Ski Kimberley

Our ski trip to Kimberley was a great success.We had rented a beautiful little condo on the ski hill and by the end of our stay we were all able to ski down from the condo and then ride on the chair lift to ski the whole way down.Skiing from the condo made life so much easier.On arrival the kids soon explored the accommodation and discovered the large fridge with a water and ice dispenser and that supplied moments of fun.

The first few days Heather enjoyed a few more lessons and became more and more confident every time. I enjoyed a couple of lessons and it is amazing what a bit of tuition does to help you remember the confidence and skills that were once there, but forgotten over the years as you just muddle through with moments of taking what you can when you can. Finlay was able to hire some skis and boots and start getting the feel of snow ploughing on the bunny hill. James enjoyed a few hours in the afternoon ripping it up and exploring the whole hill while I relaxed with Heather and Finlay napped.

Checking out the appliances.

Early evening relaxation after skiing

Finlay also did a good job at exploring the local menu and seemed to enjoy chocolate ice cream as a favorite

 

Heather progressed from the bunny hill to the T-Bar to then the chair lift.

 

  

By the end of our stay we all were able to ride the chair lift and enjoy a long ski down. Heather did so we that I decided that she was confident enough and strong enough to follow me down a second time while James took Finlay back for a nap. So off we went for a girls ski. She did so well and enjoyed going fast, so much so that at one point she passed me shouting " Mum I can't stop!!!" So I called to her as I skied down beside her to put a turn in "Put a turn in!!!!......Snow plough Heather!!!.....Heather!!! ....Heather" and in my loudest voice ever " HEATHER!!!!!" To which at that point she turned to me and said calmly "What is is Mummy?". I could tell she had enjoyed going fast and was in control the whole way!!!!



Weekend family fun

A weekend at Mosquito creek Youth Hostel came with a little adventure for Heather and Finlay. The Hostel is set quite a way from the road and there is no vehicle access to the cabin. So we parked up and had to sled our equipment and food down trench pathways as tall as Finlay. Another added adventure was the lack of indoor toilets and we had to use out door toilets into a hole in the ground.. I was already aware of this before our stay and aware of potential temperatures of -20, I had acquired some useful equipment curtsy of Canmore hospital !

Heave ho!!!!

\

Nearly lost the kids!!!!

The entrance to the cabin.

Anyone for marshmallows!!!!!!

The following day after a late night of socialising and excitement we decided to go for a snow shoe in the valley. It has been a few years since James and I have gone snow shoeing, infact I think the last time was with Auntie Helen when Heather was 9 months old .

This time we carried the kids in the back packs and went looking for animal tracks. We found Lynx tracks and hare tracks close together so I wonder if something had a good meal!! WE stopped to have a picnic and enjoyed the sunshine and the scenery in the company of a raven sitting squawking at the top of a tree ready for us to depart to then fly down to peck at the crumbs left behind as we trampled away.

Rocky Mountain Ski challenge

From receiving an email from a work colleague rallying for people to become part of a corporate team in the Rocky mountain ski challenge, held by the local nordic ski club, it got me thinking......
"Well I can tow a 4 yr old round 7.5 km of undulating terrain, I could probably do quite well doing a 10 km loop at the Nordic centre in Canmore"
Events available were a 30km skate ski individual, or part of a relay team 10km each or an individual 10km classic ski.
So I entered to do the 10km classic ski with my distance adding toward  the corporate team " Canmore Hospital"
In the morning I discovered that the event was to continue despite -19 temp and for  my event there were 10 competitors in my age category .The grueling race lasted 48 minutes for me I overtook 3 lagging racers on the way back and then they all returned the complement in the final down hill, to push me into last place!!!
However I was still proud of this (the only race ever that I have been last) as first postion went to Chandra Crawford, Olympic Cross Country Gold Medalist 2006 Who completed the course in a 29min.

It was great to finish and see that my faithful group of supporters had come to see me finish even though their over whelming support seemed to put me off my stride!!
Heather's first question was..."Mummy did you win the race?"...My response,"Not quite, but nearly!!!"
Perhaps in another time and another town!!!!

