alaska!!!!

Chris and I had our first real getaway without our children.
We may have been overdue at 15 years, but it was still very hard to leave our munchkins for a whole week.
Plus, it's a bit dangerous to find out what you're missing...we want more :)

We went on a cruise to Alaska.
It was unbelievable.



There is so much to say, but it's really too much and I don't know where to start.
I want to journal about it somewhere else, but I know that I won't.
So I'm not sure what all to write about.

First of all, Chris and I never saw ourselves as the "cruising sort."
But it was so much fun.
We had a blast on the ship being taken care of so, so well and having continual date night.

It seems like since we decided to go, I started hearing about Alaska from everyone.
So many people have been there and they were all so excited for us.

And so many others would tell us that Alaska had always been on their "bucket list."
I was somewhat surprised.
Alaska was never on my bucket list.

But, lucky for us, it has been on my dad's since I can remember.
In fact, I think it was his bucket list.
It might have been something like this:
1. Go to Alaska
2. Fish in Alaska
3. See my family be happy...or something...yada, yada ;)

Anyway, Chris and I made the decision to go this summer -
along with my fun parents, my awesome brother, Dan and his gorgeous wife, Maren -
to take part in fulfilling that lifetime wish.

And we were so grateful we did.



It was truly amazing.

We were blessed with sunshine every day, which is almost unheard of.

Everywhere we looked we were surrounded by the most amazing, completely untouched beauty.
At each port, we made sure we stepped away from the zillions of jewelry stores (what is with Alaskan tourists and their jewelry???) and got our feet on beautiful land.

We got to see whales, dolphins, orcas, eagles, seals, sea otters, puffins, sea lions, and more.



But above all, we were so lucky to spend the week with amazing family.

I was reminded time and time again just how much I love hanging out with the guy I married.
I'm pretty much addicted.
What a lucky girl I am to have him for a best friend.
We shared so many laughs and such great memories.



And we are so grateful that our children had such a great week playing with their grandpa and grandma Stoker. They loved the time they spent there and are still telling us all about it. And I don't think they missed us too much.