Finally!

Where to start......well we are semi settled in and I feel like the longer I wait to post, the harder it gets. So I am just going to start catching up with everything that has been going on.

First- we did get our business in Alaska sold. We got an offer in June and to be honest I don't think that any of us actually thought that it was going to happen! But at the end of August everything came together for us. I think we all had mixed feelings about it. Mostly Tim (I am still waiting for mine;) it is something we have done for a very long time. I think Tim said it was 13-14 years for him......it gets to be something that even though you are burned out and sick of going back and forth every summer it is familiar and what your are used to doing. So when we actually got down to handing over all of the keys.....and boats......it was EXTREMELY hard to let go! But I did feel a little relief when I turned that 800# over to someone else.......that thing followed me every where I ever went. As a little tribute to ending the Alaska phase in our lives I am going to make a list of all of the things that I will.....and will not MISS!

Will NOT Miss......

1. 4:00 a.m. check-in (o.k. so at least Katy and I sometimes got to go back to bed....the guys had to work all day).


2. Moving back and forth every 6 months (and I swear to myself that this will help me be more organized instead of having boxes here and there and I don't even know where).


3. As I already mentioned the 800# following me and people calling at all hours.


4. Being afraid and carrying bear spray when you get brave enough to go on a walk.


5. Dealing with Never satisfied, Never happy, Never do anything right customers! Not that I really want to remember the bad stuff, but......there was a lady that called to tell me that I should be aware that she saw the guy packing her fish, and that I should know he stole some of her fish. First of all the guy was my brother Tim, one of the most honest people you will ever meet. Second of all she was counting the pieces that he cut up, then counted her bags at the end......he put two pieces in a couple of the bags. My brother tried to call her to tell her to bring it all back so he could cut the bags open to prove to her that he didn't and would never do such a thing......but she never returned our call. We have so many stories about customers that would give us a hard time. We would usually come home and laugh about it over dinner. Oh and their questions.......My favorite was "So, what is the elevation here"? uummmm lets see depending on the waves 2-3 feet;) Gotta love it!

Will ALWAYS Miss.......

1. The absolutely breathtaking view of the Volcanoes across the Inlet. Especially the sunsets when you are out for a walk (sunsets in Alaska last for hours).


2. The fireweed and all of the wildflowers. Because there is so much sunlight and rain, the flowers grow taller than you are. They are beautiful and I loved the way they smelled.


3. All of the friends that we have made up there over the years. We have met some really good people. Some of the best have been the people that worked for us.


4. Being with and spending time with my siblings and parents (although I know at times we all probably got family overload)


5. This one is mostly for Tim, but the long road trip that no matter what is always an adventure with awesome scenery and a lot of wildlife. This last trek home for him was crazy, he decided to have Peyton drive with him. Well just FYI if you are ever traveling alone with a child across US borders you either need a permission slip from the other parent or a death certificate.......I am not kidding. Poor Tim was stuck at the border for hours because I was out of reach and didn't know about that memo. Anyways it is always quite the road trip, mostly dreaded but I think it was something my dad really missed after he stopped driving.


6. OK, last one is when it was a really beautiful day, all boats were out and the water is really calm. The phone rings, they are on their way in and someone got a big one. They get in and there is excitement all around the office. The customers are happy, the guides are even happier thinking "can you believe we get paid for this"? You have an arm full of cameras and people are stopping by from all over town to check out the good catch NSC got. Those were the GOOD days!!

One fun thing that we did as a family before we came home was taking a Kenai Fjord tour. We saw some humpback whales, sea lions, sea otters, puffins, and a really awesome glacier. There was a lot of little islands every where and Peyton wanted to know if they were "treasure islands" and if we were going to be able to stop and check it out. Here are a few picts from that trip.

Here is Peyton on the look out for any whales:) He got a map of where we would be going before we left and studied it the entire time.

Addison of course was more interested in the party going on inside.