Celebrating Jake’s Birthday
I am just now getting our pictures updated from our last big adventure, so yes a little later than planned…. Our family was able to celebrate Jake’s birthday this year while on our Alaska Cruise vacation! Thankful for an opportunity to spend time with the whole family.
We surprised Jake and had the chef on the cruise ship make him a birthday cake! It was big and extra rich chocolate! The crew sang him “Happy Birthday” in Indonesian which was really cool. He was so thrilled that we made a big spectacle of his birthday celebration. We were so full after the delicious meal that we ended up taking the cake back to the cabin to eat later that night after all the other activities that evening.
SURPRISE!!! Happy Birthday Handsome!
Celebrating Jake’s birthday with the whole family.
Thankful for a wonderful time together and for this amazing man who I get to live my life with!
Love you JACOB!!! Happy Birthday! Wishing you many more healthy, happy, and fun adventures!
Alaskan Cruise – New Holland Zaandam
Once we were back on the New Holland Zaandam cruise ship after exploring the town of Seward, Alaska we were able to check out more of the ship. The girls were thrilled to see all the cool activities and places on the ship. They couldn’t wait to try out the pool deck, play a little bit, and try out the different foods as well as fun activities that were coming up that week. Thankful for the opportunity to spend this time with the family. We had a blast spending time together. It was a wonderful family vacation!
Testing out the courts…..they had fun even in the rain! 🙂
Brina enjoying her first dinner on the cruise. She found out that although the window views were nice at dinner it was a little chilly and she needed her jacket!
Our first night on-board the ship and heading to dinner!
Brina and I trying to stay warm at the evening meal. We were trying to get used to the cooler weather after coming from the 100 plus degrees we were having that week in South Carolina!
Jake and Karlie having fun at our first dinner on the cruise!
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (Portage, Alaska)
Our family had the opportunity to visit Alaska on our summer family vacation. We flew into Anchorage, Alaska and took a bus tour form Anchorage down to Seward, Alaska to meet our cruise ship. On the way to Seward we stopped to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservatory Center, Mile 79 Seward Highway, Portage, Alaska 99587.
It was a cloudy and drizzly day, but that didn’t stop us and the area as well as the animals were still amazing. The landscape was beautiful even on the cool rainy day. Thankfully it was a light mist not a downpour while we were at the Wildlife Center. The kids loved seeing all the animals It was a neat place to stop and soak in some of the animals and information about Alaska. I would recommend it especially for families with kids. There is a little bit of walking, but not a lot.
Gorgeous views of the mountains and animals lounging in their pen
Deer in the headlight look…..
Life is rough…..eat and nap!
Beautiful view of the mountains (even gorgeous in the mist that day)!
The animals were very content and well cared for at the Wildlife Conservatory!
Brina attempting to run a bobsled
Little Kitty!
On the move!
Makes neck hurt just looking at those antlers this guy has to support!
Peaceful stream flowing through the pasture for the animals
I know the snow on those mountains must be cold, but the snow, mountains, and fog really were amazing!
Karlie and a very large bison hide!
Checking things out!
They had a neat bridge overlooking the bear pends which made it easier for people to see them.
Black bear relaxing for a few minutes!
Thankful for an opportunity to spend time with my family seeing this beautiful place and animals!
Travel & Vacation: Touring Beautiful Anchorage, Alaska
We had a blast walking and touring Anchorage, Alaska. Since we were only in Anchorage for a day we packed in as much as we could during our time in town. They have a lot of neat places to see. It was beautiful. During some of our walks we would stop and check out the scenery. The picture above is a restaurant over looking the river. We watched people fishing for salmon and many other cool activities while in the area.
They had a neat park near downtown where a lot of kids and families seemed to like to hang out. We went to the Ulu Factory. The Ulu factory does not do tours on the weekend, but have some demonstration explaining the utensil at the store. We shopped for some neat souvenirs while in the area. Anchorage is a great place to visit with your family with plenty of neat activities to do together.
Hanging out for a few minutes in the park near downtown!
Brina Bee on a roll!
Travel & Vacation: Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center (Anchorage, Alaska)
Our family recently had the opportunity to travel to Alaska for our family vacation. We arrived in Anchorage in the middle of the night, slept a couple hours before getting up and heading out to explore Anchorage. One of the first stops we made was the Anchorage Museum at Ramuson Center, 625 C. Street, Anchorage, AK. The hotel driver dropped us off right outside the entrance of the museum.
The kids loved the opportunity to learn about Alaska – fFrom displays with the culture, life styles, people, and history of Alaska. The kids loved exploring the neat science and technology exhibits as well as watching the animal presentation! They had really cool boulder chairs and places for parents or grandparents to sit and relax in the common area which seemed popular for the adults! The kids loved it and it was entertaining for us as parents too.
