So we are just figuring out this 2014 thing...getting into the swing of things, mastering the writing of the new year and month and while we have our heads down grasping these new things we are hit with subzero temperatures. . .out of NOWHERE! Where did that come from? Ok, so the weather man did give us a few days warning, but still. We had our last house insulated and ready for such low barometer readings. Our new house - not so much. Day two of the Arctic Freeze our house literally freezes itself. No water, thanks to frozen pipes, and the floors become so cold you can't walk on the bare floors even with socks. At this point I'm wondering how the Alaskans keep their sense of humor through their winters. Despite the bone chill, we did layer up and enjoy a few minutes of the Arctic cold. I mean really, the fresh Arctic air comes to visit so we have to take a deep breath and let that fresh northern air settle in our lungs.

 The snow was minimal - pretty sure the snowflakes froze in the heavens somewhere...




After two days with no water, I'm happy to report that it's back and I am one happy mama! I'm sure I violated the fire codes when I crawled under the house this morning in, again, subzero temperatures - and hooked up our floor heater to the sole crawl space plug. But hey, we have water.

Stay warm Friends!

I'm not one for new year resolutions. I don't spend the last week of a year scrambling for a new year resolution list. If I require a specific notable change in my life, I will implement it, whether it be March 2nd, July 27th or one sunny Saturday afternoon when I'm sunning myself like a lizard. I feed my creative blogging mind by enjoying the blogs of several mom's who are raising their children in a christ like homes, while taking the time to enjoy the small details of life alongside their husbands. These women inspire me - challenge me as a mom, and keep me thinking. For the last several years they have each chosen ONE word for the year. This one word is a reflection, something to live by or aspire to. It's a word that is personal to YOU, on that will help you live with purpose.


My word: Dedicate. I want to be more dedicate to God, my husband, my little family - my work. All that I do, I want to do with purpose and dedication. I don't want to aimlessly wonder through my days. I want to wake up each morning with a dedicated path. This is how I will make 2014 count.

So, won't you join me? Lets live for a purpose! What's your word for 2014?

It's all a learning process for us - especially Chlo's - so we let her touch and discover the tree {under supervision of course}. She hasn't really shown a lot of interest in it, surprisingly - instead she prefers to sit back and just stare up into the Christmas lights. At this stage she's still immensely interested by our staircase. In fact who needs toys when you have a couple of stairs and a landing to play on?

The last few days we've been able to take in a complete, relaxed evening at home following Jon's knee surgery on Thursday. As a result all the pressies are wrapped and our house is in the prep stages for Christmas celebrations. This year my lil kitchen features a hot cocoa bar! I have a huge weakness for hot cocoa {all things warm really}. This year we are having guests over for 2 Christmas celebrations- Christmas Eve and Christmas Evening. Each occasion will call for different items to be featured on the hot cocoa bar. Thanks to Pinterest for the great idea . . . here's peek at what's sitting on my kitchen counter right now. . .