Independence Day--Texas Style!!

Our kids invited us over for a family firework time on the 4th.  They and their friends pooled some resources together for a fun show.

The grand finale

For my PTSD hubby, he's getting better at tolerating the shows. . .mostly.

Alaska!

These photos are out of order, but at least I have them!!  I just got a trip to Anchorage, Alaska for the first time in my 15 year career and had to enjoy every bit of it I could in my 27 hour layover. . .even if it was raining for a lot of the time.

The view from my hotel room at 2000. . .8pm. . .sunset was at 11:42pm, sunrise at 4:36 a.m.  Short night!

Landing @ the airport

Views from the airplane coming in

A glacier from the sky

The famous earthquake that destroyed the center of the city but only killed 9 people.

"Rush hour"?

Just checking out the real estate.  It's a little pricy. . . . 

I loved this mural on one of the buildings.

The little engine that could. . .move moose's cabooses off the railroad tracks when they were building the railroad!

"Ike on a half shell", or so the tour guide called him.

Moose evidence. . .they eat the bark in wintertime.

HUGE weeds!!

The tourist center in town

One of the gajillion private airplanes used for transport in and out of places there because roads are so hard to maintain because of the constantly freezing and melting ground.

10 airports in Anchorage for the multiple seaplanes that takeoff and land there.

The favorite place for Moose Mama's to have babies because it's so hidden and hard to walk on

The trail that leads down into Earthquake Park, the place where multiple homes fell into the bay during the earthquake and 7 people lost their lives.

An underground house. . .but you can't see it.

The high school. . .which every single brick fell down when the earthquake hit.  It was on a good Friday and that night was supposed to have hosted a basketball tournament.  But 5 moms complained to the principal that they wanted their kids in church instead.  He postponed it until Saturday.  And saved a bunch of lives had they been there.

My trolley tour

There must have been a paint the bear contest. . .there were multiples of these around the city.

Just a  friendly comparison . . . a begonia in Texas. . .

And the same flower in Anchorage.  Can you tell which place has more sun?

Beautiful flower gardens with great color all around the city

My foggy, drizzly morning walk

Lilacs were blooming. . .my Mom's favorite

My breakfast of hotcake and reindeer sausage.

The hotcake was as big as Alaska!

1:00 a.m. and the sky is still light outside.

The only "real" moose I saw. . .in the airport on my way out of town.

I definitely would like to repeat this trip sometime!