Grandmas are great, but Grandmas who knit are AWESOME!

My children are very fortunate in that they have a wonderful grandma who never fails to remember birthdays, Christmases, Easter and even second-rate holidays such as Valentine's Day. She sends cards, packages and lots of love. It sure is good to know that someone under this Great Blue Sky cares about us.

So the other day we received a package full of knitted goodies for Small Fish. Here she is modeling the luscious bathrobe, and the exquisite hoodie / pant set Grandma made, and having fun while doing it. More pictures to come of the other wonderful items. Thank you grandma, we love you!
and, here it is....the tulip skirt, snapped by Mommy finally for the blog update:

"I want to lick it!"

Location: North Pole, Alaska, 16 mi South of Fairbanks. Population 2200. Home of world famous Santa Claus House, and 44 candy cane light poles.

(and a McDonald's, a Wendy's, a Subway, a Taco Bell, and a Pizza Hut. I guess even elves need to eat...fast!)

It is a place of wonderment for all. Small Moose can hardly take the sight of the huge candy cane light poles. "I want to lick it!" he exclaims, reaching for one. Cute.

OK, so this happened years ago, when he was two. But we always think of him when we drive through town. Like we did the other day, following a fun filled trip to Birch Lake. To us, North Pole will always be the place of lick-able light poles.


(Winter scence. Source: oregonlive.com)

Small Moose, Big Brother

Small Moose: "Mom, I'm building a house out of pillows!"

Me: "How fun! Will you let Small Fish in? Look she's knocking!"

SM: "She can never come in. It's MY house."

Me: "But she is your baby sister and you always have to protect her."

[This must be a good opportunity to teach a life lesson somehow....Great! I got it!]

"What if there is a snowstorm and she's freezing outside?"

SM: [rolling his eyes, and with a self-evident tone]
"It's a RAIN storm!...... AND she has an umbrella!"

Me: (sigh) "I stand corrected."

Small Moose turned 5 two weeks ago :)

The Subtleties of Living in Alaska

Eight signs that you live in Alaska (probably not mentioned in your travel guide):

1. You realize that virtually every home you visit has multiple thermometers, placed strategically outdoors so they are visible from most rooms in the house.

Part II of this observation: talk of the weather is a real topic of interest, as opposed to empty space / awkward silence filler.

2. You find yourself in a heated debate about the current temp when you drive around during the winter months, and get a dozen different readings from the many digital clock-thermometer signs businesses put up outdoors. And by the way, over time you get to know all of them, and know which ones are most accurate.

3. You don't see your neighbors at all for 9 months of the year, but when they emerge for summer, they spend the entire season weatherizing the house for next winter.

4. Children -even preschoolers- are marched outside for fresh air or recess up to -20F (approx.-30C) daily.

5. You find yourself hoarding winter gear for every member of the family. Over time, you accumulate enough boots, coats, face masks, hats, scarves, mittens, snowsuits and pants to put an REI store to shame.

6. You call winter jackets "parkas."

7. Your new mantra: "Duct tape fixes everything." In fact, you may even own a parka so old, it is held together with duct tape in several spots, but you won't throw it away "just in case" (see point 5).

8. You find a moose tooth in your car during cleaning.

The Moose Molar: or, when you know you're Alaskan

So the other day, while picking up in the far back row of our vehicle, the one I rarely dare venture into, and clean even less, and never without steadying my heart first (I never know what horrors await) this is what I found. A moose tooth. Which is not the worst thing I've found in my car, not by a long shot.

Not too bad, I thought. At least the skull wasn't still attached. Big Fish found it by the river the other day, but I didn't know she kept it.....in the car.

And then, it hit me: Big Fish really is interested in wildlife, and maybe she will be a vet after all. Furthermore, I felt Alaskan. For a brief moment, it was so tangible. Because life is mundane most days. Wherever you live, there you are. Living in Alaska can be exotic, but those moments seldom reveal themselves. Yet, this moment for me, was one of those. Usually I find notebook pages, drawings, pencils or remnants of nacho chips under the seats. And now, moose molar in back of car.... I checked it off on the list.