NO MONDAY BLUES HERE (unless you count Glacial Ice)!!

Today has been AWESOME!!

Oliver decided to get up REALLY early again - but we made the best of it and got dressed to head out for an early breakfast. As we walked out of the house I had to laugh because I was wearing flip flops and there was ice on the ground. I was dressed for Anchorage weather (which has been 10* higher than where we on in the valley).

Flip flops & ice... I'm still a happy girl!!

On our way into the city we realized that despite the heavy clouds hanging in the valley - once we were out of the valley it was clear skies... so clear that Mt. McKinley was shining bright down here in Eagle River (5hrs from Denali).

 We ate breakfast at our favorite breakfast spot (the only one we go to) - Snow City Cafe. Oliver was excited to have "CANCAKES" (pancakes) which he will be eating for the rest of the week there were so many of them. Jason had the breakfast tacos and I LOVED their Country Benedict - homemade biscuits topped with sausage, a poached egg and then smothered in sausage gravy!!

After breakfast we headed south. On the way Jason and his awesome eyesight spotted Belugas swimming along the road in the Inlet. We pulled off and got to watch them for a bit but they were too quick for me to catch with my camera. We loaded back up and went to the Conservation Center in Portage - they rehabilitate native animals that are found injured or even orphaned for whatever reason. Since it would be very challenging to see some of these animals in the wild it was really awesome to see them beautiful animals up close and to know that many of them would not have survived if it weren't for these people who have rehabilitated them or in some cases, love them knowing that they will never be able to leave. It was even better to see many signs up stating when/where that herd would be released into the wild. Here are some of my favorite pictures...

It is currently rutting season for these animals so we got the opportunity to hear the Moose, Elk and Caribou "talking"... I could have sat there ALL DAY and listened to them. I can't get the videos to link up but I will post them on Facebook.

After we left the Conservation Center we headed into Portage Valley - home to many different glaciers. First we stopped to see if there were any salmon left in the river... they were there but they were ROUGH looking and the smell from all of the carcases on the banks was awful!! Oh well, still go a few good pictures...

I had done my research and read the the Byron Creek Trail was jogging stroller friendly so off we went. It was a beautiful trail that ended at a glacial "creek" (looks more like a river to me) and the views were breath-taking. Oliver and Jason did a little more exploring than I did so while they explored a giant "mountain" of boulders from a rock slide I decided to sit and soak up the beautiful of God's creation around me. It amazed me that where I was sitting was carved out by the very glacier that I was sitting at the base of. We serve a mighty God and it amazes me that he chose to use something as simple as ice to carve his landscape. I took a rock with me as a reminder of the feelings that God laid on my heart as I sat there in that valley.

 I just HAD to stick my toes in the creek - no doubt it's glacial - that water was COLD!!

And yet again Oliver was passed out by the time we got to the car...

We made one stop on the way home... one of the local fish mongers!! We grabbed a pound of "just off the boat" Halibut cheeks and a couple other little things and headed home to make dinner. I poached them, Oliver helped me make mashed potatoes, add a simple salad and we were ready for a wonderful dinner together at "our home"! :)

After that we spent the evening together in the living room that looks out over the other side of the valley - it really just doesn't get much better!

The little one is fast asleep (lets hope he sleeps past 5am tomorrow morning) and we aren't far behind him! 

Goodnight all - we thank you for your thoughts and prayers while we are away - no doubt we feel God around us every step we take.