Costumes and updates

We are living in our employee housing while we are getting ready to buy a house. The goal is to close before December so we can get that tax credit! We'll see what happens.

Last week we got rid of Kaytlin's binkies; she helped us cut them and throw them away. The picture is so sad, she would hold the cut-off binkie and look so confused/gypped. Now every time she wants one she'll remember they're gone and ask for chapstick instead.

Here are some pictures from tonight. Lexi's been dying to go to a Halloween party so she could "be a cheerleader like Jenny and Amanda." I dressed the girls up earlier so they could just have fun in the costumes. Kaytlin liked putting her headband on and off while Lexi ran around the apartment cheering, "Go! Go! Go Halloween!" and tried doing toe-touches. She was super excited that I let her wear some makeup to the party tonight. What a girl!
PS- Kaytlin is a butterfly princess (or something like that)

PFD Sale

Alaska Airline tickets are on sale until the end of this month. Best prices you'll find all year.

Visitors

We've been lucky and have been able to family here. Marisha was here for a week and then TC's family came up for a week too. We went fishing, hiking, toured totem parks, creek street, out to eat, watched movies (and the office), and of course played lots of games. We were so glad they could stay with us!

Fishing can be messing. And I'm not sure what the story is of this totem pole...

Lexi and Savanna found a special place to play (behind a recliner with a bunch of blankets and bean bags. It was pretty cute to see them play together.

Savanna, TC, and Ashley at Totem Bight

We love family!

Another whale picture

I found this on the newspaper website, photo by Tom Miller. By the way this stuff all happened near our friends' resort, Clover Pass.

Bubble feeding whales

This has been a crazy last few days. Marisha has been with us and we've done some fun things (I'll post more of that later). While watching Conference at John's parents' house we noticed whales in the ocean. It's not uncommon to see humpbacks or orcas going by but when we watched them they were feeding, which is rare to see. Apparently they fill up before heading over to Hawaii. The last 4 days we've been watching them bubble feed, going back and forth right in the Youngberg's view. Mike was so nice and took us out to watch them up close and personal. Thank you again!

So what they do is circle around in the water, making a circle of bubbles and disorienting the fish, which get trapped in the cirlce of bubbles, then they shoot up with their mouths wide open, eating the fish. Seagulls were hanging out and would swarm right above and before the whales came up.Here's some of what we saw:

Goodbye and hello

We made it back to Ketchikan! We travelled on the ferry (poor man's crusie) south to Ketchikan earlier this week and are now living in our employee apartment. Things are still a little crazy here, boxes and stuff everywhere, but we're glad to be back. We didn't really get to say goodbye to wonderful Skagway and friends, it was a great summer and we were so glad to spend it there. Goodluck and goodbye to everyone there! Marisha will be with us for almost a week and then my brother and his family will be here next week to visit and John will have the two weeks off, so I'll have some pictures later.