Our Alaskan Trip Diary In Pictures

Over half a year ago Nathan reserved a few weeks of leave so we could take a European trip and see the sites of Germany and the neighboring countries.  We were so excited to go!  I have never been to Europe and have worked up quite a lovely picture of it in my imagination plus our friends from California are stationed over there and were looking forward to our visit.  Our plan was to spend about a week trying to catch a military plane from Dover, spend a week or so in Europe then have a week to try and come back again.  What a great thought and there were plenty of planes on the schedule going to various German bases.  However, all the planes were loaded and there were no seats for passengers.  As our outbound week wound to an end discouragement set in and we were trying to cheerfully resign ourselves to a three week vacation spent building a chicken coop here in Delaware.  Fun, right?  On our self appointed last day to try and fly away we heard there was a fairly promising flight out of New Jersey.  I might add that it was around 2:30 in the morning when we called and got the schedule.  As we listened to the recording, we also heard those familiar words, "Elmendorf, Alaska".  We laid in bed and excitedly discussed our options.  At 4:00 we pulled our still sleeping children from their cozy beds, yet again, popped them in the car and drove north.  Our plan was to take the first plane that would give us a seat and go wherever it was landing. :-)  The Elemendorf plane had the first role call and we were the first on the list so we boarded without notifying my family and took off in the opposite direction of our original plans! It turned out to be a wonderful trip and one we are so thankful we had an opportunity to enjoy.  Rather than sharing in words all the fun we had, I decided to post some pictures for you to enjoy!

Our posh accommodation on our 8 hour flight to Alaska! Oh yeah, those mesh seat backs and the metal bar under your legs are the bomb!  Thankfully we could take turns laying down. :-)

Who do you think might win?

They guys won and the kids had a blast!

Thanks to my sister and her husband who hare outfitted in all things fun for the Alaskan outdoors there were a couple of four wheeler trips, guns included on this one. 

Yes, that is a real moose there and those are our kids going past!  The guys went first to make sure he wasn't going to attack us then stood guard while we all passed.

Standing guard.  I must say it was a bit crazy riding right past his hind end!

Just enjoying the ride!

Alaskan beaches and a cute little guy I found there!

Happy cousins on the beach

The beach at Kincaid with the mud flats and mountains in the background at 9:30 or so in the evening

Grandma Gugel and Arden looking lovely in the sun

I needed to document baby number six did make it to the Alaskan wild

Great Grandma Gugel with us in front of her lovely flowers

Nate with my Grandma

Couldn't be happier!

Eklutna Lake was gorgeous!

One, two, three, throw!

Cousins on the top of the Butte 

I just love taking pictures of him!  Notice the glacier in the back

Hiking expedition on Flat Top

Who loves the snow?

Lovely ladies if I might say so myself :-)  Me, my sister and my mom

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A boy and his dog... need I say more?  Thanks Uncle Ellis and Aunt Kate for lending the dog for this little boy to love!

Too cute to skip

Half way up Flat Top looking out over Anchorage

Cutest couple on the block with Anchorage in the back

My little brother, his great wife and the first grandchild to have the Gugel name... I just love this picture!

On top of the world

College friends plus some of the little ones who have come since those days long ago :-)

Girl fun with cousins 

My sister and the newest little nephew

Nate and his "fun" for the week

Cousin pals who always seemed to love doing the same thing

Husbands having fun together... lots and lots and lots!

My little niece... too cute to pass up

Surveying the damages

That was such fun!

Always in motion and wrestling...

and always great buds!

Cute littlest nephew

More girl fun

Hangin' out... literally!

Sisters... just being

Mutual surveillance 

"I've got my eye on you!"

Horse fun!

Little jockey. No, that is not my hair... remember the braided horse tail?