Back in Alaska

We had a great vacation but it was great to get home to the house and cats and the beautiful Fairbanks summer weather. For a second year in a row we had a perfect evening for a low-key July 4th gathering on the deck, warm enough to break in the kiddie pool that Kieran had been eyeing in the box before we went back east.


The only takers for the pool were Kieran and Miss Lola who was thrilled to discover that this was going to be a pool party!

We were too lazy and/or frugal to drive to North Pole for fireworks this year so the kids were the entertainment (and I think they knew it).

Kieran was happy to be back in Auntie Rachel's lap. He discovered Lays potato chips that evening. Bad idea, I know.

A day later we took the Whaler out for its first cruise of the season on the Chena River in town. You can see that Kieran was mighty pleased with the boat. This was his first trip on the river. We'll try to do a bit more exciting trip out of Valdez later in the summer to give him a little more to look at, but for his first time this river cruise was plenty impressive.

To my surprise he wasn't bothered at all by his life vest. I think he was actually very proud of it.

Look how serious he was about "driving" the boat!

We watched the sky as smoke from wildfires drifted in to the area. We've had smoke on and off since we've been home...the price we pay for beautiful, warm, sunny weather.

Here's the confluence of the Chena (relatively clear) and Tanana (silty) Rivers.

Taking in the breeze on the way home. I think this kid is hooked.
A day later we had more smoke drift in. Luckily it stayed fairly high above the ground. This was taken from the deck at home. Since then we've had some pretty noxious days, engulfed in ashy smoke from a wildfire 20 miles or so south of town. For the first time since we've lived in Fairbanks we're getting ash dusting outdoor (and even some indoor) surfaces. Kieran's reaction? At any mention of the word smoke (even in reference to smoking fish, which we've been doing lately) he says with obvious disgust, "Ick!" You said it kiddo.