What a crazy, crazy couple of weeks. Last day of school, tears, packing, mailing, flying, reuniting, camping, family and fun have made up my last couple of weeks. I'll start from the last day of school and I'll work my way to now.... giving a little bit of details here and there!
The last day of school was a whole lot harder than I could've imagined. It was an early dismissal day and we got out at 1. I held it together really well all day. I made the kids a movie that was about 20 minutes long that had pictures from the entire year on it to music.... we watched that three different times and I managed to hold in my tears throughout those viewings, too. Considering that I cried while making it for months, that's a big deal. Then, around 12:55, I hit a wall and the tears started coming and they did not stop. I, however, blame my kids for that because two of my girls started crying first and then before you knew it, my whole entire classroom was silent except for the sniffling and the sobbing - myself included. I wrote each of them a note to end the year and so I gave them out with a hug on their way out the door. Those are some very, very special kids that I had and the tears that they cried and the hugs that I got going out the door for the very last time are the greatest gifts I'll probably ever receive. So thankful for them, more than they'll probably ever realize.
After the last day of school came lots of packing and cleaning. I think I wrote before about how I ended up with Bronchitis the last week of school which put me down and out for a few afternoons/evenings and then one whole day. Because of that, I didn't get my apartment or even my classroom done as fast as I would have liked. Thankfully, I have some great coworkers and friends that helped me pack up and clean my place. They also took my leftover food and stuff off my hands. I was supposed to fly to Dillingham on Sunday morning after working on Saturday, and then fly over to King Salmon and then down to Port Heiden either Sunday night or Monday morning - whichever they could do. Well, things changed and because I had one of the teachers' husbands flying me to DLG in his personal plane, he offered to take me in on Saturday night and I spent the night with LeEsia in one of the hotels in DLG. Macy, however, could not stay at the hotel so luckily for me and once again, thank goodness I had some great coworkers, she was able to stay with one of the teachers and her family who just moved to DLG that day. The whole traveling process really makes me realize how lucky I am to have the great friends in Alaska that I've made over the past 2 years. Anyways, the next morning after saying goodbye to LeEsia and trying not to cry, the Special Ed director in the district (you can add her to my list to be thankful for, too) took me to pick up Macy and then drove us out to the airport. We waited there for awhile and then we were off to King Salmon!
Once we landed in King Salmon, I was hoping that I'd be able to get down to Port Heiden and wouldn't have to find some place to stay and it all worked out better than I could have imagined because Kasie flew in to KS from a different village earlier that morning so I landed and before I knew it, she was at the airport!! Man, it was good to see her! As it always is. And it was good to be back in KS with her, too. We took a quick, quick run to the little store down the street to get some food and a soda and then headed back to the airport to wait for our flight down to PTH. I also got to see Caleb who's a friend from LPSD and Rick who works for LSPD. I love how everyone makes me feel so welcoming and how great everyone is. I know I seem to say that in every post but I don't think I can say it enough.... the people I've met during my time in Alaska are some of the best people I've ever met and I know that I'll remain in touch with most of those people for the rest of my life. Soon we were off to my first Alaskan home with my best friend! I couldn't of been happier to be headed back!
They still had school Monday and Tuesday and then a work day Wednesday but I was over hanging out in school with them and the kids and visiting. It was so good to be back in that school. It was a little different without the Mannings and Jeff there but I still loved it. Just made me miss them and think about what they're doing. It was great to see the kids and then Monday night was the school picnic for the end of the year. Lucky for me, it was postponed from the previous week so I got to be there with all of them down near North River. There was great food as usual and a bonfire while the kids played in the river next to us and dogs ran around. We didn't take Mox and Macy but I'm sure they would of loved it. They loved eachother.... they'd run around the house wrestling and since Macy was bigger, she'd bite him and get him on the ground and then he'd bite her lips and not let go. They had a great time and I'm certain that Macy misses her Mox and I do, too. While we were there, Macy accomplished a whole lot. She got to run around with Mox and two of the other dogs (the one teacher, Jerry, his two dogs are Bones and Spike) outside without being on a leash all week! She LOVED it and to tell you the truth, I did too. She was running around and exploring, chasing the birds and diving into the swampy areas. She did so good!
We went down to the beach a time or two and Macy dove right in the Bering Sea to follow some birds.... she loved it but it gave me a heart attack. She was swimming in the waves and I'm sure it was freezing. She took a few swims in North River the night we went camping, too. She eventually had to go on her leash because she was scaring me too much swimming against the tides and making it to the other side of the river. This puppy mom can't handle all that so she was eventually on the leash. Kasie, Derek, Jerry and I took all four dogs and went camping my last night in Port Heiden. It was a beautiful night and awesome to just hang out. It was the first time I'd been camping in so long.... I'm always wanting to camp but seems there's never anyone to camp with. I think I'm going to have to start making more of an effort to go, although it won't be nera as fun as camping along North River in Alaska. Macy did awesome sleeping in the tent with us and she seemed to enjoy the camping experience for the first time. Sometimes I think about how crazy it is that her and I are experiencing all of these awesome things. She's been in the Bering Sea, she's travelled across the country three times now, she's spent 4 days in a hotel room in Chicago, she's done so many things and I'm so glad that I've had all these experiences, too. Still seems unreal most of the time.
