I Dream of Camping

Last weekend we headed out to Sandy McNab to scope out the 'new and improved' camp sites, not that it's time just yet, but it won't be long. This campground has added power to it's sites and has enlarged them as well. It makes it easier for parking as well as opening slides and awnings, not to mention giving more space for spreading out a little.

Happy dog... (all photos can be clicked on to enlarge them)

There's something animated about this tree and I couldn't pass by without capturing it.

Man and dog

Sliding down a hill sans a sled.

Lean on me...

Monkeying around

Me and my sister... ahem... my sister and I.

Skiing

The girls have taken ski lessons at Canada Olympic Park twice since Christmas and this was the first time we'd been out as a family since then. (I'm hoping the pictures on my phone will upload so we can get photos of Scott in here too!) There was some 'fussing' over falls but when we turned skiing into a game - tag - the distraction was great enough to cause great fun for all.

The girls did brilliantly, well we all did, just in different categories. Scott did brilliantly in tumbles!

A good day was had by all. Look, no mittens! Oh, and note the helmets on the girls. Emily and I went to this same hill this past Friday with her grade and it was the first time I'd been offered a helmet EVER. I'm glad for this though - I did accept - and thankfully didn't have any need for it. Better this way than not having had one and having needed it.

Bubbles Capuccino Crawford

In the second week of January the girls spent some Christmas money and added four feet to our home. Four very small feet. Introducing Bubbles Capuccino Crawford!

EDIT - Bubbles has had a name change... well, more of an addition really. She now shall be known as Bubbles Capuccino Panzerotti Crawford! :)

Jan 5 Skiing at C.O.P

Another great day! Because Katie is in grade 4 she qualifies for a Snowpass; an initiative which gives grade 4 & 5 kids a free ski pass ($22 administrative cost) valid until they're done grade 5. Canada Olympic Park adds a little something to that by offering a free ski lesson and rentals for the first 2 times the child comes to the park.
Mel and I took the girls to COP so they could have a lesson (more of a refresher for them; it's been a couple years since they've been on skiis). Both did well and we'll likely go back tomorrow after school for their 2nd lesson. I need to wear them out so they get back into a school routine where you go to bed before (at least) 11!

Gone are the days of tow ropes and t-bar lifts! This a crazy carpet which transports the skier up in a standing position. Nice!

Jan 2 Sandy McNab sledding

On January 2 we had a family reunion of sorts in K-Country. I'm not sure how comfortable everyone is in seeing their names on the internet (my blog) so I'll not go into details but 3 generations were represented. On the drive there I was looking for snow and it wasn't until we parked at Sandy McNab group camping area that I was shown the snow packed road (now closed) which had about a 60 degree turn at the 1/2 way point. Some made that turn successfully, others stopped and re-aligned themselves before continuing. A good time was had by all. We enjoyed a temp of about 8-10 degrees (yes, ABOVE zero), and the sun beating down on us. Glorious.

Happy New Year!

Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of - infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. Ephesians 3:20

A larger backyard

On Grey Cup Sunday (YAY Lions!) Calgary was hit with winds between 70 and 100+ km/h. Homes lost shingles, Christmas decorations/lights and even 40' tall trees. We however, lost 4-8' panels of fence.

This shows from the neighbors yard looking toward ours. The posts actually snapped at the ground leaving the bottom of the post still encased in cement secure within the frozen ground.

The fence's fall was broken by our downspout (no damage to the siding) and my maple shrub. While about 1/4 of the shrub has been sacrificied, it's fine and like a seat back on a plane about to land, it has returned to its full upright position. It looks like we'll be building a new fence in the spring.