Ooops... it's been a while. Greetings from the Yukon!

HI everyone. It has been a while. Spring has come and gone (so has the snow). Summer is already past and we are almost done Fall so I thought I better send some photos and give a brief update of events. 

Spring was crazy busy. I don't even have any highlights except that Mira and Kate both did well in their respective grades - Mira completed first year of high school and Kate finished grade 3. 

Summer arrived and brought us here in the Yukon the best summer we can remember - actually it was as good as 1994 when we came for a few weeks to play and ended up falling in love with the place. Not sure if the fine weather will bring a super cold winter but we will keep you posted. 

Summer - Paul worked for a friend's company (all Aussies - great laughs I understand), his own companay and worked on our house. Kate enjoyed both gymnastics and circus camp (highlight for her! - she now hopes to attend Cirque de Soleil circus school in Montreal for her high school - long bus ride each day Kate.) Mira had a great couple of weeks on the river with a conservation camp and loved it. I took some time to do some reading. We also went to Ontario to catch up with family. 

Kate on Canada Day

Paul, Kate and Beau getting some much deserved rest. 

Family......

Beloved Alice......

Horsing around on the beach... watch out for the shark!

Sisters. 

 Our dear friends in T.O. took us in again..... thanks so much for the fun!

First Day of school - Kate

Like the last few autumns, Mira and friends have participated in the Klondike Road Relay - the kids - 8 of them, run from Carcross to Whitehorse, 75 kms. We leave Whitehorse with tunes thumping at 2 am and run/scream until they finish around 10 am this year. They busted all the records this year in speed - we even surprised a couple of check points having arrived so early! It was great fun and lots of laughs. 

Before....

Winners of the Youth Category - the Blue Squad Ski Team.

Last big news for the Fall would have to be Kate's birthday- she is still great but no longer eight!

Kate dressed to party. 

Party central. 

So I hope this finds everyone happy and healthy. We are starting to prepare for the white stuff as we see it creep down the mountains surrounding the city; we know it will be here very soon. We are all back into activities and connecting the crazy weeks with somewhat restful weekends. 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving - we are truly thankful. Sharon

Got Snow?

So it is all about snow here.... and we have lots of it. 

I can't believe that it is already March! The sun has returned with its much loved and missed heat even if it is still a balmy -30 on the second day of spring. 

Wild life? Folks have seen two moose and a lynx in our 'hood. Coyotes, foxes are easy to spot... a really dead grouse took out a really big window, while it was alive! We are waiting for those ground squirrels (highway chickens) to show up - that means spring is finally here. 

We have been very busy. The cross-country skiing has been amazing this winter. The  trails have been the best and we have been having fun watching those girls get so fast. Mom sure can't keep up any more and I can't even skate ski while Kate has taken off. 

A big highlight for Mira this year has been a ski exchange with the Canmore Ski Club. She got to go to Canmore and watch the World Cup, visit Banff and have a ton of fun. The club just came and visited the Yukon during the March Break. They did everything Yukon - dog mushing, ice climbing, skidoo tobogganing, sleeping in a lodge, playing hockey, and even gold panning....... it was great fun. 

School is keeping us hopping - Mira is surviving the homework, volleyball practices and more homework. Kate is enjoying the challenges of Grade 3 and is keeping us in smiles. Paul has been helping to coach skiing and working on the house in between jobs for other folks. As the proverb says, "Man finish house, man dies." But the hardwood floors look amazing and the girls love their new bedrooms. We are apparently now ready to take on the kitchen part of this project ... do I sound sure about this? 

Ready for some photos?

Tobogganing at Carcross - it really is almost as fast going up as it is going down.

Mira and Kate skiing downhill at Mount Sima.

Out for a family ski on Christmas day. 

Snow? Did I say we got snow? This is our backyard. 

Yukon Quest takes off from Whitehorse this year. 

Mira and the crew at Mt. Mac.

Kate at Marsh Lake Loppet - love the sign.

The kids. 

Marsh Lake starting line. 

Carcross Desert Day with the exchange group.

Mira dressed for the elements. 

Mira wants to keep a sled dog pup - Mom says NO!

Paul and I got Outside this year. I got to recharge my brain at a conference at San Francisco, CA.

 The weather was in the 20s and sunny and snow free. I attended the conference and Paul managed to ride the 50lbs (22kg) authentic Dutch Cruiser bike, the Giselle up and down every hill in the city. Even the locals were impressed. 

San Fran is a really great city - we enjoyed the food, sites and people. Can't say enough about this place. Thanks our friends for keeping our kids for us. 

Famous zigzag street. 

Beef Ravioli? San Francisco Treat? 

Golden Gate Bridge and a tourist. 

From the bridge.

First hotel we have ever stayed in that had a fish as a room mate.

Cheers to all and hope your spring is greener than here.