This past winter we started off the year with a visit from my sister, Audrey. We checked out some of the city's sites including the Ice Castles with my friend, Joyce.
There is definitely lots to keep us busy in the winter here. Numerous winter festivals to a variety of outdoor winter sports.
Skating on our pond
Sliding at the Church's hill
Racing Deep Freezers
Riding the ice slides
Vanessa is keeping busy with her diving lessons, piano and school basketball team.
Vanessa's Christmas Song
Heather is keeping busy too. She continues to highland dance and has been competing for just over a year. She has moved up a level because she placed in 6 competitions over the past year and is now working to move up another level in the next year. This year we took the opportunity for her to compete at the Nationals in Charlottetown. It was a great experience and she did well placing as high as 4th. Heather also completed in Washington State this fall thanks to her Grandma and Grandpa taking her there.
At Nationals in PEI
First Aggregate Trophy in Fort Edmonton
Washington State Competition
Heather is now in high school. She has been working to get involved with her school. She worked backstage for the school's musical theater production. She is looking forward to auditioning for next years production in the spring. She just started voice lessons in the fall. We heard her sing for the first time this month at her Christmas recital. I think I was more nervous than she was.
Heather is doing lots of volunteering at the fort in the city. This Christmas, she has been one of Santa's elves.
She also just got her learners license. She will be learning to drive when the roads get a little better. That will be Todd's job for sure!!!!!
She also just got her learners license. She will be learning to drive when the roads get a little better. That will be Todd's job for sure!!!!!
Todd is keeping busy with work and volunteer fire fighting. He just received another Top Responder Recognition and definitely had his share of interesting calls this year. He enjoys it.
He continues to squeeze in hockey when he can and recently got to play with his Dad when he was down visiting at the coast.
As for me: I work. I drive. I watch. I volunteer. Such is the Mom's life of a very busy family. I do appreciate the summers off and that is when we can really enjoy our time together.
As I mentioned earlier, Heather and I got to travel to Charlottetown, PEI to complete at Nationals and it just happened to be the week of Canada Day. Couldn't think of a better place to be than the birthplace of Canada at the ripe old age of 150. We got to see a majority of the island in the week we were there.
While we were gone. Todd took Vanessa and Jigs camping in the Rockies and there were a couple of those photos on this year's Christmas card.
We were not back for long before we were at the coast visiting family and friends. I so hoped to get to the island this year but it just didn't work. Poor timing to come down during the long weekend with no hope of catching a ferry.
The girls were finally old enough to take to one of my favorite places. Cascade Falls. It involved some rock scaling and some soggy feet but we made it to the upper falls and pool.
We hung out at the lake beach with some friends too.
Not to mention fish and chips with the parents.
We also went to the dogs. Well, the Clark's dogs.
We couldn't seem to escape the smoke from the fires no matter what province we were in but the Okanagan was the worst. Good thing there is wine and Dave. He is always a good sport to come and try some new wineries. Most wineries have got something for the girls to do now while we sample. This one had a whole petting zoo.
The smoke was really thick this day as you can't see the other side of the lake
Heading back home we stopped at Moraine Lake because last year while in Banff, we missed it. Glad we made the effort.
We got back in time to head out yet again. This time a dance competition at a Medieval Faire. We also went to Dinosaur Provincial Park while we were in the area. We found lots of amazing fossils and Vanessa found some fossil poop. Seems to be a tradition for her. Last year she found the buffalo poop.
On the way down we visited a wool mill and a gopher museum on the way back. Lots of little neat places here that we stumble into.
Wool Mill Tour
Jousting
Good Old Fashioned Beheading
Dinosaur Provincial Park
Gopher Museum with over 40 Diaramas
Todd also took Vanessa back to Saskatchewan to visit relatives and they had a great time visiting and learning farming techniques. Todd does not obsess about photos as much as I do. He did not get many photos of his visit. Sorry.
One of my new passions is working on my skills and improve my capturing of the Aurora Borealis. Here are a few of the shots from over the summer.
We had visits from many of you over this past year and we want to express our deep gratitude that you would take the time and expense to come and visit us. We want to let you know that you are always welcome to come and stay anytime. We enjoy the time that we get to spend with you.
To those we haven't seen in years, our door is open for you to come and stay and we look forward to reconnecting with you as it has been too long.
Wishing you all the best this holiday season. Health and happiness to all of you for 2018.
Merry Christmas.
Love from Us.
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