An Ordinary Day

June 29

Last night, Bronwyn and I ran for 40 minutes. At their camp, Keegan and Bronwyn discovered the Hanthorns are committed to their morning run, and they were inspired to try it for themselves. Keegan hurt his ankle at camp so he couldn't come, but with some chiropractic care, he should be up and RUNNING in no time. I write this with fear and trepidation, because they've recruited me as well, and now I am in danger of being held accountable to my commitment, because it is now public knowledge. Which is also the reason why I SHOULD write it, because then maybe I will stick to it, if for no other reason-the worst reason- my pride. I did enjoy the time with my daughter, even though I felt like I was chasing her heels.

Bronwyn wanted to make pancakes for breakfast, but we needed a few ingredients, so Bronwyn biked to the store, pulling Naomi in the buggy. And being easily amused, Naomi had fun pushing the cart around the store. Ahhh, simple pleasures. It was a nice send-off for Kurt, because after our meal, I drove Kurt to the airport. He is at Johnson Point on Banks Island, which is WAAAY further north than here. He arrived safe and sound and said it was very windy and the Arctic Ocean is still frozen over. As a point of interest, Ken Borek Air, who Kurt flies with, also does flights in Antarctica during the Arctic off-season. Kurt will be working there for the next three weeks.

It warmed up today to +10 C and as if it needs retelling, the mosquitoes were not our friends.

Nada

June 28

Slept in. Missed church. But what can you expect when we didn't get home until 3 am last night? Kurt took the kids swimming and I stayed behind while Estelle had a much needed three-hour nap in peace and quiet. They got back just in time for us to go to evening church at 6 pm. We got there right on time, and the pastor's wife (who I met on our last trip) informed us we had just missed it. They'd had a special early service that day. Oh, well. We walked back in the blustery cold and had a quiet time (relatively) 'at home.'

Switcheroo

June 27

Brr! A breezy +8 degrees. It got as low as +1 during the night. I went out into our 'patio' where Josiah and Mackenzie were sleeping, but they couldn't be seen, huddled in their sleeping bags. They didn't get up until noon. Josiah said, "I would get up earlier, but when I do wake up, I still think it's the middle of the night, so I go back to sleep." And I should wake him up, but I have the same trouble he does!

We had to go through the rigamarole today of moving all our stuff, and hooking up the trailer,, just so we could refill the water tank and dump the other ones. But the kids thought it was great fun, as they stayed in the trailer when Kurt went the 100 m to the fill station. A wild ride for them!

We got a call at 8 pm from Paul. He informed us we could pick up Bronwyn and Keegan in Fort McPherson, and if we were so inclined, he also had room in the upcoming camp for Josiah and Mackenzie as well. Now for those of you who know me well, you also know that Kurt and I have always had a no-kids' camp policy. But knowing they'd be with the Hanthorns, we consented. Boo and Jo were wide-eyed, but excited to have an adventure like their older siblings.

I drove on the way down, but I was glad Kurt was along, because I had been unsettled when I thought I would have to do the Dempster alone with the children. Getting stranded myself is one thing. Getting stranded with 7 children is quite another. It really wasn't that bad but I must have been nervous, because my knuckles turned white from clenching the wheel and my hands kept cramping up. At least I'll be more comfortable when I do have to go next week to pick them up.

We arrived at the Hanthorns without incident. We walked in the door, and Bronwyn came running up to us, Keegan was sauntering behind. They both tried to say, 'hello,' to Estelle, but she immediately wailed in terror, and made strange. They were both surprised and a little saddened by the cold shoulder. We said a quick goodbye to Jo and Boo because we had to do a quick turn-around to make the last ferry crossing. We made it to the ferry with just minutes to spare. We pulled away from the dock but then spun around to pick up a latecomer. Off we went again, then turned back again for another straggler. Off for a third time, and back again for a semi-truck. It took an hour to cross, but it's comforting to know travellers don't get stranded.

