Alaska

David and I are in Anchorage, Alaska right now - week one is the Animal Behavior meetings, week two, a traveling vacation. Our first vacation just the two of us. David's dad (Grandpa John) is in Panama, shuttling the kids from birthday parties to theater performances - together with Graciela, holding down the fort. We miss them like crazy. But we are enjoying this ruggedly beautiful, strangely sunlit land. Here, some photos, all from Day 1.

 Moose.

 Short, intense Alaskan summer, wildflowers everywhere - wild geraniums, wild roses.

Cottonwood.

Eagle River.

 Eklutna Lake.

 Musk ox in Palmer, AK.

 

Musk ox calf.

Birthday Beach

More and more birthday extravaganza! In addition to an impromptu celebration at Aaron and Marina's (including the requisite piñata), we invited all the families of Gamboa on a beach excursion at Playa Malibu. Forty people at a remote beach! The logistics of this fully didn't hit us until the day approached, but we had lots of helpers, hiking in coolers full of pasta, chicken, watermelon, beer, lemonade - and cupcakes.

 FOUR!!

Simon - Four!!!!

 Simon, a triumphant four! Celebrating with his teachers Mariluz and Telvinia.

Sharing cake with his classmates.

Points if you can guess what the cake is supposed to be (Lorenzo's guess: a frog! a sick frog!)

Simon's favorite - pizza for dinner (trying (and liking!) pepperoni for the first time).

 And presents - this AMAZING dinosaur stool from Taisie, which was met by huge delight....

 King of the world!

Goodbyes

Nana and Grandpa John's visit came to an end, with some goodbye cuddles. 

Simon's plan was to travel back with them in their red suitcase, but unfortunately this bag didn't quite make it to the airport.

Annual fishing

Each year John and Sharon go fishing with David in Lake Gatun, along the Panama Canal.

Here they are. And here are the peacock bass we ate for supper - delicious...!

Gorgeous color!

Linda, Jeff and Spencer came with tiny suitcases, full of colorful gifts.

 

A rooster for Simon's room.

 

 An owl for Gwen's.

 A signed copy of Jeff's new book, with Linda's painting on the cover.

Two super cool light switch covers.

 

And crazy, fun scratch paper, which we used to make signs for the kids' doors. We also just checked out Linda's website: http://www.artistlindasmyth.com/ - love it!!

The mural tour of Gamboa

On Linda, Jeff and Spencer's last day, we took them on a whirlwind tour of Gamboa. Almost unnecessary, as they had pretty much discovered all of it already - either on their own, or under Gwendolyn's guidance. Here is Gwendolyn giving Spencer the biking tour:

(video recorded by Spencer as he was also biking)

 

Some of the Gamboa murals.

Ending at our house, where Aunt Lou added to our little mural scene: painting leaves near Theo's bats on Gwendolyn's Mudnut House.