Monday Listicles

It's another one from Monday Listicles at Northwest Mommy. Today's topic is 10 summer memories. I've had a lot of great summers so we'll see if I can narrow it down for you. Sorry, I'm not great at short-cutting stories so these might get a little long!

1.I don't remember how old I was, roughly 8 or 9, but growing up in Alaska my dad and I spent almost every weekend going fishing and camping. My favorite trip ever was a longer, I think 4 day trip. First we went to this new campground called Ptarmigan Lake and went fishing. We hiked into the trail some and fished for awhile and I caught a trout. Not just a rainbow trout though, this one was pretty monstrous in size for a trout. I wish I remembered exactly so pardon me if this is an exaggeration but I believe my dad said it was 24 inches. There was another random hiker there who saw me catch the fish and was super excited to see this little girl hook a huge fish. We bag our catch and continue down the trail and run into some other hikers. They look at me and they ask my dad if I'm the girl who just caught the huge trout. I was a legend. My dad was so proud, I could tell he was just glowing with pride. He had taught me well.

2. Another favorite trip with my dad was around this same time and I think it might actually be the same summer. We went into Seward, Alaska just to check it out and they had finished building their sea life center. We had never been so we went and the Alaska sea life center is one of the best I've ever seen. I was so stoked to see the sea lions and seals. When we finished there, we got some lunch, headed towards the beach and flew a kite. While out there, my dad spotted a sea lion swimming by which was odd because they rarely get that close to shore. He got out his video camera and we took off down the beach running to keep up with it.

3. My last summer in Alaska before moving was a blast. My friend Clarissa and I went camping over the weekend on our own and though we had both been camping quite a bit, we made some pretty silly mistakes. We failed to pack any firewood or lighters, just a box of matches and we realized quickly that starting a fire wasn't as easy as we remembered. We bought some firewood from the campground host and it wouldn't light. I called my dad and asked him to name some really flammable stuff for me and before he could answer the call cut out. Oops, hope I didn't scare you, dad! We put everything we could think of in the firepit to try and light it. Turns out moss and marshmallows are extremely flammable.

Our beautiful fire that only took an hour or so to build

4. My best friend Jen and I had a routine in Alaska. At least once a week, usually more often we made a coffee date for Barnes and Noble. We'd meet up, get our drinks and maybe a dessert and sit down in either the astrology or cooking section and chat. It was where we went to catch up but more importantly, where we went to vent. Barnes was our safe place. Every time something shitty happens in life, that's where I want to be but unfortunately we live light years away from each other now. Luckily we still keep in touch over the phone but there's nothing like talking things out over a chai tea and reading about how Scorpios deal with things. 

5. I moved to Illinois when I was 20 to live with the boyfriend (now the husband). I had never lived anywhere but Alaska so it was an experience. We spent our first couple days in St Louis and I got to see the Arch, went to the zoo, City Museum, and on a carriage ride. Later that summer we hit Six Flags, a Cardinals  game, and the Missouri Botanical Gardens. 

St Louis Arch

St Louis zoo!

Cardinals Game

6. The following summer in Illinois, my good friend Jamie and I took a trip to Chicago. I had never been to such a major city. I think Jamie got a little annoyed with all my excited outbursts, "Look, a giant TV outside! Look, a 3 story Old Navy! Look, a fountain with orange water!!!" It was clear I'm not a city girl. We drove in and just chilled at the hotel the first day, then the next we went downtown to go shopping and to Millenium Park. We wore hot pink pea coats that practically matched and someone asked us if we were there for the Taylor Swift concert. I guess we looked like teeny boppers.

Chicago!

Silver bean

7. My husband joined the air force and had training in Texas, which then continued in Florida. I went down to Texas to help him move to Florida and it was the best road trip ever. We stopped and stayed in New Orleans for a night and hit Bourbon Street which is a must at some point in your life, went to an aquarium, and finally settled at Panama City Beach. It was so relaxing!

8. We moved to England in late 2009 and the following summer was the World Cup, US vs UK. My friends, husband and I went to an English pub to watch the game. Everyone was dressed up, carrying flags, yelling for their team. Since we lived close to the base there was an equal number of American fans. After the game, one of our friends took part in a wet boxer contest (he won) and then we all headed back to our house for a few drinks. Okay, a lot of drinks. I'm pretty sure I've never laughed so much in my life. 

Crazy American who kept running back and forth starting USA chants

9. Last summer we moved to NH and I had my baby shower. My SIL organized most of it but it was a huge family affair and so perfect! My mom flew down from Alaska for it and I had just met the majority of my husband's extended family but they made me feel so welcomed.

10. This summer. It's hardly started but it's my first summer as a mom, and already my little guy has learned how to stand and said 'mama' for the first time. So this may be a little premature, but I think this summer will be full of favorite memories.