Merry Christmas 2014!

We had a fantastic Christmas with the girls and Merek this year. We were all very excited to celebrate Merek's 1st Xmas. The girls got everything on their lists and more. We had fun making different types of cookies for ourselves and the neighbors. We ate a delicious dinner and the kids had fun playing with all their new things.

The kids by the tree

 

Lexi, Mia, Madi, and Merek

Mia, Madi, and Merek wanted more pics by the tree together

Lexi and her really cool xmas light decoration she made in school

The kids with cookies and cookie doughs, making all kinds of different treats

Merek in front of the tree; so happy!

Merek loved the lights

...and of course the presents!

Merek says, "What?! That was NOT ME!" LOL!

Madi with her ring of her birthstone in it

Madi realizing she got REAL makeup

Madi rolling around in happiness over all her nail polish, makeup and foot bath

Nat and Merek teasing about how crazy she got over her presents:)))

Lexi excited about her gifts

Mia stoked over her xmas candy

This is MINE! Mia with the lego set she wanted for so long!

Mia saying back off when sisters wanted to see it :)

Lexi losing her mind over her new real rc car

she said "OH MAN!"

So happy!

Madi loved her umbrella

Mittens loved the wrapping paper lol!

Lex excited about her new Fox down hill biking gloves

Mia cracking up at her book from Japan

Merek finally got to open his present and was so excited over the paper lol

Then he was super excited about his new train!

Yeah! says Merek!

The aftermath

Madi on their new karaoke machine singing away

Mia building her Chima set

Madi and Nic helping Mia

coming along...

almost there....

Ta Da!

Merek and Mittens passed out from a big day

Carter lake Trail

We took the kids up to Carter Lake trail past the Y, it was super windy as a snow storm was blowing in, the kids did awesome! We gained around 1000' of elevation in the first mile and the trail was icy and washed out, loads of fun! Merek stayed warm in his new snowsuit and enjoyed being outside as always. We did around 4 miles round trip and the girls got to play in the deep snow up in the pass.

The girls, Nat and Merek on the trail which was covered in ice

A little creek that ran on the side of the trail

Nat and the kids after laughing and having fun after crossing basically an ice rink on the trail

The kids soo happy to play in the snow since its been so warm in Soldotna this year we have not gotten much

At the pass a snow storm was hitting the top of the neighboring peaks

Mia having a blast at the top

Madi found some open water in a stream nearby

The girls playing in the powder

The walk down, some parts were ice slides down lol; Madi found a giant stick

The girls playing a game and huddling together from the wind

Lex, Madi and Mia playing their game

The girls hiding in a tree

The girls, Merek and Nat on the way back

Lex and Nat walking back, Nat stayed off the black ice that engulfed the trail the closer we got to the car

Victor Creek with the kiddos

The weather has been warm but we are finally getting ice to form at night, so we took the kids to Victor Creek to check it out and go on a hike. The kids loved the hike and the beautiful forests we  walked through. It was a lot of fun for all of us:)

The kids in the back watching a movie while on the way there

The girls at the start of the trail

The girls along the hike in the forest they called the 'fairy forest'

Nic and Natalie on the trail

One of the many little waterfalls that are on the trail

The waterfalls freeze, they are super fat down below in the canyon, so you can ice climb them. Heres where you can repel down one.

Lexi, Natalie and Merek

A better pic of them

Higher up the switch back was snow

Nic comin back from checking out the canyon walls

Lexi stopped at a rest point to draw the scenery

Mia at the break stop, she loves hiking

Madi joined Lex 

Lex found a cool ice cicle

Lexi having fun

Madi with her sword nic made her by the creek. Its her sword like Finn takes on Adventure Time

Lexi hanging around

The girls after they were looking at the ice cicles on the side of the trail

The kids on the car ride back: Smiles!