Yupik Dancing, "Yurqaq"

Every year Summer Preschool closes the year with two special Yupik dances by the preschool students.  Students are asked to wear traditional Yupik gear, which is a kespeq.  Kalin wore her special kespeq made by Auntie Babe and the headdress she made in school. 

We are so proud, she did an excellent job!

Summer Preschool!

Kalin was so ready for summer preschool this year, unlike last year where she wouldn't let me out of her sight!  Preschool was about 3 hours a day, 4 days a week this year at the elementary school.  The classes were the biggest ever- ranging around 25 three, four & five year olds for each class!

Our summer schedule has been pretty hectic with very late evenings in the land of the midnight sun (we have had gorgeous weather!!) and not so early mornings (waking up at 9:00, what?!!).  So, needless to say,  Kalin was late to preschool a few times. Although she got very creative at making excuses as to why she couldn't go to Preschool (like her knees were hurting, school was cancelled, etc.) she really did love every minute.

 

She was so proud every day when she brought home the craft she made in preschool, our favorites being the caterpillar.  Father's Day fell during this time and so Kalin got to make her Dad a present.  She was so excited to give it to him that she couldn't wait another day... even though she made a big show of hiding it and telling him, 'DON'T LOOK DAD!" haha, he got it that afternoon.

The last day was a very fun day with a family potluck and a special Yupik dance by the preschoolers.  More of that to come.

From a Daisy to a Brownie....

Kiley bridged from a Daisy to a Brownie Girl Scout this year.  She had an exciting year of Girl Scouts filled with monthly meetings with her troop as well as with all the Girl Scouts.  Being involved in something like Girl Scouts is quite a commitment, for us as well as Kiley.  I volunteer as a parent, so I tag along to all the meetings and help out Kiley's troop leader.  This is a great way for me to know what is going on and to get to know Kiley's friends. 

What a fun group of active girls!

This year her troop focused on cooking- and made fun things like pretzels, pizza, quesadillas and popcorn!

I'm looking forward to Kiley's time as a Brownie- this means more concentrated community service as well as the opportunity to sell Girl Scout cookies!  It should be a big year for her, for all of us.

Snake Lake Mountain!

Our yearly trek up to the top of Snake Lake Mountain happened a little earlier than usual this year. Typically we head up around the end of July, but this time we made it up in the beginning of June. After such a long winter with so much snow fall I shouldn't have been surprised to see so much snow every where, but wow, I still was.  So much snow meant not so many bugs (actually hardly a one!) so that made us happy hikers.

The girls hiked on through it like it was nothing, even Kalin.  This was her first time climbing the mountain all by herself. She made it to the top last year but her Dad pretty much carried her the whole way.  This was Kolbi's first trek up the mountain too! Last summer I carried her.... :)

I was a little reluctant leaving the house, feeling a little lazy.... but I am so happy that I live with such an energetic group of people.  This was an amazing, glorious day! Parents, kids, and the dogs were happy!  We were out all afternoon hiking, walking, laughing and spending real quality time with one another.  A "few hours" lasted until about 5:00.  It must have reached into the 70's, and for our neck of the woods at this time of year that is unusual.

We have started our summer with gorgeous weather and we are crossing our fingers that it lasts to the end! After a winter filled with many, many negative temperatures and a ton of snow we are looking forward to a lot of warm sunshine and blue skies.

2nd Hot Dog Run

 We got asked multiple times this year, "What is the Hot Dog Run?"  How can people not know about the Hot Dog Run? It lives in infamy! 

Kiley was and wasn't as excited this year because she had to run a WHOLE mile..... and the first time she tried to she told us, "I felt like my lungs were going to explode!" Classic.

I think she was more nervous than anything else, and she was afraid she wasn't going to place (when she practiced she came in 7th out of the girls).  The adrenaline kicked in and she did awesome.

She ran her mile and got second in her class. We were so proud of her!

2012 Graduate!!

Two years and a lot of hard work have flown by!  Blaker-Blaker finally did it, he graduated!!! This summer will be filled with hours at Peninsula Airways as a ramper, his home away from home. This is the second summer in a row he will be employed by our local airlines.  After that we hear plans to move into Anchorage, after that we aren't sure.  I've heard rumors of looking into being an Alaska State Trooper, but time will only tell.  

We are so proud and thankful that this goal has been accomplished. Go Blake!