Joie Lost Her First Tooth!

Eating an apple late this afternoon, Joie hands me something and says, "Is this my tooth?"

Yep!

Alaska - Day 11

She's home!!!

She came running down the hallway when she saw us.  She ran so quickly, I couldn't get the camera to focus on her!

It's good having her home again!

She even came bearing gifts:

This is the gold she found:

Back home again!

Did I mention, it's so good having her back!

We'll try to post some of the pictures she took in the next several days.

We Can Have Fun Here, Too - Part Two

We continued our fun this week!

On Sunday, we were invited to attend a graduation party, and after that went to Ammaw & Ampaw's for dinner.

On Tuesday, Heather and Joie took in a free movie at the Greendale Cinemas in Indiana.  The Lorax was a hit again.

Wednesday was our biggest day.  The three of us went to Coney Island and had a good time.  The weather cooperated and Jo got to ride lots of rides and we wore ourselves out!

Today, I had an eye doctor appointment and took Jo with me so she could see what it's like since she will have to go soon for her first checkup.  She had a wonderful time laughing at me while I went through the various tests.  While rain prevented our cookout at Grandma and Grandpa's place in Kentucky, the three of us ran errands, watched the movie Brave, and played some games, and watched some of the neighborhood fireworks.

We all look forward to being reunited as a family in the morning!

Alaska - Day 10

I can't believe it's been 10 days since we've seen our Livvi.  Jo misses her sister and Heather and I miss our first born.  She's back tomorrow morning, so today is really her last day in the great state of Alaska!

S'mores last night:

(someone looks tired)

Their instructions for today were:

• Board your vessel and say goodbye to the beautiful waters of the Kachemak Bay to the Homer Harbor. Board your motorcoach as you head back to Anchorage. 
• Enjoy a unique program that will immerse you in the history of Alaska’s gold mining industry at a family run working gold mine!  
• Gain insight into the rugged life of miners who helped shape the Alaskan frontier and learn about modern gold mining techniques and environmental challenges and then try your hand at gold mining with guidance from an expert! 
• Enjoy Dinner in Anchorage before transferring to the Anchorage Airport for your flight home.   Bid farewell to your local driver and guide.

Their driver decorated the motorcoach for Independence Day:

Their flight leaves Anchorage at 8:30 p.m. (12:30 a.m. here) and arrives around 5:50 a.m. in Dallas (6:50 a.m. here).  They then leave Dallas at 8:35 a.m. (9:35 a.m. here) and arrive here at 11:50 a.m.  Hopefully, she can get some sleep on the flight(s)!

We are so ready for her to be home!  I have played the reunion over and over in my head for days (looking forward to the day), so hopefully I can hold it together!  Since we've had almost no communication with her, we hope she's doing well, feeling well, and had a fantastic time!

13 more hours!

Alaska - Day 9

The trip is winding down.  Today, they were to:

• Continue your journey along the Sterling Highway up to the Homer Spit to board the vessel that will bring you to the Peterson Field Station.  Stop to view Gull Island along your journey.  
• On the shores, you will learn and see firsthand the diverse marine wildlife both in the water and on land during hikes with your local guide and a visit to the aquarium.  
• Your Coastal Studies instructors will help you explore the richness of Kachemak Bay’s extreme tidal changes and a coastal forest ecosystem on the edge of wilderness.   
• Overnight in a Yurt!

We got the following email from one of the leaders:

Just an FYI- we will be "off the grid" today and tonight so don't be concerned if you don't hear from the girls. If you need to reach them, you can try me first and if that doesn't work contact P2P.  See you at the airport!

Any idea what we are to do with all the minutes she didn't use on her phone?

Alaska - Day 8

Today looks like it may have been a cold day for the kids in Alaska.  They visited Exit Glacier.  There they were to "gain insight into environmental science and appreciate the beauty of Alaskan nature...as you explore the Exit Glacier, the only road accessible glacier in the Kenai Fjords National Park. Previously known as the Resurrection Glacier, Exit Glacier received its name when in 1968 it marked the exit of the first recorded expedition crossing of the Harding Icefield."

Today's plan:

• Lace up your hiking boots and participate in a ranger-led walk to Exit Glacier, where you’ll learn about the creation and movement of the glaciers in the Kenai Fjords National Park.  
• Board a vessel for your cruise to the waters of the Kenai Fjords National Park. Keep an eye open for whales, sea otters, sea lions, eagle, bears, and more. Your cruise will last four hours and explore Resurrection Bay. 
• Board your motorcoach and head for Homer, Alaska!  See spectacular scenery like volcanoes on the far side of the Cook Inlet, lush green valleys and an array of wildflowers along the way.  Homer is known to some as the Halibut Capital of the World.

Panning for gold:

Exit Glacier in the background:

Looks like they were worn out: