Tundra Flowers in Bloom

~AnnMarie

Guatemala the Return: Part 2

I hopping in and out of current and past experiences in blog land here, it makes me feel like a fancy best selling author or something. Anyway, we spent the first two weeks of our Guatemala trip in Antigua studying Spanish. The final week we spent aboard, "Las Sirenas", a 40 foot catamaran sailboat.

"Las Sirenas" from the land

On deck of "Las Sirenas"

We cruised for a couple days on the Rio Dulce River followed by some time on the Belize Barrier Reef and Islands. Along the reef was where Harold and I first experienced snorkeling, C.O. having previous experience on a family trip to Hawaii. It took a little while to get Harold to warm up to the whole experience, but once he figured out what to do we could hardly drag him out of the water.

Our time aboard the boat wasn't perfect, we were a bit sea sick, terribly hot, at one point I had an allergic reaction to conch and C.O. accidentally touched a fish that made it feel like shards of glass were stuck in his hand. But we survived and lived to tell of another adventure. 

~AnnMarie

Iceland or Brevig Mission?

This music video reminds me so much of the Seward Peninsula. Filming actually took place in Iceland but it could easily be Brevig Mission. It captures the rugged beauty of the land and how amazing it is to be a kid in a place like this.

~AnnMarie

Guatemala: The Return

It's hard to believe it was two months ago that we returned from our trip to Guatemala. None the less, I want to share a bit from our time there.

Instead of staying with a family this time around, we opted to rent an apartment. We are so glad we did, it was great to have our own place and it was adorable!

Then there was also a huge backyard with ancient ruins for a backdrop.

Just like two years ago, we took four hours of Spanish classes in the mornings and used the afternoons to tour the area. Each of us had our own language teacher, even Harold who had the best time of all. His teacher took him around town and to her home to play with her grandkids. He went to the circus, the market, on chicken buses, on tuk-tuks and to a McDonald's birthday party complete with pinatas. What an awesome way to learn a language!

We also celebrated C.O.'s birthday during our first week of class. It was very special and great fun. The director bought him a cake and all the teachers sang him multiple verses of "Feliz Cumpleaños". Just when he would go to blow out the candles, they'd start singing again. Much giggling ensued.

Being our third time in Antigua, we know our way around pretty well and even know a few people around town. It's an entirely different travel experience to return to a place you've come to know fairly well.

~AnnMarie

His Water Skiing Debut

Harold turned out to be a water skiing natural. It probably helped that he was coached by a couple of experts, his dad and Grandpa Mac. They began by pulling the ski rope and running along the shore to help him get the feel for getting up on the water.



It took a few tries but . . .



in no time he was skimming along the surface.



Once he was able to get the skis up along the shore, he graduated to being pulled by the boat. Up he went on his very first try. What a kid.





~AnnMarie

Mud On My Face; Back To Bush Alaska

Greeted many familiar faces at the Anchorage and Nome airport.
Drove 70 miles by 4-wheeler through dreary, drizzly weather.


Overloaded a boat with that 4-wheeler, a trailer, luggage and 7 souls as we motored across the bay.
Drove into Brevig Mission about 9:30 p.m.


Invited over to a friend's for a late dinner, "We'll be right over, just let us wash the mud off our faces."


Hugs, hugs and more hugs from the kids we saw around town.
Had friends from Nome stay the night our first day back in town.


Ahhh, we're happy to be home.


*Rudstrom Family Blog to resume regular updates, hope you all didn't give up on us.

~AnnMarie

The Next Step

Well, the only logical thing to get after cross country skis are water skis. These were the last pair Harold's size at L&M the other day. We can't wait to get him behind the boat but for now the lakes in Minnesota are still pretty cold.

Side Note: We will be leaving for Guatemala on Saturday and will be returning in three weeks. We plan to leave our computers in Minnesota and will not be blogging or in contact via e-mail or facebook. We’ll post a bit about our trip when we get back. Adios mis amigos!

~AnnMarie 

One Big Small Town -- Love is All Around

There’s about 600,000 people in Alaska and over the past nine years, we have gotten to know quite a few of these people. No matter where we go throughout the state and beyond, we run into people we know making Alaska feel like one (big) small town. 

We left Brevig on Saturday night in pursuit of summer vacation and once again drove our 4-wheeler the 80 miles into Nome. There we met my brother John and good friend and college roommate Mollie for dinner at Airport Pizza.

The restaurant in Nome and the flight to Anchorage was filled with friends and acquaintances. During the flight, Harold drew a picture and delivered it to his Uncle John. Our friends a few rows back let Harold play games on their iPad. From Anchorage to Seattle we sat across from the kindergarten teacher in Teller. From Seattle to Minneapolis we sat in front of Dana, my roommate my first year in Brevig. These stories are not uncommon as we travel within and out of Alaska.

All that just to say, we live in a unique place, have come to know and love the people around us. We have even convinced some loved ones from our past life to join us on this crazy adventure. I just realized Harold is growing up thinking that knowing half the people in the restaurant and on the airplane is normal, but it’s just not for most people. But in our small (big) town love is all around.

