Two months later

Well it's been two months since we've been home from our 17 day first family vacation back in May. I've been kicking myself in the butt for not posting about it any sooner. I want to be able to remember this two years from now and while I should've posted about it when the memories were fresh, better late than never I suppose. There are a ton of pictures ahead....consider that you're warning.

We started off by heading to the airport 3am. It was a really good time to leave since Mini Doc Handsome just slept in the car for the whole hour and a half ride. We boarded our first plane ride and headed up to Washington State. The trip wasn't too bad although we had a layover in Portland, Oregon for some reason. Of course by this time, the baby hadn't napped and it was nearing his second nap time. He fell asleep on me and slept the last leg of the trip from Portland to Washington. I didn't realize travling with an infant of 7 months would be hard than traveling when he was one month, three months, and four months. Those plane rides were so much easier. My grandparents picked us up at the airport and after getting chinese for lunch, we headed back to their house in the country about two hours away.


We had six beautiful days in Washington with my grandparents on the farm where I grew up. It was the first time bringing Doc Handsome to all the places I built forts, stomped through the muddy pastures, and chased chickens around. It was so peaceful being back there. It always feels like home no matter how long I've been gone.


Our Washington trip was packed with adventures. My grandma took as much time as she could with Mini DH. That gave Doc Handsome and I some good four wheeling time. We of course, got the four wheeler stuck in the forest a couple miles away but luckily, my guy knows a thing or two about mechanics. I then burnt my leg on the motor. I guess I haven't been four wheeling in a long time because I forgot the basic rules...like keep your bare leg away from the steamin' hot motor! It left a horrible scar that I'm sure to be reminded of forever.



My grandparents have two mamma cows which had each given birth to two calfs about 14 days before we arrived. We spent a lot of time with the cows because not only did Mini Doc Handsome think they were funny looking, Doc Handsome was amused by them too. It's pretty intimidating feeding a cow, knowing those ginormous chompers could bite your whole wrist off.



We named this mamma "Cinco." Don't ask why. We have no good reason.

They also have three llamas. When I lived here back in the day, we only had this guy named Shadow. Since I've been gone, he's acquired a wife named Rosie, and they have a little baby son. I can't remember his name.

My sister and I would always try to climb on Shadow's back. We got spit on quite a bit for it.


At one point, my grandpa had a friend over from a farm just up the road. Grandpa was talking about how he needed to turn the little bull (the little male 14 day old calf) into a steer. The way you do that, is by capturing the calf and tying a rubber band looking contraption around his manly jewels so they fall off a few days later. Painless. Basically, you have to seperate him from his mother. And I've never seen a more protective mother than one who knows she's trying to be torn away from her calf. I told Grandpa, Doc Handsome really wanted to do it while we were visiting. My Grandpa and his friend had some good laughs saying, "You're a city dude. Are you sure you can handle a calf?!" After convincing them to do it, they set out to capture the bull. It was one of the more hiliarious moments I have to admit. I caught it all on camera luckily and by the end, all the guys were sweating. The calf was apparently ridiculously strong for 14 days old. They did capture him. A couple of times, I thought that mamma cow was going to kill the guys. She almost charged through the barb wire fence and I'm pretty sure I could see steam coming from her nostrils. Yep, steam. Doc Handsome was proud of proving his country-ness.


On the plane.





My amazing grandparents the day we were leaving.


This is the beautiful home they partially built. They've added on a ton and made the basement into a complete seecond floor with three bedrooms, an extra kitchen, another bathroom, and a washer/dryer room. My grandparents house is so magical to me. Maybe it's because of all the memories I have there. Maybe it's because of that atmosphere filled with love that I feel when visiting. And maybe it's because there's always something going on. My grandma is always canning or cooking and my grandpa is always building something new or working on the garden. They are two of the hardest working people I know.


My grandpa took Doc Handsome fishing for two days in a row to this lake. Doc Handsome was in heaven. They were gone all day and I think the only reason they came home at night was for Grandma's delicious dinners.


This is their barn and other property across the street from the house. They own land all the way back and up the mountain side.


All the cows!


We hiked in the mountains while we were in Washington and went mushroom hunting. It's so calm and quiet where they live. I showed Doc Handsome where I went to elementary and middle school and where I took Irish dancing lessons for years.

