Where to Begin? BIG NEWS INSIDE!

It has been quite some time since I've written a blog post. My apologies for leaving all of you fabulous humans anticipating a blog post!
This here picture is before we got the feet upon feet of snow!

There has been a lot going on in our lives since my last blog post!
I wish I can say that with all the adventures, new scenery, and new things to experience, everything is going great.
In the beginning, the thrill of a new location, new place, and even the bush part of Alaska made the emotions in check for a little while. Quickly, the reality started sinking in.

I had left my home, where my family and most of the people I have known my whole life were within a driving distance. I can say that YES, I have lived away from my parents home for awhile, but it's just not the same. When you truly leave your home, is when you leave state and start to build a life away from that home state.
Things weren't that great after this reality set in. I fell into a slump where I wasn't excited about going on adventures, I was not happy about the fact that I couldn't find a job right away, and I left the place where there were endless opportunities. I doubted myself and my abilities, I questioned what I was really doing in my life, because I wasn't in a good place. I wondered if I was good enough and worthy of everything that I had, thankful for the life I had already been given before this move. I didn't have the freedom to drive and go get something to eat, go to the grocery store and have endless options to buy for anything, wasn't able to just get in the car to get out of the house. I isolated myself by consuming my time in online window shopping and sometimes just spending for the sake of having something to buy. Things, just simply put, were not great.
I think back on these emotions, and it makes me regret not being more appreciative of the life that I had already lived. I was bitter towards those that were closest to me, I felt rage at something that I couldn't figure out.

Yes, I now have a job out here, and even in the midst of getting into the routine of working again, things are still just difficult.  I wish I didn't interact with those whom I love with irritation and negativity. I wish I had seen how my engagement with others was negatively effective my relationships.

There comes a time in our life where we have to accept that we are vulnerable in every way. I have learned through the past 3 months that we tend to have large egos and our pride is over the charts. It's as hard to thing to swallow when one finally sees how selfish they truly were. How this selfishness affects everything around you, and it's not pretty!

In experiencing all of this, I have learned that there are just some things that are out of our control. There are times when you have tried everything, but there is only one option left, and it scares you to death. Life isn't always easy, but there is so much to be thankful for even at the end of a terrible day.

Welcome to the unattractive version of life when you come to a road block, sorry ladies and gents! On to better and happier things.

Winter is still here and it's still chilly and most certainly snowy! A few weeks ago we had snow above my head in places where it was piled up. We had days where the temperature maintained single digits, some teen digits, but most recently, in the thirties. Snow is slowly starting to melt, leaving puddles everywhere. When I came back from the lower 48, everything was white. Check it out! Here is Brevig from the plane, all covered in white!

I've traveled quite a few places while being away, a couple of those places being Colorado, St. Louis, and New York.

Colorado - well, the mountains are most certainly beautiful and the mountains also make it difficult for a little tiny car to go up and down them! I didn't do much while in Colorado other than eat and sleep!

St. Louis - though it is the winter season, St. Louis does not have any winter weather to speak of. While there, I was blessed with 50-60 degree weather with the occasional drop of temp to 30 degrees.







It was rather awesome and I enjoyed having nice weather because I knew that I would be coming back to quite cold weather. I was spoiled while in St. Louis, and going home would be a cold and bitter transition!

New York - I went back to New York to visit with my family since I wouldn't be visiting during the summer. I couldn't get enough pizza while I was there and had New York's glorious version of garlic pizza ALL the time!. Some places don't make the white garlic pizza, but in my personal opinion, that's the only way!

I didn't do much in New York either, but I did make a throw blanket while I passed time. It is taller than me, and very heavy as it's three strands of thread crocheted into one stitch. It took about 20 hours to make and the bigger it got, the heavier it became!

During the times I was back home, Aaron and I went out riding a few times. The first time was during Christmas break, when all the ice and snow has first started to accumulate.

Here is a picture of a chunk of ice that was pushed up on the shore. It may seem small, but check out the one with me standing next to it!

It's huge and these huge slabs of ice line the shore! It's amazing to see! This is one of the sunrises that I was able to witness while stepping out for lunch. At that time, the sun the was still rising around 1130am and setting around 4/5pm.

That has officially changed as we are gaining back our daylight hours! We now wake up at 730/8 am with the sun already up and shining, and it doesn't set until 1230/1 am. Soon enough we are only going to have no darkness at all!

