Alaskan Adventure: Denali Round 2

As the skies were beginning to clear we made our way to a rest stop/tourist stop I wasn't that interested in the books or post cards, but the animal antlers were calling my name...

That thing was HEAVY... and it was only one. I couldn't imagine having two and then having the neck strength to actually move.

Moose impress me.

turning into a dall sheep.

no. big. deal

The to Jon's dismay I made him get involved.

he wasn't as excited as i was.

shocking, i know.

but my niece grace was MORE than happy to oblige her crazy aunt!

Ok, see at the very top of the clouds this white peaks? 

Yeah, that's Mt.McKinley.

Apparently, we were extremely lucky to see even this much of the mountain.

Like 90% of people that go, rarely ever even see the mountain.

John (the wheezing bus driver) explained this would be our last shot of it most likely, so we took pictures like crazy. 

Oh hello mr. grizzly!

The half way stop at Wonder Lake

The siblings

Becca and two of her girls. Sophia and Grace

Moose!

Later in the afternoon the sun relay started to break out and it was gorgeous view after gorgeous view. 

So as I was taking pictures out the bus window, I snagged a glimpse of a larger snow capped mountain behind us.

I, being the nice sister I am, abruptly woke up my brother Nate asking "Nate! Is that Mt. McKinley?? Is it??"

Why yes, yes it was :)

(this is without the zoom. that mountain is still HUMONGOUS)

So despite a dismal morning and a little bit of disappointment at not seeing the mountain clearly.

I'd say we got our money shots in, and the 11 hours on the bus were MORE than worth it to see that massive, snow capped mountain!

Alaskan Adventure: S'mores and Ice Cream

Basically there is nothing better than dessert after dinner. Especially when you're a little kid. Or when you're me and there are s'mores and ice cream involved.  

I love grabbing shots of the kids as they cram their mouths full of sweet stuff :)

Can you tell they are father and son?

Not a bad view to enjoy while chowing down on s'mores

The next evening entailed ice cream

I love how the simplest of treats can make kids so happy 

So much fun and so delicious:)

Alaskan Adventure: Day of the Kids

Today most of the adults headed out to go fishing for halibut while the rest of us were up to the task of watching all the kiddos.

It was a bit on the exhausting side, but any time I get with all the nieces and nephews is definitely time well spent.

We spent our day biking, wrestling, and playing at the park!

Sophia and Maddy Mae

Henry Man

Jack and Benny Boo

The girls swinging with Uncle Jon

Sammies playing in the sand

Henry Man going "down" the slide

It's slightly embarrassing when your 3 1/2 yr old nephew successfully makes it across the balance beam better than you do...

Uncle Jon was the robber and the kids were chasing him down

Mari making her way across the bars and Mason enjoying our bike ride.

I so enjoy being able to spend all of this time with the kids. It makes me a little sad that the time we get to spend together is so far and few between. But we're making it up for it with lot's and lot's of time together this vacation :)

I'm wondering what my odds would be of convincing all of my sibling to move to Colorado so this isn't such a rare occurrence...

Tomorrow... white water rafting!!