Crackling Cold January

January finally brought us winter for real. We've had two snow storms and now a week of -10 to -22 weather. Not as cold as other parts of Canada, but enough to satisfy Aiden's curiosity of winter - and hopefully it will hold long enough that we can skate the canal during Winterlude!

We've been taking advantage of the daytime free skates to get Aiden ready for that hyped up canal skating. Aiden went from a wall-hugging skater to the real deal this week, so we are on the way. We are happy that Grace and Jasmin's workload this term is not as heavy so they can afford the time to do so. Of course, we still need skates for all of us and Mom's knee to be able to skate yet...

You don't often win this prize! On our way back from Edmonton, an official told us Mom's passport had water damage and likely wouldn't pass muster for international travel, so we needed to replace it. Getting an appointment online was not possible in the time-frame we have (traveling at the end of February), so Mom had to go in. The wait times are 3+ hours typically, and the line up starts at least an hour before opening. To get this grand prize of first in line, she did not get up and wait in the cold for hours for the doors to open. No, she just showed up with a crutch, not wanting to have to stand in line for hours on an injured knee without help. But even better - the crutch was a passport to the head of the line!

We had a brief period with this gigantic puppy from the shelter, and we will likely have him back soon too. As you can imagine, having him around means the house will have to stay much tidier as his reach is enormous!

Edmonton!

A definite benefit to being in Canada - 

Christmas with family!

This year Dad's family in Edmonton

10 days of travel, Im cousins, and yet more new experiences:

We spent a few days in the mountains 

Where Jasmin took a gazillion of pictures

having fallen in love with mountains at first sight:

 and Aiden passed the time boy-fashion - throwing rocks on the ice

Where we tried out skiing

  Struggling to coordinate these new "limbs" in a slippery and busy environment

Where Mom skipped the lessons

warmed up on the bottom of the hill a bit

headed up the lift with some Ims

and unfortunately repeated her former ski accident

(though not so badly)

It was glorious while it lasted

Many other days were spent

Playing new to us board games,

In conversation and laughter,

Playing (the inevitable) video games together,

And in a sport more to our kids' liking: rock climbing

Made all the more special because 

Im cousins made great climbing partners

Making and eating or going out for great food,

Leaving us satisfied with a great "2nd Christmas"

and hoping we don't have to wait another 5-6 years to get together again.

 

A Few More Christmas Week Things!

 

Advent Puzzle Complete!

Grace and Jasmin went to a friend's party!

The girls (re)taught Aiden how to skate

And...

Lots of lovely sleep-ins

Lots of yummy remember-Asia meals: mee goreng, char koey teow, moo palao, teh tarik, dim sum...

A library hour (or 2)

A swim afternoon

A night walk to see neighbourhood lights

A few hours of shared computer games

An evening of popcorn and movie - our yearly treat!

And... us girls made this "video" pre-release of some of Grace's songs:

Happy Christmas!

Advent Week Begun!

Grace in on break!

It took her a few all-nighters

but she's done

And now we can have fun -

When she's caught up on sleep!

Our first day we slept in (of course)

Ate pad thai and baote

At the request of kids missing Asian food

(we'll eat other favorites all this week)

Played board games 

until Mom's headache interfered too much

Played computer games

Grace got in some practice driving 

While Aiden had his last volleyball session

Mom got her latest crochet project done:

Rather unsure why it is so grey in the photo 

as it's comfortingly yellow and white IRL

She also finished her dragon collage!

A rather poor representation of a love-gift from God:

A message of belonging and gifting

Despite how others see 

And we finished the day

With a time of family meditation

Advent longing and living hope

Our God will surely come!