There has been a few aurora's that I have missed, that from what I've heard, had the multiple colors in the pictures that you see of it. I am disappointed to have missed them, but it still comes out, so I'm hopeful that I may get to capture the multiple colors soon! If not, there is always next year!

The last ride Aaron and I went on, we drove to Teller, approximately 7 miles from Brevig.

During the winter, while the ice is ever so thick, is the only time that you can travel to Teller with an ATV. It takes about 30-40 minutes to get there. We planned to park and enjoy the beautiful teen weather we were getting that day, as the following week was to be chilly and close to negative temps again.

We boiled up some apple cider and went on our way. Forgetting that our thermal bottles keep things hot for 12 hours, we couldn't drink much of our cider because it was still boiling hot when we opened it. Leaving it open and in the snow for 10 minutes didn't help either. Here are a few pictures of the view from Teller.

This is Brevig from where we were sitting behind a large chunk of ice that allowed us to burrow down and avoid the sharp and bitter air. When we started getting chilly, we headed back home to warm up and finish our hot apple cider!

On to the pups!
You would think that I would learn from the past 5 years that any time I left my bedroom door open, some dog decides to go in, and lay on my bed. Nope, I didn't learn. I left my door open to warm up my room, and I walk in, not expecting anything abnormal, and boom (!), dog sprawled out in the middle of my bed!

Of course Anubis would jump up there and choose the comfort of my bed! He wagged his fluffy tail and bound out of the room like he just won a prize!

Now, Zver. Well we had to buy him and Anubis leashes because they would disappear into the village since the snow is so high they can just hop right over our 3 foot barricade. Each morning, and most of the times that Zver is let out, this is what he does.....

He will sit there and watch the entire village, watch the kids run by, and just simply sit until we require him to come back in. The snow pile is about 5 maybe 6 feet tall. He loves it!

Tink and Eve are the typical prissy gals who run out to do their business and run back in because it's cold. Otherwise, because it's chilly, it's nonstop snuggles from the girls while the boys watch out the window at the village that comes to life in the afternoon.

THE BIG NEWS!
After traveling to New York in the beginning of December, I came back to spend the holidays with Aaron and to experience the Inupiaq festivities. Little did Aaron and I know, we would receive a Christmas Miracle. An unexpected miracle as well!

4 weeks after Christmas, I was feeling different. Different as I have ever felt, even with the stressful time I was going through. All I wanted was water, and each time I ate, my stomach felt upset and just not enjoying the food. THAT was the most awkward thing about the different behaviors. I LOVE food! Well, that's when the miracle was discovered.

Aaron and I are expecting a little munchkin!

This is the baby at 8 weeks!

I am 19 weeks, already in my second trimester, and we are adjusting to the changes that will come with having a baby. Below, you will find our registries, and details regarding a baby shower are TBD!

ToysRUs: http://www.toysrus.com/registry/myregistry/index.jsp?tab=myRegistry
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/baby-reg/aaronrobyn-husemann-september-2017-brevigmission/1OWEW9NY2RA04

I hope you all have had a wonderful winter and are finally enjoying the spring warm up back in the Lower 48!

Tata for now!

*Winter IS Here....STILL*

Fermented Walrus......WHAT??!!!

I know, I know, the title sounds a little creepy. I'll get to that part later!
So recently, we have decided to go out and explore the frozen tundra and surroundings. Here is a picture from the summer and another compared to now.









Big difference huh?

Well, WINTER has finally come, and it's not too bad actually. I mean don't get me wrong, the temps here have been super cold....like -4F or 1F, but the windchill is what makes it pretty cold.
Though, when we went out in -2 weather, going 30 mph bites right though the gloves and boots you may be wearing! So, if you know of any super duty glove liners that keep frigid cold temps away from your fingers, send the information my way!

As we prepared to go out for a ride, we had to wear 4 layers of clothes, well I do that is. I have some thermals, leggings, sweatpants, and our riding gear. Obviously the same goes for the upper layers, but the issue we have had is the fingers and toes! But, regardless of the slight cold, it is beautiful and just as breathtaking even if it is -2! What are your thoughts?




As much as I wanted to continue heading up the mountain and keep spotting the red fox running away up the hill, my fingers were far too cold! This is how an Alaskan dresses in style. :)


Aaron and I rode to the dump to empty the trash trailer, as we prefer to bring our own trash. So we bring it all. This is what the view was as we traveled along the coast.

