Merry Christmas

Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

The Dark Side of Indoor Track Meets

This time of year as the mercury begins to plummet, and the daylight starts to diminish, it becomes a challenge to find more activities indoors after the day is gone.
After finishing carving pumpkins for our porch, we had some fun drawing with light! The kids enjoyed taking turns and enjoyed seeing the end result.

Family of Jack 'O Lanterns


My attempt


First Attempt


Ghost in the Darkness

Foxey Lady

This evening as I made my way up the hill to our house, happy that most of the day's work was behind me, I lifted my gaze just enough to lock eyes with a daring little red-head. We held each others gaze for a few moment before she bolted into the nearby woods. Later while washing my hands at the kitchen sink for supper, I looked out the window, and there she stood again looking at me through the window as if taunting me. Naturally I couldn't resist, so out the door I dashed, snatching up the camera onlong the way.

Aloof


Two is Company


Wary


Foxy

Our House is a Very Fine House

Okay, so finally here are some pictures of the house. The inside pictures will have to wait until most of the boxes are unpacked, as of now all you would see is boxes and more boxes. If you ever move, throw most your stuff away, even if you think you might need it someday! (You'll thank me later)

The Hill House


From the backside


The Prowler begging for some 0w40 and a blanket (its -26F)

We've Made it!

After being displaced for almost two months, we finally made it. We arrived almost a week ago and have begun the seemingly never ending process of unpacking boxes, and boxes, and boxes....
Progress can be seen almost daily, which is encouraging.
Sadly after being here for only a few days, we received news that Bran's Grandmother had passed away, so she flew out to be with family. Meanwhile I am experiencing life as a single dad and surviving thanks to the many wonderful people in the community having us over for meals and helping with the kids (I managed to give the all the kids a bath tonight, and then realized I now have to figure out what to do with the girls' hair for school in the morning, I'm thinking baseball caps?)

Fire in the Sky


Had to be Taken. Tanalian Bible Church w/ Tanalian Mtn.


The view across the bay


Snow covered trees out our upper deck

What Should You do while in Alaska?

Why go fishing of course!
The two older kids and Grandpa took and evening and went fishing at a local lake. With poles in hand, a box of hooks, and a jar of Salmon eggs, they set out for Grandpa's fishin' hole. The first fish was on the hook within seconds, but landing the fish proved a little more difficult thanks to a tangled line and a broken reel. They finally pulled it out of the water by using only the line. A total of four fish were caught and made for a tasty breakfast the next morning.

Sissy goin' fishing

Grandpa helps Sissy bait the hook

The first fish of the day

Fisher girl


A true fisherman!!

A Rainbow Trout!


Sissy with one of her fish.

After a good day's catch

My Old View

The following is a picture of Pioneer Peak in the Mat-Su Valley. This is the view I had out my front window while growing up.

Anchorage Zoo

Wednesday we went to the Anchorage Zoo, our goal was to see the tigers. Unfortunately, they were no longer on exhibit, but we managed to have a great time any way. Here are some of the animals the kids got to see.

Bald Eagle


Black Bear


Snow Leopard


Cuddly Teddy Bear


Not so cuddly teddy bear


Us at the zoo, not a real zoo exhibit.

Polar Bear


The girls watching a Harbor Seal

Got Moose?

These were standing on the side of the road a few blocks from my parents house when we returned home.

To the North Pole and Back.

On Saturday morning we loaded up the vehicles and drove 350 miles on Highway 3 to North Pole, which is just past Fairbanks, to visit my older brother and his family. This route had us driving through Denali Park.

The Alaskan Railroad

We had a brief stop at the Santa Claus House to say hello to the reindeer.


My brother and his Chesapeake "Turner"


The necessary sky shot through the birch trees, taken on my brother's property.


Sunday afternoon we took Parrin & Sharon's four wheelers down to the river for a picnic. Everyone had an absolute blast on the four wheelers. I even managed to get my brothers new Yamaha high centered on the same berm twice (you'd think once would have been enough).


Yeah, I did that.....




Group Shot






Cooking out after returning from our afternoon at the river


On Monday, we piled back into the vehicles and drove "the long way" on Highway 2 through Summit Lake and Delta Junction. On Highway 4 through Gakona, and Highway 1 through Glennallen, Sutton, and back to Palmer. It added a few more hours to the trip, but we got to enjoy some great scenary and a part of Alaska that I hadn't even seen.

The Alyeska Pipeline




Random Mountain Shots on the side of the road




The view from Summit Lake


Dinner in Glennallen



The Matanuska Glacier