Last Day At Sea/ Inside Passage Canada

 Today was a relaxed day, playing volleyball, rock climbing, eating, watching shows, lazing on deck - all the cruise-y things one does during a day at sea.  Rob decided for the first time all cruise to step away from the balcony of our room and see a show with us, and thoroughly enjoyed himself.  "Wow!  The talent is really good!"  Yup.  We'd been telling him as much all cruise, but he was not about to miss a minute of balcony time for any reason.  We definitely got our money's worth out of that balcony!!

My favorite part of the cruise?  Dinner time.  Because we're so busy at home we rarely get a sit down meal together anymore, and if we do, it's rushed and over in five minutes.  Here on the cruise, dinners are a big to-do that last well over an hour.  The kids can order literally anything they want without their parents worried about the cost and quantity.  And while we're here together, I've rediscovered that my children are hilarious, and I thoroughly enjoy their company. We laughed and laughed and laughed, each and every night.  My mama heart is full, with us all gathered around the dinner table.   That is priceless.

Reagan won a speed rock-climbing competition!

Where Rob spent nearly every last non-eating and non-sleeping moment while on board.

These boys are really going to miss the unlimited desserts!

Ketchikan

 Ketchikan is an adorable city, with the old center built right onto the banks of a creek.  Very picturesque.  

Grandma Betty and Grandpa Jim paid for the kids to go ziplining through the rainforest here in Ketchikan.  Happy 18th birthday, Quinn and Colby, and happy spoiled youngest child, Reagan!  I followed along and took pictures.  They had a fantastic time.  Ziplining is their preferred mode of engaging with nature.  They're starting to get crabby about all the hiking we've been doing.

Once back on ship, it was our second formal night.  The kids are LOVING all the fancy, unlimited food.  This is a teenaged boy's dream.  

Salmon berries!  These were everywhere out in the woods.  I didn't check with anyone first to find out if they were edible, but I figured anything that looked that much like a thimbleberry had to be un-poisonous.  I was right.  They were delicious!