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    Greetings!
    Winter has come to Alaska!
              It started off mild, but winter finally showed her hard side just in time for final exams at UAF. We were thankful that it was relatively "warm" throughout the "Babes in Toyland" run, and we had an awesome show.

    Oh! Christmas Tree!
             We didn't really have much of a tree in 2006 -- just a small one we'd bought and put up in 2005 (we went to Texas in 2005). So it was time for a new tree, and we almost waited too late!
             We had picked out a really pretty big tree with colored lights, that may have even twinkled... but when we went to buy one on December 16th, they were ALL SOLD OUT! Can you just imagine?
             Luckily, Bill and the girls found one we all really like -- 9ft, slender and white lights. If I want color lights so bad, I can just change out the 1400 bulbs, right? (laughing) It looks lovely, although we don't have much space --     		(tree Picture coming soon)


             Naturally I want the same thing for Christmas I have ALWAYS wanted... a clean house! We didn't get as much cleared out as we'd hoped over the summer and in winter it's too cold to do a major haul it all out in the yard makeover. Our plans for summer are to be in Alaska, though -- and we should get things REALLY tidied up then.

    Oh! Christmas!
             Plans are a little different this year, but will be just as fun as ever.

    The first part of the celebration is to go to Ed and Mary's Christmas Party on December 21. We are taking Sweet Potatoes ala Errett's (from Thanksgiving in July). We ALWAYS lose the recipe. Here it is:

    Sweet Potatoes

    (recipe is for one batch)
    2 cans (29 oz.) sweet potatoes, drained
    ½ c. butter
    ½ c. evaporated milk
    ¼ tsp. Nutmeg
    ½ tsp. Cinnamon
    3 eggs
    2 tsp. Vanilla
    2 c. sugar
    large marshmallows

    Mash potatoes.  Add remaining ingredients.  Bake 350 degrees 20 min. 
    Top with marshmallows & brown.

    Note:  small glass baking dish 9x13

             It should be pretty hard to lose that now, shouldn't it?

    December 22 we will be gearing up for our BIG Christmas dinner at home, which will be the 23rd. We are having it early this year because Anna must leave at O-dark-thirty on the 24th to go home to her family. We want to have Christmas dinner with Anna and take lots of pictures to send to Billy.

             From then on, things would be relatively normal, except that Emily is house sitting for some of her friends and we won't see a lot of her. Annie is counting down days until she flies to Texas the first week in January to spend a few weeks with Shannon, Chris & Co. Then Emily has her wisdom teeth out and a week later are auditions for "Thumbelina". In February Bill will have surgery on his shoulder, and in March (spring break) we will have to see what happens! It's not even New Year's eve and the first three months of 2008 are packed.

             We will be returning to school at UAF. Deb is finally settling into History courses after a false start last semester. Emily is in the Early Childhood Education program and Annie is a techno geek overflowing with talent and smarts. Amazing.

             Our prayers are with Billy and all who are away from loved ones this holiday, and with the rest of our family and friends. Alaska seems very far away at this time of year...

             Have a safe and happy holiday season and many blessings in the year to come!