Merry Christmas to all....we sure had a Merry one. This was our first Chrismas home in a while and it was great. The kids definately got spoiled. Reid got a couple remote control trucks and Amelia got a sewing machine, some art stuff and the one item that she has been asking for constantly and I kept telling her no....Santa ended up bringing anyway...which was a baby that pees and poops.....like I needed another one of thos in the house!!!!! We enjoyed a relaxing day with each other and appreciate how truely blessed we are in so many ways!

Myself and a friend Jayne were in charge of getting together the Christmas Carollers this year. Our cutoff was -10 but we have had some lovely wind and cold lately so when the morning came to make the call it was 0 and windy.....we decided to go for it....after all, it only happens once a year! When we were decorating our trailer it was pretty darn cold and windy but by 3:30 when 17 of us met up at the church, it was calm. We had a great time and hopefully spread lots of Christmas cheer.....it was cheery to all of us anyway! By the time we were all done it was about -12 degrees so the chili and hot cocoa was much appreciated!!!!!

We were happy to be home after two weeks in the south. We just really enjoy the slow paced, quiet solitude of Cantwell and Alaska in general. However, our house and life here is seldom quiet..... We harvested this perfect Christmas tree near our house and decorated it with special ornaments from when Lance and I were kids and a few that Amelia and Reid made.........

Uncle Sammy and Aunt Elaine were really excited to see the kids! and it went both ways! They live right across the field from mom and dad so we were able to spend more time with them. We wish we could have seen all the relatives more but two weeks isn't enough time!

WE all enjoyed the Christmas parade on main street in Simpsonville.....My big brother Kevin and his daughter Mallie on the left. Papa George and Amelia on the right....Papa's shoulders still probably don't feel the same!!!

South Carolina was full of adventure. The kids got joint private swimming lessons and came quite a ways in comfort level. They loved their teacher and both were excited about being in the water. They were able to use their new skills at the indoor water park. We also just booked a cabin at Chena Hotsprings in February for their birthdays so we will get more practice then........

A trip to the Greenville Zoo on a "cold" day proved to be well worth it! It was about 38 degrees and people thought the animals wouldn't be out because it was too cold. We were the only customers at the zoo while we were there. IT was the opposite because all the animals came out to see us because they were so lonely........It was great fun!

We visited our friend Molly near Jones Gap that also lives part of the year in our neighborhood here in Cantwell.....she lives the nice part of the year in Alaska.... Her and her partner Jeff have a great house with lots of character that they built in South Carolina. I can't wait to see what they build in Alaska!!!!

Uncle Sammy braved the cold weather and took Lance and Reid fishing. I giant catfish was caught and the size of it grows every time Reid tells the story. I have heard him say it was "the biggest fish in the world!".....and it tasted good too!

My parents took us to The Great Wolf Lodge which is an amazing indoor water park. The kids had a blast! This came after five days of private swim lessons and we could see the difference in confidence in the kids.......fun times.

Santa Claus and arcade and a water park....what could be better. The kids were wide-eyed in the arcade......lots of action!

My Uncle Herschel took us flying around Greenville in his airplane...The kids were happy to have all the leg room...unlike our Supercub!~ we could really use a plane like this!!!!!

Reid has a way of always finding cows to look at wherever we go on vacation.....These belong to my Uncle Sammy's friend. The Brahma bull with the hump on his back (that lance is attempting to feed) is just a pet.

good times spent with family. Amelia's cousins Mallie and Rory James that live in Colorado and my mom and dad in South Carolina.