Nearing Vacation

We are super duper excited to be able to fly South for the winter.
Leaving this weekend for William to attend a conference and a bit of family time. Yipeee.
Not much blogging lately.
Update: John's doing great with potty training. He has accidents when
he is too busy playing trains, but for the most part just has been a real
star about it all!
You have officially lost your marbles in Alaska when you try to root the head of a pineapple and an avocado seed in your kitchen in hopes that one day you will have the plant and tree that bear the fruit! Oh, and it won't be long before we get started on our annual tomato race...each year we try to see which family can bear the first tomato of the season. In Memphis it was a bit easier to be a contender in the race, we will have to change up or strategy a bit this year.
I am busy downloading 100 Bible kids songs to my ipod...I would rather the kids sing "the B-I-B-L-E" at the top of their lungs than be crying, if I can help it on the flights.
Prayer request: safe travel, content children.
Hope to see you soon!

nEW yEAR

Dr Arnett makes his first batch of Mr Beer. Cheers.



She's back - our ballerina girl.



Beautiful new ballet moves she invented.





If you're a mom of little ones. Don't you love those moments when they get a new toy and it occupies them for an hour! Ahhhhhh-yes! (thank you Jodi and Steven)



Those sweet little lovies before bed one night--just collapsed on top of me.

You only turn three once

John's Big Day!






A sweet little party with playgroup and church friends.




Our adorable prince.





Train pinata made by daddy...there's not a "party city" around these parts!
And the CUTEST outfit ever compliments of Amy Turman!!! I would put him in this everyday if the weather would permit me to!




Train cake take two. It's what kind he wanted, again. Chugga chugga!




It was a big day and he enjoyed every moment of it and now I am going to collapse in bed like he just did (well I won't have a train in each hand though)...goodnight!

Letters of Note

We spent a bit less time sitting around John's potty today and a bit more time getting ornanaments put away and pretending to be reindeers with tree antlers...


I have added a new link to the right.

It is called "letters of note"

I stumbled upon it tonight while the house is asleep and I am left to a moment of peace.
It's worth a click if you have a few extra minutes, or save it for a rainy day.
We had a proper winter feast tonight, full of turkey, dressing and Martinelli...and the tryptophan worked on all but me. PS...Martinelli is bubbly apple juice in a pretty bottle that Alaskans go crazy for over the holidays. I say if I can't drive out of here in less than 3 days- I'll have to join in!But I won't eat pig heart--not ever!

Happy New Year

We hope the new year didn't find you with your underpants around your ankles!

This is how we spent the day...I think he wet 6 pairs of underwear. We're sending him home to grandma to get potty trained! LOL. Pray he understands the concept soon!!!

Wishing you and yours a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.

My dad and my grandma looking for moose up marathon road in kenai. we saw an eagle instead



Snowball fights daily--come play!






Santa brought trains and tracks. He is such a happy little joy!


Well, I had a brief hiatas from blogging to enjoy the holidays with family. My dad and gran came up for a visit. My dad played non stop with Julia and John and when he wasn't putting everything into the grandkids he was working on the house or our car. We were really spoilt! Gran did amazingly well and kept up with us all as the days meandered with no routine and am million things happening at once. I took way too many pictures and so have just chosen a few to post. The weather was incredibly warm, it hovered just above freezing for their time with us. It made it perfect because we could play outside without being too cold. One of the days we went ice fishing (something I had always wanted to do). It was a blast. Everytime I put in my hook I caught a lil trout. I threw them back because I am holding out for a huge halibut this summer! We really loved having company for the holidays. Now taking bookings for the summer ...see ya soon!

Begining to look a LOT like Christmas

We have had lovely snows this week. I am really enjoying the view. It is stunningly beautiful. The thermometer is at -3 F this afternoon. We are making the trek to Anchorage tomorrow to collect my dad and gran from the airport. We are very excited and glad to have family around for Christmas.



These are prawn eggs that actually tasted pretty good. William somehow makes me try everything. He ate so many I thought he would get sick, but he has a stomach made of steel. (I ate this one cracker since I am not as hardy as him).



That face is so funny!
It's the I am two and you are not going to make me wear this outfit. He actually told me "No, It's TOO cute momma!" When did he get old enough to not want to be too cute anymore.





A picture from the day Julia did her school Christmas play.



Our sweet little elf...






Julia's wrote her own letter to Santa this year.





More snow.






Today we made gingerbread houses with my friend Shelley and her daughter Aurora




We had a great time!

Sledding while waiting on the fireworks in Kenai.



Setting up their little people nativity scene.




Decorating our tree.




Tis the time to get knitty!

Let it Snow

Our gorgeous sweet J



Our handsome sweet J



We had a lovely snow last night. After going to visit Santa this afternoon we went for a little stroll in the woods...
Tonight is the annual parade of lights in Kenai and then a bonfire and fireworks to follow. They have to do their fireworks display in the winter since it is not dark during 4th of July.
This morning I was crazy enough to shop Black Friday. It is the first time in 4 yrs I have had William around to watch the children the day after Thanksgiving. When we were in the South, the day after Thanksgiving was his start of duck season and William mourned a little last night. Just knowing that Mitchel and the gang were on their way to the duck woods was a mite painful for him...
Anyway, there are 2 stores in town that open at 5am and I wasn't quite that crazy--I left the house at 7am. I think I saw the entire town...they were are scrounging for cheap wool socks and 1/2 price slippers, etc. My motivation for going was 70% off at Joann's Fabric on a bolt of Drapery Blackout Lining. I am already thinking ahead to summer, when the sun never sets...

For now though...Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD

Happy Birthday to my most precious dad in the whole world.
I am so blessed to have such an inspiration and solid ground in my life.
Thank you for all that you mean to me!
I love you,
Loui

oh, and Happy Turkey day to the rest of ya'll!

Winter

Getting a pic in front of the Salty Dawg Saloon in Homer.




Homer AK... a day of sightseeing with Jodi and Steven.








Bald Eagle.




Winter Beach






Winter moose




Mt Redoubt...our local active volcano.





The scenery on the way through Turnigan Pass has changed dramatically since our last trip into Anchorage.



Sterling Hwy


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Daylight comes at around 10am and darkness just after 4pm. The kids can't fathom what is going on.
We had a delightful time with J&S and it has been hard to adjust to them being gone from our home! No more games til 1am and enough left overs for the next month.

More visitors for Christmoose...we can't wait!

Lovin' company

Jodi and Steven always take the best pictures with our kids.
If William and I were sitting with them they would be all wrapped and contorted around us!

"But the fire is so delightful"



Always time for some sledding





Giving thanks for our amazing lives.

1st Guests Make it to the Last Frontier

Steven and Jodi in the snow...



Jodi snuggling on the couch with Julia.

We went to Anchorage ( the big city) to get Jodi and Steven. It is so nice to see them again!!!!!!!!!!! We ate at a restaurant called the Moose's Tooth on the way home and we had the BIGGEST pizza I'd ever seen. The drive home was pretty and Jodi and Steven got out and froze a couple of times for photos.

Today we made a list for our upcoming Thanksgiving Feast. Pictures to come of the FEAST. We are so thankful for our family!

Well, I did try the liver, but not the heart yet. We're saving that for our first house guests for a special supper--LOL! 2 days til we have visitors...yipee!




Last night our first little bit of snow came. It was so beautiful to wake up to.
We had a great time playing outside this afternoon.