Christmas I

It's going to take me several posts to cover Christmas, so I'll start with this: I saw JESUS! Ok, not really...but I did see Jim Caviezel (who played Jesus in "The Passion" if I may state the obvious)!!

Once at baggage claim and again at Hertz at SeaTac in Seattle! The first time I wasn't sure it was him. But then I saw him again at Hertz and I made eye contact with him and smiled...and he smiled back, although very hesitantly and in a "It's 10:30 at night, please don't crazy-fan-freak out on me." kind of way. So I didn't say anything to him or attempt to be photographed with him...not that I would have had the guts anyway!!! And yes, he is as good looking in person as he is in pictures.

Sledding!!!!

A group of us went sledding last night at Service Highschool. I have a bruise on my hind end the size of a tennis ball and underneath a bump the size of a golf ball. But it was a blast and totally worth it. I got some GREAT shots!!

Tifiny, Jenni, Jenn, and I about to bomb down the hill!

Jeremy hitting a dip he didn't know was there!!

Mark getting air!!

Jeremy again...the angle surprised him!!

Tony finally agreed to take the same jump!!

Get ready to cry!!

FINALLY!!!!!

Something NOT crap, crap, and more CRAP in the news!!

"I thank God for my enemies and those that offend me...for without them I would never have love perfected in me."
~ Francis Frangipane

What really matters

Scary!!

Jenni and Tifiny hosted a costume party game night last night at Jenn and Tifiny's house. We had a LOT of fun! There was food and games and prizes and even some dancing!!

The Tourist, Scarlet in the Kitchen with a Wrench, 80's girl 1, Captain Jack, 80's girl 2.

(Jenn, Elaine, Jenni, Olivia, Tifiny)

Jeremy as The Hippie

David and Katie as Elvis and Priscilla (won prize for best couple)

Jenn as The Tourist (won prize for funniest) Myself (Olivia) as Captain Jack Sparrow (won prize for most original)

Everyone has been curious...

Helen asked in a comment (and I've recieved multiple questions verbally) about the "growth" on my mom's arm in the one picture from my previous post (the 4th picture).

The answer is: A Body Bugg.

Here is a little blurb from their website and a link (at the end) in case you're now even more curious!


It utilizes a patented process for interpreting calorie burn called "sensor fusion" developed by BodyMedia, Inc. This process involves collecting a range of body-data using multiple physiological sensors instead of a single sensor, which is what other calorie estimation devices such as pedometers and heart rate monitors rely on. It's this multi-sensor approach that enables bodybugg™ to "see" the wearer's context (whether they are sitting, sleeping, jogging, walking, etc.) that makes bodybugg™ such a reliably accurate device for calorie expenditure estimation.


The Physiological Sensors:
- Accelerometer
- Heat Flux
- Galvanic Skin Response
- Skin Temperature


The data these 4 sensors collect, in conjunction with the wearer's specific body parameters (age, gender, height, weight) enable the most accurate estimation of energy expenditure on the market today outside of a clinical setting. Click here for details.

With Kendra's express permission...

I just returned from my trip to California...I was able to see my family, which is a huge blessing from God (more on that later!) and of course the 80 degree weather didn't hurt anything either! :) Anyway, for now, here are a few pictures of The Newest Dixon's Wedding! I have Kendra's express permission to post these, so enjoy!

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew DixonHot couple on a Harley!!Ingrid and I...we had so much fun!!
Me with my Dearest Father and Most Excellet Mother

*sigh*

It was 29 degrees this morning...

Do you remember?

2:30 A.M.

I had 4 good friends over this evening...we made birthday cards and played Apples to Apples, and Mario Kart Wii, all of which made for an excellent evening!! I also had a cup of coffee...which is why it's 2:30 in the morning and here I am, wide awake, brain ticking away, surfing the internet!

I found a good Abe Lincoln quote:

"If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business."

That's good adivce, no matter who you are, no matter your circumstances.

Well, now it's 3:00am...oh what to do next??

I know it's shallow, but...

...judging solely from their hairstyles, it's like they're becoming the same person...

