eklutna lake

last week, papa frank came to visit.  with our glorious record-breaking summer weather, i wanted to get him out to enjoy the fresh alaskan air.  with gramma d offering to watch the tessle-ball, i thought eklutna lake would be the perfect adventure for us and the big kids.

it's one of my favorite places in south central.  the views are stunning, the lake is the perfect shade of bluish-green, and in the fall, when the leaves are turning golden, it's picturesque beyond anything a nikon could capture.  speaking of cameras... mine is on the fritz.  i kinda feel outta sorts, too.  so on this day, i had to depend on the iPhone.  i really loathe camera phone pictures, but when you "have" to capture a moment, it is rather handy.  and, you know how much i love to capture moments, especially ones with family.

ok, so it's super-spectacular scenery and all, blah blah blah, but i couldn't help but notice the YELLOW LEAVES on this tree and that tree.  (ugh, i'm sooo not ready for autumn!) i loved the fireweed growing out of the water on the bank.    

"throwing rocks" would be listed under both kiddos' favorite past time

i don't remember when this started or really why is started, but whenever we visit eklutna, i can't help but find state-shaped rocks - and ohhh, brownie points if you find heart-shaped ones!  i'm sure my dad thought i was nuts (his laughter and snickering gave it away), but it's fun and passes the time during the kid's throwing adventures.  he said i wouldn't find alaska, and he was right, but i bet he didn't think i had alaska right at my fingertips...

some people, dudes usually, skip rocks; i find states.

and, hearts!  found two, one of which jack swiped from me and gave to papa frank.  cairns are fun for me to build and fun for the minions to knock over.  it took me 4 times over for this picture of my cairn.  someone kept kicking it over...

 beautiful day with my beautiful people

 a stop at rochelle's is mandatory.  

strawberry for dyl (totally over the camera) and "banilla" for jb.

one of those days i'll remember for my lifetime.  thanks, pop; miss you already.  xo