North of 60 for Christmas 2010

Hi all and a Very Merry Christmas to all...

I hope this note finds you all healthy and happy.

This year's themes include the temperature (all Canadians love the weather as a topic of conversation), teeth and memories of warmer days (see first theme).

We have had a lovely Christmas week or so of pretty constant -30 degree Celsius weather that has forced us inside or at least outside for only short periods. We have been using the Multiplex to its full potential - swimming, running, and skating to deal with the cabin fever.

During this time we have had a great time visiting and catching up with everyone and of course thinking of our fun last year.... There has been a 60 degree differential in temperature!

We got last year's 50s tinsel tree at the Op shop and this year's tree was from outback but we had to brave -37 and cold toes. Looks almost as good doesn't it?

Last year we were at the races with good friends... at the trots. I was the only one trotting this year.

Our addition looks great. We are happy but it is slow going 'cause of the weather and merriment.

Mira and Kate trying to get ready to hit the hay... not looking very sleepy.

Christmas eve excitement... to be followed hours later by...

Christmas morning excitement.

Kate all smiles - Look at those teeth! Upon the Orthodontist's orders - Kate had to have 4 teeth extracted. She was a trooper and the Tooth Fairy was generous.

This is a big candy cane and two of her teeth ....

and her new spacious smile.

Kate being Kate.

Mira's ski team... You can find her in the second row, fourth from the right in light blue...

Smile Mira.

Well this is all our news... Have a Happy New Years.

Sharon

Happy 11th Birthday Mira

Our Mira turned 11 years old today. That is hard to believe... wow. We must have been so young...

Birthday girl with all those candles.

Trying out the new 'slider'.

Cheese.

Mira is going to be fast.

Oh ya and we have a couple of new (rodents) pets in our house. Wish us luck.

Cheers for now. sharon

Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snow

Hi all... winter is definitely here...

We are enjoying some quiet time with the fire burning, cup of coffee in hand and reading last week's Globe.. don't want to rush things around here. The snow has been falling steadily since yesterday before we woke. I am not exaggerating to say we have had close to a foot of snow. We shoveled the drive three times yesterday and Paul has to shovel the construction zone many more time to continue his work there. Mira got to go off on skis during her ski team practice for the first time this year and Mira, Kate and I had our first runs tobogganing on Jill Hill behind our house. The Christmas Craft Fairs are in full swing and things look like ...dare I say it... Christmasy... !

Kate got excused from Ballet because of her Chicken Pox. She pointed out that the mosquitoes were bad the other day (happened to be a -20 day and in November - not traditionally a mozzy day in Yukon) so I had to check out her 'bites' and sure enough, she has got chicken Pox. Not a serious case - which is great but she has been vaccinated. Curious.

Mira and Kate both had great parent teacher interviews. No discipline problems anyway but I guess the VP would have known about it.

Paul and I got to attend the Long Service Awards for Yukon Employees on Friday. The gov't serves a lovely lunch. We had lots of laughs and an afternoon off. It has been 15 years for yours truly.

So life is good and busy.

Kate with her hair straightened...

Kate skating on Paddy's Pond in our 'hood.

Kate learns to skate.

Mira and Kate on ice.

Mira and Hannah having fun.

Tag..

Mira and Kate playing in the most recent snowfall.

The addition in the snow... and yes Paul is still working there somewhere.

Cheers to all, Sharon

Halloween in Whitehorse

Trick or Treat!

Hallowe'en was a huge success... Kate was a witch and Mira was a vampire. Kate is home now, marveling at her loot and Mira is still out braving a remarkably cold wind but NO SNOW and no really cold temperatures... she is going for the full bags.

Kate and one of our pumpkins.

Kate preparing to head out for trick or treating...

All dressed up.

Mira as a vampire.

Sharon as a Deputy... hey they shot the sheriff but they did NOT shoot the deputy,,, thought it was a safer costume.

Cheers to all.

Get well soon Mom.

Love Sharon

Construction is character building...?

Hi all... we are deep in construction mode or rather, it is Paul who is deep the hole. The weather is being very kind to us as we try to keep warm with our new ventilation issues. The addition is moving along and we have already made a few design changes but we can do that. :) The neighbours all slow to a crawl as they pass our house to check out our adventures.

Paul

The living room - Kate is not watching tv but she could be.

Mira is keeping warm in her own way... wearing Grandma's coat inside! Seriously, with the fire going, it gets to a balmy 22 degrees upstairs and we are all snug as a bug. The addition is mostly outside right now and will be closed in soon enough. We are all happy to see the progress.

Kate in the winter spirit.

We are all looking forward to Halloween! At least the kids are. I got the last two pumpkins in the store - they look like the last two pumpkins in the store too. We will have to be creative! I think Kate and Mira are settled on their costumes but mom needs help. Let me know if you have any ideas - looking for high impact - low organization, sewing and buying.. ha, there is a challenge for you!

Happy days to all of you. cheers. sharon

and... Fall into Winter

So Winter has once again caught us by surprise! Scooters and bikes still scatter the backyard and yes we had planned to go cranberry picking this weekend. We will need a shovel apparently! Kate is thrilled... first real snow in a year and a half. Mira was caught without boots so yet another trip to the store for Mira! We have found mitts, hats, scarves and coats and so it goes... ha ha what fun.

Hope you are all well.

Paul is off moose hunting - hopefully he brought mitts and a warm change of clothes.

Kate and Mira with their first snowman.

View from our window this morning.

Happy third day of fall from the Yukon. s

Summer and into the Fall

Hi all, Long time not write....

So the summer has come and gone. We are, as you all know, back in Whitehorse. Back in our house, with friends and cutting wood! Paul is still wearing shorts despite a number 0 and -1 on our thermometers mornings!

Shock o' shocks, I am back to work full time. This was not as tough as I thought it would be but Kate found it hard to suddenly find herself without two adults at her beck and call all the time. She has now adjusted. Mira and Kate are back at school. Mira is happy to be in Grade 6 and back with all her friends. She is racing through the Harry Potter books in her free time and getting into dance and activities. Kate is excited to be meeting and playing with new friends. There is a gaggle of little girls in the neighbourhood now and she has a busy play-date schedule. She is doing ballet this year... Paul was voting for some martial arts as a better fit for her but the pink tutu won out.

Here are few highlights from our summer....

Kate and Cousin Ava kayaking at the cottage.

Trouble? Kate, Ava, and Mira.

The cousins: David, Mira, Ava and Kate

This is a four photo sequence. This could be a hunt from the animal network.

The posee circles around the unsuspecting vacationer....

The herd attacks.

Successful take- down.

Prey gets away without a loss of a drop of beer

The three sisters.

Kiss?

Mira and the Official Harry Potter Exhibition Poster ....

Sharon and Ann 'just goofing around' at the Ontario Science Centre.

Back In WHITEHORSE, Yukon, Canada!

Labour Day weekend we took off with friends to Atlin, BC

Atlin Lake

Kids climbing and watching for Bears?

Vistas.

Boys or at least most of them back from a 5 hour Mountain Bike Ride...

Cold Mira?

Felix, Kate, Sacha, Mira, Wakey wakey.

First Day at School, August, 2010 (Mira is thrilled and Kate, well, she looks scared!)

Art is up... Weaving from Laos, Window from Victorian House in Ontario (FH) and Painting from Vietnam.

Kate being Kate.

Paul has been busy. This is our house. Can you see it? It is there.

Oh, now you can see it. I came home from work to find this on our front lawn. I drove around the corner and when I saw this sight I almost laughed myself right off the road.

Cheers to all, love sharon