~AnnMarie

Harold's Preschool Graduation

 

Tonight we celebrated Harold's graduation from the Head Start program in Brevig Mission. Harold has learned so much at school this year: academically, behaviorally and socially. We are very thankful for his teachers and all the hard work they put into his class throughout this school year.

Harold is technically not old enough to enter kindergarten next year but since he has passed all of the academic standards associated with preschool and has done quite well on his state tests, he has been exited from the program. One of two things will happen next school year, he will either enter kindergarten early (with his mom as his teacher) or he'll begin his first year of mechanic's apprenticeship schooling at Rudstrom Repair (his dad being the instructor). The paperwork for early entrance into kindergarten hasn't been officially approved and won't be looked at until Fall. He's definitely ready so we're hoping that everything will work out in that respect.

I shot a little footage as the graduates were taking the stage. Harold's the sixth one in line, acting shy as he buries his chin into his chest.

Head Start Graduation 2011 from AnnMarie Rudstrom on Vimeo.

Cute, cute, cuteness.

I Blinked and Nine Years Went By

My very first group of students graduated from high school this evening. I had them as fourth grade students in 2002 as a first year teacher back when I didn't really know what I was doing. Those were tough days of immense growing pains. But it turns out, they survived, thrived and made it through . . . and so did I.

~AnnMarie

A Beautiful Day For Kupshuk(ing)

Many Thanks

The principal at Brevig Mission School, Robin Gray, has been with us for six years now. Next fall she will be moving on to her next job in education working as a director of special education in another part of the state.

Because of her years of service and the positive impact she has had on the school and students, we wanted to say, "thanks" with a surprise party.

For the past month or so, the ladies on staff have been working together to make a t-shirt quilt for Robin using various Brevig Mission School t-shirts. 

We think it will be a wonderful way for her to remember her time here in Brevig Mission.

She was also given some beaded earrings, a sweatshirt picturing dry fish and an angel wall hanging made of seal skin. All ring with the culture and talent of Brevig Mission.

We all wish you the best in the future Robin!

Happy Graduation! (aka Mother's Day)

Harold woke up this morning and yelled, "Happy Graduation Mom!!!!!!"  He has his special occasions a little mixed up but he sure is exuberant about the whole thing. 

He also informed me that he loves me thiiiiiiis much.

So I say, Happy Graduation to all you mother's out there.

Ptarmigan Hunting

Harold and I decided to go ptarmigan hunting.  But first we needed to put a new chain and sprocket on his snowmobile.  Here he is tightening the bolts on the exhaust.

When we finished working on the machine we went out cruising on the tundra and shot one bird. 

C.O.

Gus Brown

I traveled to the village of St. Michael recently.  While I was there I borrowed a friends ATV and went out exploring.  Out on the tundra near the edge of town I spotted this marble monument. 

I don't know anything about Gus Brown but I do know a little bit about St Michael's history.  Back in the gold rush days (around 1900) St Michael Alaska was a busy town with as many as 10,000 people.  Prospectors coming up to Alaska to look for gold would take a sailing ship up from the west coast of the USA, then to travel into the interior of Alaska they would get on a paddle wheel type steamboat and head up the Yukon river.  St Michael was the place where everyone changed boats.   It has a natural harbour to provide protection from the ocean and it is close to the mouth of the Yukon.

C.O.

Happy Easter!

Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, 

but in every leaf in spring-time. ~Martin Luther

 

Just the Highlights

I normally don't like to do a multi-topic blog posts but life has just been that way lately. A little of this and a little of that has made for some pretty full days.

More Handwork

I finished the hat and mitten set I have been working on for Harold. I thought they turned out pretty sharp looking. He has to grow into the mitts but at the rate he's going . . .

A New Addition

My coworkers, Steve and Angie, adopted a beautiful little girl from here in Brevig Mission. Some of the ladies from work threw a shower for her over the weekend. We are very happy for them and their baby girl.

Johnny's Musical Debut

As you may or may not know my brother John has quite the musical talent. Lately he's been writing some of his own music and recently made a recording of his work. Last week his first album, "Movin' On" which includes traditional and original music was released on iTunes. He's got a Bluegrass/ New Grass kind of sound. I think it's great but I'm a bit biased. Why don't you go ahead and get your own copy and see what you think. Psst!--> Click here to purchase.

Summer Plans

Summer plans are shaping up nicely. Plane tickets are purchased, reservations are made and our calendar is filling up. We will be in Minnesota the last week of May, then on to Guatemala for three weeks and back to Side Lake for July and part of August. We are looking forward to our journey and the chance to see our Minnesota friends and family again.

A Touch of Spring

Our Full Circle Farm produce boxes had daffodils for sale last week. Without hesitation, I added them to our box and enjoyed their cheery little faces for a while.

The Whole Hog

 

And last but certainly not least, we bought a hog . . . the whole hog. We've had a hankerin' for some tasty pork products around here. We finally took the leap and ordered the "Whole Hog Pack" from Mat-Valley Meats. I think we have enough to last us for a while now. 

What's the news in your life dear readers? We'd love to hear from you.

~AnnMarie