This evening I took the boys to see Rory play in the opening match of an all weekend basketball tournament. Rory helped his team to victory with several field goals including a very spectacular three-pointer.

 
Maya is very proud of the quilt she and her mother made for Rosie. All gathered round for the unveiling.

 
We had lunch in the middle of a frozen lake today. I must confess, that I was not at all comfortable with this venue. You could hear and feel the ice moving beneath your feet. Mark assured me we were safe but I was quite relieved when we reached terra firma again. Notice the little ice huts in the background. For reasons know only to Minnesotans, natives erect small houses on the frozen lakes, fish through holes in the ice and drink lots of beer. Wait, the reason has just become apparent to me.

 
Unsatisfied with the number of pictures of me with my new niece, I take this portrait in the mirror. It is one of my favorite photos from the visit.

 
Marie purchased a watch for Maya and Mark takes her through the instructions. We all took pleasure in asking Maya for the time all day long. She also mastered the stop watch function and informs me I take 3 minutes and 10 seconds to shave.

 
Is it any surprise that I start the day with another photo of Rosie.

 
Mark snaps this picture while I nibble on Sophia’s belly meat.

 
It does not take long after our return for Maya to take up with her long last pal again.

 
This morning we head back to Minneapolis. The kids say good bye to the dogs and thank Goose for a terrific experience. I will try and post some dog sledding videos when I return to Concord.

 
Because Jeanine will take Maya on her Coming of Age adventure, this trip may well have been a surrogate for the two of us. It will remain a cherished memory forever.

 
Food is carefully metered out and mixed with hot water. Too little and the dogs go hungry. Too much and … let’s just say that when travelling on the south end of a dog it is best not to over feed them.

 
In total we had a team of thirteen dogs under our care. After each run we would remove their harnesses, feed, and water them. All the kids shared equally in the work and came to understand the teamwork involved between human and canine. In these severe arctic conditions we literally trust our lives to the dogs and they to us. One of my fondest memories of these guys will be the look they give you when they need you to help with the sled. When the hill becomes too steep or the snow too deep, they all peer back over their shoulders with an expression that can only mean; Get your fat a$$ off the sled and help push.

 
Brave Maya was simply amazing today and ends the day by thanking Orion for a job well done.

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Goose was kind enough to capture me in action as I manage one of my more controlled descents. Trust me. I had more than my fair share of tree encounters. I was very sorry that Jeanine (who planned the trip) and Kyle were not here to enjoy the adventure with us. We are simply going to have to do it again.