Pleasant Surprises

Life happens! Brent and I were just talking that we had not had any huge surprises in the last few months and we were thrilled with the lack of drama. Well, we spoke too soon! We are expecting our fourth in June sometime of next year. So with that we are looking for a new car since ours right now only seats five. Come on mini-van!

We had an awesome non-Thanksgiving. Brent had to be at work on Thanksgiving so we celebrated the Monday before. What a pleasant day! No pressure and really good food! I hope you all had a wonderful day with friends and family!

Just Have to Show You

This picture is from Christmas but I love it so much I just have to show you! Ania and David both carried it by themsleves from our back woods to the front door, which is quite a ways. I am so proud of them. We figure that Ari will be helping them carry it next year!

Party!

We went to church last night for a new year's eve party. So much fun! The kids played like crazy till 1:30 in the morning at church then we got home and they played till 2:30am and then promptly passed out. Got to play cribbage, which I haven't done in years and eat lots of good food. The kids played with sparklers and got to see fireworks. They had fun. Living in Alaska there is no fireworks display on the Fourth, what is the point? So New Year's is the big day. We haven't been in a place the last couple of years for us to see any so the kids sure enjoyed, while I sat with the women and watched Anne of Green Gables!

A New Year

At church yesterday Pastor Mark preached on the year that we have just been through and while he is not an advocate for new year's resolutions only once a year he posed a question to us that has made me think. "How do you want to grow spiritually in the next year?" He brought up some valid points and hit the mark many times. I look back on this year and am so thankful for the mountain that we started on cause this valley feels like it is going on forever. I am looking forward to growing and learning more this next year. Ya know it is funny. Brent and I have talked about the different ways that we drive now compared to when we were in WA and in our teens. It is not so important to be first or in our own minds beat the other person. I am thankful that we have both learned this and yet there are times when I mourn the loss of the carefree I am going to show them days. But with age comes wisdom and the life to live for another day! Thank the Lord that he has been my co-pilot on every trip. I can sure remember many times when I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for Him. What will you do this next year?

Another question I am asking myself is how can I help my children grow in the Lord and in a way that will please Him? I pray that my children will grow to know Him more and more every day and that I can be the best example I can be.

Ice Park & LARS

The day before Brent went back to work we went to the Large Animal Research Station (LARS). They were having an open house and we got to walk into the barns and walk up to the muskox and reindeer really close. The kids even got to touch a live muskox. WOW! Their fur is really thick. The poor guy, he was not doing well with having everyone so near his head. The kids learned that you don't look them in the eye because it is considered a threat. They do not like children because they are the same size as their predators, but they do really well with adults. They even had babies that had been born this year. Ari was a trooper. She did so well in the cold. She is our cold weather baby.

After that we went to the Ice Park in North Pole. The city decided to start a Christmas tradition this year. They had people even come from China to compete in the event. It was awesome! The kids had a blast. They got to go down ice slides and crawl through ice tubes. David did not want to leave. Brent actually had fun because the kids did. I am hoping to post some of the pictures.

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas day! We had to get another tree on Christmas Eve as the first one had died. The kids carried it home and loved decorating it. That night we went to the Christmas Eve service at church and Ania got to be in the nativity scene as Mary. David got to be a wise man that was adorable.

Ania got us up in the morning about 10:45am. Yes I know it is late but the kids stayed up late watching movies. Ha! Ha! We had such a relaxing day. It was nice after all the bustle of the last couple of weeks.

Thanksgiving

Well another Thanksgiving has come and gone. We had fun and the room to have friends over and not worry about where everything was. We have been having unusually warm weather for this year. It was nice to have a warmer day for the holiday. We will have to enjoy it cause next year we will have to figure out how we will celebrate with Brent gone. I love having friends over and learning new recipes.

Relax

Well the furnace is not in yet, but Mark told me to not worry anymore about it. Brent's job when he comes home is to take care of us and get wood. I am so thankful he is coming home today. He has had a rough rotation this time and I am hoping that he can just relax. We are going to do some fun things like ice skating and exploring the woods. Still can't wait for Thanksgiving. I think after listening to the ladies talk last night at craft night that I want to decorate the house in fall colors. They are my favorites and at least that way Brent won't have to worry about a purple bathroom!

Craft Show

I took the kids to a holiday craft show last night in town. It was nice. It was not crowded like they usually are in the lower 48. I was able to browse and keep the kids in sight, as well as talk with people and not feel rushed. I was amazed at the just Alaska themes I kept seeing. Not that this is unusual in the village but I would have thought that in a bigger area that it would have been a broader range.

Waiting

I can't wait for Thanksgiving! My favorite holiday of the year. So many memories of such wonderful food and so many times to be thankful for everything we have. My mom has always made the greatest meal. Thank goodness my husband is such a help in the kitchen and loves to learn. We are having guests for dinner this year. We finally have the room to invite as many people as we want. I can't wait! I love to cook and try new things constantly. Thankfully my family does too. As long as I don't cook cabbage and kielbasa!