Our little Megan enjoys spending many afternoons dressed up for her ballet. She puts on quite a show. She is especially fun to watch when she picks out her own outfits and doesn't have her hair done, and has food all around her face! Someday she is going to hate these pictures!
This year for New Year's Eve we rented a cabin at a lake about 35 miles south of the base. It is kind of in the middle of nowhere. The cabin had electricity but no heating. We thought it sounded like a fun little adventure. There were some festivities at the main lodge. Sorry it was dark most of the time that we were there(it is Alaska in the winter!) so the pictures aren't great.
While playing around outside with a bunch of kids, Nick got kicked and lost his very loose tooth. I am glad for the kid that kicked him so that I didn't have to pull it out!
We set off lots of fireworks. The Northern Lights were absolutely amazing that night. I tried and tried to get pictures of them, but I couldn't. It was too dark to see any of the buttons on my camera and too cold to take my gloves off to try to move things around. 
Here is our cabin in the daylight. It was a one room place. Curtis and the boys brought in stacks of wood to keep loading into the woodstove. We stayed toasty warm. It was also unseasonably warm outside as well. It was 11 degrees(ABOVE!!!!) at midnight.
Curtis has a stack of sparklers for all of the kids. And adults.
Caleb writing his name.
The boys playing outside. It felt so good out there compared to what it has been lately.
Megan played outside but when the fireworks started she took off to the lodge to get away from the noise.
Our friends brought up some snowmobiles. We had tons of fun riding around on those. There was a lake that we could drive across. The next day Caleb saw that the ground that we had been on was a lake, and he was a bit freaked out that he had been on top of the water. Our weekend was great. It was definitely our favorite Alaskan New Year's Eve.
We all went ice scating yesterday at Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks. I don't know why we haven't gone sooner. The boys loved it. Nick didn't like to leave the wall at first, but finally felt confident to let go.
Caleb's skate had two blades so he was skating like a pro from the start. He still liked to hold my hand every other lap or so. It made him go faster!!
My cute boys. They didn't want to leave and begged to come back. We definitely will.
Jake started trying to do tricks. Whoa! What moves!
Today I made some divinity. Caleb tasted it and said, "Mom, is this manna? Cause it tastes like heaven." Agreed.
Yesterday we visited Santa at his home in North Pole. The boys realized that this was the last time that they would see the REAL Santa and not just one of his "helpers!" How amazing it has been to live here in Alaska!
Today is the shortest day of the year, even though on Christmas break, it somewhat feels like the the longest. The sun came up at 10:53 a.m. and went down at 2:41 pm. But it was warmish...only -22. But on short days like this we stay inside and find something to do. Caleb loves to make music on his computer.
Nick likes to build things. He is quite imaginative.
Jake loves to play games and loves to help his sister. They are playing Guess Who? I think that he lets her win just enough so that she will keep playing with him.
Last Friday we went to our ward Christmas Dinner. Megan and Caleb were very intent on their coloring before dinner.
Megan was down with the junior primary getting ready to sing their Christmas songs.
Nick was Joseph for the Nativity. He would only do it under the condition that he did not have to kiss Mary. We told him that it wasn't that kind of play!
Jake was a shepherd. He loved being in costume.
I am glad the my children like decorating the Christmas tree, because I don't enjoy it much anymore. It seems like a lot of work. Curtis and I spend a whole hour putting up a tree and getting all of its branches out and putting on lights evenly, just so that they can put on ornaments in 3 minutes flat. Where is the justice?
They love this nativity, the only one that they can "touch"! It goes right below our Christmas tree, but inevitably I find shepherds in the kitchen, sheep in the bathroom, and Mary under the couch.
Decorating for Christmas is like having Christmas twice. We open all these bins of things that we have forgotten about all year long!
Jake had his band concert this week. He has been playing trumpet this year. 
Caleb loving the spotlight. He just had to wear his suit for the program. He is a charmer.
Nick also had his concert. He has been working on the recorder. Thankfully for the rest of you, I just have pictures and not sound clips to third graders playing the recorder...
On Friday Curtis and I surprised Megan with a trip to the Ballet. We watched The Nutcracker.
Megan loved being able to dress up and watch all of the dancers. It was a great time out with our little princess.
