Lazy Winter Weekends

Winter solstice has come and gone and with every day we get a little more day light. 

We noticed that we were getting a little lazy with taking walks since it was always so dark but now that we are getting a few minutes more light we are taking advantage.

Sierra showing off her new cable knit sweater

Getting some exercise on a snowy Alaska day

All bundled up

Lazy weekend

As soon as the Mrs got out of bed Sierra climbed right on in

 

 

 

 

Enjoying a Hockey game

We hope you are all enjoying this new year. 

Love, Mrs. Messinger

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!! 

We rang in the new year cuddled on the couch in our PJ's.  It may not have been the most exciting but it gave us plenty of time to reflect on the past year.  One year ago today we brought in the New Year with our family and had lots of goodbyes and a big move looming over our heads. 

You can find our 2012 highlights here!

Today we took a drive to Eklutna Lake, which has grown to be our favorite place in Alaska to date.  We walked around the frozen lake and talked about our Alaska Bucket List and what we are thankful for.  

Happy New Year

Burr

The Frozen Lake

Sierra checking out all the new smells

I love taking pictures of them...

Hope you all had a wonderful start to your New Year.

Stay tuned for our 2013 Alaska Bucket List.

Love, Mrs Messinger

Merry Christmas

This was our 1st Christmas as just The Messinger's.  We started new traditions of baking cookies and decorating a gingerbread house on Christmas Eve.  We also kept old traditions of opening PJ's.  

On Christmas Eve we Skyped the Mr's side of the family and on Christmas Day we Skypled the Mrs' side of the family.  It was fun to be able to open gifts with our family miles away.  We spent Christmas afternoon surprising our friends with cookies for both dogs and humans.  

Sierra opening a gift form the Mrs co-worker.

Even the pup got a candy cane. 

Sierra with her new toy

Baking

Lots of Cookies to bake

Sierra opening her P.J.'s aka Sweater

New robe after wearing the old one for 5+ years

Batman Shorts

Decorating the gingerbread house

Yummo

Sierra didn't realize she was allowed to open her gift

Play time...

As you can see we had a wonderful first Messinger Family Christmas.  Hopefully we will get to spend next year with our family in California but if not we know that we will be just fine.

Love, Mrs Messinger

Oh Christmas Tree

Oh DEAD Christmas Tree

Just days after Drew returned to Alaska from a TDY in Guam we purchased our first and last real Christmas Tree in Alaska.  Christmas Trees die really quickly in the dry Alaska winter air but we didn't want to drop $250 on a fake tree so we decided to go real and cross our fingers that it would make it to Christmas... Our tree is now 6 days old and completely DEAD. Oh well it will make a good story 25 years from now.

 

Here are the pics of our traditional yearly ornament.  We have grown really attached to purchasing our yearly Mickey & Minnie ornament.  Enjoy

Our 1st Christmas - 2009, Fox Wood Apartments - Fresno, CA

2010, Palo Alto Place - Fresno, CA

2011, Williamson Home - Bass Lake CA

2012, Moose Crossing - JBER, AK

Tradition of sneaking a kiss under Mickey & Minnie ;-)

Merry Christmas from Alaska

Merry Christmas to all of our family & friends.

Love, Mrs Messinger

Another project...

This past weekend I decide to make something with a really old frame. This is a special frame in that it held Andrew's Grandpa's Air Force Basic Training picture before I upgraded it to a frame that matched the one that Andrew's BMT picture is in.

With Love,
Mrs Messinger

Fall Outfits

It is nice and cold here in Alaska and I am enjoying it to say the least.  It has been so much fun layering clothes and wearing jackets and boots everyday.  Some call me weird but I love it!

Here are some of my recent outfits...

My favorite North Face zip up.

A great outfit to do Saturday errands in

I sure love those boots! Thanks for the Birthday $$$ Mom & Dad

Don't mind me standing on the toilet.  I liked this outfit! Dress with blue cardigan, brown tights, and long songs with boots.

Dog Park Outfit

Hat with white flower. Who cares about messy hair when it is 0 degrees out.

Love Mrs. Messinger

Front Door Wreath

Most days Sierra and I walk the neighborhood and ooh and awe at all of the cute wreaths hanging on our neighbors doors.  I tell you those military wives are creative...

After doing lots of research on wreaths I decided to give it a try.

The materials before...

The Finished Wreath

I sure love that dog peaking out the window as I took this picture.

Hope you enjoyed our wreath!

With Love,
Mrs. Messinger