California with the fam

Well, I have spent the past week in California with my family (minus my bro) hanging out.  It's been in the plans for quite some time but I never told my dad so that I could surprise him.  When my parents got of the plane, there I was.  He was more confused at first than anything, but it sunk in and he was happy I joined them on their vacation.  It was a nice transition to prep myself for my next adventure.  

Here's my brother-in-law cooking up the moose and bear burgers made from the meat that Axel sent with me.  And yes, I ate them (I've been a vegetarian for the past couple years), and yes, they were good.

Roscoe even posed for this picture of Kara and I!

 This is Silver Lake which is not all too far from my sister's house.  

 Couldn't help myself, had to climb up there.

 Kara and Ronnie

 Seeeesters

 Everyone floating on the lake. Life is good. 

(Not so much afterward when your sunburnt though)

We made smores with GIANT marshmellows and everyone got their portrait with theirs whether they wanted it or not:

 (This one's my favorite) 

At Jack Russel Brewery near Kara and Ronnies.

Alaskan salmon ready for the grill... I'm getting better at Axel's recipe!

Kara had to go back to work on Monday and Tuesday, so  my mom, dad and I went off to Lake Tahoe.    We did a boat tour on the lake- totally touristy, but it was a nice way to spend an afternoon.

 There's our boat out on the turquoise water.

 Dad on the Dixie!

 Enjoying the sunshine

 The water really is incredibly gorgeous

 My mom and I- what a windy day!

 Emerald Island (notice the little castle on top).

Emerald Island-  I want to kayak to it!

I sort of mixed up my flight and thought it was one day later than it actually was.  I though I was going to get to spend a whole day in San Francisco before I flew out, but realized I actually needed to be on my plane the night before I thought so we came home from Tahoe, I got my stuff packed up and here I am, ready for THAILAND.  

Flight tour of Denali

Ax surprised me when I was headed back to Anchorage with a flight tour of Denali.  It took a few days to actually get to do it because of weather, but the day before I left Alaska it was perfectly clear and we got to go.  One of the best birthday presents ever (it was an early one since I'll be in Thailand on my birthday).  Here are the pictures. (Yes, I took them and no, they weren't photoshopped).  I wish these picture could really show you the size of everything...  I felt like an ant the whole time... it was awesome.

Time off and a cabin mission

Since Ax and I both were able to get some time off together, we decided to go on what he calls a 'cabin mission' to his parents cabin.  It's a really nice little place, no running water or anything but a nice little getaway right on a lake. 

Cranberry Lake

We canoed across the lake to hang this target so we could practice some long range shooting.

Learning to shoot long range.

the cabin

First time shooting the glock (only my second time with a pistol) and I got a 5 in. group at 13 yards.... still don't have much to compare it to, but Ax said I did well :)

Ax shooting

Cooking salmon on the fire....yummmmm

Buffet!

pretty river on the way home