That morning Kasie and I got up with the dogs early and headed back to the house so I could do laundry and pack since we weren't entirely sure what time my plane would be coming. The guys stayed and fished for awhile before heading back. I really miss that place and each time I fly away from there, I leave a little piece of my heart. I loved living in Manokotak, too, and am beyond thankful for all of the amazing people in that village that made me feel at home and welcomed me in; Port Heiden has a special place being that it's the first place in Alaska that I called home. Each of my experiences in Alaska have taught me different things and given me different perspective on things but my first time in Alaska, in Port Heiden in particular, changed a whole lot for me and I owe that place a lot.
Well, back to my adventure. Macy and I ended up leaving PTH around 6:15 and got to KS an hour later, just in time for them to RUN Macy and my bag onto the plane and we made it for our 7:30 flight to Anchorage. I was thankful for that extra long day in PTH with Kasie, Derek and Mox but I could of done without the running and rushing to the plane. I landed in ANC and Lauren and Susana (the VPSO's wife and daughter and friends of mine who actually lived in PTH last year when I did, too. I unintentionally followed them to KMO ;)) picked us up and we were off to the hotel! We stayed in ANC from Friday night until Monday night/Early Tuesday morning when we flew home. While in ANC, we shopped and ate all the good food and drinks - enjoyed civilization basically. We took Macy to a park right on one of the side streets in Anchorage. It was nice, made you forget you were in the city and it was right along the water! We also took a drive out towards Girdwood/Alyeska (for those of you that have been with me since my first couple blog posts, Alyeska is the resort I stayed at when I first ventured up to Alaska with LPSD for meetings and stuff). It took about 45 minutes to an hour. That drive from Anchorage up there is rated one of the top 10 drives in the country.... it's gorgeous. Right on the water and mountains. Pure Alaska. However, because of the numerous wildfires in Alaska that are burning so fast, the smoke really clouded the view and the mountains were hard to see the entire time I was in town. It's a shame really, that the wildfires are spreading so quickly and that so many people and animals are being effected. If I'm correct, I think that the fires are about 2 hours from Anchorage, it just goes to show you how fast and how far the smoke can go. I was bummed that the view wasn't as it usually is but I'm grateful that I've gotten to do that drive before and that I've seen the most amazing views in Alaska. I felt terrible for the people that have waited for so long to get to Alaska and that was the week they were there, waiting to see the views and take in the sights that leave you breathless, because while that smoke was there, it wasn't the same at all. I was told that it got better the day after I left and I'm praying that the wildfires are soon put out and everything can start to repair.
Now, I've been home for a few days. I've been catching up on sleep and seeing some friends and family. We celebrated my moms birthday and I've made it to the races and took Macy for her first walk down to the river where she LOVES to swim. Her and I went out on the boat with my dad and Scott. It's been beautiful out - a lot hotter than I was ready for! Macy is adjusting and she's been working on playing outside without being on a leash like she did in Port Heiden.... she's been doing better. We're working on it.
So here on out you'll be bombarded with pictures. The pictures of Prom and Graduation that I've been promising and also from the last days of school until recently. So I apologize for that now..... : )
Graduation for the 10 Seniors and promotion for the Kindergarteners and the 8th graders!
Myself with Governor Parnell, Katrina, LeEsia, Kirk and Dana.... and Ryan in the background!
One of the last days with my kids. Love & miss this crazy crew. 
Deb, LeEsia and I at Prom. What would I have done without them this year? They helped me with so much! Both inside & outside of school and I'm very thankful for them both.
Prom: A night on the red carpet.... the gym turned out beautifully!!! We were pretty proud of it, haha.
Dancing the night away on the dance floor! Ryan did an awesome job hanging the lights!
Moxie & Macy in Port Heiden. They loved each other. Rare moment that they were laying together. Most of the time was spent wrestling around on the ground. I love this picture! 
Missed my roommates so much. It felt so good to be back in Port Heiden with them and staying in my room that they put back together for me!! Yes, the curtain and Christmas lights were even back up... they're too good to me!
My little fur nephew.... Mox!
School picnic meant that I got to see everyone again. Missed my PTH family!
Feeding my friends. Mox, Macy, Bones & Spike. Bones and Spike were one of the teachers, Jerry, dogs! Such sweet boys!
And Port Heiden never fails to amaze me. I'm back a day or two and there's already a momma bear and her two cubs out on the beach. They were pretty far out on a sand bar during this low tide. Along with these bears, I got to see a fox, a seal, so many eagles, sand hill cranes, etc. It was a great trip!
SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS LITTLE MAN! My little baby Tate that I used to steal out of his car seat every day after school last year is now up and walking. He is so sweet and smiley. AND I'm so glad that I got to catch up with his sweet parents, too.
Macy and I on the beach for Macy's first time. This was right before she dove right in to chase some birds and give her mom a heart attack. Crazy dog!
She LOVES birds and when she sees them, she's off and she forgets that she's supposed to listen. She was loving life, the birds, not so much!
My best friend and I back together. Someone said to us "The dynamic duo is back together". Made me smile!
<3 <3 <3
North River.... last time I saw this place, I was floating down it on Relda Jean with Kasie before we jumped in the ocean by accident, haha. Oh the memories!
Selfie with my girl!
So many eagles out and around and I finally have my good camera to capture some nicer pictures. Now I just need a zoom lens ; )
They love each other... and sticks.
No words!
She loves her Auntie Kasie. This is how the slept in the tent the entire night, haha.
You've got to have the storms to find the treasures. And this time we found another float with water in it. Only the 2nd one of those I've seen. Pretty fitting for my trip back.
Alright, Kasie, now we can make that 19 blog posts that I've done since you've done your last one. Time to get on it lady! You've got people (aka ME) waiting not so patiently. ; )