Such a beautiful sight!

Each sunrise is stunning and obviously occurs later and later in the AM. This one was taken at 11AM while I had a few errands to run around the village.

I will admit, though the move was difficult and very much a stressful situation, I absolutely love Alaska. I was concerned that I wouldn't like it, or I wouldn't be able to handle the cold, but I was mistaken. I cannot get over how rewarding and beautiful this state is!

Now....on to the good stuff.
So, I will mention first, that the exotic food that we try are considered specialties to the Eskimo's and some of them choose not to share these foods with new villagers because they worry that it will not be valued by them. I will say, that this newest taste test wasn't the best smelling! Though that is something that people can get over and still savor the taste within. I, unfortunately, could not savor it as I have a sensitive pallet when it comes to smells and tastes associated with it. Here, you can see that a villager and I having some cooked fermented walrus. This was my first experience with "ooshuk" and her first experience with cooked "ooshuk."

Ok, so I'll explain this a little. What is fermented walrus?
Well, the process goes a little something like this....
1. Shoot the walrus
2. Dig a hole near your desired location
3. Leave from May to December (about 6/7 months)
4. Dig it back out and either eat it raw or cooked.

So, May is when the weather starts warming back up, so the seal is just sitting in the hole preparing to be eaten. From what we are told, the raw walrus tastes better, but has a stronger smell. But, regardless, I can say that I tried "ooshuk" and I am not a huge fan of it!

Here is Lynn and Tony trying "ooshuk" for the first time as well!

I would like to share with you one of my favorite Inupiaq words:
Alappaa

This word is used quite often in the school and around the village. Can you guess what it is?
It means 'cold, it's cold, or I'm cold.' And, the best thing, it's pronounced exactly as it's shown!

The dogs.....have been good. The temperatures make the adventures a little difficult! I have to prepare Eve and Tink's tootsies so they are not cold. I also put Tink in her jacket since it is pretty chilly. Last time, Tink lost one of her booties, so we have to switch to her heavy duty booties that don't like to stay on very well.

Zver wouldn't listen very well while we were out, so I had to put him on his lead, and this is what ensued!

He is such a goofball! Apparently his life is pretty difficult here in Alaska!

I had to travel back to New York, as a few things had to be taken care that I couldn't deal with back in Alaska. While there I got to see some close friends and even got to see my wonderful hairdresser. I got to spend time with my family, which was nice as it's been since we left that I have seen them.

I attended a Christmas party while in NY, and I'd have to say that I've never seen shrimp served like this!

It was unique and quite humorous!

As much as I wanted to stay for the duration of the planned trip, I just couldn't. I missed my husband, my pups, and my community. There is a strange pull from the kids here that I just can't resist! It's a happy community and it's hard to stray from happiness.

While in NY, I was still on Alaska time, so it was hard to adjust to the later 4 hour time difference. Of course, as always, by the time I adjusted to NY time, I was flying back to Alaska and had to adjust all over again!

I got back to Alaska just in time for our village Christmas feast and the Eskimo games, which I was bummed about having to miss in the first place.
Lynn, Aaron's Mom, was an amazing soul and made a Christmas tree for us, which was made out of drift wood. I'd have to say that I enjoyed the different take on a Christmas tree and made the holiday much more special.

So, what goes on at the Eskimo games? Well, there are many different games that they play. One is called pancake, where you lay next to your opponent and battle to the end. The opponents battle to see who gets flipped over by locking legs and pulling quickly down with all of their strength. Another few games is putting a ruler right under your nose and pushing as hard as your can against your opponent. I never tried this one, as it sounds all too painful!
In addition to the games, it was good to be there and witness the atmosphere of the community coming together as a whole and spending time together.

In the short video below, you get a sneak peak of Eskimo dancing that some of the villagers participated in while at the games.

One tradition that I was glad I witnessed was how they celebrate New Years! Since our village is a dry village, meaning no alcohol, they hold the games until the New Year rings in. Here is a snip of the festivities. After that, people go around hugging and wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

Of course, being the "odd teachers," we stayed up until 6am playing volleyball with some villagers and kids. This, of course, was not a one night occurrence, so it's going to be difficult to go back to normal working hours and actually work!

Here are a few pictures of my trip back into Alaska! Such a stunning and beautiful place to live!

Brevig from the plane.

Well, I hope you all had a fantabulous Christmas and New Year! Enjoy!

*Winter IS Here*