As a quick refresher regarding the beginnings of the Lafleur Family, it all began after a naive city girl fell pell-mell for the only boy with a vehicle, all whilst working at a lodge on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. It is an astounding locale, and special to us for many reasons. The closer we get, the lighter our hearts become. Sadly, schmaltzy reminiscing seems to creep in, as well. If Amelia could call out in anguish, she would have. It was even in this magical wonderland (an outhouse in Hope, AK) that we discovered our beloved pixie would be joining us (Amelia Hope Lafleur).
Bottom line, we try to go back every year. Sadly, though, it has been a couple of years since we have been able to go together. This is also the first time the pixie has been allowed to come.
So, it began . . . . . . . .
We left warm and sunny Fairbanks to travel south. Mind you, it is 9-10ish hour drive to even get to where we were 'beginning'. We made it two hours and hit the worst (worst!) head wind. Half-a-tank-of-gas in an hour bad. After a quick pit-stop, Mila INSISTED she did not need to use the facilities until we pulled out and then she suddenly had to go 'so bad!'. JR's knuckles got progressively whiter throughout the drive.
We finally did arrive in Seward to meet up with Gramma and Grampa at 10 pm. And to lots and lots and lots of rain. JR was ready to turn the whole team around. Mila refused to sleep in the tent, and opted to for a warm and dry camper. Benedict Arnold! Which might have been wise, as JR woke up in two inches water (how chivalrous of him to put his wife on higher ground!) After we took our tent down, we discovered a little our own personal pond.
Our first order of business the next day was to use up our super score from GroupOn, 1/2 price tickets to the Seward Sealife Center! The tour began with this fishing boat; a steering wheel, and some lovely rubber crabs. We'll come back to this . . . . .
Eventually, we were able to move on.
This would be JR is holding onto Amelia as the sea lion glided by.
Grampa got lost in the Puffin exhibit, and JR with the otters. I spent an awful long time mesmerized by the jelly fish, and Gramma was racing after Amelia who thought only one exhibit was really worth her time and energy.
So, we came back.
equipped ourselves for safety
and proceeded to throw all those poor captured creatures back into the ocean.
The rest of us had to wait so long, we got bored. And may have started doing a couple of self portraits . . . . . . . .
At least mine didn't look like a DMV photo!
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