YOU KNOW IT'S COLD WHEN...

You think it is warm when it warms up to -25. Seriously everybody keeps talking about how warm it is outside. It honestly does feel warm after such a cold snap.

DECEMBER?????

Can you believe that it is almost December. Time to start decorating. Every day I plan to begin after school, but I always get so busy with other things that before I know it, it is 9:00 pm and I am too tired to decorate. Maybe on the weekend we will get some done.

REPORT CARDS:

Well, tomorrow is report card day. However, since we are in cahoots with the kids' teacher he gave us their report cards today. As usual, I am very proud of my kids. They obviously take after me with their academic achievements! LOL! Naomi earned straight A's and Hannah and Josh both had a mix of A's and B's. Sometimes as a parent you want your kids to be getting fantastic grades on everything (especially when you are working in the school). Every time report card time roles around I have to remind myself that when I was in high school I would have been exstatic if I received a C in math. I guess sometimes the pressure to succeed is too great. Don't get me wrong, our kids are all bringing home excellent report cards. I just have to remind myself that their school education is only a small part of what is important. I am more interested in having them do their best and being confident and happy. So, I suppose we have succeeded in accomplishing those goals. Our children have learned some great skills since we moved here. Naomi has a beautiful pair of mukluks that she made and Hannah made me a wonderful pair of mitts last year and is making herself some this year. Josh is almost finished making a pair of moccasins. Anyways, now I am just babbling on. I guess what I wanted to say was that I am extremely proud of my genius children.

A NEW BLOG

Brian has now started his own blog.

http://www.primordial-blog.blogspot.com/

Check it out. You may not agree with everything he has to say, but feel free to leave a comment or two. Especially take time to view the video link he has on his first entry.

WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES

We learned today of an awful tragedy that has occured in a family that we knew from Kitimat. Their daughter, who was about 17, was found dead in their home this past week. They are not sure who has done this horrific thing, but her father is being held at the police station. At this point we don't even know how she died. I have spent the day in a state of shock. I never know how to react to a situation like this. I can only pray that somehow the family will make it through this tragedy. There is nothing more horrible than losing a child. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

WEATHER

O.K. I have heard some complaining about the weather down south there (snow, cold, etc). Just to make you feel better think about what we are enduring. We currently have about a foot of snow and on Wednesday night we kept checking the thermometer all night and watched the temperature steadily drop. Thursday morning when we got up it was -45. This morning it is currently -48. When you look outside there is a fog that doesn't lift until about noon. Let's just say, we are burning wood at a steady pace and only go outside when we have to. It is almost like a respite at work because so many kids stay home. So, all in all, even though it is extremely cold, I don't mind, I actually kind of enjoy it in a weird, demented sort of way. Deirdre Dion (the skier who broke her back and is back competing) is supposed to come to our school this afternoon - I don't know if they will make it because of the cold, but if they do I would love to see her reaction to this cold when she steps off the plane.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish my mother-in-law a very happy birthday. You are so wonderful. I don't think of you as an in-law, but as a mother and you treat me as your own daughter. I really appreciate all you do for us. I couldn't ask for better family. You hear so many horror stories about people and their in-laws, but I am very happy that we have never had those experiences. So, I hope you have a fabulous birthday. Love you lots.

BACK FROM WHITEHORSE and ONE-STOP SHOPPING

Here I am after another hectic trip to Whitehorse. I left on Thursday to take some girls from school in to a conference. I should have realized before I even left the house that this would be a crazy trip. It had been quite cold (around -28 everyday) and when I was ready to leave it was -23. So about 10 minutes before we were scheduled to leave I went out to start the truck, but wouldn't you know it, the truck wouldn't start. Thank goodness a friend of mine was also going, so I phoned and she came and gave me a jump start. Due to winter conditions, the trip took 5 hours instead of the usual 4, however, we got to Whitehorse safe and sound. Whenever I go there, I am so thankful that my normal routine does not involve transporting children from one place to another. I can handle it for a day or two, but am always glad to get back to my normal routine. Actually Friday was a great day, the girls were all at their conferences so I had most of the day to myself. The bad news was I had to leave the truck at the garage for 2 hours so I ended up walking around a very cold city. The good news is that I did the shopping for the kids - I can't tell you what it is, but I can say it is big, expensive and best of all - one stop shopping. I am so excited about it - I can't wait for Christmas day! I am already planning out how to present this most awesome gift. Anyways, all in all, it was a good trip, especially when you compare it to the same trip I made last year during which I backed up into another car in a parking lot, locked my keys in the truck and fell very hard on the ice.