On the drive home, Keegan and Bronwyn bubbled over about their camp. Keegan's highlight was tipping canoes and sticking a frog down his sister's shirt, with Joel Hanthorn as his accomplice. Bronwyn, in customary fashion, squealed. Later, Bronwyn conspired with Sarah Hanthorn and returned the favor. Keegan thought she was joking. "Nice one, Bronwyn. You can't fool me that easily....WAIT! There IS a frog in my shirt!" Bronwyn wished we could have seen his face. Keegan insisted he knew all along.

They also participated in a ropes course, archery, stilt-walking, soccer, hiking, swimming, a pancake eating contest (Keegan ate 10), 'chuck the chicken' (don't ask me), and sometime during the week, Paul got pushed in the water by the campers. At one point, the boys started a pillow fight. While they were distracted, Bronwyn snuck away with Annah and Ruth Hanthorn, and another girl and took all the boys' sleeping bags and hid them in the bushes. So when the pillow fight ended and the boys were cheering and yelling "We are the champions! We are the champions," the girls were all giggling on the inside, thinking 'Not for long." They had the last laugh, when the boys came back asking for their sleeping gear. Even Mr. Hanthorn announced at the award ceremony, that the girls came out on top that time. But the boys are sticking to their story.

They had various awards to end the camp. Keegan received "Best Archer" and Bronwyn was the recipient for "Best Camper of the Week." Not only did they have a good week, but they got better acquainted with the Hanthorns and are even more excited to spend the summer in Fort McPherson( or Fort McPEDERSEN, as Ezra calls it).

Bugs, Buggy Blunder, and Boo Gets Bugged

June 25

I drove Kurt to the airport, bound for Tuk, at 9 am and left the kids sleeping. I was in no danger of them waking up before I returned, that's for sure. But I did give Kenzie a head's up.

It was so buggy today we didn't venture far from the trailer. They seemed to be coming right through the walls. Estelle had a difficult time sleeping. They'd hover around while she was dozing off. Her hands would flail in front of her face and then she'd whine, whimper, and wail until she woke herself up. A very fitful night.

It was our first day without Kurt, my tech support, and my computer would not talk to me. I've never been very fluent in tech-speak with all its three letter acronyms and new-fangled words. Needless to say, no blog entry. I better get it figured out before he leaves for 2 weeks at a time!

June 26

Estelle woke up with welts from mosquitoes feasting on her face during the night. She even had 2 dead ones caught in her cobweb-like hair. Eureka! The enigma of Estelle's hair solved! It does serve a purpose.

The kids were playing on a hill with the buggy at a distant campsite, so I left Evangeline coloring in the trailer to go check on them. When I returned, I couldn't get in! Evangeline had locked the door! With both sets of keys inside! I instructed her how to unlock the door, but really-how much success could I really expect with a 2 year old? Surprisingly for me, I did not panic but gave the situation to God. The others came back and I relayed our predicament. Josiah piped up, "No problem, Mom. Diana left the keys out when she unlocked the bikes!" I have never been more thankful for a child's forgetfulness!

We walked to the library and it was packed with kids. A 7-year old girl, Skylar, picked up Estelle a couple of times, but all she did was cry. So she moved on to Evangeline, who was more than happy to be doted on and carried around. Mackenzie was sitting in a corner enjoying some books, but another girl, Raylene, sat as close as she could and just stared her down. Kenzie giggled and went out of her way to be kind. Raylene asked her to go out a side door to play at the park, asked her to come to her house, and when that didn't work, she offered to buy Mackenzie ice cream across the street, if she would just come with her. Mackenzie, looking for some reprieve, came to me and asked, "Mom, can I go color a picture on the other side of the library?" I consented, but her hideout was discovered. Mackenzie spent some more time with Raylene, and then she came to me again and asked, "Mom, can I take care of the baby for a while?" But with a baby in arms, Boo only attracted more attention to herself. We left shortly after, and Mackenzie said, "We should pray for Raylene. Her parents got divorced yesterday, her siblings are split between their mom and dad, and her good friend is moving to Yellowknife next week." So many children here are in need of a friend and some Good News.

