First ski doo trip of the year...

You know, it is REALLY depressing to say that the FIRST trip I took this year was on February 8th... It has been such a crazy year weather wise... But, at any rate, Friday night at ball games Bummer asked if I'd want to go along as he went out to set some traps. Obviously I said yes...

It was a GORGEOUS day. I didn't take many pictures, but I definitely had fun playing around in the snow... The snow was really dry so it didn't pack well. There was ice below the 2ish inches. So as I drove, I stuck my toe out to make an additional track, or I'd watch how the snow flew up off the skis... I also enjoyed sliding on the ice...

After Nathan set his 4th trap, he decided to play a little on the ice too... He took off on an intentional slide, hit a ledge and turned his ski doo over on the side. He was fine, the machine was fine. I helped him turn it back upright and off we went to catch up with Bummer. :)

All in all, it was a fantastic way to spend my Saturday afternoon. I was hoping for more pictures, but the phone shut down because it got cold... Here are a few!

xoxo,
SJ

Bummer and Nathan setting the 4th trap.

Praise God for the beauty of this place.

Girl's gotta have her guns! New 20 gauge on the left, trusty 22 on the right. :)

Praying for many more days of more snow, beautiful weather, and time to play. :)

December and January

WHOA! Just opened my blogger and noticed my last post was Dec. 3rd... Oops! So a lot has happened since Thanksgiving break... My students recited a few snowman poems for the Christmas program... I attended Misfit Christmas with some great friends in Anchorage. I got to watch my brothers play basketball and win not only the first place trophy for the old guy league, but also the sportsmanship trophy. School started back up and I was so excited to be back with my students! January has flown buy... It was a month full of illnesses--teaching while sick, having nearly 50% attendance for a few days, etc.

We haven't had much snow. It's been a really weird winter here. We've had a ton of rain and freezing rain. Every time I get excited about an inch of snow falling, a day or two later comes the rain. I've fallen a few times this winter, but overall the knee seems to be doing just fine.

We have hosted junior high basketball games, high school boys basketball, and this weekend high school girls basketball. I absolutely love the chance to watch our kids play. It is fun to hang out with the community, cheer on our kids, and make memories. In class, we've been working hard in reading more complex texts and we're really coming along with our addition and subtraction skills. I'm so proud of the kids!

Last week we celebrated 100 days of school. The kids were excited for jello, popcorn (they counted 100 kernels) and celebrating how much smarter they've become in just 100 school days.

Here are some pictures from the past 2 months. :)

xoxo,
SJ

So stoked to be able to bend my knee all the way. :) WOO!

2014 Christmas trees... :)

Time for a reload of marshmallows..

Epic battle.

Making gingerbread cookie dough at school the week of Christmas.

My adorable little snowpeople!

 I was very optimistic about the snow... Then the rain came.

Visiting friends in KSM on my way to Anchorage. So beautiful.

Pizza, beer, and Captain Phillips at Bear's Tooth. The beginning of an awesome 5 days
and Misfit Christmas. :)

Christmas morning... Massage line. ;) Love these girls!

Fireworks on the slough. Happy 2014!!

Late night trip home from ball games in Emo. :) 

One afternoon, at the end of the slough by Anna's house. Kouselvak (which I spelled wrong)
is way out there somewhere!

Late January rain... :(

New iPad in our classroom! Thanks to the generous folks who donated
through my donorschoose site. :)

Watching the halftime show. :) 

Late January sunrise... Warm out,  walking around in shorts and slippers!

raz-kids on the iPad. The kids LOVE it!

Nerd Day at school... :)

Taking the hair OUT of the crazy hair day 'do.

Matching orange shirts Saturday morning.

Love the family.

We're 100 days smarter AND sillier! :)

How is it already February 9th!? AHH!!!

Thanksgiving break 2013

It always amazes me how I go into a long weekend thinking, "Man, I've got 4 1/2 days to get this pile of stuff done, no big deal. By Sunday, I'll be done with everything and can relax..." Well, Wednesday afternoon is wasted by sleeping/being lazy from being so worn out all week... Then Thursday is Thanksgiving, so its spent skyping family, cooking, and enjoying the company of family and friends. Friday is a day of sleeping in and basketball games. As is Saturday. Then, lo and behold, Sunday rolls around and Sammy Jo hasn't even STARTED her homework, grading, planning, or cleaning...

Story of my life. Every. Darn. Weekend...

However, it was a much needed long weekend. I missed my students, of course, but it was nice to catch up on sleep and enjoy the company of some fabulous people in the community. :)

I was invited to spend Thanksgiving with my Alakanuk family, the Ayuneraks. I made 2 pumpkin pies the morning of Thanksgiving (which the family doubted my ability to get finished in time), along with a green bean casserole (missed you Amy and Aunt Susan!), and some mashed potatoes. I must admit, I didn't have time to shower, but it was okay... The hair was straight from the day before and I threw on some deodorant. :)

Thanksgiving dinner was very similar to what my family has done for years. :) Turkey and yummy side dishes... Lots of laughter and visiting... A few kids running around. Plenty of fun to warm my heart and make me feel a little less homesick for my family. Around 5 I headed to the gym to join my fellow staff members for potluck. :) It was fun to watch my coworkers' children play and just relax a little. Dinner was in the gym then the staff had some volleyball fun. However, I skipped volleyball and instead headed to TC for eskimo dance. I didn't stay long as I was with other teachers who were tired... My intent was to go home and sleep after eskimo dance, but instead I went up to the gym for a short time to watch city league play ball... Then off to Greg and Aggie's for a visit. :) After some ball in the boys' room, some akutaq (I might  have spelled it wrong, sorry!) and juice, I headed home around 11:30...

