Sewards Day- a holiday you didn't even know existed

We actually have today off of work. I got to spend a rare morning alone with William. Poor James had school. He would have had it off but they had an extra week of Christmas vacation when the school's pipes burst.

We are very happy because the temperature is not below zero! We have been walking everywhere and it is so nice to be outside. I think William is enjoying the outside world. The poor guy probably thought the outside was only for looking at through the window after the winter we have had.

Cama-i weekend was last weekend. Jamie was looking forward to it, just like he does for Easter or Halloween. He had a great time running around with his friends on Friday night. I ended up running admissions this year and I am glad to say it all went smoothly. Terrence and William didn't spend a lot of time at the festival because it is a very crowded event. However, William was able to get up close to the stage (and by close I mean his chin was resting on the stage) and see some Yupik dancing. He liked it but his favorite part was the clapping. A young Yupik girl in the audience was tickled with him and took his picture. I thought it was ironic, the gussak baby getting his picture taken, since it is normally the other way around.

Cama-i was a much needed break from the regular routine. In this part of the world winter just goes on and on and it was nice to have something to look forward to. It reminded me how different the pace of life is out here in Bethel. We just don't have a lot of places to go. I have to admit I was pretty peopled out by last night.

Work continues to be an uphill battle. It is hard to see clients struggle and even harder to deal with broken institutions that are not doing a very good job. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else but fighting the man is not as much fun as I imagined it when I was a teenager. It is good that we have such great coworkers to lean on and commiserate with.

I am dreaming of grass and warmer weather. I know it will come eventually. I can't wait to get the boys out on the river this summer.

Wind Chills 40-55 Below Zero

It has been a really cold winter. We have had temperatures below zero for about six weeks now. In many ways I think we have adjusted well. Last weekend we didn't even leave the house and it felt normal. In these temperatures there aren't many places to go. Thankfully we had a break from the cold when we went to Anchorage. There it was a balmy 16 degrees during the day.

Jamie had an extra week of Christmas vacation because the freezing temperatures broke the water main for his school. Our offices at work are cold. Luckily, our house has been able to stay warm. I know this is not the case for many people across the delta. It is a struggle to heat any house in these temperatures, some houses in our area are constructed with plywood and have very little insulation. Unfortunately, a hearing assistance program, that previously served 900 families, has been cut to only serve 200 families this year. While the cold temperatures are frustrating to us I know they are causing real suffering for others in our community.

Bath time!

So tired.

Poor William

We took these pictures a few days ago. This box is normally where all his stuffed animals go but last weekend it became a William box. Unfortnately, William and I are home for the second day in a row mbecause he is sick. Nothing major, just bronchiolitis, but he has about every minor symptom a kid can have. He still is sweet as ever. We can't wait to see Michael and Molly next week (if they make it).

We are having another snow storm. It was a incredibly cold and snowy November. No need to yearn for a white Christmas here. It feels like it has been winter for a long time already. James is doing well. He is part of lego robotics and they have there competition this week.

Apple Kings