I picked Kurt up tonight and he's scheduled to leave Monday for Johnson's Point.

Treasures and Change Room Trials

June 24

It was overcast today, so even with the breeze, the mosquitoes were incessant. Estelle was 'skeeter bait' last night, and had an array of welts on her face in the morning. The kids didn't seem to mind, though. They were going fast enough on their bikes. Ezra had to content himself with chasing their heels like a wayward dog. The bugs did eventually get to them and they came in for refuge.

I started reading Don Quixote, my bookclub summer read. I had heard horror stories of people struggling through it. I expected a tough, possibly dull, read. It is a hoot! And I have oodles of time to actually enjoy the monstrosity.

The campground cleared out this morning. All the sites were full for the summer solstice. Today, we were the lone campers here. The kids had a heyday scavenging through the empty campsites looking for treasures untold. They came back elated with their finds: 2 broken BBQ grills, 2 tea towels, a nice pillow, a foldable chair, a case of empty beer bottles, two stacks of firewood (the only useable items), and Naomi's personal favorite (because she found it herself)--a half-used bottle of instant coffee. She insisted that we make 'coffee' cake. Nothing like a scavenger hunt to raise the spirits. The camp manager, Vern, was more than happy to let them keep the firewood, since it had already been paid for, and he was probably even happier that the kids inadvertently helped with the clean-up.

Kurt and I took the family swimming at the Rec Complex. The facilities are great and a good time was had by all. Getting dressed again, however, was an ordeal, or a comedy of errors, depending on how you look at it. I took Estelle out first for a shower while Kurt kept swimming with the others. Washing a soapy baby is not an easy task with one free hand. It's more like trying to hold a slimy fish. Then I tried to get dressed, while perching Estelle on a narrow bench so she wouldn't fall on to the less-than-pristine cement floor. At the same time, I attempted to prevent my pants from dragging on the wet floor. Plus, my babies always get very sleepy after a swim, and want to nurse, so it wasn't long before Estelle was crying. So then I was feeding a baby, and back to being one-handed again. Then, multiply that by 6 more kids, who need showers and can't find their underwear in a 4x6 change room...you get the idea. But at least by then, Kurt was there to help manage the chaos.

We succumbed to the ice cream store that we had to walk by on the way home. An appetizer, really, because when we got home we had supper-at 10:30pm. Maybe, just maybe we might have some sleepy children tonight.

Stop, Tuk, and Snow

June 23

Wow! Two relaxing days in a row. It was a bright sunny day with just enough breeze to keep the bugs at bay. Kurt was supposed to go to Tuktoyuktuk (say that fast three times!- or just call it Tuk, for short, like everyone else) today but there is 4 feet of snow at Johnson's Point where he's supposed to work. You can't move contaminated dirt when it's frozen and under a heap of snow. He'll be going to Tuk later this week to prepare for two other projects he's doing along the Arctic Coast.

Kurt biked with the kids, with a trailer in tow to buy groceries. I thought you might like to know the price of tea in Ch-- I mean, Inuvik.

4 L jug of milk $8.95

Bananas $3.83/kg or $1.74/lb

Water cooler jug $7.95

1 kg of apples $5.51

Mini bell peppers $16.30/kg or $7.40/lb

1 kg bag of frozen corn $5.51

Broccoli $5.15/kg or $2.34/lb

Box of Mandarin oranges $14.91

Of course, junk food and packaged food are considerably cheaper, which must account for all the pudgy children we see here. Or course, my kids salivate, too, when we go past the ice cream stand!

Rest for the Wicked

June 22

My legs had a serious 5 km hangover in the morning-I felt stiff and sore, and a little pathetic that it took so little to do so much damage. But it hurt so good-the afterpain from doing something good for myself.

