We start with some pictures from AK in August and then cruise all the way through to the end of October...Enjoy!
Here we are prepping to climb FlatTop mountain on a beautiful day in AK. Annie did great in her baby back pack...we had to quote some Dr. Suess when she got a little fussy...but after a good story she settled in and enjoyed the ride.
More than half way there now...taking a little pause at the saddle before the switch backs that lead to the top. Perfect weather for a hike...sunny with a breeze!
Hanging out at one of the wind breaks at the top of the mountain...a windy day for us for sure! Good job everyone...we made it!
Looking back on the Chugach Mts and the Powerline pass...those mountains go on forever!
Darla bravely navigates the decent from FlatTop...the trickiest part is the last (or first going down) 100 yards...for having never done this kind of mountain climbing she did amazing!
Dada and annie check out the old train tracks that used to be used for the cars that brought rocks and gold up and out of the mines. Every time I (steve) come here there seems to be less and less of the old buildings. Independence Gold Mine in Hatcher's Pass, AK.
Annie and Darla exploring the gold mines!
Aunt Heather and annie spent some quality time together soaking in the sunbeams and learning about manners while reading "The Polite Elephant."
Annie appears to be having a good time...she and Uncle Mike came to an understanding that allowed for five minutes of shoulder time...and not one second more. She loves you Mike...she just does not know how to do any hand to hand combat yet...
After a day and half of rain the morning was clear and beautiful, so we hiked up to the Gold Cord lake and had a perfect hour or so at one of the most crystal clear lakes you will ever seen...the reflection is so disorienting because the water is so clear and smooth (and COLD, as my brother Mike can attest to!)
In Girdwood, AK, we hiked in about 2 miles on the Winter Creek trail crossed this small bridge over a roaring waterfall and...
...then pulled ourselves across a deep canyon in a small hand propelled gondola (follow this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ5FJZCsvx0&feature=related to the Winter Creek hand tram on youtube for some footage of others who have braved the tram). For all of you who live in AK and have not done this...get to it!
Safely on the other side...a little rest and then back across and back on the trail...annie wore her little bear hat to scare off any silly bears that considered tangling with us...she kept us safe and sound!
Downtown Hope, AK...one of my (Steve) favorite place in the entire world! Not that I've been everywhere, but it would take an incredible place to knock Hope out of my top three. Kris and Char...we loved our time with the family!
Momma spent some time teaching annie how to pick out the best skipping stones on the banks of the Resurrection Creek that runs right through town.
Alaska has lots of huge wide open spaces...here annie decided that she was going to go exploring...I think she was headed for that ridge line...but we told her she'd probably miss dinner, so she turned around and came back.
Annie and Dada feeding the horses some fresh picked clover...annie giggled the whole time. She told me on the drive back that she loves Hope,AK too!
Soon after we got back from AK Darla snapped this photo of annie just waking up from her nap...this is one of our all time favorite pictures of her.
Annie and Darla frequent the local science museum (OMSI), here annie is playing in one of the water areas...I'm sure she didn't make a mess at all.
Speaking of messes...well annie found the canister of corn meal one day and decided that it was much more fun to play with it on the floor then inside the container...and so she...well pictures are worth a thousand words! She had a blast.
Annie ate more than her fair share of blueberries...I think you can see a few blue dots on her white shirt. She loved reaching into our buckets and puling out heaping handfuls to eat...then she's pick through the grass to try and salvage any that she missed. A berry loving girl for sure!
I've never seen blueberry plants that looked so mcuh like grape vines...these bushes were overflowing with great berries!
Aunt Heather introduced annie to her very first snake...in classic annie fashion she bravely touched his skin, she also met a rat, a turtle and a tarantula that morning at the Clay Center! Thanks Heather!
And she got to experience her very first ball pit! Mostly liked it...a little to small yet to navigate around and make the most of it.
This sign is posted every few blocks in Virginia Beach...they take their cussing seriously in this town. Annie was careful to not violate this law...I think.
The lovely Bride and Groom! Annie's Uncle Chris and Aunt Deb! Congrats! It was an amazing day in a beautiful location.
Uncle Mike is bribing Annie with a cookie...and it worked until there was no more cookie!
Annie and two of her Aunts!
At the end of the wedding, when we were all packing up there was a little confusion about what (or who, rather) was going in the supply van...and YES annie is holding up all those tables...she's a strong little girl.
"Hey, look everybody the Atlantic ocean is thatta way!" Annie showed ZERO fear of the ocean...and thankfully October temps in the low 80's made for some great play time at the beach in Virginia.
Grandma Baliko taught annie how to slurp up her noddles and this was one of her first attempts...not bad for a 16 month old!
Annie was leading the way for our quadbike adventure on the boardwalk in Virginia Beach, VA.
Annie admiring or at least trying to make sense of our three eyed pumpkin.
A Halloween visit from The Pretty Pink Kitty Cat and her parents. Georgie's mom Nikki made her fantastic kitty costume! We gave her lots of candy.
