Brrr!!

Hey Everyone,

Well, the busy week is over. We had conferences on Thursday. Well, I had them on Wednesday and Thursday since I'm up to 27 Kinders. My kids seem to be quite rowdy lately. I'm starting to believe in that whole full moon saying. As I was walking home after a crazy day...I looked up at the moon and it was as full as it could be and shining like I've never seen before. I felt like I could just reach up and touch it. One of my favorite moments of the day is walking to school with Ben in the bitter cold and looking up at the stars.

This week it has been very cold. I don't feel like such a pansy when an eskimo comes in saying it's really cold out. I'm kind of sad that we haven't had a good snowfall in about 2 months. It has snowed here and there, but nothing substantial. It has put a damper on going out riding the snow machine. The snow is really packed down and is like ice. When you hear snow machines going across it...it kind of makes you cringe. I will be excited to get out soon and see some more of Alaska. Ben was able to go out hunting on Monday (during the day) as a field trip. They went out in hopes of catching a moose. They left around noon and got in around 6:00. It was below zero when they went out, so I was worried about them being warm enough and what not. Ben was fine, but our principal got frost bite under his eyes. I went in to talk to him on Tuesday morning and he looked like he got into a fist fight. I'm glad Ben has thick Minnesotan blood. :) They went out with about 5 other guy's. They had split up so it was Ben and 2 other guy's and our Yupik teacher with a 7th grader. When Ben got back he was worried because he didn't know where the Yupik teacher. It ended up being 8:00 and they still weren't back, so Ben and a few other guy's were going to go out looking for them. Well, just as they were leaving, Elmer came back and they had caught a moose! The 7th grader had caught his first moose. That night him and his dad came over to give us a moose leg. When I say moose leg...I mean it was literally a moose leg. I about gagged, but Ben my manly husband had no problem cutting it up. In fact, we had moose stew today and it was absolutely delicious! The day after the 7th grader caught his moose he was walking around so proud. It was really neat to see. He was very proud.

My Kinders and I have been working hard in math doing a unit on measuring. So, I thought we would use up the last of the muffin mix and have a fun Friday activity. It was indeed fun and the Kinders got to feel like high schooler's. We had to go into a room in the high school that had an oven in it. As I said before, we had conferences this last week. I had a really good turnout and I really enjoy my parents. They seem to be very impressed and shocked with their kids improvements. It makes me feel good that they appreciate what we are doing in here. Ben and I really like it here. We feel like this is home for now and that the people are more accepting of us everyday. Especially when we tell them we are coming back next year.

I'm thinking and praying about teaching and older grade next year. Our fourth grade teacher is going to teach in SE Alaska next year and so I'm thinking about teaching 4th. There is something about not having to zip coats, put on snowpants, button pants for kids that sounds wonderful. I really love my Kinders, but it is very exhausting. We'll see though. I might go observe 4th grade and see what it's all about before I make any decisions. I guess it's up to my principal anyways. :)

Anyways, that's all for now. I hope you are all doing well. If you have any snow...please send some up to us! We love and miss you all!

P.S. the pics are of the kids while they were waiting for the muffins to bake and our kitchen while it was being worked on when the pipes were being fixed.

Ben and Anne