Thursday, March 22, 2007

The Race is On!

Spring time in Fairbanks means snow, sun and skiing. Hannah's first ski race was this evening, and she gave it her all during the 1K race against other kindergartners and first graders. Here she is (#14)with her pals Tjarn (#1 )and Megan (#3). Hannah was excited to wear a bib. Megan won the race followed by Tjarn in second place and Hannah with a very respectable 4th place. Hannah even got a small medal for 4th place.

Tonight's race is part of the last festivities for the Junior Nordics ski club. Since November, on Sunday afternoons Hannah had a ski lesson. I got to attend them also and we both learned a great deal. Just getting out and skiing every week was great.

Here is the starting line. Evelyn was all snug in her box on a sled wondering what was going on. During the last leg of the race, I could run along side the race course encouraging Hannah and dragging the baby sled behind me. Evelyn liked that part.









Hannah and Tjarn strategizing at the start?

What Hannah,Tjarn, and Megan like best about skiing is playing with each other and then going inside and having a snack. Skiing is secondary.

Since the race started at 6:45 pm little Miss Evelyn was up way past her bedtime. I feared a complete meltdown but we skedaddled home right after the 'award ceremony' and she was in bed by 8:15. Hannah practically fell asleep in the car. Robin missed all of the fun. He was out checking out a bottle collection that a local family was considering donating to the UA museum. Robin was helping the museum curator negotiate the donation. Poor Robin.


Sunday, March 18, 2007

Sisters


A stray picture of the Hannah and Evelyn.

Hannah's Kindergarten Science Project - late Feb. 2007



My science project at school explored magnetism. The main thing that I did, and had to demonstrate to two judges at school, was how to create a temporary magnet out of a nail. Simply, you have to run a nail 50-100 times across a real magnet. This lines up the atoms inside of the nail.







And ... the nail attracts a paper clip!











Here I am experimenting with magnetism through glass.




















Here's my finished poster in my school's gymnasium.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Mid-March 2007 - At the Ice Park



This is Evelyn's setup: a box taped to a sled, with a sleeping bag inside. She's snug and warm!














They have four really big ice slides this year - they're lots of fun!










Getting ready to go down one of the big slides.




















I met some new friends while here!















I'm super strong!