We had a pretty slow (translation: RELAXING!!!) day, doing errands and laundry and such. Funny to think laundry could be relaxing, but it's not too bad when you have nothing else pressing to do. Evangeline and I went to the post office to mail some letters, and lo and behold, there were two letters waiting for us! (Thanks, you know who you are.)

I raced Ezra and Naomi back from the washrooms. I went on the road; they went on the trails through the bush. Unfortunately, Naomi left Ezra 'in the dust' and I could hear him screaming her name in distress. I had to laugh. While Ezra thought he was lost and abandoned, I could see him clear as day in his red shorts one foot from freedom beyond the bushes.

Sweet Summer Solstice

June 21

Happy Abo Day! Or for you Southerners, Happy Aboriginal Day! Kurt left early to take Bronwyn and Keegan back to Fort McPherson to go to Camp Klondike with Paul Hanthorn. Paul came back for a load of campers. Now in case you weren't following, that means another 800 km back dow

n the Dempster, from which we just came. They were a bit apprehensive about the unknown and Keegan wasn't keen on the U-turn, but all in all, I think they were excited about the sudden change in plans and a chance to spend time with their

friends.

The rest of us got moving barely before noon, and went to enjoy the festivities for Aboriginal Day. The event was to begin at noon and we got there two hours late, which in Northern time means we were an hour early. They served free burgers and did a blanket toss. A 64 year old elder stood on a blanket with a group of people holding on to the blanket all around. Then 1-2-3, all the people leaned back to spring him into the air-- WAY into the air. It was like a man-powered trampoline. Then there was a traditional feast with muktuk, caribout stew,

and Arctic char to begin at 5 pm. But not knowing when it would actually begin, and with the natives (meaning our entourage) getting restless , and having experien

ced it before, we cut our losses and headed back to the trailer. We did go back later, though, to watch the jigging contest. It was entertaining. And we did get to eat some bannock.

Josiah and Mackenzie held the fort for the evening, so Kurt and I, with baby Estelle in tow, could participate in the Midnight Sun Fun Run. What a great way to enjoy the summer solstice! The 5 km race began at midnight. There was also a 10 km and half-marathon. We were just heading do

wn a hill, when Kurt took his hand briefly off the buggy holding Estelle, and said, "Catch your baby!" A joke of course, but it would be a great incentive to pick up the pace! My fitness leaves something to be desired and I slowed down at the half way mark. I was passed by a 70 year old lady. Good times! If that's not an incentive to get in shape, nothing is---except maybe a runaway buggy with my baby inside. Anyways, we had fun and got to bed at 4 am, with the sun shining bright.

Out the Door and Through the Woods

This is an account of our 8 day journey north:

June 10
Got a late start- no surprises there! Stopped at the school to say goodbye to sister Cara and niece Katelyn. Then to Kurt's grandparents for a quick hello. We drove to Edson and visited my sister, Tanya and her family. While we were there, the doorbell rang. It was an RCMP officer, their next door neighbor, with Evangeline and her cousin, Elowyn, in tow. Apparently, they had walked to his house and started knocking on the door. When he opened it, they walked straight in like they owned the place. Better a policeman's house that anywhere else, I guess. So we didn't get to far, but we accomplished our first goal- getting out the door.

June 11

Estelle is 6 months old today. Had the van packed to the gills with activities, snacks and games for the kids. I picked out 80's tunes for Kurt and I to sing on his Zune player. Ezra asked after many hous of driving, " We are supposed to go to Inuvik. Are we lost?" I announced that we drove through Pouce Coupe and Diana and Naomi laughed. They heard, "Poo Scoop." (Try saying it yourself!). Then for several miles they chanted, 'Poo Scoop, Poo Scoop.' Camped at Charlie Lake, near Fort St. John.

June 12

Kurt left us at camp while he went into town to replace our popped airbag. The kids and I hiked to Charlie Lake. Beautiful but the terrain changed abruptly from trees to water. Not conducive to playing with small children- or for mothers who would have to watch them. So back up the hill we went and played in the playground until we were overrun by a not-so-small school group. That must be how some feel about us when they see us coming!