If you have some extra time while in Anchorage and you’re traveling with your family you should check it out. If you want you can use a free locker to put your travel items in while going through the museum. Also, it is part of the Science Center Association so if you are a member of your local Science Center check to see if they are part of the Association and you will get into this museum for free! 🙂
We had a blast at this museum! They were not into the “art” gallery as much as the history, science and more kid focused rooms. They had a lot of neat history and culture regarding Alaska. It’s a great place to visit if you have kids and some time while in Anchorage, Alaska!
Karlie giggling as she tries to sneak up on me with her pillow boulder!
That’s a big pebble Brina!!!
Goof ball Karlie!
Brina and Jake checking out what will happen if an earthquake hits near a house….
Brina and Jake in the bubble ring
Now that’s a pretty shoe for you to wear! Brina loved it! Karlie said it didn’t look comfortable at all! It’s beautiful, but not sure I could stay upright in them.
Designer Paula Rasmus-Dede, Not Your Mama’s Mary Janes, 2003 (consists of glass beads, patent leather, and different colors of wire)
“I made this peice because I like Mary Janes. My grandmother made me wear orthopedic shoes when I was a child. I wasn’t allowed to wear black patent leather Mary Janes like all the popular schoolgirls. When I started making shoes I decided to make my own Mary Janes” – Paula Rasmus-Dede
I think Paula’s shoes may be a little bit fancier than just the average Mary Jane.
Brina and Karlie lifting Jake up. Testing the different types of pulleys
Karlie and Jake in a giant bubble!
There’s a bear behind you!
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Hotels: Hampton Inn – Anchorage, Alaska
While in Anchorage, Alaska we stayed at the Hampton Inn at 4301 Credit Union Dr, Anchorage, AK 99503. Once we arrived at the airport in Anchorage, Alaska we called the hotel shuttle which comes by every 10 to 20 minutes 24 hours a day. I think we had to wait about 10 minutes which the kids thought was “forever” in the cool drizzly mist outside the airport, but it wasn’t bad. We just were not used to the cool rainy temperatures in the summer being from South Carolina plus we were tired. It was 5:00 am our time back home. The 4 hour time change had us a little bit off schedule and even though we napped on the plane it wasn’t like a full nights sleep!
The Hampton Inn was a fairly quick drive from the airport and the driver was pleasant. There was only one other couple in the van with us. We were able to check into the hotel, settle into our room, shower, and crash for a few hours before getting up and heading out on the town. It was wonderful getting a hot shower and crashing into a comfortable bed after being up over 30 plus hours.
Why did we choose Hampton Inn? There are multiple reasons, but here is a handful that swayed our family in the direction of going with Hampton:
- We are Hilton Honors Members – a lot of time when we (mostly Jake) travels for work the nearest hotel is Hampton so we tend to stick with the Hilton line
- Quality and service at the Hilton Hotels is pretty consistent
- Clean Rooms
- Comfortable Beds – we have slept in a variety of rooms / beds over the past 16 years of our marriage and Hilton beds typically more comfortable then other hotels that we have been at while traveling. A good nights sleep can make a huge difference on the following day!
- Swimming Pool – most of the Hilton’s we have been at have either an indoor or outdoor pool which is always a hit for the kids
- Continental Breakfast – decent and predictable breakfast (which is especially convenient when traveling with a family member that has food allergies or food intolerances) Not all the Hilton hotels have continental breakfasts, but all the Hampton Inn’s we have stayed out do have breakfast which is always a benefit when you have a hungry family every morning
The Hampton Inn not only had shuttle service to/from the airport, but also to several spots around Anchorage. After some sleep and a good breakfast we were ready to hit the town and explore Anchorage. We were the only ones on the shuttle at that time. We asked the driver for recommendations on “must see” places to visit, shop, eat, and tour while we were in Anchorage (especially since we were only going to be in town 1 day, we wanted to squeeze in everything we could during our time there).
After we asked the question the driver took the time to pull over the van in a safe location, got a map of Anchorage out, started to circle and draw an outline of where we need to go that day, how to get there, and a variety of activities from sight seeing, shopping, tours, and great local places to eat or visit. We did EVERYTHING recommended that morning, except 1 of the restaurants and that was only because we got hungry earlier than we expected and stopped to eat prior to getting to the restaurant which was delicious too!
