GRAD 2009

I just got an email confirming that Naomi's graduation ceremonies will be on the weekend of June 26, 2009. It's so hard to wrap my head around the idea of her graduating from high school. I'm just not old enough for this.

CATCHING UP

I just realized that it has been over 10 days since my last post and it's time for an update. Life has just been so busy. School can easily take over everything in the first few weeks. As you may know I've been filling in as a teacher for the past couple weeks because the teacher we had lined up for the job decided not to come. They finally found another teacher to take the position. The kids have been great and we've had a fantastic couple of weeks, but it will be nice to pass the reigns to someone else. Then I can relax again. The new teacher will start on September 29. Unfortunately for him (or maybe lucky for him), I won't be there. I am having my surgery on Sept. 30, so will be in Whitehorse for pre-op on the 29th. I'm feeling quite nervous about it now that it is coming so soon. The fear of the unknown. However, after so many years of pain, if all goes well, I will be much better off.
Yesterday Brian, Josh and I went hunting. Can you imagine us, the mighty white hunters, looking for a moose? LOL. We didn't see any moose, but we didn't have a really serious look. We are so busy in the next few weeks that we don't have time to deal with cutting up all that meat. But Josh did shoot his first grouse. He made a beautiful shot - right in the head as it was walking away. Obviously it wasn't a very smart bird, but it sure was tasty.
Things have been so quiet at our house without the girls. Josh is enjoying getting all the attention. Both of the girls have settled in to life in Whitehorse quite well. Hannah is loving dorm life. I'm sure the kids there are much more interesting that Brian and I - apparently we are "old". (direct Hannah quote) I keep waiting for her to phone and tell me she's homesick, but I'm not holding my breath. She's having too much fun. Naomi decided to change her courses to get into the university she wants (hoping for Memorial in Newfoundland). So she is taking more academic courses. At the moment she is still waiting for one course that she has to do by correspondence, and since she has a spare she is just doing 2 courses until it arrives. It's still so hard to believe she is graduating this year. She has signed up for a jazz dance class and will be performing in the Nutcracker at Christmas. She decided to quit her job at Please Mum because she wants to try something different. Overall, they are both really enjoying life in Whitehorse and they are doing very well. Before we know it they will be home for Thanksgiving.
We head into Whitehorse on Wednesday for a teacher's conference. Then we will stay there for my surgery. That means about 10 days in Whitehorse. Yikes. Then we are hoping to come home on Oct. 3rd. Brian has to go back to Whitehorse for training on the 5th and he will come back on the 8th. Then it is almost Thanksgiving. Looks like this year will fly by. Josh isn't too excited about the amount of time spent in Whitehorse, but he's bringing his xbox and he will have homework so that should keep him busy. We are getting a kitchenette suite while there just because that is far too long to be eating in restaurants. So, if I don't post before we leave. I will post an update sometime after we return home.

TADAH!

At last the work is complete (actually not quite, but getting close). About half way through this project I was seriously asking myself why I ever started it, but it will be worth it in the end.
As you can see the laundry room floor desperately needed some help.Bridge over the river Larnder.Last night we installed our new washer and dryer. The floor needs some touch ups after getting that super-heavy washing machine into place. The doors still need to be attached to the cupboards again also. Bit by bit we will get there. I love using the new machines - laundry just doesn't seem like such a chore at the moment. For now the girls' room remains the temporary pantry. Hopefully by the end of the weekend everything will be back to normal again. In the meantime we are keeping very busy with school.

ONE LAST SUMMER FLING

We have had a very busy week here. I'm glad it's over, but with that is also the knowledge that school starts on Monday.
Monday morning we left to take the girls to Whitehorse. It was a very emotional day for me. I just wasn't ready to let both of them go. But I knew it was something that had to be done. The girls were excited, so I just cried quietly into my pillow on the way in. (boohoo) We were so busy when we got to the dorms unloading and unpacking that I never got my camera out to take any pictures. Oops! It was with mixed emotions that we left them at the residence on Monday evening. They are so happy to be there. Who doesn't want their kids to be happy? But I can't help but feel sad too.
The sadness was short lived though. LOL. On Tuesday morning we got up and went to test drive some vehicles. It was so much fun. Josh was the official "back seat critic". Then we headed out of town on one last "summer" fling. We headed out toward Skagway and the ocean. It was such a beautiful drive.
Of course, Oscar gets dragged along on all these adventures. We stopped at a rest area that was supposed to have a log cabin. There was a log building, but it was just bathrooms. Oh well, the scenery was spectacular. The highway takes you through the mountains right up above the tree line. I was surprised that we didn't have snow up there.
Skagway was a very cute town, but was it ever packed with people. When we arrived there were 4 cruise ships in the harbour and everyone of those people must have been on the main shopping street. The next morning we had to get up early to be at the ferry dock by 6:00 am. 2 of the cruise ships had left to be replaced by 2 new ones.
We were all pretty groggy when we got to the ferry, but Josh was good sport and let me take his picture.
While we were waiting for the ferry to leave we had a chance to tour the ferry. Good thing we went then, it was far too windy once we were under way.When we arrived at Haines, Alaska we had to spend some time on the beach. Unfortunately the tide pools were basically empty. We stopped at Whitehorse for a couple nights on the way home because I had a meeting all day Friday. We had supper with the girls and discovered that they are loving their lives. Hannah has settled in very well and isn't homesick at all. I told her she could lie and say she misses me, but she just laughed. I know she does - she's just having too much fun right now.
So, now we are home and getting everything ready for school to start on Monday. I'm not sure I'm ready, but I guess I don't really have a choice.

AND THEY'RE OFF

Today is the day we leave to take the girls to Whitehorse. It is such a bitter-sweet time. I am so excited for them to enter into this phase of their life and all the great experiences that it brings, but I am so sad to let them go too. It really is a time of mixed emotions. There is always the worry that we haven't done enough to prepare them for this semi-independence. But on the other hand they are very confident and I know they will do well.

Have a great years girls. We are so proud of both of you and love you more than you could imagine.