Two Camping Trips

We have been camping two weekends in a row. Last weekend we went to Homer with John, Barb, Geoff, and Jenn. We had spectacular weather last Friday night and Saturday. Sunday it started to cloud over, but it never did rain. Last night we went to Tenderfoot Campground which is about 75 miles south of Anchorage. We had a flash rain this morning...went from nice to pouring in a very short period of time. We only stayed one night at Tenderfoot since we had to be back in Anchorage for a Casting Crowns concert (more on that later)! We've had a very odd summer this year...Crummer is what I'd call it (Crummy Summer). I think we've had an average of 55 degrees the entire time and a LOT of rain. I suppose one good thing is we haven't had any forest fires. Let's hope we have a nice autumn!

The view from our camp-spot at the Homer Spit Campground.

Tony's van ahead of us heading down to Tenderfoot. See the double rainbow?

The dogs in their play pen...let me tell you - best $75 I've spent in a while!!

Tony fishing at Summit Lake.

I took this shot while sitting in the van during the flash rain...wishing for Hawaii! The Little dashboard Hula girl is as close as I'll come for the moment...

Seattle Trip

I am sadly back from my trip to Seattle. I had a wonderful - albiet not long enough - trip. The boys are the most precious thing in the world and Petal is more beautiful and smart with each passing day.

The way God weaves us together individually is amazing to me. I would describe Petal as a perfect blend of Stewart and Becky, while Finn is all Becky and Sawyer is all Stewart!

I have a new-found respect for parents in general, but in particular for Becky and Stewart. I think anyone can have kids...but not everyone can have infant twins and a toddler under the age of two and do it well...it takes a very special call from God and major supernatural gifting, which I have witnessed in them firsthand. They are both doing an outstanding job and now that mom is back in Idaho, she and Stewart are depending on the grace of God, so praise God for His faithfulness! I say this every time, but I wish I were closer!

Finn

Finn and Auntie Livy

Sawyer

Sawyer

Grammy and Petal at Starbucks

SOON!

Less than 24 hours till I get to see Becky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4th of July

We arrived home this evening from our 4th of July McCarthy trip. We (Jer, myself, Jenn, Geoff, Tony) started in Anchorage on Wednesday night and drove to meet John and Barb in Glennallen where we stayed one night. The next day we all drove to McCarthy/Kennecott. We celebrated the 4th of July in McCarthy where we watched a parade (if you could call it that!), then took a shuttle up to the old Kennecott mine. The boys all biked up another 3/4 mile to the glacier. After two nights in McCarthy, we drove to Valdez, stayed a night and then took the ferry this afternoon back to Whittier. It was a good trip, although it's good to be home and in our own bed! The road to McCarthy from the Glennallen highway was only 60 miles, but it was all dirt road, so it took us about 3.5 hours each way, which between the speed and the bumping around, it was quite exhausting. The drive from Glennallen to Valdez was my favorite part. Reminded me a lot of northern Idaho. Here are some highlights!

All of us "kids" goofing off!!

Here's a cool shot of Geoff's van in our rear view mirror

Jeremy with Kennecott Mine in the background.

Jenn and I enjoying breakfast our first morning in Glennallen.

Bridal Veil Falls about 15 miles outside Valdez.

One hundred and first

So, this is my one hundred and first blog posting! Many months ago I made sure to watch carefully so I could post something spectacular for the 100th, and lo and behold, I passed it right by! On the upside however, I guess this counts as the FIRST of the next 100, so it's still worth mentioning.

I do have to say however, I don't have anything particularly "spectacular" to blog about. It's overcast and 54 here in Anchorage and yes, it is almost July. Meanwhile, I continue to torture myself with an igoogle gadget that tells me Maui's real time temperature and 5 day forecast (85 and clear).

I suppose I could rouse myself into doing something spectacular and blogging about it later, but Jeremy is at work (he has been working 6 10's for about a month, with no end in sight) and Tony (our room-mate) is off watching a movie, and everyone else I know is working, so I am here alone with the dogs, having already done enough house-work that I don't feel guilty contemplating playing Mario Olympics on my Wii, albeit all alone.

I really can't complain however, as this time of nothing-ness will be short-lived. As soon as my order of supplies comes in, I'll be working on Kendra's wedding invitations in my spare time and in a few short weeks I'll be going to Seattle to see Becky and the family (which I am THRILLED about) and then on to a summer full of weddings and baby showers and church activities and camping trips.

