Jaxon's Kindergarten Christmas concert was this week. He's in the front row with his class, 6th kid from the right wearing a long sleeved red shirt. His friend Finn is to his left and Lizzy to his right (Jaxon is buddies with everyone in his class). The video isn't the best, gym lighting, distance etc. but pretty cute anyway. Jax would practice his songs at home for us the weeks before the concert and he sang and did the moves on stage this year which was so cool (last two he just stood there, preschool gets up before the rest of the kids to sing a couple songs). Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! It's beautiful up here, as usual, warm and snowy (only to Alaskans is 0-20 degrees warm, but it is especially after the first -20 cold snap of the year :0)

Nooks & Crannies

Aahh... Winter in Alaska. Everything is white and cold, fresh and cool, clean and crisp. I love finding new trails or areas to explore up here and winter is a great time to do it. We can now walk, ride or slide over the lakes, rivers, streams and swamps that abound in this beautiful state. I call these places I come across the Nooks & Crannies of Alaska. A new view or trail can show you things and places you have never seen or known about. Of course up here you also need to be prepared, you can't just walk off into the Alaskan Wilderness alone or unknown (well you can but it's a bad idea). Most often you don't even have to share the wide open space with anyone else. Just watch for wildlife and keep your distance if you do see anything. You never know what you'll run into and we are enjoying their backyard afterall. The lakes are really fun this time of year to play on. Some people ski and some snowshoe but the trails often go around the inside perimeter of the lake, places you can't get to on foot any other time of year. Dog sledding is also big up here and I took my little one out this week, there is just about enough snow to start using it again, stay tuned for photos or video! Happy Holidays everyone, hope you all have a chance to play in the snow this winter...

new at the playground

Here are a few photos of the boys enjoying some of the new features at the playground before they are covered in snow. Some local log home builders just built/donated this cute little cabin and the bridge/tunnel have also been finished and are now open for play. We do stop by and play some in the winter too. It's fun, trails are stomped in to all the different areas of the playground and the large center parts creates a cool snow-free cave underneath. I will get some winter photos of it pretty soon now. The cold is starting to find us up here, looks like our lovely fall is over and snow is on the way... Stay warm everyone! Luv from AK.

A little of my handy-work

I just did our backsplash above the stove and around the kitchen, it turned out pretty good. The middle tile is of Denali and the others I found at a friends yard sale. Love it! Every little home improvement project helps...

"got breastmilk?"

"Got Breastmilk?" The statement speaks for itself, doesn't it? You would think... I can answer YES to this question (and so can he) but you know who can't? The California Milk Processors Board can't, which is strange since they have applied for the trademark on it. That's right and I think they may get it too because they can "afford" to make it happen even though they must know they have no right to it unless they are starting a new production line we don't know about. It's all about $ and the cash cow (ha, pun intended) that it could be. They funny part is they were quoted saying they want to merchandise the phrase "Got Breastmilk?" on t-shirts, onesies, BOTTLES and diaper bags etc. Wait a minute, BOTTLES? Now that is just stupid! Most of you know about my run in last summer with the CMPB and for those of you who don't here are the story links: http://thelactivist.blogspot.com/2008/07/california-milk-processor-board-goes.html or
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2008/07/30/got-jugs/ and
http://hoydenabouttown.com/20080915.2198/california-dairy-industry-tries-to-trademark-got-breastmilk/
(or google it and it shows up on a bunch of other blogs too, the Anchorage Daily News story on it has expired now). Anyway I'm not the only one they have harassed over this and so many people use it they have a lawyer on it full time it would seem. This poor girl in California is the next victim and this time they are suing her and her parents who she ran the business with! All I can say is "CORPORATE GREED SUCKS!"

It's Fall in Alaska

I love fall colors, a nice morning walk with the dogs and the quiet fog...

The Barbie Jeep

The boys really liked Virginia's Barbie Jeep! Luckily the Battery was low and it wouldn't go full speed because Hawken had figured out how to drive it too... There is a little boom box in it that they are dancing to, "B A R B Radio" funny :0) We had fun in Ohio!