Stranger in the Neighborhood

This Moose has been wandering the neighborhood for the past few days. It has been visiting multiple yards, and munching on the trees and bushes. Guess this is what happens in Alaska! I have seen it a couple of times, but have not been able to get a decent picture, so I stole this from Cherie's blog. Thanks Cherie!

"Fish Taco" Night

Over the holidays, we were invited over to the Cocklin's house (Jared's Boss). It was such a fun evening, but the hit of the night was the Fish Tacos (made from Alaska Halibut)! Jared was a little hesitant about this, but it is now he and the boys favorite, and they are asking me when I am going to make them. After eating a great meal and drinking great drinks (Josh was fascinated with the fancy cups), we played games until way late. It was such a great night, just like going to Grandpa and Grandma Lee's house. Jim and Kathie reminded us so much of them, especially Kathie and her hospitality. They even have a cuckoo clock, which the boys loved....another reminder of Grandma Lee. We had can't wait to go again!

Happy New Year!

I KNOW, BLOG OVERLOAD, BUT I HAVE TO GET IT DONE, SO KEEP READING...LOTS GOING ON!

This is what we did for our New Year:

Me: went to bed at 9:45, fighting off a cold (I did watch the ball drop thanks to CNN, 12:00 ET = 8:00 Alaska time, first time in a long time!

Jared: stayed up until 1:00 studying for a military test

Nathan and Joshua: stayed up until 1:00 playing games and watching fireworks out Nate's bedroom window!

(Fireworks are huge here on New Years, because on the 4th of July it is light until after midnight)

Guess you can tell who the "true"party-ers are!

This was the only picture Jared took!

Look who turned 39.......

Yes indeed, my handsome hubby is beginning his last year in his thirties! The big 39! He had the day off, so we took the kids to Red Robin to celebrate. They make Jared's favorite burger. Then we came home and had coconut cream pie, per Jared's request!

Our Skiing Adventure

We decided to take the boys downhill skiing over the holidays. The Air Force Base has a little resort that is very reasonable and small, so it was perfect for their first trip. I am the only one who has skied, so I was in for an adventure. We went night skiing (hence the poor quality of pictures). The boys picked up on it really quick. We started on the tow rope and then moved to the lift. Josh did great from the start. Nathan was a little more hesitant, but by the nights end, was doing great. Jared on the other hand was....lets just say it was hilarious to watch. Jared did okay skiing, it was the getting off the lift he couldn't do. He would crash every time. The first time he crashed, did a summersault, and lost a ski. Then stood up and crashed again into the bamboo poles. They stopped the lift and would come out to help him. I couldn't do anything but laugh. It was so funny! I would ride up the lift before him, and every time the guy in the control booth would see him coming, he would slow down the lift, hoping it would help him, but it didn't. After 5 tries, he finally got it down. Other than that we had a blast, and can't wait to go again!

Gotta LOVE this kid!

We LOVE our Joshua! He is so thoughtful. He came to me one day and said he wanted to find a recipe for homemade dog treats. He was going to make Pete a Christmas present. We googled dog treats and found a yummy looking one. He made them with peanut butter, corn meal, oats and a few other ingredients. He then cut them out with a moose cookie cutter. He put them in a bag and has been giving them to Pete everyday. Pete loves them too!Josh also was determined to make cookies for Santa. He had told me days in advance what to get: oreos, cream cheese, and white chocolate. He mixed the crushed up oreos with the cream cheese and made them into balls. Then he dipped them in white chocolate. He was so proud! He even wrote a letter, asking Santa to save just a few for him. Josh did find out about Santa this last year, but it makes me smile to think that he still has the fun inside of him!

CHRISTMAS

We had a great Christmas, and I was SO glad it was on Sunday. It was nice getting to go church. It made the day more "Christ"masy!

We all woke up around 8:00ish. We had a great breakfast, let the kids open their stockings, and then went to church. Once we got home we read the Christmas Story from the Bible, and then opened presents. I am so mad at myself, because I took before pictures and then totally forgot to take pictures during and after all the excitement. After a relaxing afternoon, we had a yummy traditional Christmas dinner and dessert! It was a great day, although we really missed spending it with our extended families!

Our boys were so thoughful this year. Joshua made Jared a name plate out of clay and me a coupon book full of great coupons!

Nathan bought Jared and I both nice Christmas decorations to add to "Grandma Lee's tree". Here is a quick story behind the tree. A few years ago my Grandma died, and then sometime later my Grandpa died. When my family was going though their things they came across all her Christmas decorations and tree. Nobody wanted it, so I said I would take it and into our storage unit it went. I wondered if I would ever be able to use it. So when we moved to Alaska, we stopped in Utah and cleaned out the storage unit and I got to bring "Grandma Lee's tree" with us. We put it up in our entry way and every time we walk past it we think of her.

GRANDMA LEE'S TREE

Christmas Eve

Sticking to tradition, we had some friends over for Christmas Eve, for appetizers and fun! It was great, because all the families have kids the same ages (give or take a few years) as Nate and Josh, so they had a great time! The missionaries even hung out with us for a little bit. Everyone ate, and ate and ate, and then the adults sat around and visited while the kids played PS3, hide and seek and what ever else they could come up with. It was a great celebration!

And what would Christmas Eve be without new Jammies, courtesy of Grandma Swenson!

SNOW galore!

We have been blessed or cursed with SO much snow lately. These pictures don't even do it justice! In one night we had 18 new inches on our back deck! All the locals say this is one of the coldest and snowiest winters they can remember. I chalk that up to the Cardon's moving to town! I am SO SO grateful for a snowblower. Josh LOVES to play in it. He also LOVES using his friends snowboard. I love to look at it from the inside. I really need to get out and take some pictures in the daylight, because it really is a gorgeous, winter wonderland!