Christmas Eve 2018

The countdown seemed to move quickly this year! 

We had a few errands to run. Krista stayed home and started  Tortilla soup in the crock pot. It's wonderful having her home!  Alex stayed with her. Nolan was working.  Stacia and I dropped Michael at Great Cuts. We stopped by the library and then on to Fred Myers. I needed to buy a couple of things for tomorrow's dinner - the ingredients for a Jesus cake. The decision was finally made.

I also looked for another air popper. I don't think I've mentioned three of my appliances didn't seem to fare well in the quake....the toaster, air popper, and instant pot all quit working last week. I didn't find an air popper I wanted. I'm not 100% sure what features matter to me. The one I had was a wedding gift. It did send out blue sparks when I unplugged it, before the quake. LOL  I know I want one with an on/off switch this time.  It was fun running into friends at the store. One always feels like they "belong," when they begin to run into friends at the commissary or local grocery store.

We got home about the time Jamin and Josiah arrived to spend the afternoon. Benny continues his fascination with the bells around the house.

Jamin and Benny 

 Group hug! 

Uncle Jamin, Uncle Josiah and Benny 

 Hello, Bright Eyes. This little man has cut 4 top, front teeth this week. 

::Drum Roll:::  This year's Jesus cake  - I was out-voted and we settled on an ice cream cake.  We compromised, one layer is EXTREME moose tracks and the other is cookies and cream. It turned out well. STACIA made the entire cake HERSELF.  This is the most laid back family meal I've prepared in a long time.  These two were happy to take care of the left-over ice cream.

Note - they are eating from the CARTON!!!!!

 A different Uncle and a different bell - Benny knows how to play the people in his life. 

Everyone needs an Uncle Cy

 Nolan was home,  Krista is home, Arielle is done with this semester, the boys are out....fun times.

Day One of munching on sugar - maybe Day 2 as we had quite a bit at the
Christmas Adam Tea

We haven't found a lot of Christmas lights in the area. We are used to neighborhoods lighting up the season. We heard about Vicki Way in Wasilla and drove out to check. It was by far the nicest we've found - but not as fantastic as I'd hoped.  We lived in the midst of Christmas lane in TX. Buses and church vans went up and down our street all month. ::snort:: 

 We headed from viewing lights to Matanuska Assembly of God for our Christmas Eve Service. Seven of our nine kids were with us - who would have foreseen this in our retirement years? CoRielle went to their own church service and JaRissa are in TX for the season.

Via Facebook....

We headed home and enjoyed Tortilla soup and Gorditas (Krista's gift). CoRielle arrived home and BreZaak and the kids joined us. We feel truly blessed for this period of time when all the Gherkins are nearby. 

Izaak, Bre, Jamin, Alex (behind Jamin), Krista, Bella on the floor

Gideon playing the keyboard, Arielle gesturing, Stacia in the "man chair" 

 These big brown eyes are to die for. Gideon enjoyed wearing the reindeer hat. 

Most often called Bubbie - as that is Bella's name for him. 

 Checking out the snow. 

Bella is a sweet-heart. She is FULL of energy. Her new thing is NOT to smile for pictures. In fact, as she saw me taking the one of Bubbie by the keyboard, she ran across the room, yelling, "No, Bubbie! No, no, no," and leaped in front of the camera. She's very photogenic and used to love having her photo taken - it's a phase.  She was playing with Auntie Arielle and nearly forgot the "no smile" edict.

Today was a great day for connection. Everyone is off work...nothing big on the agenda to steal our attention from simply being family - together. Eight of the nine kids, two of our three in-laws, and three grands.

Merry Christmas Eve, y'all!

Christmas Adam Tea 2018

My Mom LOVED Christmas and she loved tea parties, tea cups, china, and tea pots. This  wasn't always my "cup of tea," however, over the years I've come to love tea time too. There were years the kids and I had daily tea at  3 p.m.

Mom began a Christmas Adam Tea tradition.  I decided I wanted to carry on the tradition up here in Alaska.  Sherri, Amy, Harmony and Elizabeth are missing, but most of our girls are here. Larissa is in TX this year for Christmas, we miss her...and we aren't coveting the sun or anything like that. ::snort::

I got up bright and early and set the table with Mom's tablecloth and some of her pretties. Does anyone know HOW to fix holes in lace?

