Heather's Graduation

Oh wait........this isn't Heather graduating. Just another visitor in the neighborhood saying, "Hey you, enough already graduate will you?!"



Heather and Megan ready and excited.

Oops this is out of order. Heather enjoying family before finally getting ready to go.

Kristin and Michael ready as ever........

Heather walking in......

What a smile, someone is very excited..........

Walking up to receive diploma......

Receiving diploma......

I have it Mom, I'm done with High School!

After the tossing of the caps........oh no, where's my liripoop? (that's for all of you Balderdash players out there!)

Megan, Heather, Nanna and I enjoying the moment..........

The only picture I have with "Michael Squared."

Heather with her hilarious Aunt Kristin.

Poppop and the girls........

Heather with her Dad.....

Steve, Heather and I.........

Some silly pictures to end the night..........it was just so funny but why?!!!

Probably because of the host of photographers!

What Heather Did Before Graduation

While most seniors got to enjoy the morning sleeping in and relaxing before graduation, Heather was participating in the Region 6 Championship track meet. It was gearing up to be a big weekend for her; Regionals, graduation and the after party as well as visiting family. Poppop and Jean had arrived early Thursday morning, and Nanna later on Thursday. While we were at the track meet, we were all anxiously awaiting Aunt Kristin's arrival as I had told her the wrong start time of the 3200 meter race. Would she make it in time (even after stopping to join Uncle Michael for scones and coffee somewhere near Nancy Lake?) Thankfully, she arrived in the nick of time to see Heather start. Here's Heather leading after two or three laps into the eight lap race.


Heather approaching the end and winning the race in 11:41, a personal best for her.

A happy winner, an aunt and the mom......

Heather as the 2009 3200-meter Regional Champ!

Meanwhile "Michael Squared" had arrived at 1110 Violet Drive and were prepping for a bicycle ride. More to come about graduation night in a later blog.......as I have everyone's photo's to go through!!!

The Girls Race in North Pole

This week, North Pole High School hosted the real first track meet of the season (guess last week was a mini-meet.) It was cold and windy both days and not much snow as melted since last weekend. On Friday, Megan participated in the 3200 meter run. Megan is in the middle of the picture, one of the Lathrop girls starting her watch.

Megan ended up placing 3rd in a time of 13:03.

On Saturday, Heather was the anchor for the 4X800 meter relay. Her team had given her quite a lead which was good as she was supposed to take it easy since she now as a cold. But of course, she took off flying and started lapping people. Here she is on her 1st lap.

and finishing her 1st lap....her split was either 2:29 or 2:30.

In between races, all were trying to keep warm. Megan and her friends have several blankets, one I got from Nanna via her friend Trizah. (Thanks!!!)

Megan starting the 1600 meter run.

Megan coming through on one of her laps.

Megan finishing......she had to sprint with the two West Valley girls for the finish. She did it!!! coming in 5th overall with a time of 5:51.

I had to leave the track early and missed the girls racing in the 4X400 meter relays. Heather was on Lathrop Team A which came in first while Megan was on Team B placing 2nd but may have been disqualifed. Next weekend the girls race in Palmer and than the following races through State will all be at the Lathrop track.

And Mom Didn't Know......

Well, today late morning I found out that yesterday Heather had signed her letter of intent with University of Alaska for cross country running/skiing. A nice article was published on the Sports section front page as well as a small photo of her skiing. Here's the article...........

Nanooks sign Lathrop's Edic
Staff Report
Published Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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FAIRBANKS — Heather Edic excelled as a runner and skier at Lathrop High School. She’ll try to do the same for the Alaska Nanooks.
Edic signed a National Letter of Intent as a running recruit for the Nanooks but also plans to Nordic ski there beginning this fall, the university announced on Tuesday.
“We expect her to develop into a solid contributor for years to come in both sports,” Nanooks coach Scott Jerome said in a press release.
Edic ran cross country for four years at LHS, and won the Region VI title her senior year as the Malemutes upset rival West Valley by one point. The next weekend, Edic placed sixth at the Alaska cross country state championships in Palmer.
Edic ranks third on Lathrop’s all-time list with a 5-kilometer time of 19 minutes, 12 seconds, trailing only Kelly Bradshaw (18:16) and Sarah Gish (18:34).
Edic also proved her ability on the ski trails, as she finished in a tie for first with West Valley’s Marisa Rorabaugh for the 2009 Region VI 7.5K title.
“Heather knows how to train in Fairbanks,” Jerome said. “For some people, coming here is like going to the moon, but for her it is not a big change. She knows what to expect and she knows how to succeed up here.”
Edic has been a member of the club FXC ski team since 2007 and has competed in skiing at the Junior Olympics and Arctic Winter Games.
She will study mechanical engineering at UAF.
Contact the News-Miner sports department at 459-7581.

