Back on-island after spending Christmas with B's aunt/uncle/cousin/grandparents in Prince Rupert. We had the ferry all to ourselves on the trip over (maybe 8 other cars onboard) and it was the smoothest crossing yet. It was an afternoon voyage which was new for us: usually we spend the 7 hr ride sleeping overnight. We arrived to snowy Prince Rupert! yeah! On Christmas Eve there was a party mid afternoon at uncle B's store (at Harris&Wick Jewelry, we ate sushi!), I went to Evening Mass with auntie M and grandma, back to the house, ate some more and watched movies. On Christmas morning we slept in till 9am (cousin T was sleeping on the futon in the living room so we did not want to wake her too early. Our boys are such great sleeper-iners it was never a problem) had then we had the traditional Christmas W family breakfast of eggs benny; it was fantastic! We had a lovely Christmas dinner with about 15 of us of the H or W relation. After, we went over to another W family house to eat dessert and play shuffleboard. We had a mini tourney: our boys were really good at it. On boxing day there was more hanging out, reading books, playing games... us girls went to see Benjamin Button. It was ok, reminded me of watching Forrest Gump. While in Rupert I made several trips to the grocery store to get pantry/freezer food, we stocked up on dog food, and finished getting the last of the gear needed for fishing. The boys went sledding on the golf course one afternoon with their dad and auntie M. She had to make some calls around town to collect snow gear and sleds but it all worked out OK and they had some fun in the snow! Over the trip I had lots of down time to read my PoCo book club read 'The Time Travellers Wife'; I'm about 3/4 of the way through. We took the Sunday midnight ferry back to the island (B and I were fully dosed on gravol. It was a rocky night sleeping on the airmatress with D. J got the bench) and we arrived in snowy Skidegate. The roads were compact snow but it was really dry and not too slick so we made decent time up-island, picked up the dogs and got home about 9am. Needless to say we had a lazy day yesterday unpacking, doing laundry and napping :) B has another week off work. He does not go back till the kids go to school. We have about 6in of snow here and more is on the way. It is so flat there is no problem getting around and with no traffic or rush hour, the weather never causes any problems. It was particularly quiet around town this week because there was a big Basketball tourney 'The 36th annual Christmas Classic' in the Village. D and I went to watch the final this evening. Masset vs Skidegate. We lost :(
Not sure what our plans are for New Years tomorrow night... we got some dry ribs, pot stickers and Strongbow ready to go. I think we will rent a movie, play some cards and pretend we are in the cabin in Princeton :) Maybe we do some skype-ing too!
That's all for now. Our lights have been flickering, I will download some pics tomorrow.
XO n
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
last week of school in 2008
I thought I should get another post up before next week when the festivities start!
My parents left Monday to snowy Vancouver and we have had cold, breezy weather here all week. No rain and no snow. The air is really dry, which I think is quite unusual for this time of year.
Thanks for all the Christmas cards sent our way... the fridge is covered with cards and photos. Nice to know you are thinking of us :)
Last night we had the boys Winter Concert at school complete with some songs and poems about baby Jesus. It was quite refreshing to hear about the gift of Jesus to the world at a school Christmas concert.
D's class sang 'What a Wonderful World'. So it goes 'I see trees of green, red roses too... ' (can you hear me singing?) and a few kids hold up their green trees and red roses made of big cut-out cardboard... 'skies of blue, clouds of white...' And D and a few others standing in the back hold up these big puffy white cotton-ball clouds on long rulers. The whole stage was filled with visual props by the end of the song. I was pretty cool.
J's class sang John Lennon's 'Happy Christmas' song along with the CD. I think we hear this song at a school concert every year... on wikipedia is says this song was recorded in 1971 and it is a protest song about the Vietnam war. I do not think elementary kids are taught about the Vietnam war or about Lennon. I find it a bit political to be a kids Christmas concert song. I dunno, just my 2 bits!
This morning I went to school early to help with the Pancake Breakfast at 9am. I was the egg cracker and scrambler. During the food serving, I was the syrup dispenser so that there was less syrup over-use/mess/stickiness everywhere! I have not helped with a pancake breakfast at school before but I was quite impressed to see fabric table clothes (the school has a washer/dryer) and we used real plates (the staff room has 2 dishwashers). Saving funds and keeping garbage out of the landfill on the island. great!
I am going to B's work lunch today in the village, should be fun! Maybe I should put on my tacky Christmas sweater, flashing earrings and Santa hat?? oh, I forgot to bring that box up here, too bad :)
If I do not get another blog up before Christmas... have a relaxing holiday with family and friends and enjoy your time together. XO n
'For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace'
Isaiah 9:6
My parents left Monday to snowy Vancouver and we have had cold, breezy weather here all week. No rain and no snow. The air is really dry, which I think is quite unusual for this time of year.
