Now that most all the family has arrived, we had a huge bbq celebration tonight at Auke Bay. However, I rechristened it The Bay of the Jumping Salmon and the Chatting Eagles.
For the salmon... At any point in time, all you had to do was gaze out over the bay and you would see numerous salmon jumping in the air. Big ones. It was fascinating! Some of the family had taken a fishing trip earlier in the day and the captain of their boat explained that the salmon that jump out of the water are actually the females. When they jump, they twist their bodies so that they land on their sides in order to break the membrane around their egg sac. They are then ready to go spawn their eggs. Based on the number we saw tonight, there are a lot of eggs being laid in this area!
For the eagles... there was a pair with a nest near our bbq site and they kept swooping around, chatting their eagle talk back and forth to eachother and outracing the pesky ravens. They were a lot of fun to watch.
The boys mostly had fun playing football on the beach.
For the salmon... At any point in time, all you had to do was gaze out over the bay and you would see numerous salmon jumping in the air. Big ones. It was fascinating! Some of the family had taken a fishing trip earlier in the day and the captain of their boat explained that the salmon that jump out of the water are actually the females. When they jump, they twist their bodies so that they land on their sides in order to break the membrane around their egg sac. They are then ready to go spawn their eggs. Based on the number we saw tonight, there are a lot of eggs being laid in this area!
For the eagles... there was a pair with a nest near our bbq site and they kept swooping around, chatting their eagle talk back and forth to eachother and outracing the pesky ravens. They were a lot of fun to watch.
The boys mostly had fun playing football on the beach.
Alice, Sherri, and I did a little tidepooling. This was definitely a mussel heaven. They were everywhere.
I remember that sense of awe and wonder the first time I visited a saltwater beach!
It was so nice to spend time with my Mom. She's going through a very difficult time with her chemotherapy treatments but yet she's strong and she's fighting for every number that goes down on her cancer counts.
Alice took a stroll on the beach with Gary to show off some of her tidepooling skills.
Zane and Elise roasting marshmallows for smores.
Ethan and Henry found a creative way to play football.
I know these next two photos will be ones we revisit with fond memories.
Gary has such a special way with Evan, Zane, Henry, and Alice. Each one adores him to no end.
Some of Alice's beach treasures. I was so excited that she found some empty sea urchin shells - our first.
The kids started an elaborate game of hide n go seek through the forest with all sorts of hiding spots in the tree roots. 
Some of them got a little dirty.
Uncle Ray, making a perfect Brooklyn-style roasted marshmallow!
Charlie and his Angels...
What a great night! We all had fun with great food and great family.
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