It was thoughtful and AWESOME having that 2 minute explanation and highlights of the town. It gave us a clear path to follow throughout the day without wasting time wondering around and trying to figure out what to do. We left the hotel at 9 am that morning and didn’t actually get back to our home to start getting ready for bed until almost 11 pm that night. Thankful that Hampton Inn hired good drivers who go the extra mile. It made our day in Anchorage fun, memorable, and enjoyable for the whole family. We got to see a lot more with his assistance then if we had just roamed around on our own. It made it more efficient and we got to pack more into our one day of Anchorage than we ever anticipated.
I would definitely recommend that Hampton Inn in Anchorage if you are looking for a place to stay. It is not the one downtown Anchorage but in the suburbs. It was clean, family friendly, and a great place to stay. It was the first hotel we had been in that had crayons and postcards that the kids could color in with crayons in the lobby and mail out. Which was a neat “extra” piece for families traveling with kids.
Airports & Transportation: Charlotte International Airport – CLT (Charlotte, NC)
Our family LOVES traveling!!! We especially enjoy it if we are able to get a reasonable priced flight out of the nearest airport, Greenville, SC (GSP). If we cannot get a flight out of Greenville then Charlotte International Airport CLT is our next airport of choice. Charlotte is not too far from Greenville and often has great tickets. We try to always leave a little bit earlier than we anticipate because with traffic and the occasional rain shower it can slow you down. Plus we typically park in the long term parking and catch the shuttle to the airport so that takes a little more time then a quick drop off at the airport.
On our last two big trips we flew out of Charlotte International Airport CLT. One of our trips was up to New England and the Midwest and our most recent trip from Charlotte was to Anchorage, Alaska. Brina and Karlie went to their last day of their Robotics and Software Computer Game Programming Camp at the Roper Mountain Science Camp while Jake and I tackled the last few items we needed to get done at work. I came home from work, picked up Jake, and then we picked up the girls from camp on our way to the airport. Traffic was pretty good and we only had a few sprinkles of rain on the way to Charlotte so we made good time, despite our unscheduled potty break stop a couple exits before the airport. Jake was able to wrap up more work items and a couple calls on the way to the airport as I drove.
We quickly found out that the Charlotte airport can be a little busy on Friday afternoons and evenings. It took us longer than normal to find a parking spot in long term parking. We were beginning to think the lot was completely full, but we found one eventually near the end of the lot. Once we found a spot to park and got all our luggage out of the van we immediately made our way to the canopy to wait for the next bus to arrive. Thankfully they have a bus pick up people every few minutes. The first bus that arrived at our canopy location was completely full so we had to wait for the next bus which we could see coming down the road. They had a bus probably every 2 to 6 minutes going through the parking lot.
The long term parking bus drops you off at the basement level and directly across the walkway from the check in counters. Once you get into the airport you’ll need to take either the escalators, stairs, or elevator up to the 2nd floor to check into your airline and drop off your luggage.
We’ve had great experience even during the busier times of getting through the check-in lines fairly quickly and smoothly. You can go through any of the TSA check points because all the terminals merge immediately after the check points. We typically pick the TSA line with the shortest line or one with the most open lines at the time. As long as you follow the TSA guidelines (take off your shoes if over 12 years old, no liquids, etc….) you should get through pretty quickly. The terminals are well marked and easy to get to as well. If you are looking for a snack, drink, or restrooms they have a number of options and locations just outside the main terminals as well as along the terminals.
It can get crowded at times, but we’ve always had good luck flying out of Charlotte. The employees are friendly, professional, and do their best to get you on and off your plane in a timely manner. They do not have any control over the weather, but otherwise we’ve had no issues. Thankfully this flight was the same. Quick, easy, and on time! Thank you CLT!
Travel & Vacation: Family Vacation…..Way Up NORTH!!!
Picture of the last Alaska Airline plane we got on!
North to ALASKA!!! We took a family vacation to Alaska this summer! We had a blast! We packed a lot in our time in Alaska. We flew Alaska Airlines. The girls did amazing on all the flights. We flew through the night both on the way to Alaska and on the way home too. They went through the airports fine, helped with the luggage, entertained themselves on the plane (and even rested). Thankful for kids who love to travel and explore new places.
Jake and the girls getting on the plane….notice they are entering the back half the plane. First time on this type of plane!
Sleeping Beauty on the plane!
Another one bites the dust….
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Transportation: American & Alaska Airlines
Our family traveled via the Alaska Airlines for the first time on our recent family trip. Alaska Airlines had us fly via American Airlines to Portland, Oregon then on Alaska Airlines from Portland to Anchorage, Alaska. On our way back we flew from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with Anchorage Alaska to Seattle, Washington and American Airlines from Seattle to Charlotte, North Carolina.
