Attack of the Mosquitoes!

The days have been hot here, which is a pleasant surprise from the usual rain and colder temps we’ve seen in past seasons. The sun is a wonder to see, but man oh mighty, the mosquitoes are in full force. Do you know that the (unofficial) Alaskan record for most mosquitoes killed in one slap is 78? That’s just crazy talk. Mosquitoes are everywhere - they greet you in the outhouse; they fly down your shirt; they cut conversations short; they drive you mad in the middle of the night; and they always find that one spot on your body that you missed with the repellent. Poor Riley is getting eaten alive, no matter the amount of repellent I put on her. Of course she wants to be outside all the time, so there’s always an internal war going on inside me whether the bites she’ll get are worth the amusement of playing in the dirt (the dirt usually wins). 

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Lovin' the blue bin! 

Riley with her best friend Bjorn 

Riley’s becoming quite the McCarthy kiddo with her dirty hands and face and new words like “generator”,  “powerhouse”, and “four-wheeler.” There’s no end to the fascination she sees in things around her– flowers, bugs, dogs, strangers, rocks… you can only imagine how long it takes to walk from one place to the next with her! When we take our walks, Riley says hi to just about anyone she meets. When she wants to know someone’s name, she asks and then finishes with a “see you later alligator!” How can one not appreciate the happier things in life while in the company of a toddler? J

Oh how I love this kiddo! 

parting shot!

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES!

It's that time of year again when the Vial family finds itself in a cozy lil' cabin in McCarthy, Alaska. It seems like not too long ago I was writing about wheels falling off strollers and spraying toilets! Riley is no longer the little girl content to ride in the backpack all day. Oh no - she'd rather run, jump, and touch all that's in sight. McCarthy is quite the playground for kids, and there's never a shortage of walks and exploring to do here. If only mama could keep up with the energy of Miss Riley!

There's already plenty of adventures to share, but for now, I'll share the best one to be had so far....

Yep, you guessed it... prepare yourself for another lil' Vial! Riley's "only child" status expires in December, so we'll be making sure she gets the ultimate summer experience before life changes in a big way for her. Here's to another summer prego in McCarthy!