Christmas in Ice...and lights!

Christmas is always a popular time for the obvious reason, Lights! I had my two helpers this year, they were very excited because the temperature was in the 30's even up to 41 degrees! So we had lots of time to climb the ladder and discuss where the lights should go. I wanted to go big this year decided on just the eves, but we did upgrade to LEDs, trying to go green to balance all the wood we burn. But I was thinking of ways to keep the kids outdoors when it is dark. We get like 4 hours of light and by the time we are home from work it's dark. So I ran my longest extension cords together and we lit the fort and the swings! Instant ecstatic kids. So now we have been enjoying lots of sledding and sliding before dinner.

Gingerbread craze

The Catholic Church on the Chena River

Our choir of angels

Santa, his sleigh and his dog team heading on to the Chena

Top view of the log cabin that currently houses the Yukon Quest HQ

Two weeks worth of work for the first place spot in our division (group all ages) at the Fairbanks Newsminer Gingerbread House competition.  The only non-edible part was the tin-foil used to surround the jello river.  Pretty proud of my girlfriends and delighted to say that we are all friends at the end of the process :)

Jade and Santa

Santa - "Don't you look like a little princess! What do you want for Christmas?"
Jade - "I want a candy cane."
Santa - "Well you can have two little princess."
Jade - "I don't want to be a princess, I want to be a butterfly."
Santa - "Well isn't that just wonderful, much better than a princess."
Jade - "Yes it is.  Nank you for the candy cane."

Yeah for butterflies!  I love to hear her little thoughts and the shock on people's face when she has so much to say about the world.

Had a wonderful afternoon at Christmas In Ice, the Santa Clause House and dinner at the "submarine" store.  Pictures will be uploaded in the near future.

The Hand

A little trip and a brief press to the glass of the woodstove, a moment none of us will forget.

First and second degree burns across the pads under his fingers and on the side of his hand.

Marriage already???

Scene:  The car ride home from school

The Actors:  My friend and her 5 and 7 year old daughters (E - 5 and J- 7)

 Discussion: Appropriate age to get married at

E - Yuck, there are only 3 boys I would ever marry anyway
J- Who would you marry?
E- Tristan, Tommy or Slater    (what???)
J - E, Slater is way to young for you!

Another recent scene: The living room after first aid had been administered

The Actors: Mom, Dad and Slater

Discussion:  Hand burnt on the wood stove

Mom - Slater how is your hand feeling?
Slater - It hurts, it hurts.
Dad - What would make it feel better?
Mom - What can we do?
Slater - Angelina is going to be so sad, she is going to be so sad about my hand
Mom - Angelina?
Slater - I need to call Angelina, she is going to be so sad

AND so it begins, Mom and Dad need to step aside for a girl???

He wants to make crisis phone calls to one and another one considers him choice #3 if she ever decides to get married.