Shortest day of the year

Pics from Dec 21, the shortest day of the year. The sun came up at 1130 am above the Chugach Mtns for us, and set around 3 pm. Jolene had a photo shoot, and I took the opportunity after it was over to get some pictures of her and the boys on the moose cape from the moose she took this Fall. Then Landon and Grayson spent the afternoon digging out a snow cave in the front yard and playing with Dino. We have about 2 feet of snow on the ground, and it's not melting too much even though we've had some days in the mid 30's. Jolene went to a book signing here in Wasilla and met Sarah (and Todd again). The boys are getting ready for Christmas and hoping that Santa doesn't pass them by for being bad (like Daddy keeps warning them about!!).

edit: posted these a little late - we just finished our Christmas morning, and will post pics of the boys unwrapping gifts later today or tomorrow - Merry Christmas!

Hawaii and Back Again

Had to make another trip to Hawaii for business, so this time Jolene bought a plane ticket to join me and I used some of my leave to turn the trip into a mini-vacation. Pappy and Grammy watched the boys back in Alaska, so Jolene and I had a 5 day trip all to ourselves. I worked three of those days, so Jolene had the chance to shop and spend the days at the beach, and then we had the evenings to enjoy the Hawaii weather. We didn't visit any other Islands this time, just Oahu. But made a couple trips up to the North Shore for the Banzai Pipeline (definately different meaning of the word pipeline than in Alaska). Jolene had the chance to take some good pictures of the Island. We stopped at the Dole Plantation again on this trip, and that's where I got all the coy (goldfish) to swarm below a dock by throwing food at them so Jolene could get the picture. Our hotel had some singers and Hawaiin dancers outside on Tuesday which we enjoyed listening to. We found a great little gelato place in the shops below the hotel, and had our waffle cone of gelato every evening to cool off. Of course, the vacation had to come to an end, and we came back to 2 feet of snow waiting for us on a treacherous drive back to Wasilla from the airport. The snow in the last picture is what fell on our bedroom balcony at home while we were gone. Mele Kalikimaka!!

Alaska Sunrise

Although the days are getting pretty short, the sunrises and sunsets are spectacular. We're still waiting on our first big snowstorm. Looks like the ~6 or so inches of snow we have now is all we'll have til around Christmas time. Jolene photographed two families one day last week, so we used the time in between her two shoots to get some pictures of me and the boys. They liked getting their picture made on the moose cape from the moose she took this fall. She hasn't had a chance to edit or crop the pictures down yet, but I wanted to post some of these for the family to see before Christmas.

Dino, the Furbearer

Well, Dino's ready for Santa to fill his stocking. The boys helped momma put up the tree and decorations on Friday. Then posed with Dino in their Christmas hats in front of the tree. Grayson still doesn't completely understand it all, but he knows it comes with candy so he's satisfied. Landon on the other hand, has methodically laid out his demands, I mean requests, for the toys he wants.

Thanksgiving Day

We had a full table for Thanksgiving Dinner, with friends Misty and Reid and their daughter Sabrina joining us. Grammy made the Turkey and Pappy carved it. Grayson waited impatiently and was the first to sit down...no surprise. The boys and Pappy built a snowman in the backyard since the temperatures were right at freezing and the snow was easy to clump together. It also made for good snowball fights. The day after, we put up the tree, and Landon put all the ornaments on.

Ski Time

Today was sledding and ski-time for Landon. Both Mommy and Daddy helped him remember his lessons from last year. He picked it back up pretty quick while practicing in the back yard, then x-country ski'd around the block. Landon made Daddy try out the sled down his favorite hill in the back yard while giving him some pointers from the expert. Daddy put the outside Christmas lights up in October before the first snow, so this year we'll have Christmas lights around the outside of the house (if you wait too late, there's no use trying to put them up with snow all over the place). Landon brought home this drawing of the reasons he likes winter in Alaska - it shows him sledding, skiing, building a snowman and drinking hot chocolate! Then, we fried halibut for dinner and watched "Up". Landon and Grayson seemed to - SQUIRREL!!! - like it alot.

Don't touch my food!!

We've discovered that Dino and Grayson have one thing in common.....they can eat all day long. After giving up on keeping a dog pillow outside for Dino without him tearing it up, we put some straw in his doghouse and a big bone to give him something to chew on. He worked on that bone all day before finally collapsing, exhausted, to sleep. That's the same thing Grayson will do if you keep food in his reach!! Our cold temps have broken for now. We're back above zero for the next week or so, but still waiting for the big snow. Only about 4 inches on the ground right now, which is about 2 feet less than we had this time last year.