Harold's Wooden Bike

Last summer C.O. built Harold a little wooden push bike.  He was a little to small to really get the hang of it.  But this summer, with the help of a hill/puddle combination, he got really good at maneuvering his bike. He can push himself along at a pretty good pace and, as you can see, balance for quite some distance.  Next step . . . pedals. 

--AnnMarie

Guns n Bikes

Brevig  . . . a great place to be a kid.  What young boy wouldn't want to carry his gun (yes it is real) while he rides his dirt bike.  Something tells me most suburban mom's wouldn't approve.

--AnnMarie

Disclaimer:  I really do love all my suburban mom friends, I just like pointing out the stark contrasts in cultures.  =)

Beautiful Brevig

Brevig welcomed us with some amazing weather.  Clear skies, warm weather (60 - 65) and just a slight breeze. It was a good thing too, since we were driving our 4-wheeler 70 miles back from Nome.  We had a gorgeous drive on the road and we were greeted with the most beautiful view of Brevig.  It is good to be home!

It might be nice in Brevig but I definitely wouldn't call it swimming weather.

On this particular day I was wearing a sweatshirt.  

The kids on the other hand were ready to take  a dip in the ocean.

Believe it or not there are jellies in our frigid waters.  

I assumed they would sting but apparently not.

What odd but lovely creatures.

The forgotten items of Brevig beach goers.

--AnnMarie

Back in Alaska

Most airports in America are very similar. They all have the same type of furniture, the same over priced food, the same people standing in lines. If they didn't tell you what city you were in when the plane landed you might not be able to tell by looking around.

Anchorage is different. I'm not sure what it is, but it might be the way that people dress.

C.O.

The New Do

It was time for a new do.  I have had the same hair style for 11 years running and decided it was time for a change.  I have been wanting to get my hair dyed red, I mean really red, for quite a few years now.  I was reluctant to do it during the time we were adopting Harold in case someone decided red, I mean really red, haired people weren't fit to raise children or something.  But now, the timing was just right.  

My inspiration was this hair was the above photo.  It was sported on Jennifer Garner as one of her get ups from the show Alias.  For those of you who didn't watch every single episode of Alias, she was basically an under cover secret agent girl working for a covert branch of the CIA.  She got to wear all kinds of really cool outfits and wigs on her undercover missions to save the world from disaster.  

The color didn't turn out exactly like the photo but pretty close and I love it!  It feels strangely normal and is tons of fun to have.  One lady said I reminded her of her Strawberry Shortcake doll from when she was a kid. 

I got my hair done at Hair Police in Minneapolis.  It was recommended to me as a place that specializes in bright & alternative hair colors.   It was the perfect!  I was very inspired by all the people that worked there who used their bodies as a creative medium.  So . . . . what do you think?

--AnnMarie

Dirt Bike Fun

On our way to Minneapolis to catch our plane back to Alaska, we planned a stop to see some friends in Cambridge, Minnesota.  The highlight of our stay was the chance to play around on some dirt bikes (having breakfast burritos at Taco John's was a close second, don't get me wrong Jeremie).  

Jeremie races motocross himself and is passing the fun on to his kids by teaching them how to ride at an early age.  Jeremie's boys (ages 5 & 3, I think) are already pretty good on these little bikes.  Harold was given the chance to take the little bike with training wheels for a spin.  He was a kind of nervous at first but once he got going he had a ton of fun.  Thanks Jer!

--AnnMarie