Our Life in Alaska and Beyond

The main reason Chrissy came to visit us was so that we could visit Lake Clark National Park. This trip took several months of planning, and was so, so worth it! It was short (only 24 hours), but probably the best 24 hours of my life, no joke! It truly couldn't have been better and I loved every second. We took Ruby (part of her 12th birthday present) and Scott stayed home with Noelle and Robyn. It was very expensive, but in my opinion, definitely worth it, and definitely something I want to do again. 

We stayed at Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, which I highly, highly recommend. We flew from Anchorage on the morning of July 4th on a little float plane, and landed on a lake near the lodge. We then got on a little boat, and then we were taken on a 4-wheeler to our cabin and the lodge. From there we started our bear viewing (with a very experienced guide), with breaks for lunch and dinner, and then out again after dinner for more bear viewing. We slept very well in our cabin that night, and the next morning we got to do more bear viewing, followed by breakfast, and then sadly it was already time to go home. The next time I visit I would love to stay longer. But I have no complaints about this trip and really feel that we just lucked out with beautiful weather, lots of bears (no cubs, but that's ok), an incredibly knowledgeable and kind guide, amazing food (I don't think I've ever eaten as well as I did on this trip), and super comfortable accommodations. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This first post will be all of my cell pics, and then I'll do a separate post with all the pics I took from my big camera. I also have some great videos on my IG! Enjoy the bears and the beauty of Lake Clark NP! 🐻🏔️

About to get on our float plane at the Lake Hood Floatplane Base in Anchorage. We learned this is the busiest and biggest seaplane base in the world!

We had a fun filled family day on the 4th of July! Andy, Ali, Chrissy, Scott, and I started the morning off right by running up to Flag Rock. It was a beautiful morning, and a great way to start the holiday! Later that morning we met Sam and Sadie in Kaysville and watched the parade. And then that evening we went for a power wagon ride and then hung out at my parents'. It was a great day! Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸

Right on the 4th of July we went to Ryan and Jill's and had a BBQ and played on their big, bouncy water slide. It was so much fun! And yes, the adults went down the slide too, haha. I wish I had more pics! 

Later that evening we met up with Sam and Sadie, Chrissy, and my parents at Barnes Park. We played some corn hole with them until it got dark, and then watched the fireworks. It was a fun day! 

Best cousins! 💗

I think we're going to make it a yearly tradition to run up to Flag Rock every 4th of July. I love how it's pretty much right in our backyard! (You can actually see the flag from our house.) Chrissy, Scott, and I all ran up to Flag Rock and back. It's a pretty good workout trying to keep up with them, haha. Perfect way to start the day! 

Scott got me these new trail shoes for Christmas and I love them!

Early in the morning on the 4th of July Scott and I decided to hike/run up to Flag Rock, and Chrissy went with us too. We hiked it pretty quick (a lot faster than if we would have had the girls with us) and it was so beautiful! We were up there as the sun was rising, and before it got too hot. I had somehow never done this hike even though I grew up in Farmington, but it was so fun. The trailhead isn't too far from my parents house so we just ran right up from there. Happy 4th!

You can see this flag waving from my parents' backyard. So cool to hike all the way up to it!

My parents arrived in Alaska on Saturday afternoon on the 4th of July. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day, and it was so nice to be together! We had a yummy BBQ with burgers on the grill, and then late that evening Scott and I decided to go on an 8 mile hike, haha! We got the girls all ready for bed and then let them fall asleep watching a show with my parents. (We hardly ever get babysitters so when Grandma and Grandpa come we get to go on lots of dates, haha!) 

Scott and I got to the trailhead by about 7:30 pm and then finished just before 11 pm. We love the midnight sun! (It's kind of sad because now, about a month later, as I'm writing this, it's pretty dark by 11 pm. We're still definitely enjoying our summer though!) We hiked Reed Lakes up Hatcher Pass and it's one of our very favorites! The snow was a little slower to melt this year, so the lower lake was still mostly frozen and we were just able to make it to the waterfall. Upper Reed Lake is about 1/2 mile farther, but the whole hike was still so pretty! We love Hatcher Pass! Enjoy these pics!

 The 4th of July was a little different this year with all the parades and fun runs canceled, but we still had a very fun day! We started the morning off by finding out that my parents had made their flight and they were going to come visit us! (They always fly standby so we never know exactly what day they'll make it. And with covid and reduced flights and fewer passengers allowed it's even harder to fly standby. We actually didn't think they were going to make it up at all, but we're so glad they did!!!) 

I had bought a beautiful flower crown for Ruby to wear to take some pictures of her for her baptism invitation, so I headed out right after breakfast with all the girls to Reflections Lake to take some pics. Afterwards we went home and cleaned up and got ready for my parents to arrive! Scott also left early to help some of our good friends in Anchorage who had some flooding in their basement, and afterwards he picked up my parents from the airport. It's a little hard to travel right now, and my parents actually had to take a covid test when they arrived at the airport, and then a week later too. Scott also had to get tested for his work, but luckily all the tests came back negative. 

It was so good to have my parents with us (they were able to stay with us for two whole weeks and we loved it!) Of course it all went by too quickly, but we were able to do so much and see so many pretty places! I'll be doing a ton of blog posts!

These pics are from Reflections Lake. I wanted to get some pics of all the girls in their red, white, and blue so I had Ruby wear her flag shirt for a few pics, and then she changed into her white dress in the car, haha. Ruby's baptism pics will be in the next post, but for now, Happy Birthday America! 

Robyn and Noelle also had to try on the flower crown, lol