We had the usual Saturday list of chores: laundry, showers, and stop by the North Pole.

We learned the difference between reindeer and caribou yesterday.  Caribou are wild and reindeer are caribou that have been domesticated.  We were able to see reindeer yesterday and today at the North Pole.

We stopped by Scott’s cousin’s house again today for a shower.  Thanks again!  Two showers in one week!  We were in serious need for showers.  If it was just Scott and I it would be one thing, but the kids love to get up close and personal with every playground and ground we come across.  We wash Brooke and Cody off with paper towels and rags frequently, but I’m afraid it was difficult to know where there was tan and where there was significant dirt.

After our showers Scott dropped Cody and I off at the much needed Laundromat and he took Brooke off to the University of Alaska Museum of the North.  They were able to see a lot of displays of local animals and culture.  Once again Scott wasn’t able to read many of the displays because Brooke was on speed tour mode, but he has learned to take pictures of the display signs now and we read them on the computer later.

I loved visiting the North Pole!  More so, I loved watching Brooke light up from seeing Santa and the reindeer.  There isn’t much there but Santa, the reindeer, and a gift shop, but I loved it.  If you closed your eyes, smelled the store’s scents of cinnamon, cookie, and peppermint, and listened to the Christmas music and bells of the front door you could almost touch the multiple feet of snow outside and feel the children’s anticipation for Christmas morning.  There were people sitting at little tables writing out dozens of postcards so they could be postmarked from the North Pole.  Apparently people journey up here just so they can send their Christmas cards from the North Pole.  Brooke was excited to see Santa, but she hid behind Scott and I and watched Santa when he wasn’t looking at her.  There were letters to Santa posted all over the gift shop.  Those letters were very sweet, not a one that I read appeared greedy.  It was well worth the forty minute round trip commute from Fairbanks to watch Brooke light up.