Greeting from Alaska!!!

All the Cranes hiking Flat Top

We have been in Alaska for over a week now!  Rich has gone home but the boys and I will be here for 2 more weeks.  There is so much to see and do (when it's not raining!).... but I'll try to make an occassional post so there's not as much to catch up on when I return home.   Hope you are all enjoying your hot weather.  It's a chilly 54 degrees here in Anchorage this morning.

What would YOU bring?

For family night we talked about pioneers... since Pioneer Day is just around the corner.  As part of the lesson we played the Pioneer Puzzle Game.  James landed on a space that asked, "Some pioneers traveled by handcart. If you traveled that way, what are three important things you would take with you?"  His answer?  "My mommy.  My Alex." "Your what?"  I asked.  (Sometimes he's a little hard to understand.) "My Alex. My baby," he clarified.  He still needed one more thing.  He couldn't pick just one.  "My daddy and William."

He is just so sweet that I could eat him up.

Alexander has been climbing everything lately.  Some have been pretty scary.  But this most recent feat tops them all. 

Looks like we'll be moving the ladder on top of William's bed again.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

We love going to watch our local minor league baseball team, the Redhawks.  A few weeks ago for Family Night we took the boys to a game.  Before we got in we had a few fun photo ops:

 But apparently they weren't fun for everyone.  Poor Alex.

When we got into the stadium Rich spotted Rowdy the Redhawk and took the older boys down to see him.  They both got his autograph and carried it around with them for days afterward.

We then headed to the playground behind the outfield.  The boys love to play out there (and occasionally watch the game.)

They've changed the playground since we've been last and have added a tire swing.  William and James couldn't get enough of it!  (It was so funny to watch them get off after and try to walk.)

Alex has been fussy lately (he's getting his molars) so we walked him around the stadium to keep him happy.  And when I say "we" mean "mostly Rich."  One good thing came of it though.  While Rich was walking around, a ball was hit into the stands--into the very section that Rich was in.  So he hurried and swiped up that ball and brought it back for the boys.  The funniest part was that no one realized that he got the ball!  From our spot over at the playground we could see everyone in the section scouring the area in search of the ball!

And I think for the first time ever William and James sat in the stands and attentively watched the game.

I know not a lot of people care for baseball... but I find it so relaxing to watch and it's even more fun with my boys!

For it's one! two! three! strikes you're out! At the old ball game!

Pool Party

Last weekend we headed over to Aunt Lisa's house for dinner and some swimming.  It took some convincing for the boys to eat their dinner up so that we could head to the pool, but once we got in I think they would have stayed in all night!  William had fun playing with the cousins while James couldn't get enough of jumping into the pool!  Next year I will have to sign them both up for swimming lessons.

Alex was really funny.  I had him floating on his back--which he was loving--but he wouldn't let go of his leg.  So silly.

Most of the time, however, he wanted to get out and move around.

And here he is posing for me on his own!

Thank you Lisa and family for having us over!  We need to do it again soon!