Wild Winter Fun

Welcome February in the Yukon....

This is a busy winter month for us up here - Friday and Saturday was Polar Games. Every Grade 5 and 6 student across the territory comes into the big city of Whitehorse for a two day sports festival and dance. They come by bus, car and fly in from Old Crow for the excitement. I got to supervise the dance - great fun. Mira had a wonderful time despite getting curling and bowling as her team sports - last choice and the hour power outage on Friday that put all sports on hold. So Mira is missing from all the photos because she was 'busy'.

Kate enjoying the Yukon Quest.

In terms of Yukon winter activities - the Yukon Quest Dog Race kicked off the fun. This is a 1000 mile (1600 km) dog race that starts this year here in downtown Whitehorse and goes to Fairbanks Alaska. They have a great web site and you can follow the race on line. The dogs were happy and anxious to get the show on the road. Kate, Paul and I rang the bells and cheered them on.

Dogs taking off from downtown Whitehorse.. 1 km down, 1599 kms to go!

Crowds cheering the race on.

Kate and Paul waiting for the next dog team to pass.

The next day, we watch as the Arctic Ultra Marathon took off from Shipyard Park. Participants run, ski or bike 430 miles to Dawson city... It was a brilliantly clear day - blue sky and -20, a perfect day all round. There were even hot air balloons in the sky. Great fun. WE of course cheered on the intrepid runners and headed home to a roaring fire and hot coffee!

Runners, Bikers and Skiers preparing to set off.

Kate

Kate has been burning up the ski trails lately. Really, she prefers the hills - don't they all. She screams down hills as her mother tries to find alternative routes so that she doesn't have to follow the 6 year old down the hill. Scary stuff for mom - great fun for Kate.

Getting reading to scream down another hill...

Whitehorse is also preparing itself for the world or at least Canada next weekend. Next weekend, Hockey Day in Canada is happening right here. There is a buzz in the air and lots of events are planned. The ski teams got into the fun and played hockey in the stadium. The cameras were rolling and footage will used next weekend during the telecasts. Kate did her best to get into the game - by racing down a hill and screaming across the stadium while the game played on.

Hockey on skis

The team photo - like the 'cup'?

Paul got away for a quick trip to Rose Lake with a couple of friends. They went out on snowmobiles and had great weather. They saw a few herds of caribou and some wild horses. Great views!

Paul

En route.

Watson River Valley

Caribou

Wild Horses

So next week - Hockey Day in Canada, Marsh Lake Ski Loppet and much more winter fun.

I hope you are all well. Until next time. Cheers. sharon

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