Tomorrow's the 4th of July. I like that holiday. It's upbeat, it's summer, there are parades. Bethel's 4th of July has a certain charm. I remember when we lived in Wasilla we were in a parade participating with part of my husband's work - we only had 2 children then, Aaron was a baby. I remember it was hot, uncomfortable, everyone moved way too fast, and at the end, Aaron was so overheated/sick of being bounced around that he puked. I said "we won't be doing this next year" (and in fact, we were on our way to Bethel that winter - so we didn't.)
Last year we made our first trip to Ketchikan and it encompassed their 4th of July. I liked it so much that we planned this trip specifically to experience it again. It looks like we'll get to have the same wonderful experience as last year - crystal clear blue skies, sunny-almost-too-hot-but-just-delicious mid 70s weather. Southeastern Alaska is known for its rain... Ketchikan has a "Liquid Sunshine Gauge" that shows how many inches of rain it receives in a given year - it's some ridiculous amount - according to wikipedia, 152 inches. In my limited experience it seems that yeah, it may rain a lot sometimes - but frequently it mists in and out, it pours a little then it quits. Perfect for someone who likes variety.
Anyway - I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Here come some pictures from today, which was spent outside 95% of the time.
Friday, July 3, 2009
kudos to KTN Parks & Rec
Before I go to bed I have to write about our positive experience with the Ketchikan Parks & Rec department.
My parents have been transporting the boys back & forth from their summer daycamp so I hadn't gotten an opportunity to see the Rec facility until Thursday.
I called my mom from my cellphone and told her it was as if, while walking through the building the clouds parted and some angelic voices started singing "ooooooooooooooooooohhhhh".... you know the setup for perfection?
It's a 2 story facility with a crazily-well-decked out gym, a walking/running track, childrens' room, childrens programs, art rooms, racketball, tennis, etc. etc. It would probably be easier to list what they don't have than to drool over what they do. Preschool music & movement classes for the 5 & younger set. Organized tours of fire & police. Family day hikes.
The day camp has been awesome. It was not cheap - $81 per child per week (we just signed the boys up for another week too)... it was however completely worth it. The boys had crafts, snack, games, organized... organized field trips. Sports. Foosball, airhockey, and an awesome playground right there at the rec facility. For instance when I went to pick them up today they piled into the car chattering about how they went on a field trip to Saxman, got to go into the Tlingit clan house, learn about and see totems being carved, wear Tlingit dancing garments and see/be instructed and TRY OUT Tlingit dancing! During the week there was also a BBQ party, water balloons, swimming at the pool... the staff to child ratio was something like 1:3-5 kids.
(I typed out, and deleted, a comparison of the Ketchikan Parks & Rec program for kids to the Bethel one... but the tone started to get quite negative. I like Bethel, it's quirky... but having access to actual high quality programs for children in an extremely attractive setting WITH family... it's hard not to want to call up the airline and cancel all our return tickets!!)...
So for now, that's it.
My parents have been transporting the boys back & forth from their summer daycamp so I hadn't gotten an opportunity to see the Rec facility until Thursday.
I called my mom from my cellphone and told her it was as if, while walking through the building the clouds parted and some angelic voices started singing "ooooooooooooooooooohhhhh".... you know the setup for perfection?
It's a 2 story facility with a crazily-well-decked out gym, a walking/running track, childrens' room, childrens programs, art rooms, racketball, tennis, etc. etc. It would probably be easier to list what they don't have than to drool over what they do. Preschool music & movement classes for the 5 & younger set. Organized tours of fire & police. Family day hikes.
The day camp has been awesome. It was not cheap - $81 per child per week (we just signed the boys up for another week too)... it was however completely worth it. The boys had crafts, snack, games, organized... organized field trips. Sports. Foosball, airhockey, and an awesome playground right there at the rec facility. For instance when I went to pick them up today they piled into the car chattering about how they went on a field trip to Saxman, got to go into the Tlingit clan house, learn about and see totems being carved, wear Tlingit dancing garments and see/be instructed and TRY OUT Tlingit dancing! During the week there was also a BBQ party, water balloons, swimming at the pool... the staff to child ratio was something like 1:3-5 kids.
(I typed out, and deleted, a comparison of the Ketchikan Parks & Rec program for kids to the Bethel one... but the tone started to get quite negative. I like Bethel, it's quirky... but having access to actual high quality programs for children in an extremely attractive setting WITH family... it's hard not to want to call up the airline and cancel all our return tickets!!)...
So for now, that's it.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
WHALES!!!!
OK - these are plenty amateur as far as quality, but consider this - they were taken while playing on/from the front deck of my parents' house with the girls. That alone makes them impressive in my book! Ketchikan is awesome....
spout
tail
spoutthe girls from the past couple days
Perpetua's hairdo yesterday - she likes a new style every day.
Rosalie likes some chocolate cake
sisters
family shots
I have figured out a way to access the pictures from my camera here in Ketchikan, so expect more soon. I've been being conservative until I could get them OFF the camera. Now all bets are off!
Here is a family shot as we were waiting to board the plane in Bethel.
My mom, Allen and Andrew
Dad, Perpetua and Aaron reading The Poky Little Puppy
Mom & Rosalie
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