping in the morning... I got a massage (YES).. and then we went to the hot springs. It was AMAZING!! Sadly, no photos of that but here's on from others:

Yes... it was SOO nice

Thursday: We went gold mining in the morning:

Dad with his gold panning

The gold that three of the gold miners panned

The boys waiting to pan gold.

Killian and I got 22$ worth of gold. :)

Friday: We drove to Denalli National State Park (2.5 hours). By the time we got there... we only have time to shop, find a hotel, and drive in 17 miles into the state park... but we did see a moose. In fact it was 2 feet from our car, and no one but Killian saw it until he said, "a moose" : ) :

Saturday: We drove into the state park again.. got out and hiked for 2.5 hours. Killian loved it- especially when I carried him in the hiking backpack (I DID not like that so much.)

We saw some caribou:

He was running down the road and almost hit a biker.

Sunday: we hung around all day.. got on a plane at 945 at night and was back in WI at 845 Monday morning.

It was ALOT of fun.. .but boy was it exhausting!!!