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. 

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.