It's about time - Fall 2012

Hi all.... it has been a long time since we posted some news... what can I say - we've been busy. 

Summer was grand - a visit back East and Quebec city. Seems like an eternity ago.

Bobby, Kate, Ava and Mira - cousins having a laugh. 

Kate being Kate at Uncle's Scott's pool.

Fall meant starting up with school and lots of activities. Kate has joined ski squad this year so both girls are Cross-country skiing. Mira has already had practices on skis - yes we have snow.

Both girls are dancing as well - Kate is doing Modern and Mira is doing Urban. Who knows what that is but it makes them tired. So that is good. Mira's first impressions of High School? HOMEWORK! and lots and lots of it. She is on the Volleyball team as well. They have a tournie all weekend.

We are staying warm and staying out of trouble. Hope you are all well. sharon

The local weather vane (a real plane that actually moves with the wind) was Yarn Bombed this year. They covered it with knitting. Here is Kate in front of it. The blankets were then donated. 

Paul's pride and joy - 24 blossoms on his orchid. 

Kate turned 8, which was great! She invited 8 friends for a swim, scavenger hunt and craft to celebrate her big day. Happy Birthday Kate.

Happy Scavenger hunters. 

Cupcakes. 

First snowman of the year - Mira made it after school. 

Mira and the snowman. 

Kate got one last jump in before we took the trampoline down for the year. 

Hallowe'en on Sunset. 

Kate as a witch - her inside costume.

Kate as a ghost - her outside costume.

Mira and squad friends had a ski camp in Kluane park this year. Hiking and fun were topped off with a restful night in Teepees. Cool. 

Mira and Kate participated in the ski squad Hallowe'en party - running around in the bush, under the full moon from bonfire to bonfire. That is how to have fun. 

Cheers. sharon

Summer in the YUKON?

Hello all, 

We have had another busy spring/start to summer. It has been a cool, wet spring so we are looking forward to some sunny weather in the south. 

Highlights for this spring: school is out, bike race and camps. 

 Kate is into her second week at camp and Mira is off on the Yukon River somewhere. We are hoping she is warm and bug free (this is a lot to ask). 

On the house front - the renos continue. We (read Paul) are putting on siding and putting in sod this week. 

We are finished school, after weeks of field trips and even pj days. Kate is heading into Grade 3. 

Kate's art shot from the Yukon Wildlife preserve. 

Mira graduated - hard to believe Mira is off to high school next year. Not a moment too soon according to her.

Mira's graduating class of 2012.

We have a photo of Mira on her first day of school in front of the school - seemed appropriate to take one as she leaves. 

Mira and some of her friends on Graduation Day. 

Last day of school. 

We started off our summer break with the Kluane Chilkat Bike Relay. The ski team participated this year with Paul and another dad doing a leg each to round out the team. The 12 and 13 year olds were amazing. We had the worse weather we have had in years - cold, rain and fierce head wind. The winners this year were an hour and a half slower than last year! The kids did it all with a smile and came in 4th in the mixed 8s out of 74 teams. Even more amazing given that they had only been out on bikes about 3 or 4 times as a team. They are fit kids. Kate was a trooper and was in the car for hours and cheers the kids on. Ya team!

Kate at the summit at noon!

Kate still in the car.

Mira doing her 32 kilometre leg into Haines Alaska. 

Spectators? 

Wee guy.

We took advantage of a rare sunny day with our friends Joe and Linda to get some photos of the girls.

Well, that is all for now. I hope you all had a great solstice and have a great summer/winter - depending where you are in the world. :) 

Parting warning..... Sign reads - Unattended children will be given expresso and a free kitten. 

Spring in the Yukon

Hi all, Happy Easter, Happy Mother's Day and Happy Spring!

 We are excited to see the winter weather leaving us behind but it seems we have a way to go yet!

We have been very busy - aren't we all? Mira wins the prize for the most exciting news. She was out skiing with friends and they discovered bison bones. They shared their discovery with a paleontologist. When bad weather prevented them from getting back to the site, they were invited to help uncover another 10 000 year old bison discovered north of the city instead. They then got to fly into the Fish Lake site a week later. Helicopter flight in and a 12 000 year old bison and a cool private visit to the offices of the paleontologist just because they were out skiing - what luck! They will be able to go out one more time when the ground thaws.

