alaskan cruise

We were so excited to take an Alaskan cruise this summer.  While we missed Emmersyn (she got to have a week with Poppy & Nana), we sure had a wonderful time cruising through Alaska and spending that time together.  We went with Oma & Tante Els (our aunt from Holland), Uncle Todd, Aunt Helen, & their kids.  Such a wonderful trip!

Our first day of the cruise was also Brady's 9th birthday.  We celebrated him at dinner with some cards, a few gifts, and a birthday song.  (We also plan to celebrate him at home with family and friends at a later time.)  He loved having his birthday on the cruise.

The Birthday Boy!!!

The 3 of us at dinner.

Oma & Brady

Brothers!

Daddy & Brady

This waitress was showing Brady a jellyfish out of a napkin...he loved it!

Oma & Brecken 

"Happy Birthday to Brady, Happy Birthday to you..."

Daddy & Mommy with the birthday boy!

Happy 9th Birthday, Brady Joseph.  

You are so loved, and we thank God for you!

Brady & Tante Els

Brady with Uncle Todd & Aunt Helen

Daddy & Mommy were able to pack him a few smaller gifts...he loved his Simon toy...along with a fidget spinner, cash, candy, and Pokemon cards.  It was a fun evening celebrating Brady!

During our cruise, we enjoyed swimming in the pool on the cruise ship as well as relaxing in the hot tub.  Here is Brecken enjoying the hot tub...

...along with Brady, Madison, me, & Kaitlyn.

2 nights at dinner, we had formal night.  The boys got to wear suits and ties & the ladies dressed in fancier clothes.  We loved it!

Boys in their suits...aren't they handsome?

Siblings ~ Formal Night

Oma & me

Oma & us

We sure love Oma!

Averie Grace ~ 11 years old

Brady Joseph ~ 9 years old :)

Brechen Thomas ~ 6 years old

Daddy & Mommy

Our first stop was Juneau.  We had lunch at Tracy's Crab Shack, known for their deliciously large crab legs.  And, it was true!  Everyone enjoyed them (well, except for Mommy & me (Averie), who are the picky eaters in the family!)!

Brady was shocked at how big they were!

Brecken enjoyed cracking them open more than actually eating them.  He loved it!

It was so busy in there, so we had to sit at 2 totally separate tables, but we enjoyed our lunch for sure!

Afterwards, we enjoyed walking around Juneau, stopping at a few stores and looking around the city. Then, we headed to our first excursions, dog sledding on land.  We headed up the mountain and started our excursion.  We met many of the husky dogs and learned a lot about them.  We also got to enjoy the beautiful scenery as well as take a dog sled ride.  That was awesome. We ended our excursion with holding 9 week old baby huskies...so sweet!  A super fun excursion for sure!

On the swinging bridge overlooking beautiful trees and streams.  It was raining there, but only a misty rain.  Made for a cold afternoon!

Us with Daddy

Us with Mommy

Enjoying the views before heading on our sled.

Juneau, Alaska

July 2017

Daddy & Mommy

Then, we headed onto our sled and rode around for about 8-10 minutes.

Afterwards, we could pet all the sled dogs.

After warming up with hot chocolate and coffee, we got to each take turns holding baby huskies.  We all loved that.  They were so adorable!

These dogs were adorable, and we had a wonderful time on this excursions.  Then, it was time to  head back to the ship!

Our next "stop" was actually not a port.  We got to do a 360 degree view of Hubbard Glacier.  And, these pictures (taken from the balcony of our cruise room) do not do it justice for how amazing and beautiful this really is.  Every part of it was breath taking.  It truly showcased God's amazing creation.

These are the snowcapped mountains surrounding the glacier. 

(And, notice the chunks of ice floating in the ocean?)

Hubbard Glacier

Enjoying the glacier with Daddy & Mommy...

...and with Oma & Tante Els, too!

Hubbard Glacier

Another day...another gorgeous view.  Alaska is just beautiful!  This is our next stop...Sitka!

In Sitka, we took an excursion with 3 stops...a boat ride, the raptor center, and a bear hole.

Our boat ride started with a view of bald eagles and a large amount of jellyfish.

The boat ride also showcased some gorgeous views again.  Alaska is just beautiful!

(Again, pictures just don't quite do it justice!)

We are pretty great, too! :)

Then, we stopped by and saw several sea otters.

Can you see their little heads above the water?

And, hard to tell, but it's a little school of them out in the middle of the water.

Then, it was time for some whale watching, and we saw several...so cool!

The whales never fully came out of the water, but we saw the body...

...water coming from their blowhole...

...and their tails.  It was so awesome!

Off to raptor center. This place was unique to the others we have heard about...it only took in the injured birds, helped them, and then eventually release them back into the wild.

There were a lot of bald eagles!

They really are pretty animals.

Owl

We aren't quite ready to be released into the wild yet, either, so Daddy & Mommy will hang onto us for a while longer! :)

Bald eagle wing span versus Brecken 

Bald eagle versus Brady

This little bird was quite cute, but extremely ferocious.  We were warned to just look and not touch this little guy!

Daddy, Brady, & a bald eagle (in the background)

Mommy, Brecken, and a bald eagle

Stephanie & me right before loading this bus for our next stop...the bear hole.

This bear hole housed a few bears...most having been orphaned at a very young age upon their parent's death.  If left in the wild at such a young age, they would die.  So, they live here so that they can live.

We loved watching them interact with each other.

This bear made us laugh...he was literally just relaxing out in the grass!

There were bald eagles here, too.  They flew right about us...so cool!

This bear looked at us as if posing for the camera!

They are so adorable!

This bear went from chilling on the grass to taking a quick dip in the water hole.

Brecken & Daddy enjoying the bears and watching all their activity.

Looking right at us again...we loved it!  Then, we boarded the bus again and heading back into the city for some shopping.  Back on the ship a little bit later and out to sea again!

Our final stop was Ketchikan.  We were only there for a few hours.  But, it was enough time for Mommy & me to shop for an hour and then the guys meet us at the lumberjack show.  Here we are waiting for the show to begin!

We all really enjoyed the show...these guys were amazing!

Lots of action and lots of noise (we were all screaming for these guys)!!

I got called from the audience to try out this "chair" that he carved in a matter of minutes.  I couldn't take it home, but I sure enjoyed being called out and trying out the chair.

And, this lumberjack is from Hickory, NC, so it was so cool to meet one of the lumberjacks...& that he is from North Carolina!

Back on board the ship and getting ready for our last formal night.  The boys looked sharp in their suits.

Daddy with us

Mommy with us

The "Men"...

...& the "Ladies!"

Daddy & Mommy at dinner

The Boys

We always have to have at least one silly picture...and these boys love it!

Me, Averie Grace ~ Alaska Cruise ~ July 2017

Brady ~ Alaska Cruise ~ July 2017

Brecken ~ Alaska Cruise ~ July 2017

Oma & her daughters

We had such a wonderful time on our trip.  We got to see so much in Alaska and also enjoying cruising around.  We made lots of memories, and we hope to go back one day!  Such a fun trip!