*Summer Days!*

These abnormal high temperatures bring out the "yard work" or "snow" work.  Jack and I spent a couple hours outside as soon as it got light out.  We shoveled off the entire deck,  uncovered patio furniture from 18 inches of snow,  and woke up the barbeque.  We came inside to watch the last half of the Seahawk play-off game (valiant effort, fellas!) eat lunch and Jack took a nap.  I really wanted to take a nap as well, but with freezing rain and five inches of snow in the forecast in the next week I figured I had better get to shoveling.  It took me about and hour but I got the driveway all cleaned up.  Tonight my friend Heather is coming over to grill a few steaks on the 'barbie.  This warm weather has been a very nice break!

Almost one year ago (Jan 16th '12) it was thirty-eight degees
below zero. Almost a one hundred degree difference!

I know this "clear" deck won't last long,  but it's nice
to know that it is still there.  Somewhere.

Tug somehow managed to take a picture of himself. 
I have no idea how it happened.

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warm weekend!

We have had some unusually warm weather the past few days.  I love it,  Jack, Tug and I have definitely been enjoying it by playing outside, going for walks and I like shoveling snow when my eyes don't freeze shut.  The warmth does come with a price:  two inches of snow (no biggie) but there is now a chance for freezing rain which will make things a mess.  So I am hoping for just snow!  This was also our first week back to school and work from taking a break during the holidays.  It wasn't easy.  We stuck to our schedule today,  it was so hard to get back into it that it's easier to tough it out and wake up, eat lunch, take naps and go to bed all at the same times as during the week.

Relaxing after school on Friday afternoon

Looking at I don't know what

Weekend treat: getting to fall asleep in the big bed

Testing out the new wagon with the huge tires

Deep powder!

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It's a wonderful life

We had a fabulous Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  Christmas Eve was spent with friends at our home.  I cooked a big turkey dinner and everyone ate, drank and be'd Merry.  Christmas morning was spent with Jack, Heather, Tug and myself opening gifts, eating cinnamon rolls and of course coffee and mimosas.  Jack was so surprised to see his big wagon from Grandma Joan and Grandpa Russ.  I was glad he liked it,  since he didn't go to sleep until almost 11 pm on Christmas Eve I didn't get started on building it until late and it took almost an hour.  Jack, Tug and I spent the rest of Christmas day playing with all our new goodies and getting ready for our trip to Anchorage tomorrow.  Heather and I will be driving down in the morning to spend some time with Hollie and Henlie.  Jack and I wanted to thank our wonderful family and friends for all the gifts we received.  We are blessed to have such generous people in our lives. 

Tug patiently awaiting all of his friends Christmas Eve

Jack loving his workbench from Uncle Jim, Auntie Ronda,
Randa, Jared and Jacki

Jack finally fell asleep on the couch waiting for Santa

Tug got a new toy from Santa

My new "Rolex" from mom and dad

Jack exploring his new wagon

Relaxing Christmas afternoon

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Cookin'

I am hosting a big Christmas Eve dinner for some friends and co-workers.  I started preparations last night and they will continue until the dinner.  We got an 18 pound bird!  I was cooking the coveted flourless chocolate cake that our friend Heather makes and Jack wanted to help.  It gets a bit complicated, definitely above both of our baking skill levels but I managed to successfully bake one earlier in the week for my co-workers.  Jack needed to be distracted so I could concentrate.  I gave him a strainer, pot with an inch of water (BIG mistake) and pasta spoon to do a little "cooking" on his own.  He was having a blast.  After I took these pictures I turned my back,  he was giggling and I heard a splash,  and Jack was sitting in the pot of water.

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dang

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