Alaskan Adventure Part X - My Ice Queen

 I couldn't pass up the perfect opportunity to snap some pictures of Allison in her new Christmas outfit from us (it was really more of a present for me!) and her new Elsa dress in the snow.  She was quite into posing for me....until she got too cold!  Love this little girl, she's becoming quite the little lady!

 Can you hear it?  'Let it go, let it go......the cold never bothered me anyway!'

Alaskan Adventure Part IX - Doner Sledding

 We spent the last full day of our trip to Alaska with the Doner family so that the Heidis could meet and bond!  We started with sledding at the Settler's Bay golf course.  It was a great afternoon for sledding and the hill was perfect.  We tried all sorts of combinations and trains and races down the hill.  And for the record, sledding with Heidi is exhausting - one must haul her back up the hill and this one was steep enough we had to carry her not pull her in the sled!  Thankfully no one in our party was injured and fun was had by all, even Heidi and Adak (Keeton's dog who found all the people a bit intimidating!).  It was also a celebration of sort - this time last year big Heidi was in the hospital recovering and entirely missed the sledding season.  We were so thankful to get to spend time with her and the rest of the Doner clan!

 Best Uncle Ever.  He hauled Allison & Ella all the way back up.  Apparently they didn't ask, they just jumped in the sled!

The two Heidis, together at last!  We gave Heidi a special copy of the Heidi book.  And thankfully little Heidi had warmed up to all the strange people and places she was content to sit in big Heidi's lap for awhile just chillin' - the binkie might have helped - but they did seem to have quite the bond!

Alaskan Adventure Part VIII - Cousin Night!

My cousin-in-law coordinated an adult cousin night for us all.  We went bowling - with Grammie's glasses to keep the competition from getting too fierce!  Grammie Kroon's glasses (pictured above - they are crazy - she was pretty much blind) were the 'prize' for any strike that was bowled.  Grandma Grindle's (my cousin Kep's other grandmother) sunglasses were prizes for spares, gutter balls and whatever else we felt was relevant....

 And Kep gave us all fun name for bowling....I was supposed to be Ju-Ju but it was mis-read by the front desk so I was Ja-Ju for this!

All the lovely glasses - and are those cases fabulous or what?

We ended the evening back at Kep & Rachel's with a Fondue party.  It was a very fun evening.  And all the kiddos had a great time with their grandparents while we were out partying!

Alaskan Adventure Part VII - Snowmen!

 On the day after Christmas the Kroon women headed into Target for an annual shopping & lunch date (we are very casual shoppers - no crazy stuff here!).  The kids stayed home with the men and my Dad said it was going to be the best snowman building day of the trip - so all three kiddos headed out and worked very hard to build, well, tiny snowmen.  Apparently the best snowman snow of the trip still wasn't very sticky!!

When I got home I took advantage of the snowy background and got pictures of the girls in their 'big' present from Mark & I - their Frozen themed dress-up dresses courtesy of an Etsy shop.  the girls loved them - Allison has been wearing hers non-stop!

Finished in 2014 No. 10

2014 was a record year for quilting!  I wrapped it up with this quilt which I spent a week putting together using two mini charm packs following a pattern in my 'Fabulously Fast' quilt book.  I made this quilt to enter into my Mom's family $10 gift exchange - just to add some excitement.  My cousin, Brenna, ended up winning it, which was fitting because it was her birthday, too!

Alaskan Adventure Part VI - Christmas Day Shenanigans

 We started Christmas morning with breakfast at Grammie & Grr's house.  Cason helped frost the cinnamon rolls.  We were so thankful Grammie made cinnamon rolls for us - Mark had apple crisp, he wasn't entirely left out!

 We then opened presents - and I don't really have any pictures, the girls were too busy tearing into theirs.  Cason & Heidi tested out the paper collection box!

 One of the best parts of Christmas Day was we got four inches of fresh snow!  I took Heidi home for a nap and the girls, Mark & Aunts & Uncles spent some time sledding in the fresh snow!

 Allison & Ella had so much fun together!

 Next we headed to the church to have Christmas with Mom's side of the family.  We had a yummy dinner....complete with cracker sandwiches for Cason!

 The Heidi-bug got her first taste of almond sticks - a very special treat my Aunt Geraldine makes each year for Christmas.  They are labor intensive - and amazing.

 After eating we got down to business - playing in the gym.  My Aunt Joan brought these scooters and they were a huge hit - for everyone.  My Aunts (and cousins) spent their evening racing each other on them.  The guys played baseball with a foam noodle and dodge ball ball.  Entertaining to say the least!  I think this was Heidi's favorite day of the trip - she was free to run wherever she wanted, and she even got Cason to push her around quite a bit!

 Mark went to a movie with my brother & sister in the evening so I stayed home and played games with Allison, read a book, drank some tea and experimented with my phone camera trying to get a Christmas-light bokah effect.