Christmas in Alaska

We went up to Anchorage to see the new baby Agnes and spend Christmas with Joshua and his family.

 Agnes Ada Swift was born on November 8th, 2013 in Anchorage Alaska.  She is beautiful.

 We got to go to her baby blessing too.  She was fun to hold and Jacquelyn especially loved holding her, especially while she was sleeping.

 Agnes is a very good-natured baby and was usually happy as long as someone held her or paid attention to her and she gets held a lot with help from Julia and Ethan.  And she got really spoiled from Jacquelyn the week we were there.

 There was lots of snow up in Alaska in December.  This is the front of their house in Anchorage.

 Julia getting ready to go out but a little over-dressed with my coat on.

 We did go sledding one day and only had to walk down to the nearby school to find a good sledding hill.  Back home we usually have to drive all the way out to Mt. Rainier to sled.

 Julia, Christian and Elliott at the top of the hill.

 Christian all in warm clothes.  Still the front of our faces froze and we could only stay out a few minutes.

 Julia tried to stay warm but was soon ready to go home.

 So we hurried back home but not soon enough for some cold cold children.

 We got to spend Christmas with the family.  Christian and Elliott were very excited.

 Ethan looking at a new DVD.

 Julia opening a present.

Christian got a spy glass from Julia.

 They really liked the soccer ball but could only play indoors.

 Julia seemed content.

 Agnes slept through it all.

 Jacqeulyn and I went to the temple one day with Joshua.

 One day we went for a drive down to the inlet to see some scenery.  This is frozen ice along the hills on the side of the road was about 50-60 feet tall.

 The water comes out in a waterfall and freezes.

 Mountains in the background and frozen inlet part of the sound.

 The top of the ocean would freeze over but still move in and out with the tide.  It's an awesome sight in motion.

 And on our last full day there Jacquelyn finally got to see her moose.  We were driving out of the neighborhood and he was was walking along in front of some homes.

He retreated into a backyard and was looking about for food.  He was huge but Joshua said he was a young one, not a year old yet.  We had a good time in Alaska.

Early Christmas Celebration

We had an early Christmas celebration this last weekend when several of the children and their family could all get together with us in Puyallup.

 We had Caleb, Doranda, Bob, Tucker, Penelope, Scarlett, Leon, Malachi, Layne, Andrew, Mallory, Talitha, David, Tianna, Jim, Evan, Ashton, and James.

 Everyone was here at the house so we decided to open some Christmas presents.

 We had a good time taking turns giving gifts.  The children especially had so much fun.

 Malachi and Jim and Andrew and Ashton.

 Doranda with her girls and also you can see Malachi's two.

 Talitha and David.

 We had lots of snacks and we had some nice desserts.

 Here's a closeup which looks a little more appetizing.

 Tianna's dog Molly had some new puppies which she brought along because they were too young to leave at home.

 Then we went to a Ward Christmas party at Malachi's ward in Lakewood.

 Layne was in charge of putting it all together and it was really good.  Beautiful decorations, great food, and a nice program.  She worked so hard.

 On Sunday we saw Dallen perform with his choir on a choir trip across the mountains to Lynwood for a Christmas performance.

 There was so much going on this week.  Malachi and Layne have a tradition for Christmas they help the children decorate cookies for Malachi to take into work.

Every cookie is different.  The fun was in making the different designs.

Thanksgiving

We had three of our children and their families up for Thanksgiving Dinner - Caleb, Doranda, and Talitha.

 David cooked the turkey.  He smoked it first and then finished it in the oven.  It was very very moist and had a strong smokey taste that was delicious.

 We filled our plates up in the kitchen and then moved into the dining room.

 Talitha and David.

 Bob holding Leon, next to Penelope.

 Tucker, Scarlett, Caleb, and a cousin of Bob's that joined us for Thanksgiving.  We all fit around the table and didn't even have to get out a small table for the children.

 A raspberry chocolate cheesecake.

 Apple crumb cake.

 While everyone was visiting and between shopping trips for Black Friday we had plenty of time to play card and board games.

 Caleb was promoting the ward Turkey Bowl and even talked me into going.  I wasn't just the photographer, I played.

 Caleb in the photo above with Doranda and Bob in the photo below.

We had a fun Thanksgiving holiday and hope everyone else did too.

Ancestor Stories #5 Civil War

For Veterans Day it seemed appropriate to tell the story of one of our ancestors that fought in the Civil War - Lyman W. Swift.

 Lyman was in the Union Army and fought in the battle of Marks' Mill in Arkansas.  This is from the History of Washington County Ohio, published by H.Z. Williams & Bro. in 1881.  

"Roll of Honor - war of 1861 to 1865.  The following is a list of volunteers in the service of the United States during the war of the Rebellion. ... The roll is as full and accurate as it can be made with out great expense and trouble.  It will prove a source of just pride to the people of the county, generally, as well as to the descendants and friends of those whose names are here recorded, an will be a standing challenge to the patriotism of the future to emulate the example of the volunteers of 1861-5."

"Swift, Jr., Lyman W., age 24, volunteer, December 4, 1861, three years, Seventy-seventh regiment, company F, private, served four years and four months, mustered out March 8, 1866, captured at Mark's Mills, and in prison nine months."

The only photo I have of Lyman is this one with his wife Margaret in their old age.

Here's a memorial at Mark's Mills Battleground State Park in Arkansas.  It says - "The battle of Marks Mill fought here on April 25, 1864 was a complete confederate victory.  General James F. Fagans division of confederate cavalry surprised and captured a Union supply train of 2000 men and 240 wagonloads of supplies.  General Powell Clayton, Union Commander, narrowly escaped capture by flight with small detachment."  Here's a website you can go to if you want to read more:   Marks' Mills Battlegrund State Park


   Here's a link to the Veteran's Day post I did last year which has info on Mom and I and Grandpa Swift   Swift Veterans

Halloween

Halloween is so much fun for everyone dressing up in costumes.  I've collected pictures of all the younger grandchildren in their Halloween costumes.    Some of the adults had great costumes too but I'm only showing the children here.  

 Cowboy (Leon)

 Ladybug (Hannah) and Lion (Jacob)

 Spanish knight (Christian) and mouse (Elliott)

 Two trolls (Penelope and Scarlett)

 Superhero (James)

Yoshi (Andrew) and Princess Peach (Mallory).  They came over to our house and were the only ones we got to see in person.  Notice in the background their parents were Mario and Luigi.

 Karate Kids (Julia and Ethan).  Dressed warm for trick-or-treating in Alaska.

 Soldier Toy (Tucker)

 Superman (Ashton)

Mime (Evan)

Tucker Soccer Game

We went and watched Tucker play soccer.

He seemed to be having a lot of fun playing soccer on a team.

 We actually got to see him score his first goal of the season.

 Tucker running hard.

 Fan club.

 Scarlett enjoying a hot chocolate Talitha brought for the kids.

 Leon on his Grandma's lap.

Even Sam had a good time.