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 

Alaska Winter??? or Sunset at 3 p.m.

The South has stolen our winter, and we want it back! 

Spring is not beautiful around here - at least not by my memory. It's muddy and slushy as all the snow melts and rolls down into the towns towards creeks and rivers.  It's much prettier with snow...but now we have ice, covered with snow....and that is just not right.

The sunset was beautiful this afternoon - about 3 p.m. 

New Year's Cuddles & Project

What better way to begin the new year - than loving on grands? Check them out! 

Benny - 6 wks, Bella - 1yr 81/2 months- Gideon 7 1/2 months

 Such a sweet smile!

Bennett and Cory 

Since everyone was sitting around, it seemed like the perfect time to figure out how to can broth....Cory and Krista mostly figured it out.....and now I have to try it on my own.

Krista stated, "It seems  like a lot of work for a few jars of chicken broth."  Hmmm....true but it IS yummy, and I know what's in it. I use a lot of broth in recipes, and this broth was free....made from the carcass of dinner and reclaimed veggie bits.

New Year's Eve

We were running to pull it together - but we did. Our typical New Year's Eve consists of activities hidden in brown bags - one opened each hour. We skipped the bags - but did much the same.

 Uncle Cy is a favorite with Gideon. He does have a unique way of quieting crying babies. LOL

We began the night with a ham dinner and then progressed to family gift exchange. This year, we drew names. That relieved stress and was still fun. I suggested throwing in a dirty Santa element - but Noooooo.....they liked their gifts. LOL

Lassie is willing to help

 Yarn gets this kind of reaction

Josiah was trying to get this from Craig's list. Jared aced him out and got it for him for Christmas. 

ice auger for ice fishing

Moose call???? or some such thing

I bought all the girls an apron from Tanzania. A friend's daughter is working at an orphanage there, and this helped to support one of the gals there. 

Michael and I had already purchased the aprons before everyone decided to draw names.....so we got the guys gift cards....but we tried to be sneaking with Jared and Cory. 

Trying to get a photo - that did take quite a bit of time

Sad Larissa was home with shingles

Benny - not so sure about New Year's Eve

We opened our time capsule from 2011 and added things for 2017.

fishing frog  - symbolizing the AK move

Note letting the kids know Gideon was coming unexpectedly....and info from
the hospital when Benny was born.

 Krista included maps of her travels in 2017  - I can't hope to get it right...but LOTS of states and 2 countries....and maybe rank to symbolize the Air Force 

I had made a book for Michael during his deployment and it was in the 2011 time capsule. The kids enjoyed seeing themselves 6 years later. 

Making and then decorating the Gingerbread villages took a couple of hours.

We all headed outside to watch the FIREWORKS. Wow. Someone had climbed to the top of the mountain and was setting them off from the top of the mountain! There were some impressive fireworks. We learned that the borough makes an exception and allows fireworks on New Year's Eve. We will be prepared next year.

We rang in the New Year with sparkling cider, toasts, memories and prayers. 

2017 was a year of hard losses for us, but it was also a year great of joy. Krista is pursuing a long-held goal. We moved to Alaska. Gideon and Bennett were born healthy. We bought a home we love - with a bit of land and a view we love. 8 of the 9 Gherkins and their families are nearby....