The Alaska Kid

Over ten years ago when we moved to Alaska, I thought of all the things people think of when they think of Alaska...

Now, when I remember Alaska, I remember these things...

A perfect park with a perfect pond

And bodacious Big Toys...

A daughter who loved horses,

Led horses,

And learned to ride.

Taking the kid fishing for the first time...

And watching her enjoy her first fish (While her father had caught nothing!)

Future fishing trips where we joked about 'Bob', the fish we hadn't caught, but if you can catch a kid's smile, the fish really don't matter;

Whale watching cruises where I enjoyed watching the kid more than the whales;

A kid who loved art...

And took it seriously

While building forts in the living room,

And leafing through logs;

The gymnast cartwheeling through parades... 

While maintaining her sense of dignity;

Hanging upside down...

Shopping for fireworks...

Enjoying the best State Fair Ever!!!

Primping with her friends during a school dance... 

Watching cranes with her mom...

And hanging out in the greenhouse with her rabbit, my plants, and our chickens. 

For those of you who haven't lived there, Alaska is a lot cooler than you think.

You just have to know where to look.