Sunday Afternoon Walk

Today, after church and lunch, we met the Eagle River Group at Reflections Lake.  We discovered while Krista was here that we don't all fit in the Jeep. Arielle came out with CoRielle and Bennett. BreZaak and kids stayed home.  This was Bennett's first family Alaskan hike!  It was a bit crisp - 20*, but beautiful and well worth a bit of cold.

It made me laugh to see the life jackets still hanging by the frozen lake with the warning that state law requires you wear one on the lake. I confess - we went out on the solidly frozen lake without a life vest.

We discovered that lakes seem to become dog parks in the winter around here. LOL

Michael & I

Krista, Alex, Nolan 

With two of gals - Krista and Larissa

Cory (Bennie in his coat), Arielle and Stacia

Stacia

 The Gang - Cy was in Seattle

Michael, Bennie/Cory, Alex, Nolan, Jared,
Krista (batman pjs), Jamin, Arielle, Stacia, Rissa 

It was a gorgeous walk. On the way home, we stopped at the Matsu River  (or maybe it's the Knick) for a few more photos.

 

January Birthday Dinner

 We have been having weekly Sunday Family Dinners - to gather all the kids here to connect. We haven't had many birthdays, but we have had a time or two where I was doing two big dinners in one week. We hit on a solution. The first dinner of the month will be the Birthday Dinner for all the birthdays in the month. Larissa sparked this idea.  Tonight we met to celebrate two birthdays - mine and Jared's.  I let him choose the dinner - stroganoff.  I made a non-dairy option for myself and BreZaak. He chose a Cookies and Cream Ice Cream cake. That's fine...but I've been craving an Andes Mint Chocolate Cheesecake. I made the last one in 2009. I think I've showed restraint. I was happy I made the cheesecake as several of the Gherkins were thrilled to see it. I have no idea what happened to the pig hat. ::snort::

Gifts weren't expected - but a couple showed up anyway. LOL  Josiah knows me - A HEATED THROW! 

JaRissa got me an oil diffuser...and an arctic heat blend which I'm putting to use. 

Jared got a card and gift card from Krista....

And a really fun mad lib card from us 5.....

Benny Bear made the rounds...

After everyone went home these four played more Dominion. 

Snow, Sewing and Benny Cuddles

The day brought more cold and snow. 

I thought the younger three had an ingenious plan. They've been waiting (and waiting) for enough snow to build a snow fort for fights as we had in Japan. We haven't gotten nearly the amount of snow we got in Japan.  They decided to use the frame of the deck off the dining room to build their fort.

They hauled snow up the stairs, formed blocks.....until Michael saw them. He reminded them if they had a snowball fight, they'd be throwing snowballs right at the dining room windows. LOL  Next they went way out in the woods...I asked them come closer so I could get photos from the deck without having to go to far out in the snowy woods. Yes, I AM glad we waited on chickens. That coop will be much closer to the house than we'd planned. ::snort::

I had been wanting to pull out my new machine and make a tablecloth. We ended up making a tablecloth and several placemats. I'd planned to use another piece for the cloth and the green for a runner....but Krista convinced me this would be better. I'll make more placemats from the other piece when things settle down enough to have another sewing day. 

Krista is soaking up all the niece and nephew time she can.....

Yuuki likes the wood stove as much as I do. At least I don't sleep on the hearth. 

After the Heat comes SNOW!

We've had really warm days....and our yard was muddy and icy. It was ugly. We got up this morning to go to Michael's Estim therapy and our driveway was an ICE RINK. Krista is desperately hoping for some SNOW on her vacation with us - not 49* weather.

The drive to therapy was gorgeous!  

It began to snow while we were out.....I never tire of this drive....I love the mountains barely visible. 

Proof that Crocs are all-weather shoes!

Our yard is a winter wonderland again

Krista and Stacia getting ready to try out the sledding run 

Picture of a happy beagle

Meanwhile, Michael is content in his chair, with his grandson

Gramps and Benny Bear

  Mom loved photos of the swing and this tree. She wanted me to take them in all seasons....

It snowed throughout the night. 

Cory spent the a.m. shoveling the driveway....

There was a team of shovelers....

While Stacia, Arielle and Krista enjoyed a snowball fight

The start of my sauna....I dream of my little sauna in the woods. LOL