Cruising with Family

Eric's parents have been talking about taking the family on an Alaskan cruise for awhile now.  Eric's dad worked for many years in the Indian Health Service as a civil engineer, and they lived in Anchorage for several years in the early 80s...Eric was actually born there.  Eric and his dad, Tim, returned for a visit about 10 years ago, but none of the rest of the family has been back (his two youngest sisters have never been to Alaska).  The initial Alaska plans were for about four years ago, but got tabled when all four of the McLaughlin siblings got married in a three year span.  Then we moved to Kenya for two years.  When we returned this fall, his mom asked if we were still interested.  Um, yes!

All three of Eric's sisters and their families (minus one husband who sadly was unable to get away from work) came along for a 7 day cruise on Holland America leaving from Seattle.  We visited Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria BC, and did scenic cruising in Tracy Arm (a fjord that's home to 2 glaciers) and Puget Sound.  Awesome, awesome trip.  We took 100s of photos and will share them in a few upcoming posts, but wanted to start with some fun family photos.  The kids especially enjoyed getting to see Mimi and Bapa, their aunts and cousins, and their "chunkles" (uncles).  And we especially enjoyed having all those people around to help out with our kids. :)

Maggie and Ben reunited with their Bapa

View of Puget Sound from the back of the MS Amsterdam

Mimi and her grandkids on the first formal night.  She made Maggie and Sierra matching dresses, and Ben and Liam were wearing (unplanned) more or less matching vests.

13 McLaughlins in an elevator!

Rachel and my only niece, Sierra

Maggie and Ben sharing a chair (they each had their own chairs, neither of which was the chair they are sitting on in this picture, but when dinner takes 2 hours, some musical chairs do provide much needed entertainment!)

Ben and his Mimi

Calling Grandma to tell her about the cruise

Maggie, Ben, and Liam had fun checking out the rental carts at the Seattle airport.

Ben and Liam, 5 days apart in age, chilling in their carseats