A Winter Christmas Update

Here is a picture from our backyard of me toboganning down the back hill. We had taken some care in "grooming" our trails and used shovels and our backsides to make the runs as good as possible (not necessarily as "smooth" as possible. We have also noticed that each day the tobogan runs get a little icier and therefore more bruise-worthy. The first victim down each trail truly takes a few moments to recover at the bottom before getting back on their feet. Truly great Canadian fun!!


Here is a picture of the whole family. We found out on Christmas morning that Kathy and Rob are expecting another baby in the summer (Canadian summer, that is), so that makes two new babies on the way, 10 adults and 5 toddlers right now. What a great day it was on Boxing Day to have everyone in the same house. Loud, but good to see everyone and to see the cousins all hanging out.


This is a picture from the kitchen window of the backyard, looking at two deer that have been visiting while we have been in Canada. What a nice treat to see "real" wildlife in the back yard. Squirrels, Raccoons, skunks, deers, fat cats and my mom is convinced there is some other type of monster/animal that has a weird musk that we have smelt outside at night; as of yet, we have yet to witness it. It may go down in the story books somewhere with the Abominable Snowman.....

Funny story from the other night. We were all sitting around playing a board game called Catch Phrase (my parents, my two brothers and their wives and Bryce and I). I was sitting with my feet under the coffee table and felt like I had a rough toenail so I was picking at it (read on, I guarantee the story gets better) and ripped a few pieces off my toenail. I looked around and didn't know where to put these things so I found a pop/fizzy drink can that was empty and threw them in there, and didn't think about them again. So, we just finished playing the game and having lots of laughsand then Tim (my oldest brother) decided to take a drink from his pop can. Little did he know that his little sister had tainted the contents.
The next thing I know, I am looking at my brother's face which is filled with disgust, and he is curiously looking at his fingers which are holding the piece of toenail that he has just pulled from his mouth. He couldn't figure out what had scratched his throat after taking a sip of his pop (the can I had assumed was finished and already garbage). Ooops. Very funny though. The room was roaring; a great family memory.
Going skiing tomorrow and just loving being here. More updates to come.

In Canada!!

So, here I sit, at my parents computer in Canada, looking through the computer screen I so often see from the "other side" when I talk to them on Skype. Still can't really believe I am here, I have missed being home so much. I DO love New Zealand, but sometimes its just nice to be at "home". I had a nice "Daddy/Daughter night" tonight, dinner and Christmas shopping with my dad. it wasn't as productive as we have been in the past, but I think we were just enjoying each others company more and not as focused on actual shopping.
There is SO much snow here. I would like to get some photos on here, but it will have to wait until I get back, seeing as our camera is weird that way. But you really should see this: so much snow that most corners are dodgy for drivers because of the snowbanks being in the way of vision, deer climbing around the backyard looking for food to graze on but not finding any because the snow is up to their stomachs, huge snowplows that are easily 1-2 highway lanes wide that were used at the airport to creat even BIGGER snowbanks. And then of course, all the boots and slush that are everywhere. The coolest are on my nephew Asher, who has funky boots that light up when he stomps. He and Abby (my niece) are just so rugged up with fleece and puffy jackets when we go outside, its very cute. And its very cold. And it gets dark at 5pm. A huge change for a girl who has been seeing sunsets at 9pm and who got sunburnt last weekend. So I freeze in this country, but also itch because I am "peeling". What an odd phenomenon.
Bryce arrives late on Friday night, so it will be great when he gets to see the winter Christmas we have been gifted this year. Lots of fun plans ahead. Will keep you posted.

Movember is over.....

So I liked the Mo while it was here, but after Bryce shaved it, I must say, I'm happy the old look is back. He no longer looks like he should be wearing a sombrero, or driving a big old motorbike, so it's good.
The night he shaved it off, he decided to do a Mo-Show and shaved off little bits and then showed off the "new look". Pretty creepy at times, but a good laugh. Thought I should share....