Parties All Around

Daylight in Fairbanks is starting to fade quickly; today, there are only 6 hours and 8 minutes of daylight. Julia is trying to adjust and get outside to ski whenever she can. She's seen some incredible sunrises and sunsets, and of course, the Northern Lights are on display. Just one more week before she comes home on November 23. 

On the home front, Steven hosted a college football party for coworkers, family, and friends. Lisa and I stopped by for a little while. He didn't get home until 2 am (crazy since he left our house at 9:30 am the previous day!). He's an amazing event planner—definitely enough food—maybe this could be his retirement gig.

Kathryn turned 21! Check out the ice luge for her party. 

Mom shared some great pictures as she continues to travel (Mount Fuji, oyster farm, pictured with apprentice geishas called maikos). 

Sporty Weekend

Julia went cross-country skiing with Megan and Victor and then got lunch. Check out the polar bear in the gym at UAF. She's also found some new friends to jam with on the piano.

We went with the Sarrges to a football game: West Virginia University vs. University of Colorado Boulder. So much school spirit and fun--unfortunately, Boulder didn't win, but the fans were friendly. The game highlight for me was singing John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads, at the end. The big win for the day was meeting a WVU agriculture professor who owns a cattle ranch and agreed to sell me half of a cow. YAY!

Take a look at some of Mom's pictures; she's having a wonderful time. 

Halloween Weekend

Julia and Megan, her roommate and friend, took pictures in front of the UAF sign. Megan passed her defense last week and is now a PhD working at UAF. For Halloween, they went to a bar with Edward and Frank. The boys dressed up as Kung Fu Panda. They also went to a ski swap, and she got some snowshoes. Also shown is her treadmill. 

On the home front, we went trick-or-treating with my friend Magda and her kids. They were dressed up like the Bluey family. On Saturday, we saw Zoey's Perfect Wedding with the Sarrges--very entertaining. And--news flash--Mom has arrived in Seoul! It looks beautiful.

Last Week of Family Time

Julia returned from the UK for a final week in DC before heading back to Fairbanks (see picture of what she returned to—snow!). We had visits with her sister Emma and boyfriend Michael, Meme and the Sarrges, and Cecily. We cheered Ethan at the start of the Bellringer cancer fundraising event — a 25-mile ride! Julia helped with a puzzle (from Emma), which I sadly completed after she left. But, she'll be back for Thanksgiving. :)