Fairbanks

Fairbanks has been on our list of places to visit since we moved to Alaska.  We finally planned a trip up there just before Christmas.  As scheduling turned out we ended up being there on the Winter Solstice.  It is really interesting to be so far north on the shortest day of the year!  There also happened to be an extremely cold spell while we were there and we got to experience -40 degree weather!!  If you don't already know, -40 is the temperature at which Fahrenheit and Celsius are the same.  It was so cold that the engine block heater in our car had trouble doing its job and our nose hairs froze as soon as we stepped outside.

I can't believe I didn't get a picture of the display reading -40!

Visiting Santa in North Pole, AK.

Denali!

Decorating Gingerbread Houses in Ben's Class

Ben's class had a lot of fun making "Gingerbread" houses out of milk cartons and graham crackers.

2012's Elf

This is our elf for Christmas 2012.  (Similar to Elf on a Shelf, but we use these elves instead and don't use the book)  I like these elves better because when I was a kid growing up my best friend's mom had a collection of them.  Each year Santa sends us a new elf to take care of and teach about Christmas.  This elf is named Jingle.  Of course they are mischievous and do all kinds of fun things while they are at our house.  Here a a few of the fun things Jingle did.

 

 Climbing our tree

Snow angels in flour

Papering our tree

Trying to get to the chocolate and marshmallows

Bathing in marshmallows

Opening one of our presents

Zip-lining from the tree

Captured by the Star Wars Legos

Sledding!

Just a typical Saturday in Alaska!