I set out an assortment of tea pots so we could each make our own pot of tea. 

I always have an assortment of teas and hot chocolate drinks. 

Krista folded the napkins and tucked Grams' tea spoons into them. I may polish the silver before the next tea party. ::snort:: 

We headed to church. Don't you love church at Christmas time? Stacia and I were in the nursery. I was a bit bummed to miss church - but happy I could wear my faded jeans and my red Santa hat with the tiara. ::wink::  Lot at this plate of goodies we scored at church - it was a nice addition to the tea treats.

This year's tea attendees....Next year Larissa will be here and Baby D3 will be a female and join us. 

Bre (daughter #1), Bella (Bre's daughter) Arielle (daughter #3), Benny (Arielle's)
Krista (daughter #2) and Stacia  - wait I'm there too. It's too late to try to blog. 

Bella got to use a pink cup and saucer from Stacia's childhood tea set. It was a gift from my Mom. 

The Girls

The guys went over to BreZaak's and watched The Hobbit. Benny stayed with us - his very first Christmas Adam tea party. 

Today marks the 36th week of BreAnne's pregnancy. We are excited. Gideon was born at 35 weeks. Bre has one more shot this week and then she's just waiting for Baby D3. Our local hospital won't let her deliver here unless she makes it 37 weeks. One more week to go. We really don't want her to have to go to Anchorage.

I never looked this pretty in my 3rd trimester!
Of course we wore MuMus in the 80's

 The girls used the time together to plot their Gingerbread plans for this year's New Year's Eve competition.  I hope the guys are coming up with a plan. 

Bella (2 yrs 8 months) & BreAnne

 Bre and Bella headed home when Bella was ready to go-go. The rest of us decided to watch In-Lawfully Yours. This is a funny movie. At least we think it is funny. We watch it on Netflix, it can also be rented from Amazon Prime Video.

The guys got home and played a round of Dominion. Michael won. Nolan made it through the day of work and all the afternoon's activities.

Stacia is watching YouTube, Krista is reading, I'm done blogging and going to join them. 

I'm not going to pretend this hasn't been a hard holiday season. When Thanksgiving came, I remembered it was my last really lucid conversation with Mom and she was moving in with Will and Sherri until she was well again.  Dec 3rd my brother called and told me Mom wasn't doing well and they were going to take her to the hospital.   Facebook reminded me, Stacia and I were flying to OR last year on the 4th to spend time with Mom.  She recognized us the day we arrived, but not so much after that. She passed away on Dec 12th. Her funeral was December 22nd. For some reason, I didn't want to begin hitting the "second year" without mom for birthdays, holidays, milestones....and yet, here we are.  It's a loss unlike any other...probably not worse or easier....just unlike others. I have felt the loss of her prayers and our frequent calls. But it was TIME for me to find fun things to do to remember and honor her memory....I have an ornament on the tree for our 7 babies in heaven....I cast around for something similar.

A Christmas tea is IT! It's a fun way for me to continue something Mom enjoyed AND it makes fun memories for the girls and me. It's a nice way to BREAK  at the height of activity and draw close to each other, to relax, rest, and savor relationships.  I'm still learning from Mom's heart for family.

Kitchen Projects, Snow Machine Projects, Spurs Game, Chicken Scares, Carolers, Dinner, Dominion...A full day!

Meanwhile, back at Wibbly Wobbly Acres*, the ovens were lit, aprons on, and wooden spoons in motion. I was glad Stacia (#4 daughter) opted to stay and help me today. We like to bake together. She had hoped to get to a sewing project today - but didn't make it. We had several other things we considered making and baking, which we also set aside. 

The kitchen haul today.....

Christmas Crack(ers) from Krista

Crust-less Quiche and Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies 

 We are thankful for our walk out freezer this time of year! Keeping Yuuki inside became a chore. 

We made good use of the walk out freezer. 

Chocolate Candy Cane Kiss Cookies 

We also made Chicken Salad and Peanut Butter cookies with Kisses on top. 

