Christmas in Fairbanks

 

Merry Christmas from chilly Fairbanks. Check out flickr to see more highlights from our trip.

 

 

Christmas, So Far...

Check out flickr for more pre- Christmas fun with Autumn and Cedar.

Baby Jesus

We opened Christmas gifts early this year due to our upcoming trip up north. One of our family traditions is leaving an empty manger set up beside the Christmas tree. On Christmas morning baby Jesus arrives. This year He was a cabbage patch doll. And the girls loved on Him.

Gingerbread House

Autumn mixes in the ingredients.

Gingerbread house accessories.

Finished creation.

Amy and Autumn slaved all day over a hot stove to create this gingerbread house masterpiece. Note one legged gingerbread man falling out the window. They can't run run fast as you can with only one leg. Unfortunately you can see the house leaning badly and it didn't take long for it to collapse which made for one sad little girl.

Someone Needs A Bath

While Mom and Autumn baked, Cedar sampled the flour.

Thankfully it was a washable marker.

Cedar "Monet"

Paint from the top of her head....

To the toes of her feet.

Proving Trail Adventures - It's Official

After years of dreaming, planning and finally putting it all together, Scott and I are very excited to announce the launch of Lace 'em Up, our first sheep hunting video. This 2-disk set is the first ever how-to DIY sheep hunting video. Videos are available for purchase at our website: www.provingtrailadventures.com. The site has lots of information including what Proving Trail Adventures is all about, the story of my 10-year quest to take a walk-in ram from every Alaska Mountain range,  the Proving Trail blog, gear lists and more.  We are celebrating the release and watching the premiere at our gala event on December 15th. See you there!

More Misc. Autumn and Cedar

"I ate it all up."

This was during the master bedroom remodel. We had to move the bed into the living room affording Autumn and Cedar some great jumping on the bed and jumping off chairs onto the bed opportunities.

More sink time fun

Cedar, like Autumn is getting to be quite the face maker as well.

 The little pumpkins made great props for pics, but trying to get Cedar to stand still enough for a good shot is challenging. This is the only good one I got. 

 Sent to "timeout", Cedar protests

The girls love books. But we just had to pare down. They got to choose 12 each. The rest go into storage and will be rotated in.

Figured the Grandmas & Grandpas were growing weary of dead deer pics and the lack of grand kid pics. So here's a few more random shots.

Busted. Part 2

And then there was the day mom caught her past her ankles in the sink.

Busted. Part 1

The sink fairy

Doh! Busted!

Cedar L.O.V.E.S. water. A favorite is to go into the bathroom, climb up on the toilet and play in the sink faucet stream. Depending on our mood we either allow her to do this or not (I know, so inconsistent). But she knows she needs our permission. Most days we keep the bathroom door shut, but sometimes we forget and she sneaks in.

More Halloween Fun

Autumn not interested in eating the candy but very intent on putting like with like. Cedar on the other hand...

What? Me? No, I don't have anything behind my back.

Autumn and Cedar getting the treats ready to pass out.

Our little organizer

Cedar was in bed by the time the trick or treaters starting making the rounds, but we let Autumn stay up and help pass out the candy. I would do a costume check through the window to make sure they weren't scary then let her open the door. She did a great job.

Halloween - Queens and Fairies

So far we've been able to avoid trick or treating, but the fall carnival at the school was a good reason to get costumed up.

"Moozeys"

Smoothies. Mom's technique for secretly feeding them whatever she wants. The  kids just taste blueberries.

The Rut Continues

First Light Buck

Who needs turkey when there is fresh venison heart available? I shot this Thanksgiving eve buck at first light and was back in the office by 9:30am. I snuck into the middle of a muskeg in the dark and settled in to wait for daylight. Right at first shooting light I felt a tickle in my throat. I couldn't suppress the cough. The buck must have thought I was another buck grunting because a few minutes later he materialized just 20 yards away. I thought that cough had ruined my morning. I was particularly pleased with the tracking job. There was only a scant blood trail and this buck was intent on weaving a mystery for me prior to expiring. I was very thankful when I came upon him, very dead. I am turning this entire buck into jerky. Yum.

Home Improvement #2 "Autumn's Room"

Autumn helping seal floor boards

1/4" ACX plywood ripped to 4" boards

Getting started

Kilzing the floor

I always had willing helpers

But sometimes Dad needed to work alone

Starting the pattern

Floorboards in, baseboards next

Safety first

Walls and floor painted

Amy adds the pink

Closet organizer going in

Finished room

Closet still needs trimmed out, but functional

Autumn trying out the new digs

Replacing the carpets in all the bedrooms has been the next big project. Autumn's room was first. The floor replacement morphed into a total re-do. The floor boards were made out of 1/4 plywood. Amy designed the paint scheme. We still need to install new trim around the doors and window, someday tackle the popcorn ceiling (whoever thought that was a good idea? ), and Amy wants to do some more decorating but for now the girls seem to be enjoying their "new" room. Next project: master bedroom floors.