Christmas and more

Oh how I procrastinate and how daunting these posts become!  Seriously.  How have nearly two months passed already???  Do you realize how many pictures we've taken in that time?  *sigh*  I really DO want to share some of the pictures from the last several weeks because we have captured some AMAZING Malena-ness.  She's learning to ham.  She'll actually do something for me twice so that I can take a picture of it.  She is...self-aware now, I think.  :)  BUT FIRST, I must share a few Christmas photos.  Maybe the really AMAZING pictures will have to wait for the next post. 

My darling parents came for 2 1/2 weeks and experienced the coziness of our small "treehouse" during a very cold month.  My Dad braved the frigid temperatures often enough, but only out of desperation and because he has this abominable snowman type coat.  I cooked and baked (it was Christmas after all) and my mom, when not washing endless sink-fulls of dishes did the best she could to occupy Malena who was in a very unfortunately timed mommy stage.  I watched both of my parents love, play with and adore their grand-daughter which, believe me, is a sight for sore eyes when you live in Alaska.  Andrew worked a lot so he wins a badge of honor for providing for our family whilst still charming the in-laws.  :)

We opened presents on the wrong day (life in the weather service), made important decisions REALLY appreciating God's provision of my parents' wise counsel and experience, watched football (I was greatly chagrined), and had a very amusing/heartbreaking skype call with Andrew's parents in which it was VERY evident Malena remembered them and wondered what they were doing in the computer???  So enough talking.  Here are some pictures.  :)

These really came out in random order - sorry.

My Ukpik parents!  Ice sculptures downtown.

A pink-nosed girl snuggling in with the ever-present "fuzzy".

She is saying "cheeeese!"  :)  :)

A little blurry, but precious

Malena "helped".

These bells were HANDS-DOWN her FAVORITE thing to play with for weeks on end.

Malena's very first tower that she built all by herself!  You see, Grandpa Dennis?  Your training paid off!  :)

All dressed for a Christmas party!

The Christmas meal

Cutie.  :)  We all went to the Zoo in zero degree weather to see their lights display.

Hard to tell, but there we all are (except for Andy).

Football with Grandpa.  His dream come true.  :)

I left so much out but I think I have like a dozen pictures here.  This will have to do.  Andy took my on an AWESOME surprise for my birthday in December.  That will have a post all its own.  :)