When the girls huddle together like this we know something has alarmed them. 

Do you see the problem? Way up high?

Our resident eagle or owl or hawk

eagle

Nolan (#4 son) is on day 4 of the flu. He could get up today without throwing up. He plans to be at work at 0500 tomorrow. He and Stacia watched a movie and an episode of  Nailed It while we baked.

Michael and Alex cleaned fish while Josiah, Jamin (#2 son), Krista (#2 daughter) and Izaak (#1 SIL) got the snow machines running.

Josiah (#1 son)

Krista (#2 Daughter) rode the machine in the woods.....but I have no photo of her adventure. 

This sweet family makes all other Pastor's families look like Christmas Slackers! ::wink:: We were surprised by carolers....the poor girls were traumatized by Yuuki's howling charge. 

Everyone came inside in time to catch the Spurs Game. Grrrr.....every. single. time. Josiah and I watch a game together - they lose! They were doing great today until the last quarter. It's becoming an unfortunate trend.

Nolan, Arielle (#3 daughter), Josiah, Alex (#4 son), Stacia & Jamin (#2 son)

We kept dinner warming in the oven until the end of the game. Arielle and Benny (#3 grandblessing) came up to visit while we ate. They wait for Cory to come home on his dinner break to eat. Benny loves bells and always fixates on the bell over the table.

Benny and Arielle 

Success

After dinner clean up, Michael, Josiah, Alex and Krista played a round of Dominion. 

Stacia fell asleep. Benny was having none of Auntie Stacia checking out of play time. 

He got her attention. 

Ah, Cory (#2 SIL) is home for dinner. Benny is mesmerized by his Christmas tie - it plays music! 

CoRielle went down for dinner. Josiah and Jamin headed to Eagle River. Nolan had gone to bed right before dinner - poor guy. One by one everyone else headed for bed, I decided to blog.

While I blogged, I turned in my chair, and the CHAIR FELL APART. I think I've re-injured my ice injury - the tailbone one. My shoulder and thigh don't feel great either - but it was hilarious and Michael and I couldn't help laughing. He plans to check all the chairs again. We have too much company in and out of our home to take chances with collapsing chairs.  Maybe Life Group will have to be "Bring Your Own Chair." ::snort::

Notes:
It's been a while since I've blogged so it may be helpful to identify folks - thus the #'s in today's posts.
BreZaak - BreAnne and Izaak's blog name
CoRielle - Cory and Arielle's blog name
JaRissa - Jared and Larissa's blog name

*Wibbly Wobbly - one day Bella called Michael and I wibbly wobbly. Which we thought was hilarious. We've come to think of our place as Wibbly Wobbly Acres...and had a fun idea for a egg carton label....but haven't executed the plan. We haven't decided which one of us is wibbly and which is wobbly - both labels fit fairly well for either of us. LOL

Ice Fishing - Mirror Lake

Josiah (#1 son) serves as our advanced scout for all things fishing. He's been telling the rest of the family tales of limiting on land locked King Salmon at Mirror Lake.  Today, he, Jamin, Izaak, Michael, Alex and Krista went ice fishing.  (The rest of the family's activities will be in a blog to follow).

This was Alex and Krista's first time ice fishing.

Josiah, Izaak, Michael, Alex

 Alex (#5 son) & Josiah drill a hole with the ice auger

Michael is happy to try the fishing hole out for everyone. 

Yep, they're biting today. 

Izaak and I planned to smoke and can fish.....I didn't get to it today - maybe he did. Our 15 are in the freezer. 

Krista's first catch of the day 

He followed the rules

Everyone caught their limit and were home with lots of time to continue to play at home.  Stacia heard we had 15 king salmon that Dad and Alex were cleaning. She wasn't very impressed when she saw these fabled kings...."THOSE are Kings?" ::snort::

We'll get some real Kings yet. We plan to stay in Alaska a nice, long time. No need to rush all the adventures.

I used to take the older ones to Mirror Lake for the afternoon. I've not been back since we moved up here, but I know it's fun for the kids to revisit as adults. Krista had a good time trying something new, getting out in Alaska, and meeting up with Josiah - her first chance since arriving this week.