Kotz in Winter

There are lots of things Kotzebue is...and many it is not. But there certainly is one thing it isabove all else- WHITE!

Since the week before Halloween there has been snow on the ground. Now don't think there has been a constant light dusting. It has been piling up into HUGE piles all over town. I don't remember what was where in town before snow..I don't remember how wide the streets actually were, I don't remember which streets were the paved streets, I don't remember which piles were once piles of dirt and which are just giant piles of snow. The most glorious part of these large amounts of snow is that is is as white as the day it fell. There is not an ounce of brownish slush, or black snow from vehicles or melting. It has been of 32 degrees maybe a handful of days since October, and the low traffic volume is not enough to melt the snow on its own.

It is awesome.
And beautiful.

Skyler and Fiona on the lagoon making snow angels...

Here are some pictures from around town int he past few weeks...

The snow drift next to our house...That on the left is our neighbors roof...

Snow drift in the parking lot.

The Lagoon at sunset.

The road into our apartment complex, VERY skinny...normally wide.

Our front porch

Frozen SHUT!

Today it is a pretty cold February day. On the walk to school it was something around -33 or so. It was mostly caused from wind chill, but cold all the same. Then, by lunch it was snowing QUITE hard. By the end of the school day the after school activities were cancelled and everyone was to go right home after school- blizzard warning in effect until the morning.

So, with all this free time I had without coaching basketball we decdied to borrow a sno-go (snow mobile) and take a ride to the post office (such a treat! normally we have to walk!). On the way back from the post office the conditions were getting windier and snowier (I don't think those two adjectives are words...). We had three of us all together so two were on the sno-go while I rode in back on the basket sled (this is a sled that resembles a dog sled in shape but is made of wood and turned backwards and hooked up the back of snow machines). So, as I was sitting there, the snow was blowing into my face with great force. So, naturally I would close my eyes from time to time...

Well, by the time we stopped, my right eye was stuck shut. I just could not open it. No matter how hard to fought to open that eye-lid it would not.  It didn't hurt- it just wouldn't open. It was probably only stuck that way for about 2 minutes before I went inside to thaw it out. BUT MAN, that was wild!!

And there is the story of the day my eye froze shut. :)

First Grade Mumblings...part III

First Graders are the reason I like my job.

"That smart board ain't that smart, Ms. Ray. It always do the wrong thing."

Me: "Get your shirt out of your mouth, please."
Student: "Ms. Ray, shirts just taste SO good."

Me: "You really need to stop talking and jumping and playing army in the hallway, please."
Student: "Ms. Ray, I CAN"T CONTROL MYSELF!"

While coaching 1st and 2nd grade basketball...
Me: Ok. Husky Pups on 3..1, 2, 3...
Whole team minus 1: HUSKY PUPS!
Student: Ms. Ray, I didn't do the cheer.
me: Why is that?
Student: 'Cause I don't like huskies. I like Pirates!"

-After eating lunch in our classroom: "Ms. Ray, it stinks in here. You need to Febreeze this place."

We have a bunch of "Wild things" that fifth graders made after reading the story "Where the Wild Things are" in the library...."Ms. Ray. Those things are Chubacas (sp?...character from Star Wars..)
me: Actually, those are wild things from the book "Where the Wild Things Are..see, the story is right here..."
(moment of contemplation......) Student: No. You're wrong. they are chubacas.

student: "Ms. ray! You go paint on your shirt during art!"
me: "I know! Bummer, huh?"
student: "You need some clorox 2!"

student: "This looks like Boliva."
me: do you mean vanilla?
student: "what is boliva?"
me:"vanilla?"
student: "is boliva the white one?"
me: "yes. vanilla is white."
student: "what's the pink?"
me: "strawberry."
student: "oh. this pink paint looks like chabunny. YUM! Chabunny!"

student: "Ms. Ray, you're eating our party cupcakes."
me: Yes, I am. YUMMMM!"
student: how come i can't have one?
me: eat your lunch first.
student: ok. but ms. ray...are they good? do you like your own cooking right now?

me: alright first graders take a minute and think..do you want your dragon hat on your head or in your cubby? make a choice right now by the time I count to 10. Once you choose that dragon hat needs to stay where you put it and you may not play with it anymore until recess...because you guys are making ms. ray crazy with them."
student: well ms. ray, then you should not have let us make these....


:)