Lazy Monday

We enjoyed a cold, lazy Monday inside the house. The dining room is always warm and cozy.

It's amazingly fun to watch Gideon's personality unfold. Just in the last two weeks he's become incredibly smiley, jolly and loves to MOVE.....Here I was standing him on my lap and he was determined to get down on my legs and scoot down them.  Fun times.

Sunday Fun

We envisioned Sunday afternoons full of playing and visiting, topped with dinner/devo together. It's not exactly worked out that way - mainly because reality interfered. The kids are really busy. Most the playing we envisioned - hikes, yard games -  happen best without snow....JaRissa have been screaming busy and Sunday's will never work for them. Other nights don't work with Cory and Izaak's work schedule.  BUT we've enjoyed our weekly Family Dinners and Michael and I are always talking about tweaking - looking to encourage connections and memories.

TODAY - the boys surprised us by coming out early and playing games all afternoon. Stacia is not thrilled about strategy games and we are heavy on the strategy games around here. ::snort::  We were not here when they arrived and stopped in at BreZaak's. Cy has a great photo of Bella, who ran to the other end of their tiny home, got behind the bed, and peeked over the top. I've lost the photo. I did snap the one below of Dominion.

Alex, Nolan , Cy and Michael - Jamin and Stacia were out of range

 BreZaak came up early and I promptly put them to work. We kept it simple tonight - Chili and Cornbread.  I accidently added double cumin, when it was time to add a bit of curry (that happens when I'm distracted), Michael worked to remove it - but the chili ended up tasting a bit like taco soup.

Izaak, Bella and Bre

We finished our look at Philemon and will be moving on to new things in the near future. Next week is Michael's birthday celebration...from there it's Thanksgiving and then we'll do four weeks of advent devos on Sunday nights.

We are enjoying life.

Horses and Sleds

We've heard there's a bear in the neighborhood - we've not seen one. We've heard wolves. We've had lots of moose and ptarmigan in the our yard.  However, this is a new one! 

 As I was talking with Mom on the phone, this guy came into our yard. Michael was at men's meeting - meaning I had no car - it was snowy and I didn't want to drive someone else's car.  I am not a horse person. I love them, but had no clue how to get him to STAY until we could find his owner. 

Cory is a horse whisperer and kept him calm and in the yard for over an hour. 

I ran around the neighborhood, in my pj's, trying to figure out where the hose came from. I'm not sure I've shared about the neighbor who answers the door without pants. I avoided his door.  I found another one in a skimpy robe. I was getting a bit perplexed about what to do, when I stopped at a house I've been admiring. Jim, who answers the door fully clothed,  had me jump in his car and we drove all over.....horses everywhere....we drove up  to trailheads, and up and down roads...one horse person sending us to a next. I called Animal Control as someone said owners often call there when their livestock get out. Alas, the horse eventually left us....but it looks like he had a clear idea where he was going. Jim tracked him for a bit. 

It was a great way to meet a new neighbor.

The kids declared there was enough snow to try sledding in the yard. 

Before this stunt, he had a foot on two different sleds - it didn't end well. 

It was a great day! What a blessing to be settling into this community.

#WYFF - New Entertainment - Gemma & Gideon

Michael and the boys have been working on a project this week. Hanging the new TV on the wall, re-hanging photos, putting up speakers and wiring them. They did a great job! The wires are hidden in conduit - painted to match the walls, and Nolan and Michael went up in the attic and threaded wires down to several of them.

Alex is holding Michael on the hutch - Nolan is balancing

 Done! Josiah and Jamin came out for dinner and then we watched  Tim Hawkins DVD - "Just About Enough."

AND......we had Gemma and Gideon time....

A Grand Day

This is the best photo ever! I'm pretty proud of my phone. LOL 

Gramps and Gideon Michael 

Bre invited Stacia, Arielle and me to tea! Bella was happy to join us....

Bella hosts tea 

 This made me realize I want to get some tablecloths to fit our big table! LOL 

Arielle, Baby S, Bre, Bella, Stacia

This was a fun break in the week. I do love having 3 generations on site. And look at Arielle and Baby S....soon and very soon we'll get to meet Baby S. It was a sweet day....we booked a ticket for Krista to come visit 27 Dec - 9 Jan....oh the good times will roll! 

Chocolate Caramel Balls

I bought Stacia a Cookies! cookbook for .50 at  Bishop's Attic. She has been baking up a storm....and she only allows herself sugar one time a week. How does she do this??????

These were more involved than some of the ones she's baked. They were good. 

Makes 3 doz.

INGREDIENTS: 
8 oz cream cheese, softened, divided
1/2 C packed brown sugar
1/2 C butter, softened
1/4 C granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
18 cramels, cut in half

FROSTING
1 1/2 C powdered sugar
2 T unsweetened cocoa
2 T caramel ice cream topping
2-3 tsp milk

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350*.

Cut caramels in 1/2. Set aside.

In large mixing bowl combine 6 oz cream cheese, brown sugar, butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add flour, 1/4 C cocoa and the baking powder. Beat at low speed until soft dough forms.

Shape a T of dough around 1 caramel half to form 1 inch ball. Repeat.

Place balls two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10 -1 4 min or until set. Cool completely.

FROSTING:
In a small mixing bowl, combine 2 oz of cream cheese and the frosting ingredients.

Beat at low speed until smooth.

Spread frosting evenly on cookies.

Let dry completely before storing.

Stacia decide to top them with chocolate chips and chocolate shavings. The shavings are the better choice.

Snowy Day

 These two stay warm and cozy inside - the snow isn't bothering them! It's fun to watch their personalities develop. Bella loves reading to Gideon.....

More snow....they got more in Anchorage and Eagle River - but I'm sure we met with the snow with more zeal. LOL 

The power company stopped by to say these trees were planted 5 feet to close to the power lines. They will be by in a day or two to take 3 feet off the top of the two biggest ones. WE  will plant another row 7-10 feet closer to the house....and they will be back in the next cycle and will take all the trees out. Ugh.  I had thought we would just begin using the trees for Christmas Trees....but they are TALL!  We are going to transplant a couple of the smaller ones....and then we'd like to plant new trees every year - and harvest our own each year.

We've talked to Lowes and Home Depot and they say they don't get blue spruce in at Christmas time. They get potted pines....but they can't survive the winter! WHAT???? Our plan was to buy a mid-sized spruce, use it and then plant it in the spring.....from looking around our place we can tell the spruce will do just fine here.  We may not get to use a live tree this year.....just go in the woods and cut one....

Since the weather is dipping into single digits - it's now winter. LOL