White Christmas

Merry Christmas from Anchorage, Alaska!!

 

 

We had an amazing Christmas with our family.  For the first time in 10, yes, 10 years, my family (my parents, and my brother and his family) spent Christmas together.  We could not have gone to a more extreme climate...leaving Orlando at 75 degrees on December 21 and arriving in Anchorage, Alaska at about 10 degrees. It was amazing!! We were so excited to celebrate Christmas together again.  We had a VERY white Christmas.  Lots and lots of snow and lots and lots of fun memory-making time together.

We arrived Saturday night and were up bright and early Sunday morning and then enjoyed the afternoon playing in the snow. It was beautiful! Steve and Karen worked hard before we arrived gathering plenty of winter clothes, mittens, bibs, and hats, and jackets.  We are so thankful for all of the layers because we loved playing outside!

Monday we went on a drive to Alyeska, which is a ski resort. We took a tram up to the top and played there. It was a spectacular drive and view.

 

For our Christmas gift Steve and Karen took us and the kids skiing. IT WAS AMAZING! I think the kids thought it was harder than they expected but we they had a great time falling and skiing!

 

 

Tuesday (Christmas Eve) we decorated Christmas cookies with Grandma! She was wise to make the dough ahead and then the kids could focus on decorating (and eating decorations!) It was fun seeing the big cousins help the little ones.

 We proceeded to get ready to go to their Christmas Eve church service and all piled into two cars, but one of the car batteries died, so we stayed home and had an impromptu Duffy Christmas service with my niece, Georgia, playing the piano, as we sang, then all the kids (we had plenty) acted out the Christmas Story.  Cameron played Joseph, Georgia was Mary, Anna was baby Jesus, Laura Cate was an angel, Gabriel was a sheep and a donkey.  It was delightful as the snow was falling and we were toasty warm inside. Then Karen read the book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and we opened presents from Grandma and Granddad. Sweet memories.

 

we just love our youngest niece, Anna!

 

Uncle Steve leading us in hymns!

 

 

Most of the cousins (except Timothy and Sean)

Gabriel, Georgia, Anna, Cameron, William, and Laura Cate

I don't think they were ever all in the same place!

 

On Christmas day the kids were awake by 6:30 and came down to open stockings and then we all rolled out and Grandma and Granddad arrived to open gifts.  We enjoyed Christmas dinner together and Laura Cate and Timothy had the best time playing hide-and-go-seek with flashlights.  Georgia willingly made forts and played with the little ones.  Cameron, Sean, and Gabriel played either LEGOs or board games non-stop.

                                                   Cameron (8), Sean (11), and Gabriel (6)
                                    a game of Chess with some competitive boys - watch out!
                                                       
One of the only things my parents wanted to do (besides being with their kids and grandkids) was to go Mushing - which is sled dogging.  Alan went with them and they braved the weather (the coldest day so far for us at -4). But I think they had a great time. I enjoyed being home with the kids :).

 

Alan bundled up

 

Grandma and Granddad bundled up

 

 

Dogs ready to go!

 

The next day all of us went out (except poor Alan had a migraine) and we went ice fishing! Our kids had a blast watching the dads drill holes, set up tents, and fish. IT WAS COLD!!! But our fruit of the labor was yummy fish (and some hot dogs on the grill!).  My phone quickly died because it was soooo cold, so I didn't get any pictures in time. 

 

We are incredibly thankful for such a wonderful Christmas together.  Hopefully it will not be another 10 years!