Another Airport Walk

The Mendenhall Wetlands/Airport Trail is quite possibly my favorite walking trail in Juneau. The other day, when my parents were here and the weather was GORGEOUS, my mom and I took the kids down for a picnic and walk. (My dad, Shawn, and Lee were busy with more boat stuff.) It was SO nice. It was actually so hot, that I was afraid we'd be sweating and semi miserable. But there was a nice breeze blowing off the channel so it was perfect.
I only had one take at the picture above thanks to my son who was raring to GO. So it's hard to see the glacier that is behind them. This is the same one that we live near, but from this trail there is a nice look out area where the trees open up and you see the glacier over a finger of the channel.
The next couple of pictures are of the kids blowing dandelions. I don't really consider them weeds up here, but more like wildflowers. They are so colorful and big. This was another time that Carly enjoyed showing Isaac how things are done. Fortunately he usually doesn't mind. As long as she doesn't take it away from him while he's trying! Actually I've noticed lately that he's calling her by name and saying at least one word that explains what he needs help with. For example, the other day he was playing with the buckles on an extra car seat that was in the house near the front door. When he had it buckled, he couldn't unbuckle them to enjoy buckling them again. So he ran off to the kitchen (past me), calling for Carly and saying "buckle" in his own little way. It's so neat to see them love each other.


Lupines are some of my favorite wildflowers in Alaska, and they are starting to bloom now. I've taken pictures of them probably every year that we've lived here, but I couldn't resist another for this year. I'm sure I'll take more this summer too.

Along the path

Lonely lupines
(usually they are in a little bigger clusters, but maybe some just haven't bloomed yet)

Towards the end of the walk, I let both of them out of the stroller and they picked several dandelions along the path. Carly has started doing that sweet little girl thing of picking flowers and giving them to her momma. So of course, Isaac usually copies her in a matter of minutes and momma has lots of flowers.

The cherry on top was getting to see this big Alaska Airlines plane land right in front of us. I don't know for sure but it was probably a 737. That is usually the plane type that is flown between here and Anchorage or here and Seattle. Anyway, the kids thought this was just great, and I thought it was pretty impressive too.

Yeah for summer days!