Kinley's 1st Trip to the Zoo

 She is ready to see some animals! Well, not really. She has no idea. She just  loves being outside in the stroller. 

 Turkeys are gross. I thought it was funny they were at the zoo. You see them a lot back in PA.

 I love bald eagles. You see a lot of them living here. I never get sick of seeing them. I did get some good shots of this one at the zoo because he couldn't go anywhere.  :)

 It was 70's the day we went so most of the animals found shelter out of the sun.

 It was a very lazy day at this zoo.

 I love this guy! I got pictures of him a few years ago. There is just something about his dopey expression!

 Loving time with daddy!

I think her first trip was a success. She didn't see most of the animals because they were hiding from the heat. It is a small zoo. They don't have a lot of the animals you would see at a 'normal' zoo. But it is still fun to go and spend the day as a family. Another check in the book of Kinley's firsts!

The PA Pearsall Clan Visits AK

 The day after they got here we took Trevor and Myles to hike Crow Pass. They loved it! (Aaron's mom, Steph, Myles and Trevor, his little brothers and me.)

 Kinley and I took Grandma and Grandpa to Alyeska to ride the tram and have lunch.

The next day we all packed up to camp along the Denali Highway. The views were amazing! Riding the dirt road made it feel like we were back home.  The guys caught grayling. I wish I had pictures, there is only video. The following pics are from the camping trip.

 

 

The guys also took a day trip to the Russian river to caught sockeye salmon (aka reds). They were quite successful. And also got to see some grizzly bears during there trip. I wish I could have been there. Not for the fishing but to see the bears.

 Close enough, right!?!

Another day, we headed to Wasilla to the Iditarod Headquarters. We had a lot of fun playing with the puppies. They were only 3 weeks old! So cute!

 

 She wasn't sure at first but then she wouldn't let go!

 

Kinley and Grandpa had fun reading books. Well, Grandpa reading. Kinley listening and eating. 

 

 Trevor, Myles and Steph went to visit a college roommate of Trevor's who is working at the animal conservation in Girdwood. They had a great behind the scenes tour. How cool that Myles got to feed a baby moose!

Trevor got a job out of the trip! He is working down at the conservation in Gridwood for awhile. If while your there, you get a snack, he probably made your food!

It was a fun filled week! It was great to have family visiting. And it was even better that Kinley got to meet them all. She was all smiles most of the time! I think she misses having people around. Aaron and I must not be all that fun. :)

A Trip to Seward

Aaron had a four day weekend, so we thought we would take advantage and go on a little road trip. We traveled to Seward, AK which is about 2 1/2 hours south of Eagle River. It was a great time to visit the town. It was off season, so the streets were peaceful and we were able to take in all the beauty without all the hustle and bustle of too many tourists. Here are a few pics from the trip...

 Poor girl, she has no idea how many pictures she is going to have to be in during her life!

 One of many cool murals in the town.

  Awesome tile art. It was all about organ donation which I am a big fan of!

 Hanging out with the beautiful scenery.

 I can't remember what this is but I thought it looked cool!

Headed out to sea...

  A Seward Christmas tree :)

 Kinley enjoying the ride.

I didn't know this was the original starting spot.

Beautiful boats everywhere.

The start of her first sea life experience. She slept the whole time! The following are some of my favorites. And don't ask because I don't remember what most of them were called.

It was only an overnight trip but it was great family time. We stayed at the military lodging in town. It was a great place with friendly people. I would recommend it to all other military families up here!

Little Susitna Float Trip

Floating to the next camp site...

Chris, our neighbor, with a nice spawned out 'Humpy' (pink salmon).

Aaron with a silver.

Another silver (spawning colors).

Extreme close-up of spawning silver.

His first fish of the trip!

Our First Glacier

Saturday, Aaron and I went on our first AK adventure together. Through The Tourist Trap in Girdwood, we booked a 5 hour snowmobile ride to Portage Glacier. It rained. It snowed. We got soaked. And I can still say it was an incredible trip!

I didn't take the camera for the reasons listed above. There was no way I was ruining my camera due to dampness. But the guide was great enough to capture us on his iPhone.

On Sunday I felt like I had been hit by a truck! I didn't realize how many muscles it took to control a machine like that! But it was totally worth it!

Scenes from where it all begins...

Alaska just keeps getting cooler! There are so many fun things to do around here. Things I have heard and seen about on TV but have never been able to take part in. Well, this year we decided to travel up to Willow (only a hour plus away) and be a part of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The Last Great Race On Earth!

" A race over 1150 miles of the roughest, most beautiful terrain Mother Nature has to offer. She throws jagged mountain ranges, frozen river, dense forest, desolate tundra and miles of windswept coast at the mushers and their dog teams. Add to that temperatures far below zero, winds that can cause a complete loss of visibility, the hazards of overflow, long hours of darkness and treacherous climbs and side hills, and you have the Iditarod. A race extraordinaire, a race only possible in Alaska. "

"The Iditarod Trail, now a National Historic Trail, had its beginnings as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik to the interior mining camps at Flat, Ophir, Ruby and beyond to the west coast communities of Unalakleet, Elim, Golovin, White Mountain and Nome. Mail and supplies went in. Gold came out. All via dog sled.In 1925, part of the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway for epidemic-stricken Nome. Diphtheria threatened and serum had to be brought in; again by intrepid dog mushers and their faithful hard-driving dogs."

Pictures from the start of the Iditarod:

These dogs are so excited to get racing people have to hold them back at the start line. They were howling and barking up a storm!

One of the racers, Hans Gatt. We met him in the food line. He was really nice! He came in 2nd this year! Amazing!

Lance Mackey. He has won (2010 champ!) the last four years in a row!

People had puppies out in the parking lot for sale. It was so tempting! They were so stinking cute!