SHHHH.....

Kids don't know...

So, Caleb's coach cancelled their Canada trip due to team injuries. He said it was the hardest decision he's ever had to make short of cutting a player. The kids are really bummed, but I know it's for the best, and I'm glad because Caleb is one of the injured - his shoulder. Anyway, my standard response to Caleb when he asks what he's getting for Christmas has always been, "You're going to Canada!"

Now that they're not - he has no gifts!!  So, I jumped at the chance to get this table. It was on sale at Sam's. I know both kids will be thrilled.

Pre Holiday Happiness

Hello everybody! 

I really wish I was better at this and could change my background, but alas, I am not.

Just a few pictures today. I'll post again after the holidays...

This should be the dining room, but I never got a table and the space has been nice for lots of different things. Caleb uses it for stick-handling practice and Emily for front and back walkovers (which are coming along nicely)

Emily's dance company performed at our first annual, downtown Festival of the Trees.

Emily and Samarah pose with freaky snowman dude - he scared the little kids :(

Maybe if he was rounder...?

Aurora Dance Ensamble in the back

(Em is just left of Santa)

Pre-ensamble in the front

These are the pajama pant bottoms that Emily made in Home Ec class this year. 

She received extra credit for wearing them to school on Friday. They are very cute and fit perfectly.

She was the only one who got it because she was the only one who was finished, and yet she has a C in the class... Ugh! Go figure!

Caleb? yes, he still exists! Hockey and school, that's his life. Doing very well in both!

His claim to fame this year, so far, is that he's the only player who's played in every JV and Varsity game. Pretty cool. He really doesn't like to take pictures :)

Love you all!

November

Hello Everyone!  

HAPPY (LATE) HALLOWEEN!!

I was a pumpkin again for our Fall Festival at school.

Emily, Morgan and I braved the Asylum again this year. 

We LOVE to be scared out of our wits! 

Emily wants to work here next year.

Three of the 8 super heros. 

Emily was Thor, Logan was the Black Widow and Madison was Wonder Woman.

Emily and her best buds all made the 4.0 honor roll.

Caleb did too, but I never get pictures of him.

Well, here's one! 

He's doing homework with a little helper.

Emily wants this for Christmas :)

Our first snow day off of school, Emily decorates her room.

You've been doing homework long enough...

time to PET ME!!!

The church parking lot has all of it's snow piled up right outside our apartment... instant snow hill!!

Emily's dance studio did a promo at Barnes and Nobel. 

A portion of all proceeds that day went to the studio.

The girls (and one guy) danced 8 pieces 5 times over a 4 hour period.

I only have a few pictures of one of the dances because she has been practicing these lifts for the past 6 weeks.  They will do all of these dances at a regular performance in 2 weeks.

The Arctic Winter Games will be held in Fairbanks next March. It's kind of a mini-alternative-olympics. Cities and towns in and around the arctic circle all around the globe participate. The events are very winter friendly and native related.

Caleb is trying out for the hockey team. He will know if he made it on December 1st.

I'll keep you posted.

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

Love, hugs and kisses!

September

Hello Family!

Below is a picture of my crazy class. These first and second graders are on a field trip to the pond about a 1/2 mile walk from our school. I think they are all screaming "WE LOVE BUGS!"

Caleb is hardly in any pictures these days, so I made him take this picture before he left for Minnesota. These are his "traveling" clothes.  All the boys have the same getup so they look the same. They actually look very nice. Their weekend in Anchorage playing the Jr. Aces resulted in a 2-1-1 record. They will return tonight (Sunday) from 5 days in Minnesota attending a "showcase". Well, our boys didn't "show" very well because they lost all 4 games pretty badly :(

My 3rd Equinox Marathon!!! 

This is me at the turnaround, as you can see it says "turnaround"!

There is a 2 mile stretch where you run down the trail, hit this turnaround and run back. Runners high five each other and give encouraging words as they pass. It's very up lifting. I found myself asking though..."are we close???"

This is the "Chute". Its a treacherous path down the power line, very steep and slippery.

It was a beautiful day, but cold. 

Because I was walking, I never really warmed up.

 Part of the trail had snow on it!

This picture is of the end, near the University :)

It's amazing the difference a day makes!

Yesterday it looked like this and today it's been snowing non stop!!! UGH!

Love you all

Labor Day 2013

Happy Labor Day Weekend Everybody!

I decided I needed a "catch-up" weekend and made no plans to travel. Shopping, organizing, cleaning and relaxing were on the agenda and I think I've accomplished them all! 

Caleb is enjoying Sophomore year, especially because he got to skip the first day of school - they designate that to Freshman only. He tried out for the U16 hockey team and made it!!! He is now a Lion instead of a grizzly - Emily is trying to figure out how to alter her mascot costume :) The team travels to Anchorage in 2 weeks and Minnesota the week after that. I'll let you know how they do.

I realize I have no pictures of him. I'll do better next post.

Emily in action on the tennis court this summer. She participated in a week long camp and did so well. Coach Kathy loves her and wishes she would commit to the sport, but her passion is on the dance floor.

