August 1 - August 14, 2018 - 4 years 1 month

Gotta love dem O's!

We met up with Ama, Maya and a friend of theirs and went on a train ride to the Spencer Whistle Stop.  Then we boarded our rafts and got to explore and touch icebergs on the Spencer Glacier Lake.  And finally, we floated down the Placer River.  Kadin loved the class I and II rapids and kept yelling, "more waves, more waves".  At one point, I had to put him in the middle of the boat because he kept leaning too far over to touch the water.  Towards the end, he got a bit bored of the flat water and I had him jump up and down in the raft trying to make his own waves (with the guide's ok, of course).

Mama Ama with Maya.

After the trip, we went to a restaurant in Cooper Landing, where Kadin found a bunch of wild raspberry bushes and was happy to pick some for Maya.  He even offered some raspberries to a random man eating at the restaurant, saying, "They're really yummy… you should eat some."

We said good-bye to Ama and Maya the next day and Kadin was so sleepy, he slept as I got him out of his carseat, put him in the cart, did all my shopping, and then put him back in his carseat!

Instead of going straight home, we decided to camp another couple of nights and Kadin always looks forward to a campfire so he can roast his marshmallows and hotdogs!

The second campsite was by a lake and Kadin was fascinated (and maybe a bit scared) by the crazy energy that these four girls had.  He just stood and stared at them for about 5 minutes before one of them gently brought him into the action.

Conversation in an outhouse (original version in Spanish, mostly):

K: what that say?

J: "Nixon lives" Es un poco una bobada sobre un hombre que esta muerto pero alguien piensa que todavia viva.

K:  Hombre?  No have tetas?  No leche?

J: Sí, Dito.  Los hombres no tiened tetas y no pueden dar leche a los bebes; solo las mujeres.

K:  Tu give me leche?

J: No Kadito, no podia.  Mis tetas no hacian leche.

K: Why tu no leche?

J:  Para tener leche en las tetas, hay que tener el bebe en la barriga, el utero, antes y yo no te tenia en la barriga Kadito.  Otra mujer te llevaba en su utero y como ella no podia cuidarte y te querria mucho, asi que ella te dio a mi para cuidar y ser tu mama.  Eso quire decir que tu eres adoptado.

Conversation in an outhouse (English version):

K: what that say?

J: "Nixon lives" It's a bit silly, about a man who is dead but someone thinks he's still alive.

K:  A man?  So he no have boobs?  He no have milk?

J: Yes, Dito.  Men do not have boobs and they cannot give milk to their babies, only women can do that.

K:  You give me milk?

J: No Kadin, my boobs didn't have any milk.

K: Why you no have milk?

J: To have milk in your boobs, you have to have a baby in your belly, your uterus, beforehand and I didn't have you in my belly, Kadito.  Another woman carried you in her belly. She wasn't able to take care of you and since she loved you very much she gave you to me to care for and be your mommy.  That means you're adopted.

You never know when and where you'll be having these important conversations…. 

September 1 - 4, 2017 - Ama and Maya Visit Part 2 (3 years 2 months)

Ama, Maya, Kadin, and I spent a few days in Seward, camping in the rain, eating yummy King Crab, and enjoying being by the ocean.  It was a special treat to stay one night in Anchorage at a hotel with a pool.  The next morning, Kadin and I headed home and Ama and Maya relaxed in town until their flight that night.  

Morning ocean viewing from our campsite in Seward - Kadin commented on the comings and goings of every boat he saw.

We went on a wildlife and glaciar cruise and Kadin loved being on the boat and spotting the otters and birds and whales and other boats.   

The next day, we went to the Sea Life Center and the Stellar Sea Lion tank was definitely one of his favorite spots.

The touch-and-feel tidepool exhibit was also a favorite… although he was a bit hesitant at first.

First the sea star, and then he tried the sea anemone, one of my personal favorites.

Aye, aye, Capitán!

We spent the night at a hotel in Anchorage and made sure we found one with a pool!  Fun and games before bedtime.

Ama and Maya had just as much fun!

Wee!!!

August 30 - 31, 2017 - The State Fair (3 years 1 month)

Ama and Maya came up to Alaska from Oakland, CA and we had a great time at the State Fair in Palmer!  

