Paige and Cody Got Hitched!

This weekend I went to Paige and Cody's wedding, which took place at the Ice Hotel at Chena Hot Springs. This was my first ever themed wedding, and everyone was to wear retro ski gear. Of course, I guess it was my first ever wedding in an ice hotel as well, so there were multiple firsts. I got my outift on eBay for $9.99, of course the shipping to Alaska pretty much doubles the cost, but that is beside the point.

Paige had our friend Carrie convert a white ski suit into a wedding dress for the big day...

The cermony only took a few short minutes, and then everyone bellied up to the ice bar to enjoy appletinis served in ice glasses.


Here I am with the groom, Cody...



Here's a shot with the girls...


From left to right, Lisa, myself, and Dianna. Dianna definitely got the award for the best 80s hair!


I'm sure that none of us will ever attend another wedding like that one. Too bad. It was a blast!

Busy busy busy

Since my last update, things have been super busy! I went to a baby shower for my friend Georgina, babysat for Elias a couple of times, participated in yet another ski race, went to Florida for the 2008 Ocean Sciences meeting, got stuck in a snow storm, visited family in Indiana, almost missed my plane, returned to Alaska, got sick, and then topping it all off, Georgina had a new baby girl. Whew! It makes me tired again just thinking about it.

Here are some pictures from along the way. It seems all of the pictures are of kids, not sure how that happened. I think it's just because everyone around me seems to have them now, and they're all so darn cute!

I met Nettie for the first time...


...played Memory with the kids...


...found out that kids love taking pillows off of the couch and putting them in the middle of the living room floor no matter if they're in Alaska...


...or Indiana...


...and last but not least, little Julia Margaret, five days old.

Tanana River Rally

Another ski race took place, this time on the Tanana River with warm (+20 degree) temperatures and lots o' people, forty racers to be precise (not everyone is pictured here).


I spent more time taking pictures of people than skiing, so I didn't finish the course, but everyone else did. Somehow I have become the official photographer, which is fun, but one of these days I'm going to have to put down the camera and finish a race. As I believe I've said before, for every drink you have on the trail, you get minutes subtracted from your time. This is rather hard to manage while you're skiing but Melissa demonstrates here:


It is for this reason that I decided to make a homemade beer helmet so that I could have a beer (or two) and still be able to move on down the trail.


Little did I know that as soon as I sucked on one of the tubes, I would start a siphon essentially turning my beer helmet into a beer bong. Who knew these things could be so complicated? Don't worry though, I quickly learned how to combat the siphoning and make it into a practical, useful $3 item, and I'll have another chance to use it this coming weekend at our last race of the season.

After the race, we had our traditional pot luck with lots of good food and good friends.

Susie's Diner

Mette, Max, Kieran, and I went to eat at Susie's Diner (aka Andy and Sue's house) one night.


This was to be the scene of Kieran and Lola's first date. Somehow they failed to really notice each other. Maybe they just felt shy? Kieran showed off his dad Max's perfect swaddle...


and Lola showed off her beautiful smile, but somehow they never quite managed to lock eyes.


Maybe they need another month. Thanks Andy and Sue! We had a great time!

Yukon Quest

Saturday afternoon was not only filled with cold temperatures, but it was also filled with excitement. Yes, it would take more than -30 below temps to keep Fairbanksans inside while the Yukon Quest was starting on the Chena River. Hundreds of people braved the cold to cheer on the 24 dog mushers who began their 1,000 mile adventure to Whitehorse.

Bill Cotter's dogs were dressed in blue (except for those two in black coats up front)...


Paul Geoffrion was dressed for the weather...


Lance Mackey won both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod last year and is looking to defend his title...


People were lined up along the starting chute...


and all of the way down the Chena River to cheer on the mushers!!


Here they come!!