Christmas tree shopping and student of the month

The kids hanging out watching primary on the laptop.

I convinced Jack to come home before the sunset to go get a Christmas tree.  We rode the snow machine half a mile up Tank Farm road and just a little ways off to find this beauty!  It was -20 degrees with the wind chill and I have never had my fingers in so much pain, ever.  When I got home I had to pace around for 5 minutes till they warmed up.

Ila feels the need to make a snow angel everywhere!

We were right next to the air strip and saw this plane come in!

I was so excited to put presents under the tree I used butcher paper from the school to wrap them!

Each elementary school class went out to cut down a tree for their classroom!  I tagged along because I find the more activities I engage in the more sane I feel by the end of the week.  The grey run down building is the old high school that is now vacant and scary.  The brown duplex behind it is my house!

Teacher Sammy hand in hand with her Kindergarten class.  Zax is far right in blue coat.

Three high school boys, youth leaders, came to cut down and carry the trees to the truck that Jack drove back. 

We got Just Dance!  It has been so fun.  Zax had two school friends over to play too!

The kindergarten class at the school assembly!  I was invited to come to watch Zax get student of the month award for his grade.

Jack and the Elim Eagle!

Zax was so sweet running to get his award.

The kids who had perfect attendance lined up for their monthly picture and free slush puppy gift card to use at the student store.

We got to have lunch with him too! He wasn't as excited as we were to be there.

I was working out in the weight room that is just off this gym and I heard music.  The gym teacher has never played music so I peeked out to see what was going on and Jack was teaching the kindergartners!  I sent Ila out to join and they had an awesome class with Jack.  I know it is days like these that make his day fun.

Thankful

Our first Thanksgiving in the bush was a success and surprisingly delicious.  I kept my expectations low to avoid strange food disappointment, but everything I tried I liked.  There weren't enough volunteers to cook the meat at home the night before that was purchased so Jack took two servings of reindeer meat to cook!  I was annoyed with him because we have never cooked that kind before and I didn't want to ruin it.  But I was wrong, he did an excellent job and it was eaten up!  There was caribou soup, turkey, reindeer meat, stuffing, mashed potatoes, noodle salad, and lot of desserts!  Our table buddies were prepared and brought tupperware to take some home.  Next year I will remember that one.

I went to the gym to lift weights that morning and all the gym was ready for the feast! Enough seating for around 150 people.  More showed up and had to eat on the bleachers.

Zax and Ila drew pictures on each card and handed them out to people at the dinner.  They all started with "I am thankful for" and ended with "your smile" or "your hardwork" or "your friendship" or "your kindness."  I loved the pictures they drew on each card and the older ladies loved receiving them!

Friday we had a potluck teacher Thanksgiving.  Once again it was delicious.  We signed up for rolls, stuffing, and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.  We ate smoked fish in a vinagarette, homemade ice cream on pumpkin pie, turkey, mashed potatoes, and other goodies. 

Jordan is our immediate neighbor, newlywed, and the special education teacher.  Kids love him!

The ocean is frozen!  It is a very cool sight.  The chunks of ice are huge too.

Jack got to hold Crew during this outing so I was freeeeeeee.  Crew does great in his carrier, he gets heavy though!  I miss a car seat and a car to put my kid in.  Last week I pushed the stroller in a snow fall to the school and after an hour when I was ready to come back home it snowed so high I had to leave the stroller at school! 

A village kid skating on the ocean.

Snow caves are all the craze of course.  Jack, Zax, and some kids made this next to the school one evening.

I was kicking the snow out of the snow cave and Ila thinks it's so funny to jump on my back everytime I get low enough for her to.

Recess!  This is a good hill next to the playground.  Jack ordered 20 or so sleds for the kids to use at school and the teachers say it is hard to get them to come inside now after recess.

For the school Christmas program the kindergarteners are singing, "1 little 2 little 3 little snowflakes..."  This is Zax's class plus Ila and minus one student.

One of the janitors got the school snow machine to work last week.  We have to park it at our house instead of the school because kids vandalize things. On Sunday we went for a family ride!  As we were coming back a group of 5 teachers saw us and laughed pretty hard so they took our picture.  

We took the snow machine a little ways out.  The horizon in the background across the ocean is mountains and another village.  We are in the Norton Sound inlet.

I was told many times I would be spending a lot of time indoors so I should get puzzles and games to play as a family.  What I would advise on the other hand is JUST DANCE!  We just got it this week and we are having a lot of fun, plus it is a workout.  I've organized a teacher gathering next weekend in the library to try it out so I can socialize!  The tv there is ginormous.  I know at least one teacher is going to come and I like her enough that if we are the only two I will still have a blast!

Depending on what the girl on Just Dance is wearing (shorts, dress, or pants) Ila leaves mid song to go change her clothes.  It is hilarious!

Crew's erratic sleeping schedule caused me to try a jar of baby food. He liked it enough to take several bites and with Jack he finished the entire jar in one sitting.  He started crawling (army crawl) this week and it is so fun to see him move all over the floor to get his toys.

Every day there is open gym by ages and once in a great while we remember to go.  1st grade and under is from 7-7:30pm weeknights.

Mr. Aiden (batman) turned four and had a birthday party.  All the kids got capes to take home.  It was a great idea and a fun social gathering for me!

Jack and I watched some videos on youtube that we watched before we got here about our village, Elim today.  I was curious at how accurate and helpful they actually were now that we are here.  My verdict is no one can really be prepared for a place like this, but more info would have been appreciated.  We are planning on doing a village video tour on the snow machine and doing a voice over!  Should be fun and funny.
New "Staying Fit In Bush Alaska" videos are up on our youtube channel too!