The only complications we had was checking in with American Airlines in Charlotte at the beginning of our trip. The person checking us in at Charlotte was busy socializing with her co-workers and complaining about how she still had another hour of work before she could leave and she already had too many people and luggage go through her counter that day she needed a break. We weighed all our luggage at home and it was weighing under 50 pounds, however, their scales had them weighing at 50.1 pounds, 50.3 pounds, and 49.8 pounds. She checked the first one which was the lightest suitcase, threw it on the conveyor belt, it missed, fell off so someone else picked it up off the floor and put it on the conveyor belt. Then she weight the 50.1 and the 50.3 suitcases and refused to allow them past the counter until we took something out. Both were 50 pounds just a hair over .1 and .3 over. We had to lighten them by .1 and .3 which basically meant we took out a pair of socks and the other a pair of shorts and added them to carryons. It was annoying, but we should have made them a little bit lighter before leaving home just in case the scales were off. She could have had a better attitude and more pleasant as it appeared that she did not enjoy her job and we were just another inconvenience to her at the end of her shift. We travel fairly often with our kids and family so we encounter a wide variety of personalities. We have flown American Airlines many times over the year but have not encounter this type of attitude so maybe she was have a tough day, who knows…
The American Airline pilots, stewardesses, and other crew members were pleasant. After we got checked in with the person at the counter who had a bad attitude the rest of the trip was smooth and enjoyable.
We arrived in Portland, Oregon had a little bit of time before our next flight so grabbed a bite to eat and stretch our legs. Portland was a nice airport with plenty of options to eat and seating while we were waiting for our next flight to take off.
We arrived in Anchorage, Alaska in the middle of the night. Anchorage had a beautiful airport. It was not busy at that time of day. Even though most of the stores and restaurants were closed it was clean and the people we did encounter while in the airport were pleasant. We had to ask directions to find out which luggage claim terminal we need to be at and it took the luggage a little while to get out on the conveyor belt. Since it took more than 20 minutes to be delivered the Alaska Airlines offered everyone that asked vouchers for $25 off their next flight or Alaska Airline Rewards. I guess they have a policy that if it takes longer than 20 minutes to deliver your luggage they compensate the travelers with Rewards or money off which was really cool. We have never had an airline do that before and actually we thought they were fairly quick compared to some of the other flights we had been on even earlier this summer.
Alaska Airlines seemed to have a great group of employees, high quality service, and a loyal group of travelers. It appeared that they treated their reward members based on the interactions we had with other travelers on our trip. It was refreshing to see an airline take pride in their work and provide quality service to those choosing to travel with them.
Our flights home were pleasant, smooth, and enjoyable on the Alaska Airlines again. We were only in the air for 28 minutes from Vancouver to Seattle, but we rode on a type of plane the kids have never been on before so they were fascinated by the ride. It was the only flight that I can remember that allowed the passengers to board both the front and back of the plane simultaneously (you went in the front if you were in the front half of the plane and in the back if you were in the back half of the plane) which provided for a quick and easy boarding for everyone! The plane arrived at the gate in Vancouver a few minutes later than planned but they gave us a heads up in advance and they still had us loaded and we took off basically on time because they made of the delayed time by loading rather quickly which was really nice.
We would definitely fly Alaska Airlines again if we have another opportunity. It was a great experience and a wonderful first impression of the beautiful state of Alaska. Flying the Alaska Airlines was a great experience for our family. We have flown a variety of airlines both within the United States and internationally. We would highly recommend you check out Alaska Airlines if you ever have the opportunity to visit their beautiful area!!
What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say?
Our fortunes!
Recently we had Chinese food and the following were our fortunes from the meal:
- Jake – “You will be traveling to distant lands for business purposes” (He travels a lot of places for work!)
- Bridgette – “You will travel to many exotic places in the next few years.” (I LOVE to travel. I have already been to many amazing places over the years and I cannot wait to see more of the world. Plus, sometimes I get to travel with Jake when he goes on work trips. Maybe our fortunes were suppose to be together, sounds like more fun for me though! 🙂 Already looking forward to these exotic places we are going to together!)
- Brina – “You have a flair for adding fanciful dimension to any story.” (She is definitely the more fancy of the two kids!)
- Karlie – “You will soon be involved in many gatherings and parties.” (I am curious about what she’s going to be doing!)
It was a fun evening of relaxing with the family, eating Chinese food, and laughing about silly fortunes. We have so much to be thankful for in our lives. We are richly blessed and take many things for granted every day. Let’s treasure the time with have with our friends, families, and those around us. It is not impossible to run into people that you know even if you are across the world. Our lives leave an imprint of each person we interact with whether it is only once or many times! Make each moment count for good!
