Alaska!

  We made it. After a long, long trip during which Irene did not sleep a wink, we arrived at Grandma and PopPop's house (there is the missing part where PopPop came to Greensboro for a few days before accompanying us home, but I think I've got a few pictures of that to put up later).

 We had a huge welcoming committee at the airport, and Evangeline and Ellsi Kay immediately figured out that a)they are cousins and b)Ellsi can pick Evangeline up.

 Our first day here was hot and sunny, with lots of cousins and aunties and uncles and grandmas. We spent all day outside in the lake. Aunt Beth was good enough to cover the girls in sunscreen so that only the adults got sunburns. Then we had an impromptu bbq with about 20 people. Not bad.

 Today is a bit breezy and cooler, and the girls are off to the new big playground with Grandma and Pops.

First order of business: dress-ups. With a dress that "goes all the way to the ground".
And parasol.

I have no idea what this dress might have been used for.
Hopefully not a wedding.

GG, aunt Beth and Irene survey the toys.

Tap shoes.

Aunt Beth and Grandma made this play area for the girls.
It took about 6 minutes to pretty much dismantle it.

They followed Ammi around, watching her water flowers.

Ammi put them to work.

First beach day. 

Irene, Aunt Beth, Evngeline and "Miss DreDre" on the small dock.
The water is very high this year, so the end of the dock is submerged.

Mom, Tara, Jake and Eli stay a safe distance from the kid action.

Ammi and Aunt Beth helping Evangeline venture out.

Look, dad!

Maybe next year her legs will reach.

Evangeline practicing for her race with Aunt Jessie.

Waiting to go to the playground, fiddling with zippers.