November: Let The Festivities Begin

First thing first...time to decorate.

Needed a few adjustments to our new 7.5 foot tree we bought at Target.

Lots of adjustments...

We have two trees, due to the large collection of ornaments obviously.  This one we bought a few years ago and fits in our dining room perfectly.

Last but not least to make our trees complete...

Poor Dad.

On to the rest of the house...

Apparently we needed a break.

for a special treat...

That wasn't all we did...November was full of excitement.

Snow.

Nutcracker Tea with friends.

Kevin the elf returned a day before Thanksgiving!  We had bought him a skiing outfit and left it for him on the counter :)  Kevin loves legos.

Amelia's first time helping with Thanksgiving dinner.  

Then it was time for Black PINK Friday! Our shopping trip I did mainly with video and will post on youtube shortly...but I did catch a few photos when we headed to see "Santa".  Amelia said it was a helper and not the real one.  This weekend is Eagle River's Tree Lighting and Merry Merchant Lunch where she saw the real Santa last year.  We shall see!

Then tradition states...we head to the museum.

and then get lunch at the museum's Muse restaurant.  I got my iPhone X and tried out the portrait shot...fancy.

Then we hurried home as we had dinner with friends and The Nutcracker to go to!

Had to purchase a nutcracker ornament as that too ... is a tradition.

Whew...November is over after today and it only gets busier...just the way I like it :)

Short Visit

My sister was here a bit over 4 days, and along with our trip to the Eagle River Nature Center for their Halloween Walk,  we managed a trip to the Anchorage Museum to see the newly remodeled Alaska section and did a bit of afternoon bowling.

Just so you know...it was crazy sock day at school.

There were a few new exhibits at the museum along with the very large remodel of the Alaska area.  To tell you the truth I think I like the old better than the expansive black of the new, but time may change my mind.  There were a few new exhibits too, including this one...

and this...

and a very cool wall of light...

There is always a revolving exhibit in an older wing and we almost didn't go as we wanted to concentrate on the new parts...luckily we did...

Had to do some bowling after school on a 1/2 day...

The holidays are upon us...let the decorating begin!

Halloween!

Amelia's favorite holiday is Christmas, but when asked what her 2nd favorite is, she always says Easter, not Halloween.  What?! Why!? She doesn't know, but she says she just loves Easter.  Very well.  Maybe it has to do with the fact that she likes candy but doesn't LOVE it?  Or Easter is a day to stay home?  Or maybe it is due to the fact she was sick for the past two years just before Halloween?  The world may never know.

But it is not due to the lack of surprises...

Awaiting her on Halloween morning ... the cauldron overflowing with devilish delights!  

Filled with things like unicorn pj's and cutie cars...

mustaches...

and Ned's Head...even a Breyer Pegasus named "Cosmus".

She headed off to school in her Princess Zelda costume with treats for her classmates...

  

 Then hurried home, finished her homework, wolfed down pizza and added a layer or two for warmth to her Zelda look for a photo shoot outside...

Wow Wee!  No snow! And fog is perfect!

This pose was entirely Amelia...

Then it was time to head off her mountain in Hyrule and into the fog to search for Link, I mean her friends or "champions" we will call them and begin the quest to slay Calamity Ganon! Or quest for candy...either one :)  Hopefully, she will avoid Bokoblins, Stalkoblin, Guardians, Keese or Moblins....but they are everywhere.

Good luck Princess Zelda.  "May the goddess smile upon you."

Looks like we encountered a Stalkoblin already.  Then poof...he's gone.

Off they go into the fog...

CARFEFUL!  Danger is everywhere!

Zelda and the champions continue on...

until they succumbed to the realization that Calamity Ganon was not to be defeated...at least this Halloween night.

Time to head back to the champions castle and refuel those hearts with some hot chocolate or prime meat skewers.  Err...maybe just hot chocolate :)

Hmmm...maybe we can lure Calamity Ganon to the castle with the promise of candy?

Nope not this time.

  But Princess Zelda has to go to royal school the next morning and needs to head back to her castle, high atop the mountain...and...

... check her inventory of course!  One needs a good inventory to fight another day.

Hope everyone's Halloween was as exciting as a breath in the wild. :) hee hee.