Solstice and christmas

We survived the darkest days of the year!!  Now that the winter solstice is behind us the sun is gradually coming back.  It will still be a few months until things feel normal again but at least we know it's coming back.   This year has been especially hard because we didn't fly back to Colorado for Christmas- trying to save some money before tying the knot in June.  We made the best of it and we were lucky enough that Mike and Pam included us in their Christmas festivities. 

Nate is performing the annual shooting of our Christmas tree.  Trees in Alaska are particularly dangerous so you have to make sure it's dead before bringing it into the house.

The old Russian cabin in the woods.

Looking out into cook inlet while driving down to Girdwood.  

Sunrise

Don't fool yourself, we're not early risers. This was about 10:30.

The turnagain arm is loaded with ice. 

Our ski up Eddies Mountain with Ben and some friends.

King Crab legs on Christmas Eve!!!

Skiing on Christmas Day- Nate is attempting to sun bathe.

View of the valley

Christmas Dinner at Mike and Pam's

Climbing up Fat Bob with Ben and Rob.

The sun trying to peak out on the summit

Lucy is trying to beat us down the mountain.

Wishing the sun would stay longer

Lucy Goose- Snow Dog extraordinaire 

We missed seeing family and friends this Christmas.  Can't wait to see everyone this summer.  Until then it will be an amazing ski season.  Crossing our fingers for many powder days to come. 

Thanksgiving in a Yurt

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

This was our first turkey so however cliche a turkey picture might be I wanted to make my father proud.

We took our thanksgiving dinner on the trail with our ski's and sleds which Jay informed us had been on Denali. But I assured him they had never carried such a delicious turkey before.

Lucy packed to the brim as always.

After many snowy miles we reached our Yurt.

Lucy would have us live in a yurt because she can always keep a close eye on us while being completely comfortable.

Making do with what we have.

Eagle river right next to the yurt.

Hiking up river.

Lucy being a sack of potatoes in the bottom of kristen's sleeping bag.

Shrimp cocktail is becoming a cold thanksgiving tradition for us young Alaskans.

The yurt at sunset at about 4:00 pm. The first night we forgot propane and were functioning off a few headlamps. The next day Jay and Nate skied back to civilization for propane to run the lantern. Believe us when we say that 1000 lumens can make all the difference when the sun sets at 4. This is our bright glowing yurt the second night...

X-country skiing around home. The sun seems like it's setting but really just moved sideways :)

The sun moving sideways makes for long brilliant sunsets.

We're staying busy smoking and canning our copper river red salmon. 

We're thinking about all our friends and family back home in these harsh winter months. Stay in touch!

P.S. Here's the latest backyard standoff.

Oh and Lucy won of course, chasing the moose off just seconds after this photo.