Christmas Break Recap

Hello everyone!  Long time no bother :)

Here's how getting out of Tununak and headed home worked:

Dec 19 - First weather hold at noon, we were supposed to fly out at 1:30...definitely did NOT happen!

Dec 20 - Continuous weather hold, no one got out.  I made calls to reroute my planes and wasn't going to be able to get to Chicago till Christmas Eve.  Needless to say I was in tears...

Dec 21 - Got a call from Bessie (ERA agent in Bethel) telling us that if we could get to Toksook we would be able to get on a plane there and fly to Bethel.  So seven people and all their luggage hopped onto two sleds pulled by two snow-goes (snowmobiles) and started the long journey to Tooksook...6 miles straight over the hill but almost double that going around...guess which one we took?  

Yup yup, the long-frozen-bumpy-crazy trip around the hill.  I am pretty sure I messed up my tail bone and lost some cartilage in my knee, BUT BOY OH BOY WAS IT FUN!!! :D

Landed in Bethel around 1pm, bought a ticket on an earlier flight than I already had and flew out of Bethel to Anchorage at 4:30pm.  Luckily too!  Because the runway lights went out right after we took off and no one was able to get out for another two days!

Got into Anchorage, immediately got myself a burger and a beer, and flew into Seattle around 2am.  I was home by noon on Dec 22, I am sooo greatful!

Was able to visit family in Traverse City, my closest and very bestest sprinkle, family in Chicago, and Florida.  I even got to see the Capitol One Bowl in Orlando!!!  Yipee Badgers :)  They lost but it was still super fun!

Gosh I missed home!

The snow finally comes...bad timing!

Two days in a row, flights are canceled out of Tununak...visits to Denver, most of Michigan, and Wisconsin are out.  ON top of that I experienced some shadiness that is going to make next semester not so pleasant.

Oh well, at least I wasn't flying in unsafe conditions, that's a positive.  I have  booked flights from Bethel to Chicago the 22-24th as long as I can get to Bethel on the 21st...here's to hoping :)

Ahhhhh!!!!

This week has been very rough...I've got a few students that just won't try...its not even a "I don't get it" issue...its a "They won't even try"...

I find myself feeling pretty useless because I cannot get them motivated at all.  Ive sugarcoated, Ive dangled carrots, and I've given them reality statements...what do I do?!?!

Gosh I need this break, hopefully next week will be better.

How is it that Alaska has warmer weather than almost everywhere else in the US...well at least the cities my family are living in lol

Rough Week..

This week has been pretty rough...I think its a combination of MAPS testing and Christmas break almost being here...also the fact that I am out of peanut butter thats really the bad part haha

Anywho, Im attaching pictures of a fun day.  My 7th graders are working with the 3rd graders on a Christmas assembly song, one they already know, and I have been so proud of them watching them teach the little ones and taking bride in that task :)

Thanksgiving in Nightmute

I went to Thanksgiving in Nightmute...4 whole days of Settlers of Catan and Harry Potter.  Nightmute was beautiful, there is a wrap around boardwalk that is built into the side of a hill that has houses and stores on either side...well one store.  There is a beautiful natural spring that comes out of the hill and is deposited into little well that the villagers get fresh water from...no sanitation needed or anything. 

I am missing my friends and family in the lower 48 more and more these days.  I love my students, but Christmas break cannot come soon enough!  Here is my  break schedule, email me if you can visit :)

Dec 20 - Denver
Dec 21 - Wisconsin/Marquette
Dec 22 - Marquette
Dec 23-26 - TC
Dec 27 - Chicago
Dec 28-Jan 2 - Jacksonville, FL
Jan 2/3 - Chicago

Jan 4 - Anchorage

Videos from Tununak

Its how I get home every day :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIutHpPFyFs&feature=youtu.be

Here's what happens when 10-12ft swells hit Tununak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agiTNkdUtgQ&feature=youtu.be

Fire Safety Week with Mommy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKlIJLUGFUA&feature=youtu.be

Mommy doing Wii Dance to the Dirty Dancing Song :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDFLw-rng-4&feature=youtu.be

Mommy and I doing Eskimo Dancing, we are waaaay in the back

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8nB52TBPsQ&feature=youtu.be