Alaska Baby! Days 1,2,3

We had a FABULOUS time on our cruise to Alaska in June. I know, I'm slow to update but just wait till all the pics come rolling in...we've been busy! I will try to get to all of it but for now, I just wanted to put up a smigg of what we've been up to. Grandma and Pa Cottrell celebrated their 55th Anniversary on the trip and kicked in a truck load of moola to help take us all on an Alaskan Cruise. We love their tradition of treating us to trips every few years! Hopefully we can "pass it forward" with our own kids someday! This first picture is on the shuttle to the airport in SLC.

We met up with everyone in Seattle and enjoyed a short tour there.

 I just figured out what is wrong with this picture, my hair is parted on the wrong side? How did that happen? oh,.... Gray and windy sky , yep, we were in Seattle.

The ship sailed from Seattle so  we went a day early and then after we were getting on board the next day , we had a full day at sea. The first port was Ketchican, Alaska. Fun!

 Layton and I decided to get out of the rain in Ketchecan that afternoon by flying away towards the Sunny sky on a Float Plane while the ship was  in dock. We were the last ones to get a ticket and as you can see, I was super excited!  This was both of our first experience in a small plane and I was "a little bit apprehensive" to say the least. The pilot could have been my son. No, really, he was like 24.  He reassured me that he had been flying in Alaska for 8 years or more already and so I lost my mind and went for it. I was not disappointed... We flew over the Misty Forjds and it was so amazing, you can't even tell from these couple of photos.  The pines are so thick you can't even see the earth and there is not even banks for the most part because they grow right along the shore. We landed on a lake out in the wilderness on top of the world and got to get out of the plane and stand on the pontoons (or whatever they are called) of the plane, while floating on glacier water.  I mean, who does that?  Not me but in fact, I did it! The head phones are of calming music and narration of what we were seeing as we were flying but mostly we were just in awe of the beauty of the world up there.  I cried real tears, it was so spiritual.  I can see how it could be addicting to be in nature like that day after day. We saw seals on the banks and I have great video of them but I don't know how to upload it here so pictures will have to do. It was just so worth it all!!!! Layton and I loved it!

Days 4,5,6 next post!