Kurt got back from his morning excursion at 4:30 PM. He said his trip was God-ordained because not only did they replace the airbag but they put an extra leaf in the springs on the rear suspension, which was lacking for what was required. Originally, when we attached the trailer, the van hunkered down like a burdened beast. After the upgrades, we were riding high and ready to conquer what lay ahead.

We drove to Summit Lake, a beautiful campsite. We had planned and prepared the van so the kids could watch movies in the van with his laptop velcroed to the back of Kurt's seat. But for reasons unknown to us, the sound would not cooperate. So I started reading The Hobbit which Keegan had brought along (Providence again). It worked out great, because of course, Kurt already had the van outfitted so that my microphone carried my voice over the van speakers. Bronwyn said she enjoyed it more than watching movies.

June 13

Woke up to a rainstorm. It passed and the kids and Kurt hiked up the hillside overlooking our campsite. They made short time of it and the acoustics were amazing! Ezra and I, who waited below, could hear them talking in their conversational voices. It reminded me of the Mayan ruins I visited in Mexico, and being the homeschooling mother I am, I was quick to point this out to them, as we had just been studying the Mayans and Aztecs. The children also quickly caught on and started yelling, "ECHO! ECHO!" and marvelled hearing their call repeated so clearly. Even Evangeline, who is two, crawled to the top.

It started raining again just as they returned to camp, and we headed for Liard Hot Springs, our favorite spot. The ferns are thick and lush, and everyone loved walking- or should I say running, down the 1 km boardwalk to the Springs. Wooden steps reach down into the springs, untouched by cement and modern upgrades. Kurt, Bronwyn, and I took turns wading to the source of the springs as the water got increasingly hotter. Two fellows noticed Kurt encouraging me and they started shouting advice too- more attention than I wanted!

The next stretch of traveling passed quickly, because a forest fire had just run its course and there were still some smoldering spots and we even saw the occasional flame. "Mom, Dad! Smoke! More Smoke! Fire! Flames! More smoke!" Even saw a couple firefighters and one house being doused with water.

At Watson Lake, we toured the Signpost Forest, where people from all over post road signs and license plates (we even saw a bed pan) displaying the names of their hometowns.. We fueled up, but then the van wouldn't start- our alternator was toast. We camped at Teslin Lake and would deal with it the next day. But not before Kurt and Keegan changed a flat tire on the trailer. To bed at 1:30 AM.

June 14

Kurt charged the batttery with the generator to get it going in the morning. We headed for Whitehorse and the van gave up the ghost at the gas station. But Canadian Tire was right next door and Kurt bought a new alternator but because it was Sunday nobody could install it. Got a boost and when Kurt drove away, Mackenzie yelled, "Dad, Jo's running beside the trailer!" Kurt thought he was in the trailer (we were just going across the parking lot) an Jo thought he was getting left behind!

We walked downtown and went to MY favorite stop- the FIREWEED BOOKSTORE. Bought a Northern Comic Book for the kids and everywhere we went, Jo was reading it... and walking at the same time. I don' think he could even tell you where we went! . Kurt decided to change the alternator himself and was so thankful all our troubles (we hoped!) happened while we were still near the last of the big city centres. Slept in the Walmart parking lot- much to our chagrin. Finished reading The Hobbit.

June 15

We toured the SS Klondike, a paddlewheeler from the Klondike Gold Rush era. Then, in keeping with the theme, we went for fish and chips at a restaurant that used to be a supply tent from the gold rush days. We swam at Takhini Hot Springs and had a ball. We were loud and did not go unnoticed. Ezra said, "Mom! Look I'm swimming like a beaver!" Four young European women repeated what he said and laughed. I guess they don't talk about beavers regularly. Who knew.

