Iditarod

There are several things that happen before the start of the Iditarod, the world's famous dog sled race, and the "Last Great Race". Anchorage's winter festival, Fur Rondevous (Fur Rondy) takes place the week before the start of the Iditarod. There are many activities including: a parade, carnival, fireworks, and out-house races. Yes, you heard me...Alaskans have a thing with outhouses and made up a race with them. They name their outhouses, and maybe you can imagine some good names for them, my kids loved the names because they revolved around poop. My kids and saying poop, I didn't teach them that :) 

Way to many people around for what? Oh, the out houses races, that explains it. 

Katy, enjoying the out house race, or saying poop.

The parade, they need to throw more candy...I mean really it is freezing out here, we need some calorie intake.!

The band, the only band in the whole parade. Ok so the parades in Anchorage are pretty sad.

We watched the beginning of one of the Fur Rondy races.

Kids in the sled, trying to make it out in the forest where we can see the ceremonial start of the Iditarod. The "restart" takes place the following day in Willow, AK (~1.5 hours north of Anchorage). 

Yay! 

More mushers and more dogs

and closer to the dogs, the kids love it!

lets see if we can get closer to the mushers and their honorary passengers. (This is why it's ceremonial).

Say "Hi" to the dogs

A little closer to the mushers, Hi FIVES

And Konrad's done

Good-bye Iditaroders, good luck on your way to Nome, AK!
They winning team made it there in 9 days this year.

Here is a pic of last years carnival...um this year the ground was white. We didn't do anything with this, cause our kids are too young. It will be fun to take them on rides maybe next year.

We missed the "Running of the Reindeer" (Alaska's version of the "Running of the Bulls"). Pretty fun, not nearly as dangerous as the Spanish version.

We made it to the fireworks, but there were too many lights to get a good picture. They also released lanterns just like Rapunzel! (Which Katy of course loved)

That is it for this year's festivities, we will try to do more next year. We had a lot of fun!!

Spring

Google, in their obscure manner of reminding me of the day's important anniversary, has me questioning the truth behind today's Doodle. Is it true that today is the first day of Spring? If the Doodle says so, it must be.

Google's doodle for today (March 20, 2012) reminding us that today is the first day of Spring.

Yes, after looking at the calendar, it is officially spring. The birds are chirping, flowers blooming, buds bursting, popcorn popping...somewhere and I'm having a hard time believing that it is spring.

A view down the alley, I don't know if the snow will melt this year.

                                   

On a positive note, the icicles are  nearly touching the ground, which means something is melting.

Despite the well below average temperatures (hovering around 0 this morning, and up to 25 this afternon), the days are getting longer and the sun is shining a lot more. (Don't worry, we still like it up here, even if this winter has been really cold, wet and windy). All I can say is: bring it on spring! I have to move in 2 months, and I don't want to do it in the snow! 

Little Dog Sled Race

Before the Iditarod there are several little races. Some races the kids get to do too... so cute. We went to a short dog sled race at one of the parks in Anchorage. It was a good chance for the kids to see some dog racing without a huge crowd. Get ready  for Fur Rondy and the Iditarod are next!

Happy kids.

Here they come!

Konrad was distracted by all the little boys to go play with...but he still thought the dogs were cool. Katy made friends with another grandma, she is so good at wrapping grandparents around her little finger. It was fun to be social.

We made some good friends and made some new friends who also love the outdoors! We had a good time!

Snow Sculptures

Anchorage has a lot of fun stuff going on this time of year; like a carnival, dog races, Fur Rondy, Iditorod, and whatever else fun that Alaskans can think of. So this year our friends participated in one of the festivities, the snow carving contest. They were so very nice to invite us to come help. That week was crazy, I had  3 evenings of classes, a paper due and Kacy got the flu...crazy, crazy. It was a lot, a lot, a lot of work, for them, for me...well I think I might have made a little tiny dent. So credit me a skiff of snow please, because I would love to think I am that cool to make snow carved into a peace sign.

 These people pictured above, the Calls, well they are some of our bestest of friends. They also created that piece sign out of snow, freaken cool. Yes, we like to claim them. 

It starts out with a huge block of snow. This is the only pic I could find of the very beginning, this is after several hours/days.

 Look at our friends hard at work

ya, right there, I think I will make my dent right there.

A little bit more

My dent is done. Few, that was a lot of work. I only wish, but this is what it looks like finished. I am totally doing this next year, so watch out Brad and Kerri. But judging on the fact that you got 2nd place without even trying to compete, makes me think we will just be watching you guys. 

Cook Inlet Sunset

We don't get to see the sunset to often. When we do, they are awesome! We saw this sunset over the Cook Inlet, on one of our drives. This is all mud flats in the summer, and now it is covered in snow with washed up icebergs. The black line closest to the sunset is dirty icebergs, when you look out you see them all, but in a photo they look condensed into one black strip. So pretty, yet so unsafe to go out there.

Cook Inlet Sunset

Who broke the curtains!!!

I wonder who??