Kadin and I spent the night camping in Palmer and then rode our bike to the Fair the next day.  Yummy pizza for dinner!  And then off to explore the woods and the lake! 

Kadin and Maya, about 10 minutes after they'd met. 

We had a choice between posing with an alligator, a turtle, a snake, and a macaw and Kadin was adamant about the bird.  He was a little nervous about it being on his head but it was an excited kind of nervousness, especially when it suddenly flew to the ground in an explosion of red feathers.

Next, we saw the pony circle and Kadin took off without me to check it out.  He sat all by himself on a pony named Ringo and was enthralled.   

And then the "petting zoo", where Kadin got to play with some "kids" who were just as rambunctious as he is! 

After all the animals, it was time to check out the rides… Kadin had never been on them, but the first one he saw was the giant Ferris Wheel and he was super excited for it.  Absolutely no fear; in fact, I had to keep a hand on him so he wouldn't go too close to the edge. (The gate was locked, but I wasn't taking any chances!) 

We were deciding on our next ride, when he saw the green train… AKA the Wacky Worm Roller Coaster (for younger kids).  It was awesome!!! Just fast enough and curvy enough to put a huge smile on his face.  And when it stopped, he cried, "Mas, mas, mas!"  But we had to go meet up with Ama and Maya and so, no more Wacky Worm.

After the yummy pizza, we played on the dock near the lake and Kadin's imagination went wild… First, the dock was a big boat, a discarded bait lid was the power-on button, and we steered through the waters avoiding monsters, sharks, and crocodiles (and sometimes saved them and their babies too).  Then we were in the woods and the alder leaves were icecreams and he served up all his favorite flavors: frozen banana, berry, strawberry.  And finally, he would ask me to cry and then bring me things to cheer me up… 💚

There was a crazy show with a guy, 2 border collies , and 2 monkeys.  The monkeys rode the dogs like horses, with saddles and everything, and the "cowboy monkeys" had to round up a few sheep.  Afterwards, the guy talked about how he rescued the monkeys (I can't remember from where) and then walked around the audience letting everyone meet one of the monkeys.  Kadin was so excited and kept running around the fence to get closer.

Here, Kadin is checking out everyone else on the ponies and horses and is telling me how he doesn't need me to have a hand on his back like the baby in front of him.  He's such a big boy now!

October 27 - 29, 2016 - 2 years 3 months… (very short) Trip to Oakland, CA!

The morning we arrived at Emily and Jen's place, we chilled in their backyard, recovering from the flight.

But that same afternoon, we headed out on a lovely hike with Suzy, Bug, Mya (pictured here), and Emily/Jen's dog Juneau in the Oakland Hills.  It rained intermittently, and Kadin was definitely a bit "fragile", but he loved watched the dogs and the birds and the raindrops.

The next morning, Kadin was eager to explore Emily's garage/workshop and quickly went to work with a screwdriver.  Cole would have been jealous, but he was already off to daycare.

Pre-wedding-ceremony fun, hanging out with the band and meeting new friends.

After the ceremony, there was an awesome puppet show by Miss Butterfly and Kadin skeddaddled his way up front and was enthralled.  More than once he needed some gentle encouragement to just watch and not try to participate by grabbing the puppets himself!
[also note that there are no photos of the ceremony… we lasted about 5 minutes and then had to find someplace else to go and fidget/run around.  Miss Butterfly helped us out then as well, escorting us to the play room where he could run around.]

Kadin was enthralled with a few of the older kids who could blow bubbles for him.

Suddenly alone in the spotlight, he wasn't quite sure what to do and looked right at me in all his adorableness.

Yay, the other kids are back and… with more ba-was!!!!

Oh what a night… 

Didn't even budge as I took off his shoes and jeans….

The next day, I left Kadin with Emily and Cole and went to a post-wedding brunch.  Here is the lovely bride Ama with her daughter Maya.  

Meanwhile, Kadin and Cole had a blast, playing (and fighting) with all of Cole's toys.
[BTW Cole, THANK YOU for sharing all your toys with Kadin – it was definitely a highlight of his trip!]

Emily, Cole, and Kadin spent the morning at the playground.  I haven't gotten any of the playground photos yet, but from this shot, I suspect they had a good time!  

June 29, 2016 - July 1, 2016 - 23 months and 3 weeks – PART 1 - AMA, ED, AND MAYA VISIT TALKEETNA