WALLS AND OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS

On Thursday, our Principal, Thomas, surprised me with these for all the extra work I do around the school. Also included in the package were some delicious chocolates. Funny there is no picture of the chocolates - it could be because they didn't last long enough. The roses were set out for all to see, however, the chocolates were hidden away from prying eyes.

The Remembrance Day Ceremony at school is always full of surprises. For instance, I worked with the grade 1 and 2 class and they sang both the Canadian anthem and God Save the Queen. The teacher and I laughed so hard when we realized that they were actually singing the following: God save our gracious Queen, God save our enormous Queen. Apparently this song had too many words that they didn't recognize, so they had started putting in words they knew. I hadn't even realized they were doing this until just before the ceremony. Oh well, what can you do???

The best part of the ceremony actually occured when we were setting the gym up. All the pieces for the stage are on a big trolley. Brian was pulling it out of the storage room and one of the girls decided to help by pushing. Brian tried to tell her to stop pushing so he could turn, but I guess she didn't hear.

Hence, the following:

Good thing the Principal was in a really good mood - he just looked at it and laughed. Brian is now affectionately known as "Bubble Butt" by both staff and students.

REALITY T.V. AND OTHER STUFF

Well, I ended up spending last Wed, Thurs, and Friday at home last week because I had the flu. Let me say, by Friday I was bored to death and can't wait to get back to work. What is there to do when you are sick other than sleep, read, and watch t.v. My favourite channel is still TLC. One of my favourite shows is What Not to Wear. I think it would be kind of cool, except for the humiliation part, to have someone tell you "these are the clothes you should wear and here is $5000 to buy them." While I was watching they had a couple of people with similar body types to mine. It got me to thinking that maybe I should just break down and buy myself some new clothes. Ones that fit all "the rules". Unfortunately there are 2 things wrong with this - one is money and the other is that as soon as I start looking at clothes I immediately forget all "the rules". I don't often buy myself anything new because I am always on the verge of losing weight. Maybe now that I am 40 I will just have to accept the way I am and buy some new clothes. In the meantime, we have been busy at home. Last time we were in Whitehorse we picked up some new taps for the tub. I really hated the other ones, they were really old and they always dripped. So yesterday Brian decided to install the new taps. This was supposed to be a 1/2 hour job, maximum. Let's just say 24 hours later, we are finally done! When Brian was removing the old spout, the pipe it was attached to twisted and broke. As you probably know, things are never as easy as they should be. Replacing the taps became replacing the whole pipe unit for the bathtub. It also involved a few trips to the store for parts in -27 weather and than figuring out how to make things work since we couldn't get the parts we needed. But it is finally complete. I looked for pictures, but there are no clear ones online - but fyi they are chrome with white cross handles. They look great! Maybe with the money we just saved on a plumber I should buy myself some clothes.

Here is my next dilemna. I need a new winter jacket. The one I had in Kitimat for all season, is basically only good for summer here. I have survived the last 3 winters by layering sweaters under the jacket. But, alas, I figure, as noted above, it's time for something new. I have a big down parka, but it is sweltering in anything above -30. So, the dilemna is that I can't make up my mind what I should get. So I need an opinion poll.

By the way, I would look just as hot as these models in whatever jacket I choose.

Choice #1 (please, please, please disregard the hideous hat!)

Choice #2

Choice #3

Choice #4

Choice #5

None of the above.

Thanks for the help!