Dec. 21, 2016: Gingerbread Village

We met up with Dad, Gayle, Alisa, Ember, and Emily to check out the awesome gingerbread village at the Captain Cook hotel downtown.

Afterwards we went down to the 5th Ave Mall and had lunch at the food court.  While at the mall, Emily was interviewed by some tv station about her opinion on the resurgence of 90's fashion. Her opinion, for those wondering, is that she's too old for it, and too young for it. Too young because she wasn't a part of the original movement, so she has no nostalgia for it, and too old because she's not a teenager now. (Did I get that right Emily?)

Gayle and Dad also introduced us to a new store, Oil & Vinegar? Or was it Vinegar and Oil? Either way, we LOVED trying out all the delicious flavors of oil and vinegar for sale there. I love vinegar, and loved all the fruit flavored ones. Mmmm. Peach vinegar was a winner, but let's be honest, I don't think I met a vinegar I didn't like. 

Thanks for the picture Gayle! You can always tell if he picture is from someone else if it looks good. Haha! Broken phone camera and kids camera without a flash don't make the best photos. 

Henry, Lucy and Clara with nutcracker.

Mom with Grandpa Billy checking out the gingerbread village.

Ember making a statement of some kind. 

Gayle holding Henry.

Grandpa Billy. Or is that TWO nutcrackers? So hard to tell.

Tracy and Gayle strutting their stuff at the mall. Where we all know it's cool. 

Grandpa Billy making his Blue Steel look.

American-Chinese food? I'm guessing pineapple and Sweet and Sour Chicken.

Boyd playing with Ember, Henry and Lucy

Dec. 20, 2016: Bouncing Bears

On Tuesday my sister Alisa invited us on an outing. At first we thought about going to the Zoo, but in the end decided that the kids would have a lot more fun at an indoor "bounce house" place where it was warm and they could run around. We were right!

The kids had a great time bouncing, climbing, playing games, and sliding with their cousin Ember.

Thank you so much Alisa, Matt and Ember for the awesome time!

King and Queen of the bounce house!
Zach and Clara.

First a few stories with Grandma Gayle before we leave.
Lucy, Clara and Gayle.

Pictures from Lucy's camera:
(Blurry pictures are better than no pictures at all.)

View from the front door of Dad's house.

A rare glimpse of an elusive Indoor Siamese Einstein! Or is it Kess? 

Pulling out of the driveway, how exciting! 

Ember and Lucy making their way to the top!

Henry, Ember and Lucy

Henry saying, "Heeeey!"

Henry and Lucy

Super-awesome-helper- Dad to the rescue!

Zach, Ember, and Lucy

Clara having fun climbing up a mountain.

Lucy and Henry crusin' together.

Lucy helping Henry

Clara sliding down the mountain

Hen and Lu bouncin'.

Alisa and Zach in a basketball shootout

"Hey Mom!"

Gayle, Andrew and Tracy hanging out at home.

Dec. 18, 2016: The Mighty Russian Jack Ward

I decided to dedicate a separate post for each day's pictures and memorable events from last Christmas vacation.

At this point it has been eight months since they happened, and my memory is failing me, especially after everything that has happened since then. I figure I better post about them before I forget completely. Thanks to pictures and a calendar I can piece together the time line of our EPIC ALASKAN CHRISTMAS VACATION! (I thought a booming echo voice would be appropriate here.)


Dec. 18, 2016:

We went to church with my Dad and Gayle. It was nice because their congregation (The Mighty Russian Jack Ward) had their special Christmas choir sacrament meeting that Sunday, so we were able to hear my dad sing in the choir. Growing up I always loved seeing/hearing Dad and Gayle sing in the choir together, and in high school I would often join them. It was also one of the things I first noticed about Zach when we were dating. He was one of the only men in the choir with me! Haha! (A tradition I'd love to pick up again one day.)

Also as a special surprise, my cousin Rebecca had her baby blessed that same Sunday, and we were able to be there for that! I was SO good to see her and her family!

A special shout out to Sister Pam Darby who was the first one I saw after we walked into the chapel. She gave me a huge hug which brought back so many memories and made me feel right at home again. I spent much of my summers as a kid in her home and playing in her yard with my siblings and her kids. I love brother and sister Darby. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces.

After church we had family dinner at my Dad's house. (Another one of my favorite family traditions.) I can't remember if Gayle made roast beef that Sunday, but that was what we used to have every Sunday we spent there as kids.

Grandma Gayle playing a game with Lucy and Clara.

Lucy's cat documentary. Also known as: Cat, Snow, Emily, Entertainment System, House, Snow

PAX South 2015

Zach surprised us with an awesome family date in January. He got us tickets to PAX South, a game convention.

Being large with child, I tried to take it easy while meandering through the halls. Zach found different groups to play games with and I took the girls around to explore the booths, activities, and various photo ops.

For dinner we went to a Brazilian steakhouse that was located across from the convention center. It was delicious!

Lucy had I had a great time collecting buttons from all the booths and putting them on her lanyard. She also sweet-talked herself into several photo ops with cos-players.

This picture is by far my favorite. I can't help but laugh every time I look at it.
The Warriors and Confused Baby.

Heaven! She's in heaven!

This costume was really impressive.

This girl was working it.

Lucy putting on a show while dancing to "Happy." This guy was a great sport to dance with her. They drew quite a crowd.

We had a great time at the convention. The only down side was that we were hoping to meet some local people to invite over for game nights, but unfortunately all the people we met were from out of town! Maybe next year.

Christmas Eve & Morning 2014

We celebrated Christmas a day early this year because Zach had no work on Christmas eve, so we decided to start the party a day earlier!

We let each person pick one present to open on "Christmas eve". Zach opened the present Lucy got for him (a Playstation game), Lucy opened one Zach got for her (army gear pack), and I don't remember what Clara and I opened. Haha. After hanging out for awhile we sent the kiddlets to bed and got to work finishing wrapping the last few gifts, and set them out. I snapped a few pictures before heading to bed myself.

Lucy modeling her new Army gear present from Zach. 

Lucy decorated the wrapping paper herself. 

Candy Cane girls!

On "Christmas morning" we decided to make a new tradition and went to have breakfast at Kneaders. We had never been, but loved the delicious unlimited sourdough pancakes with fresh caramel syrup, strawberries, and whipped cream. Yum! I hope we can do this every year from now on!

Christmas morning snuggle pile.

Yum! Those pancakes were so huge we didn't even get a second order!

After breakfast we headed back home to open presents!

Per tradition, we started with stockings.

Lucy loved her present from Clara, a new leotard with ballet leggings.

"Thanks, Clara!"

Zach loved his games from his parents.

I loved my Anne of Green Gables DVD set from Kay and Greg!

Clara loved her pots and pans from Zach.

Lucy (and Clara) loved their plastic animals from Scott and Christina!

She loved them SO much.

Clara didn't love her bib from Boyd...

Just kidding! She actually does love it, but she was really tired and didn't even get to finish opening her presents because right after this picture we put her down for a nap. :) Grumpy baby.

Thanks Dad and Gayle!

Thanks, Uncle Boyd!

Thanks, Uncle Trent!

Lucy with her loot. Tea set from our neighbors, alarm clock and crayon book from Nana and Poppa.  

Clara and her loot. Rocking cradle from Nana and Poppa, Bunny book from neighbors. 

Clara loves her new slippers from Grandma Gayle and Grandpa Billy!

We finished off the Christmas season by eating popcorn and watching one of my favorite movies, Mr. Kruger's Christmas. The scene with baby Jesus makes me cry every time.

Lastly, must document this big 'ol belly.