Fluffy Snow

After the freezing rain the temperature dropped enough for some big snowflakes. I love big, fluffy snow NOT freezing rain. 

Then the big snowflakes subsided and it showed small flakes. 

I did drive Judith to the pool for swim practice this afternoon and the roads were not so horrible. 

The Dreaded Weather

Our Alaskan winter has been absolutely nothing to complain about. The temperature has only gotten close to twenty below one time all winter. The temperature has remained a happy *below freezing yet not too cold* making outdoor activity actually pleasant.

Until today. Look at this weather screen shot, this weather makes me sad. We shall survive though, we shall go on.

Gingerbread and The Bosch

A few years ago I saved up and purchased a Bosch mixer. I do love this heavy duty workhorse. This is a great machine for bread and double batches of gingerbread cookie dough. 

We took last year off from gingerbread creations but this year we are back in business with a gingerbread village in the works. I wait until a few days before Christmas to start so the kids can eat their creations, yea, we make them edible. 

The dough for our village and we even had to make one more batch. I think we over sized our pieces. 

The planning of the gingerbread village

Benjamin rolling out some dough

Judith cutting out her pieces.

I need to take pictures of the final project during the daylight hours.

Thanksgiving through today

Yep, 1) we took a selfie in the middle of a store and 2) we went black Friday shopping and 3) I have never been an enjoyer of black Friday shopping.

But, half of socks at Fred's will get me out every year I have twelve feet to cover. Half price socks and tights people. I am in. 

The sky, I took this picture for the sky. I cannot  figure out where this is, just look at the sky. 

The tree topper this year. 

Benjamin went to the birthday party of a friend and there was this baby, I got her to sleep. We are BFFs. 

Skiing has commenced and has done wonders for dealing with darkness. The thirty to forty-five minutes a day outside is wonderful. 

Random fact, we will begin gaining daylight soon, we are almost to the top of the hump.

The girls made gingerbread cookies for a cookie swap. 

We hosted the cookie swap with the help of another family. Fun times. 

We had hot cocoa floats as a drink option. I LOVE hot cocoa floats. We used mint chocolate chip Bryers ice cream, NOT the green kind, white ice cream. Try it you will love it. And don't forget the whipped cream.

A birthday happened. Benjamin turned six, where has the time gone?

Our North Pole Mc Donald's was torn down and rebuilt so we had birthday lunch at the newly opened place. Nice, I liked the combination of McDonald's and North Pole. The big picture on the wall is of the Santa Claus house. 

Benjamin had his two buds from Sunday School over for pizza and cupcakes. 

Today we had recess, everyone outside. The kids did the sled thing while I skiied. 

Now you know what we have been up to.

Thanksgiving

Oops, I am a little behind in posting.

Living in small town Alaska is pretty great. The lighting was decent so I stopped on the side of a residential road and took a few pics of the kids. 

Judith made most of the pies for Thanksgiving this year. 

Recipes and Pandora on the tablet while pie making. 

I think this was cherry pie

Prepping ingredients on Wednesday for easy cooking on Thursday

Homemade cream of mushroom soup for a recipe.

Benjamin was arranging fall decorations on the piano. 

My Thanksgiving day brunch

The turkey, our friends have 4H kids who grow market turkeys and they always raise a couple extra for their freezer. Yummy, homegrown turkey. 

Benjamin's prayer stance, yes, I was watching him.

The spread after everyone had gone through the line. 

Pies