Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

We had a lovely Christmas!! I'll start with Christmas Eve. We drove into Anchorage and met up with a good friend of ours. We went to the mall and took pictures with Santa.
The kids and Santa
We then went over to the Anchorage Museum. The kids had a blast playing in the Imaginarium. They have a space for kids Qyanna's age to play with hands on toys. They have science experiments that Jackson just loves. We then took pictures in front of their Christmas tree. It is HUGE, and beautiful!
The family in front of the tree

Bethany, Luke, Qyanna and I....Jackson was taking the picture

Luke and Jackson

Luke and I

Qyanna....we couldnt get her to hold still

Jackson

Jackson and Qyanna

The tree from the second floor
Qyanna was sooo tired she fell asleep in the car and was out for most of the evening. Poor thing. When we got home we made pizza, and watched Christmas movies. We made these yummy peppermint pattie cookies for Santa. The kids opened their Christmas PJs and got ready for bed and Santa come to come.
Christmas morning Jackson was up at 7, me at 7:30 Qyanna at 8:30. Then the challenge was getting Luke up. Once we got Luke up, we opened Christmas. The kids had fun. They got books, and movies. Jackson got a pocket remote control helicopter, and Qyanna got a doll, stroller and some bottles for her doll. Luke got a  massaging roll, and I got some kitchen things.

SANTA CAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The stockings

The kids in front of the tree

Jackson and his stocking

Qyanna and her stocking

The kids and their stockings

Jackson's books

Qyanna and her books

Jackson got Cars 2

Qyanna got Winnie the Pooh movie

Jackson and his helicopter

Qyanna pushing her stroller with her doll and pooh
The rest of the day was nice and quiet. Our friend Bethany came over. We had the nice big Christmas dinner, we played games, had pie, visited. It was nice.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas....Our Christmas Card

Well I have chose to do a E-Card this year.

Here is the updates. We started the year living in Kotzebue, Alaska. Both Luke and I were working at the school there. We decided that it was time for a change for our family. We moved to Chugiak, Alaska. It is about 30 minutes north of Anchorage. We moved on a leap of faith, because neither Luke or I had a job. When the school year ended Luke flew down to Missouri to visit family, get our truck, and pick up his son. Then they drove down to Texas, picked up a friend of ours, her daughter and all their things, and all four of them drove up to Anchorage via the Al-Can. They really enjoyed it. Qyanna and I stayed in Kotzbue while I did the extended school year. When the extended school year was over Qyanna and I flew down. We made it in a week before Luke and Jackson made it. We spent the summer in a very small apartment, before being able to move into the house we are renting. We enjoyed doing all the fun things in Anchorage. Luke found a job driving a shuttle for one of the hotels in town. I finally got a job at the Arc of Anchorage working with adults with disabilities. We got all moved into our three bedroom house. We love the house. We also found out that Jackson would be spending the school year with us. So we got him enrolled at school here. He loves 2nd grade here. We found Qyanna an amazing child care provider. Qyanna loves going there. In October Luke got a job driving school bus in the district just north of us. He has been enjoying it. Jackson turned 8 this year, and Qyanna is 20 months and growing fast! It is wonderful having both the kids together. Qyanna worships Jackson and tries to copy him.

I hope this find you in good health and happiness. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!

Luke, Lori, Jackson, and Qyanna Abney

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Its Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas....and other family pics


Well winter is definitely here. And since I have been slacking on posting pics, I have tons to put up. We all have been well. Jackson is rocking it at school, and Qyanna just loves her babysitter's house. Luke started driving school bus in the Mat-Su area. I am still working at the Arc. OK so picture time!!!!
 Winter Birds of Alaska :)
Blue Jays in the middle of winter...crazy huh

there he is again
a bald eagle sitting in the tree...


Shipping each other and playing in boxes

What is brother doing????

Come on...get into the box.....
hehehehe my turn to ship brother off

I got him in....now where to send him

....and we are off....

ok  i am ready for to go sledding....    


Christmas Tree!!!!




And now just cute Qyanna pictures with my Santa hat and sunglasses....
hi Santa....

im soo cute....

im one cool baby....well toddler


....and Jackson too.....