So this Manger is very special to me.

My Dad built this himself. He used a blow torch to burn the wood, and then stained it and varnished it. He built it back in North Dakota in 1966. He and my Mom bought the pieces at Woolworths. The got the hay from a horse corral on Grand Forks Air Force base, where they lived in ND. I guess there is a funny story about my older brother Mike being chased by a Goose that day, with him just a screaming! Anyways, this Manger was set up in my house every Christmas. I loved playing with the people and setting it up. I would re-arrange them all the time. We even had a cat or two that would push them all aside to sleep on the hay.

My parents don't really set up all of their decorations during Christmas anymore, so I asked this Christmas if I could have it. They were happy to say yes! So here it sits in my house now....full of memories for me.

With the Holidays upon us, it is time to help out. Last year was my first try at this. My church always has an adopt a family. We have a tree decorated with items that this family needs. You can pick any (or none) items you wish. Bring them back and then the teen youth group wraps and delievers them. Last year, I got last picks. Pretty much there was a $100 GVEA GC you could buy or buy them their Christmas dinner. I was hoping to get off cheaper than that, but I really wanted to help, so I picked the Christmas dinner. I went to Safeway's Deli. It cost $49.99 to get a pre-cooked Christmas dinner. So I bought a $50 Safeway GC for this. Way more money than I wanted to give, but I did it. Let me tell you it felt so good. I didn't get to meet the family, or even know who they were. I didnt get to see their faces when they opened it, but it was beyond that for me. It just felt good to know I was helping someone else less fortunate feel better, for at least one day.
This year, we have the adopt a family again. I picked a tag that was for a 6 yr old boy who wants books. Can't wait to go to B&N and pick some out, with the boys help. Derek's work is also doing an adopt a family. He forwarded me the note. One family has no Christmas tree or decorations. We picked up an extra artificial tree one year at Home Depot at the after Christmas day sale. I think it cost a whole wopping $10.00 after all the markdowns. I was going to use it as an extra decoration outside with lights on it. Since fuel started costing so much, which caused electricity to cost so much more, we haven't set it except for one year. It's just sitting in the crawl space. Gathering dust. Derek made his way to town today, and bought some decorations and lights for it, and will drop it off to the HR dept of his work tonight. It feels really good to know that this family will be able to decorate a tree, which is such an important tradition in my family.
If you don't already help out....try it...I guarentee you will love it!!

Family Get Together

Uncle Mike sneaks in on Macy's moment...
Blowing out the candles.
(Yes, my pictures are all out of order...oh well!)

Carson got this gift during Macy's party, since his bday was just last week.

Jarret and Jenna

These boys just arrived from flying all day to get home from their roadtrip to Fresno. Not sure if a bday party was on the agenda, but I think they enjoyed the food.

Grandma gets piled up with Macy's toys.

Macy still handing out the toys...pieces of her wooden bday cake.

Grandpa

Playing with the wooden bday cake .

Grandma opening up some of her gifts as well.

Maggie shows us her sense of style!

Macy loved playing with the face off the bday cake. haha

We haven't had new family pictures taken in about 10 years. Portraits Studio did a great job. They took us up to the B. Gardens up at UAF. I have never ever been there. It is beautiful.

PS is you see this family picture, don't tell my parents about till after Christmas, it is one of their gifts.

And yes, it was sprinkling that day, so I hate my hair!

Love love love this picture.

All the cousins.
Jared wasn't born in Alaska (the rest were), but he has been raised here, so we think he qualified for the shirt!

http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=1890

Very exciting post about Jared and Tayler. My Dad is beside himself, as Walpole, MA is right where he grew up. He is already planning his trip to watch the games.

Life is a journey and everything happens for a reason.

Home opener!

This picture of my boys makes my heart sing! Gosh, they look so much alike.

Uncle Mike and Grandpa Z show their support for Jared!

The 3 local kids! Proud of these boys.

Tayler, Alex and Jared


Jared, Cousin Jenna and Preston (who lives with Jenna's family).

Family shot!

Cousins Macy and Jenna with their matching coats!

This was during our vacation this summer in Washington D.C.

We had no one to take pictures of us, so I just held my iphone out in front of us and snapped away.

Quite comincal, I know.

I had no idea that Derek was making the faces behind Jared and I.

More self portraits in Washington DC at the Washington Monument on the 4th of July.

Gotta love Carson's 'crazy' eyes!

Haha