Sledding Disaster

Cody and I decided to hit the sledding slope. Just when I thought being adventurous sounded fun, I later recanted after a horrible wipe-out (no pictures of the bruise, it's really better that way.).

Someone cracked the saucer on the first run

Fearless before the fateful crash

Sipping the best-yet mocha (we bought flavoring and fatty milk- it was key)

A Very Blessed Christmas

What a wonderful Christmas Cody and I shared! We are truly spoiled by our families!
Although I had to work last night, we enjoyed a lovely Christmas day together, complete with Skype time.

Ready for Christmas Eve service- so glad we left a little early because we took the last 2 seats in the far pew!

Typical condescending look

Christmas attire complete with a new dressy jacket

Hello, Christmas morning!

So very excited to be home from work

The big reveal- he loved it! (and A Christmas Story on in the background)

Typical condescending face. wait, I mean... too much tape!

lovely new Christmas socks from Santa (plus camera string)

Drawing numbers (Cody's #2, naturally)

Christmas family photo op

Starting in on family gifts

Her 'gift', courtesy of Amazon wrapping

Encore of the awesome wrapping job

Tired but loving my new cutting board and ruler + throw

He's been had: cut-proof tie container, disguised as jam.

Mochas for me!

Our snow

Our Christmas mail: just when we thought we were done opening gifts, we discovered more had come yesterday

Our first Christmas ornament

And as if on cue, more snow started falling (it was neat to see if fall all night last night too!)

The aftermath (it still looks like that too :S)

He made me a mocha :)

Wishing you and yours a wonderful and Christ-filled Christmas season! Merry Christmas!

Christmas at the Zoo

We enjoyed a night out last night as Cody's work hosted their Christmas party at the Alaska Zoo. The zoo opens from Thursday-Sunday with a lights display before Christmas each year and we were able to meander through the exhibits. Although it did snow about 5 inches last night, we had a delightful time. We'd never visited a zoo in winter, let alone at night, so it was nice to see the animals doing something other than sweltering and pacing. The wolf & tiger exhibits were our fav.

Our poor attempt at a nice Christmas photo; we only succeeded in looking like giants

Our blessings (er... prizes)

Beginning on our tour

'Twas a cold winter night...

Awake and loving the snow

Our awesome camera captured the falling snow too

Begging his brother to come out, to which the reply was a dimming of the den light, unintentional, I'm sure, but amusing none the less.

And then he was hamming it up for the visitors

Reveling in my penny press find.

The wolves were one of the coolest (and most elusive) exhibits. It was wonderful we see them in more of a 'natural' habitat.

Merry Christmas Lights!

I got the night off of work last night, so Cody and I took advantage and headed out on our annual Christmas lights tour.

First we had to clear the lake that had formed on our sidewalk

And to save our marriage, Cody navigated and drove.

First destination (before finding the night scene setting on our new camera)

The BEST house

Night scene mode

Lesser of the two timed houses

And to top it off: a moose as we entered our complex!

Downtown Anchorage

We were finally able to make time to use a gift card to a restaurant downtown, so we headed there tonight. We enjoyed a great dinner at an Irish pub here in Anchorage. Then we strolled (quickly) through the lights.

Cody hit a red light (like he usually does) and I was able to snap a picture of this high rise: very cool!

The Work of Christmas Elves

Mission accomplished

Cody was robbed of cheese from the Kebler elves

Cody made an awesome spare ribs marinade this week: delicious! (Of course he'll never remember what the 'recipe' was)

Not only on it, but in it

What I came home to one day: he didn't get to the wrapping part, so he shoved my gifts in an old box and taped it up!