Mushing kiddos

While Max was skiing Anchorage's big "Tour" race, Rachel, Kieran and I were at the dog races...Anchorage had the Iditard start over the weekend but Fairbanks had the Junior North American Mushing Championships. The kids ranged in age from about 2 1/2 to 10 years - with so little weight to pull, the dogs really make quick work of the course. At the start it takes a team of adults to keep the dogs at the line, keep the kid on the sled, and keep one finger on the timing clock. When the timer says "Go!" all hands release and the dogs take off with the kiddo hanging on for dear life. Very exciting! This dog on the right (below) spent its entire wait at the line airborne, too excited to stand still.


And they're off! Most of the kids immediately duck down behind the sled to get out of the chilly wind. This little girl was from Anchorage. Where else do you find city girls doing this for fun?

Here's a 3-dog team. That's a lot of dog power attached to a little person! I've never been hooked up to more than 2 at a time. This must be a huge thrill for the riders!

Kieran had another fun day outdoors. He's very tuned in to airplanes and can hear them coming from miles away. Here he's pointing to where the plane is. Where is the airplane? "Up!" He was hanging out, exploring, watching the dogs...and being a major distraction. There was a busload of Japanese tourists at the race taking a break from their aurora watching to see some locals doing what the locals do. Well, they thought Kieran was the cat's pajamas. We were approached by nearly all the Japanese ladies asking if they could take his picture. Could they get into the picture with him? "How old?" "Live here?" "His name?" "So cute!" His face is going to be all over Japan's facebook pages ;) What a popular guy.

He got his first close-up look at a Sno-cat. I think he's going to be as much of a fan as his daddy is. Fun day at the races...who needs the Iditarod?

Hanging out at home just being cute. No wonder Japanese ladies can't stay away :)

Meeting little Sam Flynn

Last Sunday we drove south to Delta Junction to meet the newest baby in the "family"...little Sam Flynn, 1 week old. We have a habit of inviting ourselves to dinner whenever Ellie and Jeff bring home a new baby - a nice tradition that we're happy to uphold (and so are they apparently). Besides, we certainly didn't want Sam to think we weren't as excited about his arrival as we were for older brother Wyatt! Sam is a mellow and sweet little guy, alert, social and not averse to getting handed around a crowd. And look at that face! He's a beauty. Mom is looking great too. Nice work Ellie!

The big boys had a nice time together. Wyatt is going to make a terrific older brother.

Kieran was pretty excited about Wyatt's squishy ball. Feels funny!

It bounces when you hit it! Bang bang bang.

So hard to remember the newborn size...was Kieran really this small??

The boys. Kieran was fine letting his daddy hold Sam...he wasn't so happy to share mommy's lap though.

Rachel had everyone's attention when she opened her bag of oatmeal cookies. Kieran didn't know he should want one until Wyatt showed him that cookies are something you should want. Showing the little guys the ropes...an excellent big brother trait!

Max looking like an old pro. 2 kids? No problem! Thanks Ellie, Jeff and Wyatt for letting us come and meet your beautiful new baby and brother...welcome Sam!

Back home with Kieran and his surprisingly sturdy balloon. It's a seat, a pillow, something to roll on...they sure make balloons tougher than they used to!

Tanana River Race

2009 is proving to be a busy year for us - too busy to keep up with the blog apparently. We'll see what spring brings, but I think we're all happy to have February behind us...seemed darker and colder than usual this year - I think we're just ready for spring. Speaking of spring, it may not be here officially, but the brighter evenings, the warmer temperatures and the wonderfully heavy spring snows we've been getting make it feel like another winter is over.

We're also almost through another race season as the second to last race of the year happened last Saturday. Snow was still falling the morning of the race, the end of an overnight storm that brought another 4 or 5 inches. The temperature was mild and everyone was happy to be outside on such a beautiful day. Kieran may have been the most excited of the bunch. He was everywhere! Checking out the dog teams, following skiers, walking in the deep snow...totally happy to be there with all the pre-race activity happening around him. He tried out a mushing sled briefly...we've heard that kids start mushing in Fairbanks at around 3 or 4 years old, but their parents have to duct tape their hands to the sled handle so they don't fall off. Hmm, maybe Kieran will be sticking with skis for awhile.

Rachel manages the race results and season standings. Can't do that without breakfast!

The McEnteer's team, also know as "the puppies".

Kieran visited with nearly all the dogs. Boy, does he love dogs!

Radar is more of a mascot than a musher these days...and boy does he love kids. He stayed close to Kieran throughout the day, maybe more to catch nibbles from a sloppy eater than for companionship, but they were really cute together.



Another visit - he wanted to say hi to everyone.



Kieran and this guy were wearing the same booties. Godot is a HUGE dog! He makes Kieran look like a runt in this picture.

After an hour or so of sorting skis, dogs, harnesses, etc. Kieran was ready to get the show on the road. He stood by his chariot waiting for Max to load him up.

Off they go! Max and Kieran at the start. The course was an 8 mile loop down the Tanana River and back.

I borrowed a couple of dogs from our friend Tom and tried out the skijor harness Max gave me for Christmas. It was a fun stroll down the course and back. Little Knik was a real puller but he couldn't pull both me AND Siku all 8 miles...poor Siku is a bit too big and shaggy to be racing on such a warm day. He spent a lot of time rolling around in the deep snow right off the trail trying to cool off.

After the race everyone gathered around a fire cooking sausages and marshmallows on willow branches waiting for the last finishers and the results to be tallied.

Lunch. It tasted better than it looks.

Kieran continued his exploring after the race. We couldn't believe how he was lasting out there! We were outside for almonst 6 hours and he was still going strong when we walked him back to the car to go home.

Max and Kieran came in third...again. It was later discovered that they actually tied for second, moving Max and little K up a little further in the standings. Chocolate Easter bunnies and stuffed dogs were the prizes for this race.

Second place went to Brain and Emma...again.

And Cody won the race...again! Nice job. We're pretty certain that Paige and Cody will be running the Iditarod someday soon.

Kieran taking care of himself. He knows what to do when you get thirsty out there.

It was another fun race on a beautiful day. Only one more to go...then summer :)