Pictures From Our Journey South and other updates

Finally... I located the memory card and am taking a moment to put up some pictures from our trip down from Alaska to Colorado. There are more pictures floating around here somewhere but this will have to do for now. Life is crazy. The boys are getting flying colors at all the ultrasounds. We are understanding more and more of Kaylee's language and she has pretty much mastered potty training, which is wonderful. Brandon and I got to go on a wonderful trip to celebrate our 5th anniversary. My parents kept Kaylee for 3 nights (first time I have ever been away from her for a night... crazy), and we all enjoyed it! Brandon and I stayed in the same hotel that we crashed in the night after our wedding, we went to some fun and delicious restaurants, a pretty stellar concert along with the Taste of Colorado festival. We also ventured up to one of our favorite little places, Woodland Park, where Brandon got to enjoy another favorite, a shop that sells amazing ice cream and donuts. We then explored a recreational area with hiking, camping, and lakes, specifically for the military. It was a very enjoyable time, and we are so thankful for such giving, serving family members who help make memories like this possible. : )

At the food festival, I had not one, but two people who bravely asked if I was expecting. This was a first, and was encouraging. This pregnancy has been very difficult. Along with other issues, my intestinal disorder, has been been really giving me fits. This has brought discomfort, but has also made it very difficult to gain weight and has caused some concern. I will rarely willingly volunteer to go to a gastroenterologist, which isn't always the most mature or responsible decision, but I have my reasons and that's where I am at right now. There are several things I need to just work to conquer that I don't want to do, and this was a good start. Even though I knew something needed to be done because I was getting sicker and sicker, I probably wouldn't have gone as soon as I did if it weren't for a very probing OB doc who said I must go. I'm always scared of taking meds while pregnant, but they said, it was just as risky to the twins to be this sick. So... I went, and overall, I think it has been a good thing. I am on a new medication, and I would say there has been some relief. I've also gone off wheat for the past 3 weeks, which is something that I also know aggravates my condition. Overall, I am thankful for God's provision and I am trusting that the steps taken will be what is best.

Anyway... on to the pictures!

First leg of the trip: Driving from Anderson, AK to Haines, AK (via Canada)

Saying farewell to interior Alaska near Tok, AK 

 Our "rig" 

 Dall sheep far up on a mountain side 

(Thanks to our friend, Laurie, who gave us the tip to look.  

Otherwise, we never would have spotted them : ) )

 Canada

Second Leg: Two day stay in Haines, AK/Ferry ride from Haines to Bellingham, WA

 Haines is beautiful... It is known for it's waterfalls and bald eagles. 

It wasn't even the prime season and we probably saw 30 bald eagles. 

It also used to be the home of a US Army Post and we stayed in one of the old officer's quarters, now renovated into a hotel.

Army Barracks

We stayed in the 2nd story, corner room. 

It was a lot of fun to stay here, explore Haines, and have a break from driving/truck camping.

This is also the where we found out we were pregnant : ) 

 Mother's day picnic!

 Taking care of Smokey

 Our Ferry!

 Out on the water for 5 days!

 I spent quite a of time back here. I enjoyed the cool breeze and the lull of the water.

Kaylee enjoyed looking out the window of our birth as we floated along

Third Leg: Driving from Bellingham, WA to Colorado Springs (with a detour through Yellowstone)

Picking dandelions at a rest stop

Road trips make you crazy...

Yellowstone

Pretty much the only shot I got of the Tetons

And then... we got to put our toys away one last time and... we arrived!!!!
Overall, she was a pretty good traveler. 

She did see a lot of hours in that carseat and we were thankful for 

friends and family who provided fun little toys to entertain.