Post tennis certificate

Tanana Valley State Fair!

Emily and Morgan

Emily and Mom in line for the Zipper :)

Enjoying a little coconut water before cracking it open and chowing down the meat!

YUM :)

Emily performs with her group a the fair.

This was a dance to "Shake Your Tail Feathers"

The tree at the Michaelis' house gets covered.

It's about time!!

Ken's parents were in town for two weeks. They worked their butts off taking care of the kids and reorganizing and cleaning his house. We took them for a relaxing float on the Chena.

Then we surprised Kendra and Morgan in Anchorage.

They were in the State Soccer Tournament.

Ken flew us all down to watch the big game - which was awesome!

Unfortunately, they lost and came in second :(

Kendra, Emily and Ashley

Me and my golf team...

So much fun, but boy do I Stink!!!

Emily auditioned for the Ensamble Dance Company at her studio.

SHE MADE IT!!!!

We are so very proud of her.

Quite an accomplishment for dancing only 2 years.

She is just 1 of 4 dancers in the "company", the rest are in pre-company.

This is her audition photo and the one that will hang in the lobby of the studio :)

I finally found shelves on Craig's list. Now all my summer stuff is up, off the floor and neatly stored for winter. I do so love organization :)

I'm teaching a 1-2 split class this year and find it challenging to say the least!! I have two students that are barely 6 and several second graders that could easily move on to third grade. The range of behaviors and abilities is quite large!  Great group of kiddos, though :)

I'm sure we'll have a great year.

Oh yeah... I signed up for the equinox again this year. I convinced Ken to join me and we're just going to take our time. He thinks he might die! HA!

The marathon is on the 21st... I'll let you know how it goes...

Love to you all

and, Brian - I'm so happy for you and the family that you have a job and get to stay put for a bit longer!

Fairbanks in July

Hello Family! 

A great big congratulations to Brian, Mel and crew for his new job and their big move to North Carolina! Was hoping for something a bit more westerly, but I am happy for them none-the-less!!

Emily attended the UAF volleyball camp and had a GREAT time. Each day they selected a "camper of the day" based on sportsmanship, teamwork, enthusiasm and effort. There were 40 girls in the camp and she was chosen on the third day. Super excited!  She is now in a tennis camp - less thrilling, but good exercise and a way to make new friends.

We went camping at Tangle Lakes last weekend...

here are Kendra, Emily, Kara, Cole and Caleb

Cooper and Ringo, too!

The next day was too good to pass up so Emily, Laura, Morgan and I headed out to Chena Lakes. The girls have climbed up on a huge tree stump that drifted into the swimming area.

Stormy turns 9. Her birthday gift was a catnip refill in this little stuffed mouse. 

She played with it so much she exhausted herself out :)

Another beautiful day called for a float trip on the Chena River.

Emily and Morgan pose.

So, this is a foot bridge over the river near Pioneer Park. 

It is a popular jumping off spot.

As we approached the bridge (during our float) 

we watched a couple of dare-devils leaping off into the river.

The girls, of course, wanted to try.

Laura and I sporting the YOLO attitude said "Why not? Go for it"

They did and then SO DID WE... IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!

This is a picture of Em and Morgan climbing over...

This is Emily in mid-jump!

We have video of the girls and the moms jumping, but they are not cooperating for this blog :(

There was lots of screaming!

Finally, nature in action... 6 baby ptarmigan walking along the neighborhood street.

We are loving our weather and time with good friends. 

Missing you all so much!

Lots of love,

Kristy, Caleb and Emily

Hello Everyone! Hope this finds you well :)

My dearest sister asked that I not be such a slacker with my blogging...

We are a good looking group, are we not?!?!

A friend of mine did this fish tail for Emily.

We will have to try it again, it looks great.

Emily decorates for her brother's bday!

Emily at glo-putt

Her first attempt at tye-dying by herself.

Happy 15th birthday, Caleb!!

Ok, so Misty asked for updated pictures of the apartment...

here they are - Home Sweet Home...

My room

Emily's room

Girls bathroom

Em's first closet (clothes and photo albums)

Em's second closet has all of her stuffed animals and winter coats.

Living room

I call this the "office"

It's really the dining room, but no table yet.

Kitchen from front door

kitchen view from hall (across from my room)

Caleb's room

Storage area down the hall

Caleb/guest bath

Entry room (that door leads to the deck)

Entry again (that door leads to the front)

and Cooper :)

The deck

Ok, that's it.

Upcoming events: 

Emily has Volleyball camp next week and she is really excited about it. We've been practicing outside in the church's grassy areas. Two days ago the pastor came over and asked if we wanted a real net set up? Of course we did!! He had one sitting around getting rusty, he said! So, he brought it over and now we can play a little more realistically :)

Tennis camp is in two weeks for Em as well.

Caleb has hockey tryouts on the 1st, 5th and 6th of August. This is for the highest performance level team in Fairbanks, and the first shot Caleb has of NOT making the team. We will keep our fingers crossed. It is very expensive, so not making it will be ok by me!!!!!!

I go back to school in a month - GAG!! :)

Love you all!