Iqaluit (May 17/04) - There were plenty of moms dressed up in Iqaluit, heading out for brunch or strolls through town on May 9 -- the one special day marked for Mothers.

But there were also plenty of moms who spent much of Mother's Day in a sometimes noisy, often warm and sweaty gymnasium in Iqaluit, competing in a volleyball tournament.

Pitsiulala Akavak with her "good luck charm" daughter, Julie. See story page 19. - Kathleen Lippa/NNSL photo

One of them was Pitsiulala Akavak, mother of baby Julie. As it turned out, Julie was the only child who came along for the trip from Kimmirut this year.

Akavak spent most of the weekend in a blue jersey, massaging her sore muscles, and out on the court trying to help her team come out a winner.

It didn't happen. But that didn't mean the close-knit team didn't have fun.

The team won one game, then lost a couple of games on Sunday.

Between games, Akavak went from sweaty sports hero to mom, rushing into the stands where her mother-in-law held her little Julie who started crying uncontrollably as soon as she arrived.

"(Julie) is our good luck charm," said Karlie Utye, Akavak's friend.

Utye revealed that Mother's Day is extra special in her family. Her birth mother, and her daughter who is now 17, were both born on May 9, so Mother's Day is more like a big birthday for everybody in her house.

Utye usually enjoys a special dinner with her family on Mother's Day.

Like all the Kimmirut teammates, whenever she missed her own daughter, Utye just went and visited little Julie up in the stands -- picking her up, giving her a little kiss on the cheek.

When she wasn't receiving visitors, and getting lots of love and attention, Julie slept.

For little Julie, it may have been the best Mother's Day yet.