All in all Thanksgiving was a great day. I am so grateful for friends and family in so many places. :)

Here are a few random pictures... Until next time!

xoxo,
SJ

Pendleton, OR?! All the way in Alakanuk, AK?!! Couldn't believe it!

The beginning miles on season 3... Not enough snow for me to go far, but apparently
the trail to Emo is passable,  just rough in a few places.

My hair stylists. :)

For family pictures... 

For family pictures. Because who doesn't want a picture by the
above ground water/sewer pipes?! :)

SO thankful for all I've been blessed with, from awesome family and friends, to a great job
in a wonderful community, to my utter badass attitude. Here's to a FANTASTIC holiday season and a fabulous 2014. :)

November happenings

Since my last post I feel like I haven't had time to slow down and think let alone write anything...

The flood ended up not being too bad here. Some people downtown said it flooded as bad as it does in spring time. However, I don't know of any damages, except maybe some problems with snow machines and hondas. Thank goodness we didn't get hit harder. Kotlik, another village in my district, got hit HARD with ice. They were without water and sewer for a while, and I think that even now part of their village is without. But I'm not sure.

We were expecting flood again Wednesday of that week, and because of how our village is, when water began to rise quickly around noon on Wednesday we released school early. Many of the classes were around 50% attendance anyway because parents either had kept them home that morning, or had come to get them when they were concerned that water would rise to a point that they couldn't come get their children. I am glad our school was conscious of the situation and very grateful that no flooding occurred on Wednesday. I think they said water came within inches of the bank, but none spilled over on Wednesday.

On Thursday I was scheduled to fly to Mountain Village to present some training on Friday. After a phone call saying the lights were broken, and another that said our runway was too soft, I cried because I had been looking forward to catching up with some friends in MOU. Turns out everything works out. I ended up on a plane around 6 PM to Mountain and spent Thursday night prepping for presenting on Friday. After work Friday, I hung around MOU for another night and thoroughly enjoyed the laughter and conversation with some great friends. Saturday evening I went to KSM to visit some friends there and was grateful for a weekend break from work and stresses.

This week was tough. I had a few very frustrating days, and spent each evening working late into the night followed by early mornings. I wish I could say that I was completely caught up on my life--college, grading, prepped for this week--but I am not...

We spent Monday through Thursday conserving water as much as possible... For me, that meant to laundry, no dishes, and no showering. A Thursday evening text okayed us to use water again, so Friday morning brought a shower, but still no time to do dishes and laundry. Needless to say, my house is a disaster... Dishes are finally done now, I have only 2 loads of laundry left to do. And I need another day in the weekend so I can get caught up in college...

Thursday and Friday of this week our volleyball team traveled to Mountain Village for the regional volleyball tournament. I was disappointed to not be allowed to travel, but because of how many other staff members were out, I stayed behind. I was able to watch our kids play via VTC, which was nice, but its just not the same. Our team ended up second place, so season is over.

We've got a short week ahead of us, 2 1/2 days... Here's to some Thanksgiving crafts and fun coupled with some delicious food toward the end of the week! :)

xoxo
SJ

Front row seats... Go Braves!

Fans of all ages enjoyed the game. :)

Winter Storm 11/9/13

Yesterday afternoon was pretty windy, maybe rainy, I can't remember. About 7:45 last night Paul came to my door and said there was flooding by AVEC and we could potentially lose water, sewer, and power. So I filled a few totes of water, and began preparing for an evening (or longer) without water, power, sewer...

At about 8:15 I decided to go explore. Many friends who live on the other end of town were posting about flooding at their houses, and a friend told me it was knee deep at his place. So, I slapped on my knee brace, jumped into my rubber boots and went for a walk. It wasn't long before I decided that I was going to seriously freak myself out in the dark, so I wandered to Theresa's to see if she wanted to join.

We walked to the UUI building, right by our houses and water was HIGH, getting pretty close to the road... Then we walked down past the school, then to AVEC. Here are some pictures and videos. It was dark, so they might be pretty hard to see. The last picture is from today, I walked to the UUI building on my way to school and water is WAY down... 

I am so thankful that everything turned out okay here in AUK. However, please pray for the other villages. Kotlik was hit pretty hard, they're out of water and sewer because of the flooding. Nunam lost power, but I don't know of their status right now.

The current by my old house. Right by the school.

Current was pretty strong. 

Water across the road where the road hits the main road, I guess?
Where you turn to come to laundry instead of going around by PO...

Pretty smart idea, I'd say!

Akleng! Someone's bike.. :(

Current at AVEC, I think.

The current by my boots right by AVEC. Hondas made it through fine, though.

Water on the road by water treatment plant.

Getting the hondas up on higher ground. And water by water treatment.

The bucket on the right took a tumble with a gust of wind. Scared Theresa and I. :)
In the middle of the road...

Some crazies tried to run us over! Haha.

Headed back to the house. Water went down a LOT. You can't see very well in this picture.

Only about 35 minutes after we first walked past here. Water was down a lot.

35 minutes. water down. You can see where it was (the dark) and by this point it was
 back down to the side of the road...

This morning... Last night, we walked to here and the water was just inside the frame of this picture.
You can see the water in the slough. On the other side of that little hump is probably a few feet down to the bank.
I was in tennis shoes not rubber boots otherwise I'd have gone closer to the slough to check it out.