My routine life, but so unordinary

Not only is this a secluded village really far north, almost to the arctic circle, but it's a foreign culture to me.  I haven't gotten used to bush life, but it is my routine. Random moments like the picture below reminds me of this interesting life I am living. 

This beluga whale washed up and was rotting on the beach.

There aren't restaurants or any type of take out food what-so-ever in the village so I cook every meal for the 9 1/2 months we are here! We happily discovered Paper Murphy's pizza freezes their pizzas and will fly them to the Bush for an extra charge! So on nights I don't want to cook this is our "takeout." The kids are helping me put the pizzas in the freezer.

Malachi shot the squirrel with a BB gun and his uncle helped him skin it!

School at the beach watching the sun rise. Since the sun is rising late in the morning we don't have to wake up early to catch it.  Ila showing off her coloring of the sunrise.  Camera phone didn't catch any of the colors in the sunrise. 

Best pals.

The store has pumpkins stocked for Halloween.

On our way to the school to get school pictures taken.

And the results. Yes, that is a mustache tattoo Zax is sporting.  I forgot it was picture day!

That's the whole village. Big building on right is the school. Bottom center is our duplex.  They are a very close distance and lately I've only left the house once a day to walk that short distance and home. I homeschool and there hasn't been outdoor recess so not much need to leave. I definitely get stir Crazy! Nuts, huh!

In Anchorage in October I had the kids pick out their Christmas wish list! I love that they are so young because I barely had to hide it in the cart without them seeing what I picked!

When you live in the bush and fly to town to shop, you shop with your cooler and a scale.

Flying with three kids is no fun!  These two make it look pretty easy, it's the mini man at the window that I battle!

Jack is playing a game with the 4-5th graders who are waiting in line to eat lunch next.  He is so dedicated.

Monthly assembly time!  Jack and the Elim Eagle handing out prizes.

Cheerleading team. 

Native American Heritage week sprang an Alaska culture morning in the gym.  Ila is learning to seal hop.

Stick pull

Jack leg wrestling

Ila and Evangaline.  She is Ila's favorite friend.

Ila winning at arm wrestling, those muscles!

And the Christmas pajamas December 1st. 

Fishing, hunting, 1st date, and school!

The end of summer weather has been good to us.  We've had regular walks, daily playing at the school playground, and playing on the beach!

We hiked this hill for the first time and it has the best view!  We were hoping for a plane to come in since the landing strip was so close.

Reflecting time on top

Half way up!

Jack took Zax out fishing with Mark (who is in the picture) and another teacher, Brendan.

Primary time!  We are still figuring out how to engage the children this time of church.  I tried sitting inbetween them...

Then the next Sunday we tried headphones... Still figuring out how to keep them engaged.

Going on a Sunday walk and attire is never a question.  Wear what you want and no one bats an eye.

He loves to suck on rocks and drool out the dirt.  The beach though, we love it!

This baby comes back for hugs and snuggles, I love it!

Elim hosted a kids fun run before the cross country meet and had a great turn out!

Day date to the hotsprings!  First time ever in Elim someone watched our children while we went out together.  It was a dream come true and we plan on swapping with them regularly.

Jack's first kill ever!  We stopped along the way when Mark or his dog, Sadie, saw spruce hen to shoot. Jack got two.

Half way there.

Strapping the dead spruce hen to the four wheeler!

Mark is a true hunter.  He tore all the feathers off the spruce hens and threw it in the river so he didn't have to do it at home!

A cabin next to the hotsprings that smelt more like a hotbox. Just learned what that is, lol!

Curriculum finally arrived so this is our official first day of school picture.

Sticker charts are huge motivators in our house!

Two of the three ginormously heavy boxes I carried from the school!
The daylight is slowly becoming less.  The weather is now in the 40's as the high, summer is over.

"Welcome Home"

We are here, back in Elim. "Welcome home" is how we've been greeted by our village and it was very sweet to hear. Back to canned chicken, fresh salmon, ordering food online, horrible cellphone reception, no caller id, and chilly windy weather.

This little dude is stealing my heart.

Jack and the special ed teacher went tubing after the picnic. It was 59 degrees and of course they were set on tipping these two. So they did, twice! What is worse than the cold water is that the sewage is emptied out into the ocean!! 

Soaking wet!

The tradition is a back to school lunch at the beach. Roasting hotdogs, baked beans, chips, and juice. The whole village is invited.

Ila is trying to get gum out to share. They are obsessed with going to the store and buying candy when they have any change.

We walked to Next creek, which was around 2 miles and pretty hilly. The kids did great there and struggled on the way back.  It was worth it!  Jack is a fan of making fires at the beach.

You can see the fish swimming upstream! The dark spots are the fish in the top right corner.

Murder scene!

I'm so glad Jack is willing to clean the fish. I'm totally disgusted just holding the garbage bag while he throws the guts in.

Three silver salmon ready to be frozen!

Ok really! They are tubing and I'm bundled up.

This was our last flight, bush plane to our village. It was so loud it didn't matter how much Crew screamed.

 

It was 24 hours of flying alone. Crew was the best he'd been the first and second flights. I was so so happy! Jack flew back two weeks before to start work and attend conferences in the school district village.

We arrived in Anchorage art 10:30pm, slept at our friend's house, the Andersons, and back to the airport in the morning. This was at the Anchorage airport!

Bears have been spotted super close to the village this week. One was killed, but one is still on the loose. It was so close to the village it chased a guy up a pole/ladder a few days ago. So I won't run outside till i hear it's been killed!  We have to get permission from fish and game to kill them otherwise you get a $2500 fine!

Well, we are here for another school year. It feels really nice to not be new at least. New challenges and fun to come this year!