The kids enjoyed The Hobbit so much (Kurt did, too) they begged and pleaded with me to read The Lord of the Rings. I gave in and read all the way to Congdon Creek. Bronwyn was not keen on sleeping there. She read a sign that said, "Camp at own risk. Use of tents not recommended. This camp is constructed in the middle of a soapberry field, which is a main food source for bears in the area." Keegan, being an opportunist, tried to scare her more than once. She had a hard time getting to sleep, especially with Keegan snarling like a bear.

June 16

We decided to go through Alaska this time. Kurt had checked at the visitor centre in Whitehorse to see it there was any chance we could get through without passports. They told us we would have no trouble as passports were only required as of June 1 and they were allowing a grace period. Which is a good thing because if US customs denies you entry, it's a 500 km U-turn. So we drove through the Kluane Mountain Range.

We reached the Yukon/Alaska border, expecting no trouble. We were wrong. The border guard informed us we DID need passports and the grace period was the year and a half BEFORE the deadline and that we had been misinformed, AND we should expect NO leniency. Kurt was talking and I was praying for God's will and that I would be thankful regardless of the outcome. They let us through with a warning. I WAS thankful. The route was nice in its own right, but not what I expected and Kurt and I both agreed the other route through Canada was better. We stopped in Chicken, Alaska, for fuel. We had all anticipated the visit to such an intriguing spot. We shouldn't have... it was one gas station with a few old buildings. The kids, especially Bronwyn, were disappointed. Diana said, "They should've called it Chicken LITTLE." The window over Bronwyn's bed in the trailer broke and Kurt patched it up with a garbage bag.

I grew weary of the winding, gravel roads hugging the cliffs and we camped just short of the re-entry point to Canada at Wolf Creek (?) . We finally had a hot meal- steak and tortellini and salad. Very refreshing since our diet had consisted mostly of cookies (Thanks, Dillon, Billie-Gean, and Mackenzie!) Other than the homemade cookies and some nuts and fruit, we ate mostly on the road and consumed far too many packaged goodies. But it does keep the troops happy, and busy.

June 17

The view improved just before the border crossing. Valley upon valley, hill beyond hill, mountain beyond mountain. We could see so far. They don't call the road "The Top of the World Highway" for nothing. At Canada Customs, an official took our birth certificates to verify that all the kids were ours and she cleared us through. Kurt made a passing remark,"You must be the nicest border guards anywhere when you get to wake up to this view every morning." Her stern demeanour softened and she said, "It helps and is a wonderful place to be." We stopped just over the border again and Diana and Mackenzie made their own Inukshuks.

We came into Dawson City from above and could see the whole town. We crossed the Klondike River on a Ferry, and boy, did the river move fast. Kurt needed to replace another tire so he dropped us off. I asked him, "But where will we meet and how will you find us?" His answer, "You're kind of hard to miss."

We could not enjoy many of the tourist attractions because there was a Western Premiers Conference and they had booked all the venues. Our tax dollars at work! Went for ice cream, our Dawson tradition, and toured the streets. At one souvenir shop, the clerk said, "Hey, you must be here for Camp Klondike." When we denied it, she said "O, there's always a large family here for camp and they travel like you do." I said, "Oh, you mean the Hanthorns. We know them and we have been mistaken for them before." The kids wanted to drive all the way to Fort McPherson to get to the Hanthorns (a 800 km trip and it was already 7 pm) We nixed that plan but we started up the Dempster Highway, a 750 km gravel road that ends at the northern-most point you can reach in Canada by road-Inuvik. At a rest stop, Kurt picked some wildflowers and gave them to me for our anniversary. We got as far as Engineer Creek and the view all the way was breathtaking. The bugs were BAD!

June 18

Mackenzie wanted to help Keegan get the trailer ready. The bugs were so bad she put a hooded jacket on and wrapped a handkerchief around her face so all we could see were her eyes. She got the job done, though. A regular Laura Ingalls. Keegan didn't complain either.

