Seattle/Alaska: Day 9: Victoria, Canada: Butchart Gardens

 As luck would have it, June is the perfect time to visit the Butchart Gardens, EVERYTHING was in bloom! Literally. The only negative to the visit was that our ship docked around 7pm, so we only had about 1.5 hrs to enjoy the gardens after our 30 min bus ride there. If we were in the area again, we would absolutely go back it was breathtaking.

Sad this is our last day on the ship.

Seattle/Alaska: Day 8: Ketchican

1st Day of School!

I cannot believe school is starting again. I am in my 3rd block of nursing school this semester. I have loved every minute of my summer but I am ready to get my nose back to the grindstone!

Lined up for this semester I have the clinical schedule that I have been waiting for: pediatrics, obstetrics, medical-surgical, and school nurse!  I know it will be difficult and stressful at times but I am hopeful that this year will go by as fast as last year and that I will have my license in 9 months or so.

Ever since we moved back to Phoenix for school, things have just fallen into place and I know the Lord has his hand in our lives everyday.  We are so lucky to have both grandma's within 1 mile of us. Everyone has been so supportive of my schooling, and everyone takes turns watching Bristol, including aunts, uncles, and friends.  Bristol still goes to the babysitter during the day while everyone is at work but her babysitter is so fun and Bristol loves it over there, thank goodness!

This is from last year when I had clinical rotations in the Operating Room.

Seattle/Alaska: Day 6: Skagway, AK

 Can you imagine waking up to this everyday?

 It was a gorgeous day in Skagway, AK when we arrived. It was 79 degrees outside, and a tad breezy. Coming from Phoenix, it seemed like heaven. We quickly realized that 79 degrees is actually very HOT when you live in Alaska. Our trail leader, Jetta, looked like she could pass out from heatstroke at any moment and the other guide looked like he might throw up. They claimed it was a heat wave and that they, indeed, felt very sick. Craziness!

 I don't remember my horses name but he was the most stubborn of the bunch. Man was he stubborn! It was said that they match horses to personalities, not sure what that was supposed to mean...

 Jason rode Spirit and that horse, of course, was an angel.

 Love!

Seattle/Alaska: Days 3-5: Cruising/Tracy Arm Fjord

 Isn't he so handsome!

 Pina Colada's are my favorite! Alcohol free of course. It was sooooooo cold! I should have been drinking hot chocolate but we were on vacation, so who cares.

 I love Target but this $10 umbrella just didn't cut it in Alaska weather. We ended up throwing it away after these pictures were taken.

 We were the only ones crazy enough to be out on the deck in the wind and rain (notice the towels and pillows on top to keep the rain out) not to mention the 2 jackets and 6 blankets. Such fun!

 Glaciers are really blue. I wish I would have gotten to see one up close, unfortunately I feel asleep in the dining room while looking out the window and somehow Jason convinced me to walk to our room and take a nap...and we missed the glacier. You might think I am kidding because I never just fall asleep anywhere, but it is true. I guess I was very relaxed...ahhhh

Seattle/Alaska: Day 2: Whidbey Island

 Maybe it was because it was cloudy outside, maybe because it is an island, maybe it was because there was vegetation everywhere, maybe...I am not sure what it was but Whidbey Island was magical. We would live there if we could.

 We loved it, minus the slugs.

 One of the coolest things is, we got to take our car on a ferry!It would most likely get annoying if we did in fact live there but it was fun for the day.

Seattle/Alaska: Day 1: Downtown

In June, Jason and I went on a cruise with his parents.
 I have to say my first impression of the Pacific Northwest was very good! The weather was around 50 degrees when we landed in Seattle wearing our shorts and flip flops from Phoenix. Let's just say we stood out! 

It was still early in the morning when we got there so we quickly headed downtown for some breakfast and sightseeing.

We strolled around the public market. Oh how I wish it was even feasible for there to be a similar market in Phoenix, but alas, it is just too darn hot here!

Pike's fish market

view from the top!

 We all did a double take when we saw this ranger on horseback, I thought they only had those in Central Park...? Too bad we didn't get to see him chase anyone down :)

 Jason is such a sport for taking me to any and all national parks within a 50 mile radius of anywhere we go, what a peach.

 My weight in gold.