After our time in Washington was up, we headed on the plane to Alaska where a lot of my family lives. We were there for ten short days. As we were flying over the mountains into Alaska, Doc Handsome was amazed. He kept saying, "Babe, come look at this!" I couldn't stop laughing because I had to remind him of the many times I've been here. Not to mention, I was born there. I forget how stunning it is to someone who has never experienced it before.











Don't mind my pose, check out little puppy Dre over in the corner.


Some of my family. Doc Handsome, me, Mini Doc Handsome, my mom's fiance's son T, mom's fiance J, future brother in law J, my grandpa, my sister C and little baby in her tummy, my little brother, and of course my mom.






We had a family baseball game while we were there. It was a blast. Mini Doc Handsome was freezing his cheeks off so that didn't make for a pleasant experience but I'm pretty sure our team won. After that we all headed over Grandma K's house where we had a huge family/friend bbq. We laughed together, ate delicious food, and made tons of memories.



I forced my sister into doing a mini DIY maternity photoshoot. I told her she'd look back on these pictures and be glad she had them. She was only about 24 weeks along here. I can't believe how small she was compared to know.

She's giving me that, "are you serious?" look. She's so camera shy.


My sister's fiance, J. Awaiting their beautiful baby boy.


My grandpa and Mini DH





This one just cracks me up everytime I see it. What a silly puppy.


My sister's first ever diaper change. I was trying to give her some pointers. Like, "the water flows wherever the tunnel is pointed." One lesson I learned the hard way...over and over again. Who woulda thought? I don't have one of those things so not me.


This was the first trip my mom ever met my hubby and vice versa. Either Doc Handsome was deployed or training, or money was an issue. But I was SO thankful to finally have them meet. They talked on the phone numerous times and my mom loved him already, knowing that he treated her daughter the way a mother hopes for her children but this visit just sealed the deal on everything. Doc Handsome adored her.





I love this picture. My mom was talking to the baby and right as she said, "grammy loves you" he kicked.


There's already his very own kitchen drawer at Grammy's house. Every grandbaby needs one.


Loving on the new grandbaby to come


One day, we went down to Seward, AK. with our family and hiked a few miles to the Exit Glacier.
















So this moose poop is sort of gross, but isn't it amazing how tiny they are for such a huge animal?





Many nights consisted of having all the family over to Mom's and J's house where we played games like Taboo and Apples to Apples and had bonfires in their monsterous backyard. They just bought their house in December. Almost everynight we were up till 2 in the morning. It's summer time in Alaska so it didn't start getting darker till about midnight. And even then, the sun never fully sets.


My little brother got promoted in his Cub Scouts troop.


My little nephew.


Auntie and Mini DH





My brother and Doc Handsome playing cards while mom cooks something yummy. I love the picture they have of Doc Handsome and I on the window sill.





She is going to be an amazing mother. She spent hours playing with him.





My little brother is a wonderful uncle.


Ok, so I know it's a bit weird that I took a picture of her butt. But I really wanted a picture of her bella band. It was mine when I was prego and now she's wearing it! Awwww.


Sisterly love.


Our family baseball game.





My mom's fiance, Opie and Mini DH.





Chas's birthday. She is the princess of the family and she claims it. In her world, everything is purple and she's the center of it. She definitely has a heart of gold though. We love her!





Grandpa and his girls....plus his only great grandson till the new baby arrives.





I can't get enough of this belly.


In our family, the women bbq.





More of my DIY maternity shoot. Can you tell she was embarrassed?








The guys cutting down a tree for a bonfire.


Grandpa M


My husband is KNOWN for his many faces. And so I introduce you to the many faces of Doc Handsome.....




















We all carved our names into this tree in the backyard of their new home. So for many years to come, we all know this is a home where we built memories.


Hiking up to the glacier.


The very bottom tip of the glacier.


I thought it was amazing to see the pathways the glacier had carved right through the mountains.


My mom and her fiance. Isn't the blue in the glacier awesome?





Moose chilling in the backyard. Another Alaskan sighting Doc Handsome was amazed by.


Family get together.


New parents to be. Our trip was so amazing. Doc Handsome was taught how to drive stick shift by my mom. I think I laughed so hard it hurt about a hundred time. We had so much memorable family time. I feel like this was a time we'll all remember because I don't know the next time this group of us will be together again. We shared tears and hugs. We celebrated our second marriage anniversary which I already wrote about. So it was pretty much a huge hit. Just thinking about it, I miss that vacation.