Winning the Lottery

So we didn't win the powerball jackpot but we did win a permit to drive into Denali National Park. We called this trip "Girls Denali" since the men were all out hunting it was just us women who took on this adventure. We stayed the night in Denali and then the next morning we piled into a 15 passenger van and headed down the road. The wildlife were a little slow to come out but eventually we saw multiple bears and a gathering of frisky moose.

A group photo at the top of Polychrome Pass

Grandma Lene and Liz

a bear

Mom and me

Pretty River View

Hannah and Keaton

A park ranger out directing the moose. (they don't listen very well)

 

Digging bear

"You lookin' at me?"

All that was seen of the mountain.....It is amazing to me that the highest peak in North America can be so reclusive.

A moose sticking his head out as if to say "Are the tourists gone?"

There was a lot of snow in the higher elevations combined with the flat light there were places where the landscape looked like an Ansel Adams photograph.

Let's be friends

Noelle and Liz are LOVING school.  I am so glad.  I asked them if they had made some new friends  at school and Liz responded "Mom, the whole class is our friend, every kid."  Wow, isn't that awesome?  Going to a place everyday where EVERYONE is your friend.  I have been thinking about this and it makes me want to hum the theme song from Cheers.  Can you imagine the world if everyone would adopt this philosophy?  What would happen if people on the Gaza strip or Rwanda or the junior high school for that matter decided to wipe the slate clean and consider everyone their friend?   I love how children lack social inhibitions and can instantly turn a stanger at the McDonalds's playplace into their new BFF. 
  

 

Oh, and by the way Bryce and Jed got a sheep while out hunting, this year they didn't have to be gone nearly as long as last year. 

Here are the girls being silly.

Fall at Creamers Field

 

 Family pictures from our walk around Creamers Field.  I love the first picture of Indy.