Family Skiing in Canada

We were out skiing at Sunshine today, as a family. It is great that we can do this activity together. However, I have officially become the slowest one! I guess on one hand though, I can help them out if I come across any spills, as I meander after them down a slope. 

The kids are very confident and have developed in to great little skiers. Amyah's technique is coming along nicely from Daddy's tutelage, and Oma's too. Max is taking a few lessons to help with his technique. He is usually skiing so fast he does not have time to stop and listen to us about anything! And, don't even get me started about following Chris through terrain parks, and double blacks!!!

Sunshine is reachable by a gondola. If you find yourself down lower on the mountain, from a run, you are able to hop back on the gondola at a mid-way point, and go back up! The kids love traveling by gondola. It also allows for a snack break.

Max just relaxing while nibbling on a granola bar.

Last weekend, we were skiing at Panorama, B.C.. It has become a favorite place of ours.

There are a lot of great runs plus we stay right on the hill. To me this means, a good midday break and a hot lunch!  Here are the kids about to take off. They lack no patience when it comes to skiing. Every run seems to be a race down, with Daddy leading the way, and two more very close behind.

Then there is me, stopping to take photos.
Here are my old skis. I guess I need to start taking selfies so I actually appear on this blog from time to time!

To top off a lovely weekend out in Canmore, you MUST check out their skating pond. It is maintained by the town, located just off the main drag. There is a gazboo there with heat lamps plus other benches around. It was well cleaned off and very smooth. I for one LOVE to skate and could have spent all afternoon there. What a great way to end a weekend!

Happy New Year's from "The Del"

It seems fitting that my last entry of 2013 should take place at the cabin. It was this destination that prompted my first entry, back in July.

 Seeing the cabin and lake surrounded by snow was beautiful! There was also lovely soft snow falling gently to the ground. It reminded me of the German carol, "Stile, Stile,Stile".

The kids were super excited and raced down to see what was what.

After having a tree fall on the Durango, during the summer, we didn't want to take any chances of more trees falling, or getting stuck at the bottom soooo we unloaded and carried everything down by hand. The toboggan came in handy for the heavier items. :) The kids and I organized and managed this task while Chris got the water going.

Since we have arrived, it has been a lot of playing in the snow, playing with toys, games, puzzles, hauling wood, and keeping the fire going. We also spent New Years eve day at Ainsworth Hot Springs.

Playing Junior Monopoly

Working on a 500 small piece fish puzzle! Yikes! It will take us until next year! ;)

Chinese Checkers by the fire.

On the ferry going across the lake to the hot springs.

Snow Angels instead of Sand Castles on the beach!

Look out!

Snowball fight against Daddy!

Indian Creek, where we get our water, as it flows through the property.

Some fast tobogganing down the steep driveway!

As we are just a few hours away from a new year, and the end of our holiday 2013 adventures,  I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! I just saw this quote and loved it so much. May your new years all be full of much peace, joy and adventures!.

On the Road Again!

We have finally made it to "The Del", Riondel that is, after 2500 kilometres! It definitely was the long way to the cabin. Our original idea was to spend Christmas at the cabin. But, as plans do, things changed when we started planning and opportunities presented themselves and so we have arrived here after stops in Vernon, Whistler, Vancouver, and Cor D'Alene!

Friday, the 27^th, was to be another ski day at Whistler. However, we when got up bright and early at 6 A.M., it was raining, so not so "bright"! After a bit of a think, we decided that skiing would be awful and we would just end up really wet, and miserable. So, it was on to Plan D, or whatever we were on at that point, and headed in to Vancouver! This is the Sea to Sky high way between Whistler and Vancouver. I don't think I have ever driven in so much rain in December!

Chris's brother and family live there and only Chris has ever visited them at their place. The kids were excited to see their one and only cousin, Patricia May! We also met Ping's mom, WaiPo, who is visiting from China. Ping is due to have a baby boy, any minute!, and her mom has come to help out. Actually, Waipo is here to help out until NEXT SUMMER! Now that is some kind of help! We were treated to a delcious meal in their favorite restaurant. It is always good when Ping is in charge of the ordering. What is even more amazing is that my picky little man eats everything too, that Auntie Ping orders!!!!

The kids had a great time together. Max can't wait to have a boy cousin too! Max will be 5 1/2 years older so will have lots to teach the new youngin'.

 THEN, we had more Chinese food, this time cooked by Ping's mom for our evening meal. We were treated to homemade Chinese steamed buns. Needless to say, we were not very hungry when we woke up the next morning to be on the road for the USA. (Thanks to Ted for the photos!)

 We successfully went over the boarder to travel down and up to Creston. The highway was great! It was large and clear of any snow or such, plus it was pretty straight!

Having a treat from Grandma Jean and Grandpa Keith.

Amyah reading a Christmas gift.

 We flew through the state of Washington, and stayed overnight in Cor D'Alene, Idaho. And, at last, we reached the little cabin in the woods.

Merry Xmas Part III

We had a day off today, Thursday, December 26th, 2013, from skiing. We slept in, the kids played and played, and we attended a FREE family event in Whistler. It was a good day too, to play a game, take some family photos, and sit around a real fire, and take a lovely walk around our area of Whistler. :)