Year End Review a Little Late Part 1

This end of the year catch up has been on my list for 3 full months now, and since we are a quarter of the way into the new year now, it seems that I had better do it now before I lose all hope of regaining lost ground. After we came home from Thanksgiving, we jumped into the full swing of December and Christmas preparations. We decorated our tree the first week we were home.

Stratton performed with his preschool at their annual Christmas party and did a fantastic job. We were fully anticipating a repeat of last year's mouth full of his hands, sneaking off to the side and zero singing performance, but he stood front and center and smiled and sang all the songs and did all the actions. It was amazing to see what a difference a year makes! It was a really fantastic party and Stratton gave a great performance. 

Pilot went through an intense jumping phase where he spent hours of every day in his jumper going bananas. He has since given up on the jumper, but for a while there it was indispensable. He could really get swinging, too. I already miss the sound of the spring going while I cook dinner. Having him crawling around underfoot is significantly more tricky. 

We visited the Christmas Ice Park so the boys could drive the ice truck. 

Pilot didn't enjoy it quite as much once his cheeks got cold, but it was one of our first times out with him below zero and we were still working out the kinks of keeping a baby under 1 warm in Alaska. Shockingly, outdoor gear manufacturers seem to assume that babies won't be outside below zero, so it is very tricky to find warm enough gear until they hit about 2. But I think that now, as winter comes to an end, we have figured out the best options for keeping Pilot warm and happy on our outings. 

We also had our friendly neighborhood moose take up residence on our back porch. Our jack o lantern from Halloween was still out there and he decided it made a nice snack one night. The dogs started barking one night, so I cupped my hands to the glass, and this guy was literally 2 inches from my face through the back door looking right back at me. Scared me to death to have him so close. 

He was a regular knocking at our back door for the whole month. I think he kept hoping we would put out another frozen pumpkin for him. We still see him every couple days, but he has stopped hanging out on the back porch as of late.