Why is it, I wonder, when I'm busy I wish things would slow down and when they do I wish I had something to do?? I'm going to think about the answer while I play Wii. Aloha for now.

Update

So many things have happened since my last blog...where, oh, where to start?? Well...

1. Big shout out to Becky and Stew on the birth of their boys, Sawyer Gray and Finn Michael! What a blessing and so many answers to prayer! For pictures, click here.
2. On the 8th of June, I turned 29! I remember my 19th birthday 10 YEARS ago in Ketchikan...when I believe my "real" life actually started! Praise God for new beginnings and even better in-betweens! Jer, who is the KING of birthday presents, got me a Nintendo Wii! I have become a Mario Kart addict in the last week! As I type, Geoff, Jer, and Tony are quite loudly losing! Also, my friend Geoff, brought me a sports car to test drive...let me just say, zero to 90 in very little time (my adrenaline was rushing too fast to keep track!) was quite invigorating! It was a blessing to be surrounded by family and friends for my birthday!!!
   
3. Here's a mommy and two baby moose (twins are everywhere :) ) right off my back porch.
4. We're going to go camping this weekend, which will be a nice break...I'll post pictures when we get back.
   

Well, I think that's all I can think of for now...signing off!

The Roaring 20's!!

Last week was Andy's (Kendra's betrothed) birthday. Kendra threw a 1920's gangster style Dinner & Murder party! It was a TON of fun! It was basically the board game "Clue" brought to life. We each had a character to play and a basic idea of our character's background and what we had to accomplish that night, but the details were left to ad-lib and make up as you go, which made it all the more fun! My character was Madame MeMe and I was married to Don Wannabe (Dave). The setting was at the grand opening of our (MeMe and Don) lavish new speakeasy, The Four Deuces. The other characters were our guests. All of the characters were in some way connected, although very rarely in a good way! This left plenty of room for speculation and opportunities for motive to commit murder. Unfortunately, no one "won" in the sense of figuring out whodunit, however Dave (my "husband") won for having the most money (bribery was prevalent, as you can imagine) and I won best costume. It was some of the most fun I've had...very creative...fits my Drama Queen streak to a T! It's since been decided that every 3 months or so, we should pick an era and have a dress up dinner party. Enjoy the pics!Kendra (Donna Wannabe, Don's sister and my sister in law) and Andy (Big Jim Ravioli)

Dave (my "husband" Don) and I. What do you think of my gangster's wife sized ring?

Andy (Big Jim Ravioli) and Dave (Don Wannabe) showing off their best gangster pose!


Tifiny (Carrier Crooner-Ravioli, current wife of Big Jim) and Jenni (Vicky Ravioli, ex-wife of Big Jim)


Crystal (Vanessa Crooner, Carrie's mom) and Isaac (Al Capone, mine and Don's bodyguard/hit man, who surprisingly did not kill anyone!)

Jenn (Baroness Ravioli, Big Jim's mother)

Kendra, Jenn, and Tifiny

Al Capone and all the girls...what a stud-muffin!!

Bordering on insanity

Having lived in Alaska a combined 9 years, I've learned the true meaning of "Only in Alaska...". And today, I have something brand new to add to the list! That would be:

• Only in Alaska...do cute little nursery rhymes mean JACK!

For example: "April Showers Bring May Flowers". Doesn't that just warm you to the soul? Well, let me just steal that little warm fuzzy right from underneath your feet and say that the Alaska version apparently goes, "April Showers bring 18 inches of snow with another 12 -18 forecast over the next 12 hours". Lest you all become overwhelmed by the ungodly (literally) level of cynicism in this diatribe, please enjoy the following pictures, along with my meager attempts to be positive...especially considering I know full well it's at least 82 degrees in Maui where I could be on the beach getting a tan.

Stuck in my own driveway...but look how pretty and white!

Our friendly neighbor Steven who was kind enough to dig/snow blow me out!

My back yard...but look how white and pretty!!!

Me after shoveling in the downpour...is it technically downpour when it's snow? Anyway, who knew my hair was so curly??