New Record for Anchorage

Each year since we moved to Alaska, there has been a new record set regarding the weather.  We have experienced the rainiest summer, the most snow, the longest winter,and the warmest summer.  And now the new record -- the first year with no temperatures falling below 0 degrees.

This article was in the newspaper a few days ago.  But now, on the last day of the year, it is official.  A new record for Anchorage--no temperatures falling below zero in 2014.

While much of the country is freezing, we are having unusually warm weather.  We haven't been able to ski because of lack of snow.  We can see patches of green grass in our backyard.  Usually there are several feet of snow and we don't see grass in the yard for six months.

I'm not complaining.  I rather enjoy the warmer weather.

We'll see what kind of record is set next year.

A Christmas Carol

For Christmas, our children gave us tickets to a play production of "A Christmas Carol".

It was fun to get dressed up to go to the theater.

"A Christmas Carol" is one of our favorite books and movies during the Christmas season.

It was a wonderful evening and a wonderful gift.  

Thank you, Jeanine, Amy, Elise, Rachelle, and Jacob!

Christmas Day

We had a quiet Christmas.  Brent, Jacob, and I had our Christmas traditional breakfast of cinnamon rolls and eggnog then we opened gifts.

Both Brent and Jacob got bikes.  (We found good deals on Craig's List.)

In the afternoon we watched Christmas movies.

The best part of the day was talking with our daughters and their families.  Brent visited with his mother on the phone and I visited with my dad by phone.

It was a wonderful day.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, Rachelle, Scott, and Peter came over for dinner.

 After dinner, we exchanged gifts.  Peter had a wonderful time opening presents.

 Jacob's sisters gave him a Star Trek, Dr. Spock, apron.  Now he has an apron for when he cooks the delicious cookies he makes.  They had also given him an early Christmas present.  It was a mute for his trombone. He had to open it early so that he could use it in the band concert he played in at the beginning of the month. 

Jacob is tending a guinea pig for a friend during the Christmas break.

 Peter had a great time playing with this little animal.

We ended the evening by gathering around the table with one of the nativity sets we have.

 Brent read the Christmas story from the Bible.

 The nativity set was our visual aid.

 We are thankful to have this time to reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ.

We are glad that the Pessettos could join us for this special celebration.

Gingerbread Village

Every December we go to the Captain Cook Hotel to see the Gingerbread Village that the chef makes. Each year the village is a little bit different.  Since Ciera and Ger (my niece and her husband) just moved here to Alaska, we invited them to go with us.

 I love the details of the village.  This has become one of our Alaska Christmas traditions.

12-13-14

The 12th month, 13th day, and year 14.  This was the last time in our life time that we would have a combination like that.  And, to make it more special, that was Brent's birthday this year.

My creative daughters helped me come up with a unique way to celebrate.

For breakfast, I had a plate with 12 mini muffins and a note of 12 things we appreciate about him.

For lunch there were 13 summer sausage slice, crackers, and carrot sticks along with a note of 13 memories.

For dinner dessert, there were 14 Dark Dove chocolates with a note of 14 reasons we love Brent.  (We actually had apple pie later, but I wasn't going to make 14 pies.)

 It was a unique day and we hope we made it a memorable birthday.

Phenomenal Freshman

Each quarter at Jacob's high school, the freshman teachers nominate a "phenomenal freshman".  Out of 500 freshman, about 15 to 17 students are honored.

Jacob was honored this quarter.  Brent and I were invited to the ceremony and a pizza lunch with Jacob, the other students and parents, school principal, and freshmen teachers.

This was a nice honor and we are pleased that Jacob was selected by his teachers as a phenomenal freshman.

A Night in Bethlehem

For our church's Christmas party, we had a "A Night in Bethlehem".  We first met in the chapel where we were told by a Roman soldier that we were all to travel to Bethlehem, the home of our birth, to be taxed and counted for the census. We then sang some Christmas hymns and began our journey.  We walked down the dark hallway, lighted with luminaries, which was a our journey.  When we entered Bethlehem, the cultural hall, we signed the census and were given a bag of coins by a Roman solider.

We then went to the various markets to "buy" our dinner with the coins.

We bought pita bread and hummus, fresh fruit and vegetables, chicken on kabobs, and desserts.

(With the help of Brent and Jacob, I spent 7 hours preparing and grilling 345 chicken kabobs for this occasion.)

It was very crowded, but so was Bethlehem 2,000 years ago during the census.

We sat on blankets and ate our dinner.

While we ate, there were different musical presentations,  Jacob played a medley of sacred Christmas songs on his trombone.

Off in the corner was a stable and manger where the birth of Jesus was acted out.

Our night in Bethlehem was a very special occasion and really helped set the tone for the Christmas season.

Eagle Scout

Jacob is officially an Eagle Scout!  He had a personal goal to have all the requirements done and paperwork turned in before he was 14 years old.  He achieved his goal.  The day before his 14th birthday, he Eagle Scout paperwork and notebook was turned in to the Scout Office.

He had his Board of Review on November 13. When I asked about the Board of Review, he couldn't remember all of the questions that Eagle Board asked.  However, he did remember one important question. They asked, "Who is your hero?"  Jacob talked about President Thomas S. Monson and how he is an example in his personal life and as a Scouter.

Here he is with his Scout Master and parents.

 His Scout Master said that this was the first time he has been involved in a Eagle Board of Review because usually the boys he works with as 12 and 13 year olds, don't get their Eagle until they are 17 years old.  By then, there are other Scout leaders who have been more recently involved with that boy.

 It may be hard to see, but Jacob is wearing the Thomas S. Monson Scouting Award.

As part of Brent's Scouting Wood Badge Tickets, he made an Eagle Scout neckerchief for Jacob out of leather.  Rachelle helped by sewing the ribbon on.

The neckerchief will be presented to Jacob at his Eagle Court of Honor.

We are very pleased at the hard work Jacob has done in earning his Eagle Scout Award.  He has grown and matured in the process and has demonstrated the Scout Oath and Law in his personal life.

Thanksgiving 2014

This year we hosted Thanksgiving at our house.  We have not had Thanksgiving at our house for about 10 years.  We had a total of 14 people (two of them one year old children).  My niece, Ciera, and her husband, Ger, just moved to Alaska and we were thrilled to have them join us.

Rachelle, Scott, and Peter were with us along with Scott's parents and sister.  We also had Scott's sister, Elise's husband's brother and his wife and baby join us.

Here is the table settings  before the guests arrived.

Once the guests arrived, I was so busy that I forgot to take more pictures.  Everyone contributed to the food so it was a pleasant afternoon.  We enjoyed the delicious dinner and enjoyed visiting.  The best part was the 6 different desserts that we had at the end of the meal.  Everything was truly scrumptious.