Thanks for all the Christmas cards sent our way... the fridge is covered with cards and photos. Nice to know you are thinking of us :)
Last night we had the boys Winter Concert at school complete with some songs and poems about baby Jesus. It was quite refreshing to hear about the gift of Jesus to the world at a school Christmas concert.
D's class sang 'What a Wonderful World'. So it goes 'I see trees of green, red roses too... ' (can you hear me singing?) and a few kids hold up their green trees and red roses made of big cut-out cardboard... 'skies of blue, clouds of white...' And D and a few others standing in the back hold up these big puffy white cotton-ball clouds on long rulers. The whole stage was filled with visual props by the end of the song. I was pretty cool.
J's class sang John Lennon's 'Happy Christmas' song along with the CD. I think we hear this song at a school concert every year... on wikipedia is says this song was recorded in 1971 and it is a protest song about the Vietnam war. I do not think elementary kids are taught about the Vietnam war or about Lennon. I find it a bit political to be a kids Christmas concert song. I dunno, just my 2 bits!
This morning I went to school early to help with the Pancake Breakfast at 9am. I was the egg cracker and scrambler. During the food serving, I was the syrup dispenser so that there was less syrup over-use/mess/stickiness everywhere! I have not helped with a pancake breakfast at school before but I was quite impressed to see fabric table clothes (the school has a washer/dryer) and we used real plates (the staff room has 2 dishwashers). Saving funds and keeping garbage out of the landfill on the island. great!
I am going to B's work lunch today in the village, should be fun! Maybe I should put on my tacky Christmas sweater, flashing earrings and Santa hat?? oh, I forgot to bring that box up here, too bad :)
If I do not get another blog up before Christmas... have a relaxing holiday with family and friends and enjoy your time together. XO n
'For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace'
Isaiah 9:6
Saturday, December 13, 2008
December update
It has been over a week since the last post... I guess I have not been at the computer much lately :) Should I dare say I've been 'busy'? The evenings of the first week of December I had volleyball, basketball, a PAC meeting and a family Wii nite. I also had to finish weaving a basket, figure out my Christmas card picture, and get ready for my parents visit! Last weekend we drove out to North Beach with a few other beach rigs to have a hot dog roast and do some agate picking. It was a non-windy day, overcast clouds, about 7C; hard to believe it was December.
My parents arrived on Wednesday and we are having a good time. We've baked pies, (Wrestler got 90% of the cherry pie one afternoon when we were out), played cards, went for a walk in the rain, had lunch at Seabreeze... seen all my daily stops around town. Yesterday we had D's b-day party and it was quite the housefull! He had 3 of his buddies over for burgers/hot dogs/chocolate mousse cake (that my mom brought from PoMo) and we watched the new Narnia movie.
This morning it was crisp and clear and we had lots to do since today was Christmas at our house! B made a big breakfast then we (everyone but J and B) checked out the craft sale in the village and the one in town, back home for lunch, put the turkey in the oven, and then we went out to Tow Hill to see the blow hole at high tide and drive North Beach for a bit. High tide was a couple hours ago so it should be ok....sure it was windy and cold but the sky was blue. A great outside day! At the trailhead to get on the beach the water was still high. The wind was howling the waves were crashing in, there was no beach to drive on and the high water had totally eroded the trailhead onto the beach; it was barricaded with logs and stumps... no driving today.
So off to the hiking trail and the blow hole we went. The trees were swaying, branches were flying, Wrestler jumped into the river and 2 mins after had ice forming on his fur... no hiking either. We stopped at Agate beach and found a wind protected place to check out the wave/wind action. B made us a fire but we could hardly feel it. The boys found a few agates and razor clam shells. Did I say it was really cold and windy??
My parents arrived on Wednesday and we are having a good time. We've baked pies, (Wrestler got 90% of the cherry pie one afternoon when we were out), played cards, went for a walk in the rain, had lunch at Seabreeze... seen all my daily stops around town. Yesterday we had D's b-day party and it was quite the housefull! He had 3 of his buddies over for burgers/hot dogs/chocolate mousse cake (that my mom brought from PoMo) and we watched the new Narnia movie.
This morning it was crisp and clear and we had lots to do since today was Christmas at our house! B made a big breakfast then we (everyone but J and B) checked out the craft sale in the village and the one in town, back home for lunch, put the turkey in the oven, and then we went out to Tow Hill to see the blow hole at high tide and drive North Beach for a bit. High tide was a couple hours ago so it should be ok....sure it was windy and cold but the sky was blue. A great outside day! At the trailhead to get on the beach the water was still high. The wind was howling the waves were crashing in, there was no beach to drive on and the high water had totally eroded the trailhead onto the beach; it was barricaded with logs and stumps... no driving today.