Crew flying in...

Mira got to ride 'shot gun'

Examining bones

On the less exciting front... our Guinea Pigs, Spike and Cinny are still alive.

        

Kate is still Kate.  

 Paul and I (mostly Paul) got our wood done for the next season! Yes there is still snow in the back.

 Kate and Emie en route to their ballet lesson, show off their Cross Country Ski medals.

 Easter Weekend was FANTASTIC - we haven't seen such beautiful weather since. Paul, Kate, Mira and I stopped at Log Cabin at the Pass on our way to Skagway for the weekend. The skiing was great.

Kate having fun. 

Spring skiing at its best. 

I lied about the most exciting news... our friend Jill had a new boy, Charlie on April 11, 2012. Welcome wee one. 

Seth, Charlie's big brother. He is less excited about his new brother. 

Kate puts on a show in a late season snow fall. 

Recycling day at school - Kate wears a bubble wrap skirt. 

We know that spring has finally arrived when Northern Lights School of Dance puts on their big performance. This year it was the Wizard of Oz with a second half of short productions. Mira did a production of Acro. Acrobatics with dance. It was amazing. I held my breath when they carried her out - she was as flat as a board. Great lifts and neat music. Cool. 

Kate was a Tornado and a Snowflake in the Wizard of Oz and very happy to finally wear a tutu on stage!

We went to the dark side and bought a trampoline - it is very popular!

Kate and I did the Run for Mom, fundraiser for cancer, this year. She did it on a scooter. 

 Run for Mom with friends, Felix and Sasha.

Well that is all the news for now. Hope you are all well. Take care. s.

February and March are the months to have fun....

Hi all, Thought you might like to see what real winter is like.

We are just wrapping up the March Break two week holiday. While we were a bit jealous when everyone was flying out, these two weeks have been the most sun and snow filled weeks of the winter. The first week was filled with Arctic Winter Games. Teams from Alaska, Greenland, NWT, Nunavut and Nunavik (Northern Quebec), Northern Alberta, Yamal (Russia), Sapmi (Finland, Denmark) and Yukon competed in every winter sport for the Bronze, Silver and Gold Ulus. It was great fun. We spent most of our time at the Cross Country Ski venue cheering on Team Yukon. Mira made it on the team as an alternate but alas was not called on to race. It was great fun to see everyone working hard. Yukon got a few Golds! The second week was full of snowshoe outings, long walks and runs and lots of skiing. The snow has been fantastic - we shoveled our fair share this week.

Mira has been in quite a few ski races this winter. The highlight was the Besh Cup in Fairbanks, Alaska. The kids along with three chauffeurs (Paul included) drove the 13 hours up to Fairbanks for two days of racing and then came back. The trip included lots of fundraising and was great for team spirit. The course warmed up at the last minute to let the races continue. It had been -60 the week before in Fairbanks. Burr..

Mira preparing for the ski race where the participants ski one lap on classic skis and one lap on skate skis. The transitions were great fun to watch.

Kate doing her part.... having fun.

Kate.

A tired Mira has just finished a race.

Kate and Seth our neighbour are having a dance after dinner.

Marsh Lake Loppet - Kate races. The Marsh Lake Loppet was great - Mira was busy with school basketball tournament and missed the race but Kate represented the household.

Kate is dressing up as her favourite book character Junie B. Jones for a fun day at school.

Perhaps the highlight of our March Break - sledding at the Carcross Desert - Yukon style. Friends brought two skidoos with big toboggans behind them. The kids pile in with their sleds (a record was one skidoo with 13 kids on the back). They get a lift up to the top of the hill and scream down the hill. A record run was clocked at 70 km/h. Very, very fun.

View from the top of the hill.

Can you count the heads? They are all going up the hill.

Some don't make it up but that is part of the fun.

Kate cheering on the ski races with her cow bell.

Kids find some fun during the ski races. Felix in the middle is the jump.

Arctic Winter Games Mascot Aurora Borealis.

Paul out snow shoeing.

Kate taking a rest?

Paul and Kate are taking a short cut through the woods.

Paul shoveling off the wood shed - at least two feet of snow.