A Farewell to 2023

Whew, what a year! Our first full calendar year as Alaskans is in the books, and I am just so proud of us! We went dog sledding this past week, and as we were en route my car's thermometer read -16 degrees. Dog sledding & sub-zero temps, and it's just another day for us, ha!

We spent Boxing Day shopping with Christmas gift cards & going to see the new Wonka movie! It was such a fun family day.

{everyone happy in the car with new books from Barnes & Noble}

{please note Brady's Star Wars X-Wing on his chest during the movie}

Our annual "calendar party"--AKA writing down birthdays and important dates in our new calendars & planners to prep for the new year! We also knocked out a lot of thank you notes at the table together this past week. It brings back so many memories of writing thank you notes alongside my sister throughout my childhood...raising these kids right!

{Hadley made some new clay earrings with a kit my sister gifted her for Christmas}

{watching the Taylor Swift Eras tour movie}

And these last two pictures are of my favorite people cheering on our favorite team in the final game of 2023!

Not a single picture was taken on New Year's Eve today. We didn't do anything special to mark the occasion--went to church, played Sequence & SkipBo, had spaghetti for dinner, watched the ball drop in NYC on television, and ran out on the driveway to watch fireworks in freezing temps--but I wouldn't have it any other way. So thankful to spend my days exactly like this. We are ready for you, 2024!

Christmas Day 2023

 We had a wonderful Christmas just the five of us celebrating Jesus' birthday! 

{a renewed Kiplinger's subscription inspired some Christmas Day stock research!}

Then we went outside to test drive the new snow scooters! I can remember as a kid wishing and hoping for a "white Christmas." We don't have to wish for that anymore!! We've got more snow than we could ever know what to do with! Now instead of wishing & hoping for snow, we cross our fingers that the snow removal trucks and graders will make it to our side of town soon, ha! ;)

{When I asked Brady why he wasn't smiling for the picture, he told me he was "acting tough"}

Derek made steaks, baked potatoes, and asparagus for us for dinner, and it was just such a great day!

Christmas Eve 2023

Christmas Eve was perfection! Derek was our hero {per usual!} and woke up super early to shovel us out & go pick up donuts for Christmas morning. Since Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday this year, we attended our "normal" service time in the morning.

After church & a quick lunch at home, the kids made cookies for Santa!

Last year we let the kids pass out the gifts they made/purchased for the family on Christmas Eve, and we loved it so much that we decided to do that again this year. The kids are posing with the gifts they made/purchased/wrapped in the first photo below. They were so excited and proud to share their thoughtful gifts!

{Brady gifted both of his sisters a new shade of lipstick, and he's looking on as they're both testing out the new colors in the mirror!}

{a Christmas Eve cello performance}

{cookies & milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer}

{Brady posing with his gift from Hadley}