And here's the photo....

Needless to say, even though I knew she was going to sign with UAF, I was still surprised that I didn't know when she would sign and that it would be published in the paper before Mom knew. (I know of some parents that have been surprised by daughters before!!)

So guess it's true sometimes Mom doesn't always know............

Track in Interior Alaska

Today was the first "mini" track meet for Region 6 which means that not all events were run or "fielded". Both the West Valley and Lathrop track infields are still covered by at least one foot of snow. In general, our track season in Interior Alaska is so short compared to the Lower 48 and even to Anchorage as ANC has a dome available. As Heather says, here you "race" into shape. Though today was sunny it was still quite chilly; when Megan's first race started it was 37 degrees.

Remember the trampoline and the girls from last week's blog? Well, Heather ended up spraining her ankle so she still isn't running yet. So it's all about Megan.........

Here's a few pictures of Megan running the 1600 meters. She ended up coming in 4th with a time of 5:52 (I think.)

Megan also ran the 800 meter as well.

Megan came in 3rd with a time of 2:36.

Megan did well for her first High School Track meet. Perhaps next week, Heather will be joining her and maybe just maybe more of the infield snow will be gone.

Easter in Fairbanks

Every Easter for the past few years, my friend Cathy and I with our children go to Two Rivers Lodge for Easter Day brunch. Even though it was the morning after Prom night, the girls wanted to go as long as Two Rivers had their chocolate fountain. Of course I forgot to take pictures until we were almost ready to leave. (I was promised Prom pictures from the girls so hopefully I'll have some soon for another blog entry.)





This time of year in Fairbanks can be absolutely beautiful and bright with all of the snow and the 14 hours plus of daylight! Easter Day was just wonderful; clear sky and lots of sun. Later that afternoon with the sun shining directly on our deck, the thermometer reached 90 degrees. Cathy and I were sitting on the deck for a while in short sleeves and it felt so wonderful even if we were getting dripped on from snow melt coming over the gutter from being full of leaves. My proof of 90 degrees....of course it helps if the thermometer is in direct sunlight!



Later that evening, we were invited to the Buetow's for dinner.

Crazy Alaskan girls in barefeet cross the snow to get to the trampoline!

USSA Distance Nationals - Skiathlon/Pursuit

Today's (Mar 27) race for the women was a 15km skiathlon/pursuit race. The women did 7.5km of classic and 7.5km of freestyle. Below begins the mass start, they had to double pole almost to the end of the entire stadium area. After 2 laps (7.5km) of classic they went through the stadium exchange area and switched to their skate skiis. From where I was positioned, it appeared Heather had no issues with her transitioning. Most of the women wearing red ski suits are from the US Ski Team (USST.) Kikkan Randall (USST and from ANC) is wearing Bib #2. Elizabeth Stephen (USST) is wearing Bib #1 and won the race. Becca Rorabaugh our local skier trying to qualify for the Olympics is wearing Bib #17. Heather is towards the back and can't be seen in this photo.


Heather on her first classic lap coming around a downhill corner. When asked why she was wearing a top and bottom from different suits, she replied, "I like my Team Alaska top better and Pete our FXC coach wants us to represent FXC." So there you have it.......

Some of you may be getting bored of skiing pictures but some of my followers (Jill, Kristin, Michael) might enjoy seeing pictures of the top skiers in the country. Here's Kikkan leading the lead pack towards the end of the 1st lap.

The 2nd pack of skiiers coming by.

and then Heather's pack.......

Heather flying around another corner.

Here's a string of photos of Heather coming up what is called fondly "The Wall" on the freestyle course. This is a massive hill -- world class hill that will either put you ahead of the others or will "eat you up" making you fall farther and farther behind. The women did this twice while the men had to do "The Wall" four times during their race! Heather looked so strong going up this world class competition hill on both laps.

Heather finishing her race.

Yeah it's over!

Heather had a great strong race and placed 24th overall. She also came in ahead of all of the J1 girls that were on Team Alaska in Truckee earlier this month. She was extremely happy with her race and has decided to sign with the University of Alaska Fairbanks ski team. Kikkan Randall came in 3rd and Becca Rorabaugh 8th.

For full results go to..

http://www.ussadistancenationals.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=38


After 15km of hard racing, here's what happens. "Yeah, I am done but oh my....

...back hurts so much, right here."

Heather caught talking with Becca about it.......

The men's race was 30km, 4 laps of classic and 4 laps of freestyle. Ivan Babikov (Bib #101) ended up coming in 1st with a significant lead but because he is from the Canadian National Ski Team, he can't medal as this is a USSA National Championship race. The USST team is in red. Leif Zimmerman (Bib #105) won the race and is now the 2009 National Pursuit Champion.