We would like to wish all our family and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope that we find you in good spirits and health. I know many of us have lost people this year and we would like to pass on our condolences as we know the loss of loved ones is very hard to endure especially at this time of celebration with family and friends. We would love to hear from you all soon and hopefully we will see many of you this next year in some form or another. If you would like to hear and see what we have been up to read on.
Our 2016 was full of new experiences. I have to say we were very spoiled last year for our first Prairie winter and did not have to endure the characteristically bitter cold. We will not escape it's bite this year as we have just endured a -20+ week and it is supposed to continue.
The girls and I started off the New Year at Elk Island and watched the Northern Lights on New Years Eve. They were spectacular and all of us had never seen them before. I am a little disappointed that my photos didn't do it justice but it was amazing to watch and they were very active for hours.
We also went to the Freeze Festival where they had another ice slide, deep freezer races and curling set up on the frozen tennis courts. We also got to see ice sculptures being carved with chainsaws and a small taste of tire (frozen maple syrup on sticks). The kids even made the newscast as they were filming at the time.
In February, we checked out the snowmobile drag races at a lake outside the city. I had to park on the lake which was definitely a first for me. I enjoyed checking out the elaborate ice fishing huts complete with landscaping.
Skating on our local outside rink that is a three minute walk was a great activity on Sunday mornings as well as going into town and skating on the Freezeway and the Oval. I am amazed I can still do a few things after all these years. Check out the video below.
Todd and the girls also participated in their first Daddy-Daughter Dance near Valentine's Day. It was a fundraiser for the local community centre that is being built.
In March, we decided to drive to Whitefish, Montana during Spring Break. It's a really nice place. We had hoped to go dog sledding but the weather was too warm and the melt had started. We decided to go snowshoeing instead. Vanessa had a piano festival coming up so we took her to the train station everyday so she could continue to practice. Paid off as she got a gold standing.
When we got back home, we visited the old family homestead to see their new batch of lambs that they had. It was nice to see the workings of the farm and all the wee little lambs. You see them on the front of the Christmas card this year.
We had rented a vehicle to go down to Montana and we received an upgrade of a brand new Jeep Wranger. We ended up buying one in April because we enjoyed it so much. I hated to give up the Honda Accord but Todd wanted something bigger to get around here and the car was close to 400K
Todd took part in a fundraising hockey tournament with his fire hall in April as well. He tries to squeeze hockey into his schedule whenever he has the opportunity to. Go #14!
In June, Heather got to try something new with some thing old. Heather competed in her first Highland Games. It was really close by so it was a great start for her. She ended up placing which was even more exciting for her. One of her judges was my former highland dancing teacher; the one year I took it when I was 5 years old. I thought that was a little amusing.
While Heather was dancing, Vanessa thought she would check out the heavy sports. She did an almost perfect caber toss.
July was very busy as we drove back to BC to visit with family and friends. It is so hard to get around to visit everyone and there just in never enough time in the day. We stopped off in Kamloops first. We did a little fishing, campfires, visiting with friends and family. Heather even got a driving lesson as she is preparing for the learners she can get here at age 14!!!!Oh and yes, Heather's hair is blue.
Our next stop was in the Fraser Valley. Stayed with more family and visited friends. We dropped Vanessa off at her friend's house and former awesome neighbors for a big surprise birthday party and to also stay for the week with them. Grandma and Grandpa drove her back home to us after her visit. I also had to do the vital shop in Washington State. My sister and nieces came with us and we had a good time. Had to stock up on Trader Joe brand and Cherry and Vanilla Coke. I do miss the American products so close by. We visited Dad while he busked at the beach and also went for fish and chips.
We then stopped in the Okanagan to visit Dave. It was raining so we had to spend most of our time checking out wineries and the goat cheese place. So not disappointed that we had to resort to that.
When Heather and I were travelling home, we stopped in Revelstoke and checked out the new coaster. It was a lot of fun but I was a wimp and used my brake a lot.
Todd helped organize the rookie party at the fire hall and decided it should have a Highland Games theme. The guys had a blast being competitive and trying to get the best throws.
Todd even went as far as to rent a kilt for the occasion.
We also had some visits at the end of July and beginning of August. Good friends and good family stopped by to stay for a while.
Todd and I went to London, England for 10 days in August. It's our first time travelling internationally together. We made it! And think we will be up for the challenge many more times in the future. We saw a lot of the sites and really packed a lot into our days. We traveled by tube mostly but also by train and boat. Here are a few of the highlights.
While we were in London, we had the opportunity to also meet up with my special friend Sarah and her husband Andy. We have been penpals since I was 6 and I finally was able to come over and visit as she did with me 20 years ago. We had some cousins fly down from Scotland to visit for the weekend and we also got to meet by second cousin who I held as a baby back in 1985. Great fun and of course a few pubs thrown in.
When we returned, Todd got to use his Christmas present. It was a certificate for the race oval. He definitely had the most in his cheering section.
And just like that, it was September again. Back to school for three of us. I'm still teaching at the same school but I have a lot more different courses to teach this next year including Socials 8, Health 8, Photography and an Ancient History course. This of course on top of the Academic Assistance and Computers 5 that I had last year. Needless to say it has been a very busy year.
Labour Day Weekend, Heather had a competition in Canmore so we made a weekend of it. We visited out cousin Rita and then after the competition we checked out Banff and Lake Louise.
The weekend the snow came was Thanksgiving and Dave was visiting us.
Halloween this year was cold but not too cold. A warm tea helped keep me warm as Vanessa and her friends raced around the neighborhood. Heather was 11 from the Netflix show Stranger Things and Vanessa was an Arctic Fox.
Todd had his fire hall Christmas dinner in November. They also use it as a time to recognize people in the department. Todd received Top Responder 24/7. We are very proud of his efforts and commitment. Too bad he has that fuzzy thing on his lip. He did raise over 100 dollars for Movember though.
Here we are in December. Vanessa's diving has finished until the new year. She is definitely improving. She also worked hard to be ready for her piano performances. Vanessa made the basketball team in her first year so she is pretty pumped about that. She has already had one tournament and she has since score her first basket already.
As I'm typing this it is -22 and snowing lightly. Tomorrow we are off to pick out our tree at the only tree farm in this province as far as we know. I would hope for a sleigh ride but I think it will be too cold for the horses. We will have to load up on the hot chocolate instead.
Let me take this time again to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Look forward to seeing all of you in the near future.