Read more Lord of the Rings, up to 300+ pages. Everyone had fickle bladders today. We'd stop for a break and fifteen minutes later nature would call someone again. Which is do-able but every time we'd stop, it woke baby Estelle. Did two ferry crossings, one on the Peel River and the other on the Mackenzie. Within minutes, we saw a big blue van approaching, just a few miles from Fort McPherson. THE HANTHORNS! We pulled over, and chatted, on the side of the road, I'm sure, for an hour. They were on their way to lead Camp Klondike for 3 weeks and then will return for their church building project. They've been gathering Sunday mornings in their living room for 16 years, I believe, and their house is not that big. They could sure use the space.

We said our goobyes and a few hours later we hit the end of the road-- INUVIK! It was 11:30 pm, with the sun shining bright. But sleep was not soon in coming. The Dempster had done its damage and the entire trailer and all the bedding were covered in a layer of dust. But that was getting off pretty easy. No broken windows, no flat tires. We hit the hay at 1:30 am, exhausted. Unfortunately, Evangeline and Ezra were completely wired and the 24 hour daylight didn't help. When in the North, do as the Northerners do. Stay up late and sleep when you can. We arrived in one piece and we were happy.

June 19

Woke up at 11:30 am. Wow! Tired travellers but they had a much deserved sleep. And we still got a lot done. A glass shop opened up a month ago so Kurt replaced the glass in Bronwyn's window. The owner was from Quebec with a Newfie accent. Kurt and Bronwyn washed the trailer and helped another man wash his rig. He came back later and paid Bronwyn $10. She was elated. While Kurt set up the trailer, the kids explored the trails behind, and lo and behold, Josiah, came back with an XBOX he found in the bushes. Probably stolen. We will have to take it to the police. And we enjoyed hot showers, wonderful showers!

June 20

Woke up this morning and Diana had a split chin! She fell out of the top bunk in the middle of the night. I heard her THUMP last night, she cried a bit, but got back in bed so I fell back to sleep. So much for motherly nurturing. Made some bread in our breadmaker. The kids all teased me when I brought it along, but nobody's laughing now, as they devoured an entire loaf and begged for more.

Kurt took Diana to the hospital in his 'ambulance'- a buggy pulled behind his bike. They only gave her steri-strips and not stitches, because it had dried too much. Jo, Boo, and Keegan had a blast ripping around the hills on their bikes. The younger ones played on the dirt hill beside our trailer and they looked like a bunch of ragamuffins.

It was a very relaxing day after all our traveling. Kurt and I lounged on the wooden deck at our site. The kids played, colored, biked and Estelle slept. Diana got lots of practice trying her new biking skills.

We met a couple from Scotland with their eight year old daughter. They just flew in and are going to bike down the Dempster to start. They are taking a year and a half to go as far as they can , hopefully right to Argentina. They were loaded down with too much gear so they gave us a nice wind jacket and some clothes.

A nice, nice day.

A Little Introduction

We've made it to the TOP of the World and would like to share with our families and friends our "Tales off the Top." The family and I arrived in Inuvik, Northwest Territories on Wednesday night, June 18th, which just happened to be our Sweet Sixteen Anniversary

I'll start from the beginning, the very beginning:

Kurt has been working in the Arctic every summer for the past ten years or so. When the kids were quite young, he was sometimes gone for 2 months, which seemed to get harder the older the kids became. So in 2003, Kurt decided to take us with him for his 10 day trip up North. With five kids in tow, and me very much pregnant, we tented all the way up, travelling in our blue suburban, and stayed in the company crew house when we arrived in Inuvik. And WE LOVED IT! And we couldn't be more thankful that Kurt went through all the extra hassle to have us experience what we'd only heard about for so long.

So we returned in 2007, but this time in a 15-passenger van and trailer with eight kids in tow, and we stayed for 3 months. And still loved it-- the slower pace, time together, and life simplified.

Here we are again, with the head count now at 9 kids, going to our summer 'cottage' in the Arctic.