Christmas Day ::: snowshoeing at ~27* below

I look gray but it is frost forming on every strand.  The cold weather didn't stop us from taking our new shoes for a spin.  I learned two things.  One, I am not an extreme weather kind of girl.  Two, snowshoes are an amazing workout and are not for the faint in heart. 

Merry Christmas ::: a morning light show

Dog sledders are the lights in the background. 

countdown to christmas ::: lighting it up

 Love those bokeh balls

countdown to christmas ::: elf on the shelf adventures

countdown to christmas ::: what do you do in cantwell?

1. Clean your house
2. Exercise
3. Check the mail
4. Take the neighbors kid to go look at the local wildlife....when you have seen it day after day it is more fun to watch the excitement on his face than to go it alone.

countdown to christmas ::: elf on the shelf

The boys wander the house for Trixie and then they tell her all the good they have done since they last saw her.  They are having fun with it so I am having fun with it. 

countdown to christmas ::: alaska light show

countdown to christmas ::: catching up with friends

 The life we lead takes us to many places across the state.  We have good friends all across the state.  It is so nice when we get the chance to get together with them.  Perfect gift at this time of year.

countdown to christmas ::: santas reindeer

christmas countdown ::: triming the tree....and the house.

 He loves Nutmeg so much.  He says that she is the "perfect girl" and she is "precious".

christmas countdown :: december sunrise

I can be a grump when it comes to the dark in the winter.  Ironically, I try to look on the bright side.  I love being able to see the sunrise and sunset....within only a few hours of each other.  Today we had to go pick up a new Christmas tree because our old one was way to big for our space.  The drive was full of beauty in a way that only Alaska can deliver. 

countdown to christmas -- helping out a friend

Everyday of December I try to focus on Christmas.  I do something every single day to countdown to the big day.  Some things are planned and some are not.  Today a friend from Anchorage dropped by and I took their family pictures for them.  It is their first Christmas as a family and I am so grateful to be a part of it.  They have a beautiful family. 

Christmas tip :: I use Shutterfly to print my cards.  The price is right and I even have them mail them for me.  My addresses are saved on site and every year I just update the address book and have them sent directly from them.  It costs .55 cents extra but that includes postage.  For an extra few cents I save my self a lot of time.