Hope in Hope, AK

Friday following Thanksgiving, we rented a cabin in Hope, AK through the Nordic Ski Association. Hope is a really cute town about 90 miles from Anchorage on the roads (5 miles as the crow flies across the Cook Inlet!). We went during a snowstorm - driving to Hope we noticed the snowflakes appeared as big as pringles.

We cross country skied two days. Hope is part of a program that teaches kids to cross country ski. She skies Tuesday and Thursday evenings after school and Saturday mornings. It's pretty low key when you're 6, but many of the kids just a bit older can out ski me pretty easily. I have a glimpse of Hope out skiing me pretty soon!!

On the trail, this friendly dog (we nicknamed Dumbo Dog due to the size of her ears - not because of her intelligence since she was very bright and silly) adopted us and played with Hope

the evening and part of the next day. In the photo above, the sun is setting (it's 4:30) and the sky was the most amazing rosy pink. The picture doesn't capture it well, but it was so beautiful.

Sunday night, my friend Callie and I took Tatum and Hope to see the Nutcracker performed by a ballet company from Oregon with the Anchorage Symphony. Our favorites were the Russian dancers.