"Christmas in Alaska" brought to you by the iphone.

Taken by "Microsoft Promo" at the Oregon Airport during our layover.

Traveling with a one year old means bringing lots of crap with you on vacation, so I decided to not bring all the big cameras this trip. Our entire trip was documented on our iphones. (I'm addicted to iphone photo apps right now and it shows. I'm just asking that you bare with me during this obnoxious time, and hopefully I will get over it soon).



Oliver's first airline flight went very well. Though he refused to sit, or be held at all by his father the entire flight up, he never had a major meltdown.

He did however...

Yank my seatbelt
Papercut my face with the emergency evacuation instruction card
Stick his hands through the seat crack in front of us to touch its occupants
Head butt my forehead
Lick the passenger seats!
Claw my neck
Expose my chest by pulling at my shirt
Stroke the knee of the passenger sitting next to us (while he drank his bottle)
Eat all my pretzels
Pull out all the tissue from the box in the airplane lavatory while his diaper got changed
Drool lollipop on the seats
Drool lollipop on me


So overall, he did GREAT!

Around 9 a.m. driving to Valdez.

Driving to Valdez in -20 weather.

Weird things you discover in Alaska...

Christmas Trees are hung upside down.

The Christ Child was a Bear.

Valdez around 11 am.

Oliver helping Grandma in the kitchen.

One of Oliver's favorite Alaska activities was sledding in his red sled.

He also liked giving his new monkey a ride.

He also liked helping Mom and Dad make a Ginger Bread House. He powdered the top with snow (sugar).

Oliver also enjoys eating Alaskan Icicles right off the roof.

One of Oliver's favorite things in Alaska was Grandpa & Grandma's church nursery!!

He has never been to a place like this before. All these toys to himself!!!

Oliver got some cute clothes, a Green Monkey, a Pillow Pet Bumble Bee, and a Cat Keyboard.

Nancy prepared a super fancy Christmas dinner for everyone. It was wonderful.

Delicious Red Pear Salad

Christmas Roast, Orange Rolls, Corn and Mashed Potato...Yum.

Chocolate, Orange Cake made with Grand Marnier! Fancy.

Bird Watching

Oliver trying to escape and feed the birds.

Long Rifle Lodge. Just one of the few places to stop on the long drive to Anchorage.

There was more dead animals on display than you would find in a museum.

Though we only needed to use the restrooms, it is always polite to buy something, since it could be days between customers. Oliver had his first cup of Hot Coco.

Check out the beaver in the background wearing the hat.

Jon's Birthday Dinner in Anchorage.

I don't look tired do I?

Actually fell asleep on the flight to Oregon! First plane trip was a success.

THIS JUST IN...

These pictures were taken by Jon's Parents on a GOOD camera.

Happy Holidays! Don't bother checking your mailboxes.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

You will not be receiving one of these cute holiday greeting cards in the mail this year. Why? It's not because we don't love you. We just have had a rough couple of months, and things did not get ordered in time. So instead of sending this in the mail we are just showing you what you could have had.

The Front. Isn't it artsy?

The Back. See the simple family news letter?

We will be spending the holidays in Alaska this year, so as YOUR holiday cards come pouring in, we wont be filled with guilt every time one arrives! Instead we will just experience the guilt all at once when we return home and go through our mail.

Dearest Grandma-

I will remember the good times we had together. I remember how you wanted me to call you Grammy, but as I got older, it never really stuck. I remember getting to spend the night at your house, all alone, without any other brothers and sisters to distract your attention. I remember getting to stay up late, and getting to sleep in with you and Grandpa in your bed the next morning. I remember you letting me have my own cup of "coffee" though now I know it was mostly milk and sugar. I remember your pink bathroom with the pink soap, and how you sat in there with me rubbing my tummy when I felt sick and couldn't "go." It was you that introduced me to yogurt, and eating Breakfast at night. It was with you and Grandpa that I coined the phrases "toy-toy" for toilet and "Hosages" for sausage. And it was you two that never let me forget it. I remember the book you customized just for me "Ali and the Mean Brown Dog" where you carefully whited-out the original name "Sally" and hand wrote "Ali" in its place. I remember how you read it to me every time I came to visit. You always let me wear your slippers and nightgowns when I came over, even though I had my own. You don't know this, but when I was living in Alaska, I bought a pair of slippers just because they were the same kind you used to have, and they reminded me of you. (On the same note, Grandpa probably never knew I searched high and low for a bar of "Lava Soap" to have in my laundry room just because it reminded me of him). I remember all the times you would take me to Yardbirds to get Barbies and how I learned you where afraid of rubber snakes! I remember you fashioning your scarf around my head before Grandpa would take me for a ride on his motorcycle. You made me feel like a "Pretty Lady." I will always remember the way you smelled. A fresh baby powder clean smell that I liked so much. Most of all, I will always remember how special you made me feel. Looking back at it now, it was like you put me under your spell, because my visits with you were so magical I never wanted them to end. I wanted to stay at your place forever. I loved the quiet, I loved the peace. I loved being the only one there. I honestly used to fantasize that you would adopt me so I would never have to return to Concord or to my Concord life. You made me feel safe and protected and most of all special. All though you were not a part of my adult life as much as I would have wanted, these childhood memories have always warmed my heart. I only wish that my son could have met you and had a chance to experience that special feeling I had as a little girl. I love you and you will always be my Grammy.

I Already Miss You Sooooo Much

Dearest Grandma,

I already miss you so much.

I'm so lucky you have been a part of my life for so many years...yet it doesn't seem like it was long enough.

I will always remember the love and kindness you had for me. Thanks for being such a wonderful Grandma.