My baby biker

Last night after dinner I had to go out and put the ATV's away (in the box) and Lily asked if she could come out. Generally this would be an easy yes but it was getting late as everything yesterday was about an hour and half later than normal due to my getting three geese and Margot shopping ($150 for two small bags of groceries!). So we head out around seven with my telling Lily it would only be for a few minutes. Well, next thing you know she has her bike out and riding around all by herself on our rocky, muddy roads and is having a great time! Then a few of her friends show up on there bikes and Dieter, my niehbor comes out with his son and it's a an arctic evening street party. There is snow shoveling, finish line rocks being laid out and bike races. We did not make it in for bath until 8:20 so it ended up being a late, but really fun night.

I ofter reflect on living in the north and the pros and cons of the choice Margot and I made coming up here. I am not going to list them here, but I have been feeling somewhat negative since returning with Beckett about the apparent danger of our little hamlet and the lack of a hospital to name a few cons. It is a scary thing to think about needing to be medivaced out and having one's flight grounded due to extreme weather, which is a common thing. However, there are some really cool things about having a young family up here. The kids are very friendly and include Lily in everything. We have kids over at our house for play all time. I have so much time with my family and I know many parents who don't get to say that. And I would say it is quality time, not just time spent driving around from place to place on the weekend. Well, it may be driving around, but we're on a snowmachine or ATV and lily is sitting in front of me as we sing and laugh and bounce about. We have a great time. I am trying very hard to focus on the good of being here versus the rose coloured glasses rememberings of the best places at the best times from our lives down south that cloud my judgement. The grass is not always greener. Life here can be a lot of fun.

-Richard

My goose is cooked... soon.

Well, summer fast approaches and I must admit, I am really excited about standing barefoot in cool, soft, damp grass and wiggling my toes! We are going to southern BC for most of the summer holidays (yes, the dogs too) and are looking forward to seeing the house and van we bought after Christmas that we have yet to see. My parents have been really great about helping keep an eye on it for us and getting it ready for our upcoming arrival. It is a 4 bedroom, 3 bath house near parks, downtown and Lily's mama and papa. The main floor is rented and we are setting up the basement suite as our summer place. I think it will work well. In preparation for having the kids sleeping together over the summer we re-arranged rooms at our place here in Kingait. Lily and Beckett now have the master suite with the walk-in closet and Margot and I have Beckett's old room and Lily's old room is now guest room/gym/storage. It has been going alright, but I know Margot is quite tired because Beckett is eating more frequently. He is getting huge! A few days ago he weighed in at 16 lbs 10 oz at 3.5 months old. He is wearing nine month suites. I will try to get a few photos of everyone posted in a few days.

It is light here pretty much all the time now and I am having a hard time with it. ATVS and snowmobiles racing around all night, people out and about at all hours and carver with power tools who started carving near us at 4:30 am make it very hard to sleep.

Things are warming up here quickly. The inlet is melting/breaking up fast and the snow has become very slushy. A couple of friends went out for a ride/hunt yesterday and I opted out due to my concerns over the thickness and stability of the ice. Luckily they made it home without incident.

I have been lucky hunting the last week or so and have gotten a few Canadian Geese. Yesterday I learned (thanks Internet!) how to pluck and singe geese so they end up looking like turkey one would buy from a store. Margot said she would be much more willing to handle and cook them looking like that which is nice. A month ago Margot made Walrus stew with the walrus I helped bring in on the flow edge during winter. She got nothing but compliments! It was actually pretty good and not too fishy tasting. I have not really enjoyed Walrus in the past.

Life is pretty good these days. Margot is home with the kids and I am still working. Lily goes to daycare in the mornings so she can play with her friends and most days, this allows Margot and Beckett to sleep in while Lily and I have breakfast, cuddle and watch the news, pack and head out to school. I pick Lily up from daycare at lunch and we head home. Margot has lunch waiting for us. We all eat together, chat, have coffee, then I head off to work while Margot gets the kids into nap mode, some days more successfully than others. Lily is in the process of not napping these days. By the time I am home from school Lily often has friends over or they are all out and about (shopping at the stores).

Work is alright but I will admit I am getting a bit burned out. The kids are extra hard right now with cheap candy for sale at the Northern and light all the time. They are either wired or completely exhausted if and when they bother to show up. Oh well. It's the end of the day and I am going to go goose hunting before dinner. Wish me luck.... or not if you don't like hunting!

-Richard