Baby Shower at the Mission (Thanks Becca!)

Well I think we're actually are going to have a baby. Sunday Rebecca Jones put on an amazing baby shower for me. It was a nice small group of us from the Mission and it was extremely enjoyable. Becca had some great games planned, including making diapers and then actually figuring out what was inside some diapers.

While Stephen and I are extremely excited about having a baby, admittedly we really don't have anything. Up until yesterday I had one diaper that I received in the mail as a sample and according to my sister (now on her third baby) you go through about 70 plus a week! Oh my, Stephen's going to be busy (ha ha ha ). The first picture is a gift given to me by Emily North. She had made every part of it and it's even more amazing when you hold the hat and little gloves in your hands.

What a blessing!

Progressive Dinner

Stephen and I had a busy weekend! We were one of the host homes for our churches progressive dinner. There were lots of people in our not so big home, but a bunch of fun. These are a couple of pictures taken by our good friend Kathy. She and Stephen had a lot of fun with these. Anyway, at the end of the night we enjoyed an extremely fun white elephant gift exchange. The "Mad Hatter" was lots of fun, and it's him you'll see in the video below.

Christmas Pictures

Woody Island on New Years Day
Stephen trying out his Christmas present.
Woody Island
A week of work and play

Christmas Day with the Nussbaum Family

Stephen opening Christmas presents on Skyp with his parents
Christmas Eve at the Davidsons
Roscoe keeping his Christmas Present away from Gus
Us with some of the youth of the Church
Gareth and Joshua Jones shooting fireworks from our deck. A little scary, but they had fun.

Christmas 2009 will always be remembered. It was the first year Stephen and I were not in Nebraska and it rained on Christmas. On Christmas Eve we enjoyed a nice service at church and then went to the famous Davidson Christmas Eve open house. Christmas day was nice and relaxing. In the evening we went to the Nussbaums for a wonderful Christmas dinner. The week after Christmas I went back to work and Stephen enjoyed another week off.

New Years Eve was pretty quiet. Stephen and I didn't quite make it to midnight, but all the fireworks let us know it was the new year. On New Years day we headed over to Woody Island for a nice hike with the dogs. It was great watching Gus chase rabbits and deer.

Christmas Time

A beautiful December day
Fogged in Kodiak

Gus trying to get through the snow to us

Being in Kodiak for Christmas was something we never thought would happen. But being 8 months pregnant and traveling, plus the increased cost made Kodiak the best Christmas option. Today it is clear and 35 degrees out, but it's amazing the time we would have been flying out the weather was terrible and planes didn't come into Kodiak for two days. Now watching the news and talking to family it looks like another snow storm will be hitting the midwest, right where we would have been traveling. While we are missing everyone greatly, we also feel blessed knowing the Lord knew what would be best this Christmas.

Yesterday when the wind and the rain died down we decided to take the dogs for a nice long hike. It was beautiful, but tiring. Being 15 pounds heavier really changes things, especially when the weights all in the front and you're trudging through snow past your knees. All four of us were pretty tuckered out by the time we got home, but it was well worth it.

We are also enjoying having our wonderful friends Evan and Cindy Jones and their kids back on the Island for the Holidays. Evan and Stephen replaced our very old stove, so I now have four working burners (a huge upgrade from the one working burner I did have). Cindy is also pregnant so I look forward to catching up with her on some baby things.

Cindy Jones and me

Currier and Ives 2009

Stephen and I have enjoyed a busy Christmas Season so far. At the beginning of the month we were Mary and Joseph for the children's Christmas program at church. It was great, no lines, no real practice time, just stood up with the kids. The Mission put on it's Christmas Bazaar. It was amazing how many handmade items were sent up from across the lower 48.

Probably the biggest even was our annual Currier & Ives, Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration at the Mission. This is always so much work, but completely worth every minute. Stephen was quite busy throughout the night speaking for the marionette performance, being Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas, and the lead shepherd who announces the arrival of baby Jesus.

The night was filled with great food, friends and most importantly the message of the birth of the Savior of the world.

A community member brought some goats to share for our live nativity. They were so cute and lovable, Stephen even enjoyed them. It reminded me just how much I want to have goats again.

If you would like to see a recap of this years event go to youtube and type in Kodiak Baptist Mission Currier and Ives 2009 or copy and past this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYl1mitudbo

December Hikes

Throughout the month of December Stephen and I have enjoyed some beautiful weather. One of our favorite things to do is load up in the jeep and head out to a trail or mountain. Watching the dogs chase rabbits and birds never seems to get old.

As many Nebraskans we had a great time watching the Big 12 Championship Game. What a fun game to watch!

Paul and Stephen's Birthday

We had some beautiful weather over our break and some really bad weather. We enjoyed going ice skating with Paul out on Mission Lake on the Sunday that he wasn't suppose to be in Kodiak. But because of the crazy Kodiak weather he got stuck for an extra day. It was a great time having the dogs pull us around. So wonderful!
Stephen and Paul went out with a friend of ours to trap some beavers. The weather was pretty bad, but they had a great time.
We celebrated Stephen's birthday on Saturday. Paul got Stephen a great present, and I think the picture describes it great.
I also made Stephen his annual German Chocolate Cake. It was so much easier to make with two good knees (last year I was hobbling around.)
This was a hike that we went on after the Husker game on Friday. Beautiful weather!