Dragons and Ice queens

This year the Ice carving festival was held on 22nd Jan and after Heather's gymnastics class we headed up to Samson mall to take in some of the action for the kids. There was face painting, balloon sculpting and crafts. The line up for the bus up to the main event was so long that we decided to stay down in the village and visit a little competition called "One block one hour". We saw the start, then enjoyed a hot chocolate and then saw the end results before heading back to canmore.

So in the One block, one hour competition you see results of art from this........

......turning to this.........

At the face painting we saw results from this......

.......to this.......

The next day we decided to return to see the final finishes to the two day competition up at Lake Louise itself and added in a bit of a cross country ski trip. We did the Fairview Loop. Heather and Finlay skied down the Old Tram Line to Moraine Lake road and the James and myself towed them round the rest of the way. Thankfully they both fell asleep just as we left the Moraine Lake road and did not see their mother's attempts  to ascend a few steep sections into the trees.....Mum was not the most coordinated or gracious skier up the narrow steep sections and as I was trying to wish bone up the hills towing a 4yr old, getting my skis stuck in the deep snow banks at the sides it was a slow and painful process full of laughter and slander from my husband. Anyway, after the initial steep section the rest of the way was great.

We finished with time to go and see the final results of the ice carving festival and to see which sculptor won.

"Heather's and Finlay's choice"

And then Heather and Finlay seemed to enjoy a well earned rest in the ice castle on the lake

Canmore Lantern Festival 2010

These are the highlights from the Canmore Lantern Festival Nov 2009.




Here are the highlights from the festival Jan 2011.

It all started as a small project for the kids at a lantern making workshop held in town, which worked well.....the kids were distracted and gravitated towards playing together in a large open are, while the parents looked on while making the balloon lanterns, the easiest type to make.
However by the end of the 1 1/2 hr session Heather and Finlay were proud of what had been accomplished and their well earned touch of added sprinkles.

So when Dad saw our creation it got his imagination and gave him inspiration to create something that the kids would remember. James had the week off between Christmas and New years and the project began.

Dad started the basic construction with a little help with the wire twisting and then the kids were able to help with pasting and sticking the colour decoration of Thomas.

a few more touches to do.

and bingo, Thomas lantern was created.

This little light of mine........

......I'm gonna make it shine......

......let it shine let it shine all the time.

To all a Merry Christmas

I must say we had a very rockin' musical Christmas and the highlight for Finlay was his "electric guitar"He played it all morning and it even came with us on our afternoon walk. Heather was able to join in with her ukulele and they enjoyed performing renditions of there favorite Christmas songs," Up on the rooftops" and "Jingle Bells".

The highlight for Heather was her musical Beauty and Beast dolls.

Up and coming rock star....
.....and he had to wear the scarf.

The highlight for James was assembly of many toys especially the play tent which he got lost in!

But it was worth it!!

We are lucky at the moment, as Heather and Finlay are still young enough not to let excitement waken them too early. James and I were actually up and dressed before the kids stirred. Eventually at 8am they woke and the first question was had Santa been?

And yes he had been

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house.......

Christmas eve was a day of catching up, there was cleaning to do, shopping to do, mince pies to make, cookies to decorate and of course mulled wine to make and enjoy.
We had decided to go to a local church for a family service, I had taken the kids to the church for the first time the week before for the nativity play. The kids had enjoyed it so much, Heather was in the middle of the floor giving some ballet dance routine to every hymn and Finlay was close behind her with rhythm in his step. I could see the congregation looking and smiling and as long as they were not in the way, I was happy for then to enjoy the music. They were offered a lamb outfit and an angel outfit and asked to join in on the play.
We met Angeline with her kids, Felix 4 and Ansophie 2 at the family Christmas Eve service at 5pm where we were welcomed with "Oh here comes the dancers!!!!!".And then it was back to our house for mulled wine mince pies and snacks. The children were all excited and played well and then they even tracked Santa on the computer. Once their friends left Heather and Finlay were full of purpose and eager to organize the treats for Santa and Rudolph. Carrot and apple for Rudolf and a gingerbread man and apple juice for Santa!!! Then off to bed in anticipation.