So off to the hiking trail and the blow hole we went. The trees were swaying, branches were flying, Wrestler jumped into the river and 2 mins after had ice forming on his fur... no hiking either. We stopped at Agate beach and found a wind protected place to check out the wave/wind action. B made us a fire but we could hardly feel it. The boys found a few agates and razor clam shells. Did I say it was really cold and windy??
Back home for our turkey feast. Nana was surprised at how much J ate. He is as tall as her now so he must be growing! We gave/opened gifts (the boys were excited to give theirs, they worked hard on them :) finished the apple pie and b-day cake, played some more cards and now the guys are racing in some Xbox game, nana is reading and I get to send a blog.
So that is the last 12 days around here.
This December I have missed my baking days, wreath making, cookie exchange, 'moms and kids' party with my friends....miss you girls.
But we've got a few cards in the mail this week and I put some decorations up around the house so it is starting to feel like Christmas around here. It is has been cold and icy; it definitely feels like winter. There is one more week of school and the boys have a Christmas concert on Thursday evening and a big breakfast at school on Friday. B has almost 2 weeks off over Christmas/New Years and we will be heading to Rupert to visit the family there.
that's all for now,
XO n
Monday, December 1, 2008
weather forecast, tow hill, puddle
Clear blue skys this am, a bit chilly but no frost on the truck. Looks like Mon to Wed will be outside running days... see forecast below. Yeah!
Forecast for Monday Queen Charlotte, Canada
Link
There is a 0% chance of precipitation. Partly cloudy. Cold. Temperature of 3°C. Winds N 25km. Humidity will be 73% with a dewpoint of -1° and feels-like temperature of -1°C. High: 3°C Low: 2°C
Forecast for Tuesday Queen Charlotte, Canada
Link
There is a 0% chance of precipitation. Partly cloudy. Cool. Temperature of 3°C. Winds N 16km. Humidity will be 76% with a dewpoint of -1° and feels-like temperature of 0°C. High: 3°C Low: 2°C
Forecast for Wednesday Queen Charlotte, Canada
Link
There is a 0% chance of precipitation. Partly cloudy. Cool. Temperature of 6°C. Winds E 15km. Humidity will be 75% with a dewpoint of 2° and feels-like temperature of 3°C. High: 6°C Low: 3°C
We went to Tow Hill yesterday afternoon and showed B the campsite at Agate Beach that the boys and I and cousin Mel stayed at 2 summers ago. But it is tough to find Agates there, all picked over by the tourists! We hiked in to the blow hole at high tide, just a the right time to see the spray then stopped for brunch at the Trout House. We had heard about the great burgers there but since it was Sunday, they were serving an all day brunch. Maybe next Saturday we will go for burgers.
There was also a lesson learned about puddles this week. 'you can not tell much about a puddle by just looking at it' as quoted by J. Never thought that the word 'puddle' could have a negative association with it. It is such a cheerful, cute word. Like 'cuddle'... Just glad I was not there and glad it did not happen to me! I have learned my lesson to be wary of puddles through their mishap. Thankfully it was not salt water and that the truck made it home in working condition.
Forecast for Monday Queen Charlotte, Canada
Link
There is a 0% chance of precipitation. Partly cloudy. Cold. Temperature of 3°C. Winds N 25km. Humidity will be 73% with a dewpoint of -1° and feels-like temperature of -1°C. High: 3°C Low: 2°C
Forecast for Tuesday Queen Charlotte, Canada
Link
There is a 0% chance of precipitation. Partly cloudy. Cool. Temperature of 3°C. Winds N 16km. Humidity will be 76% with a dewpoint of -1° and feels-like temperature of 0°C. High: 3°C Low: 2°C
Forecast for Wednesday Queen Charlotte, Canada
Link
There is a 0% chance of precipitation. Partly cloudy. Cool. Temperature of 6°C. Winds E 15km. Humidity will be 75% with a dewpoint of 2° and feels-like temperature of 3°C. High: 6°C Low: 3°C
We went to Tow Hill yesterday afternoon and showed B the campsite at Agate Beach that the boys and I and cousin Mel stayed at 2 summers ago. But it is tough to find Agates there, all picked over by the tourists! We hiked in to the blow hole at high tide, just a the right time to see the spray then stopped for brunch at the Trout House. We had heard about the great burgers there but since it was Sunday, they were serving an all day brunch. Maybe next Saturday we will go for burgers.
There was also a lesson learned about puddles this week. 'you can not tell much about a puddle by just looking at it' as quoted by J. Never thought that the word 'puddle' could have a negative association with it. It is such a cheerful, cute word. Like 'cuddle'... Just glad I was not there and glad it did not happen to me! I have learned my lesson to be wary of puddles through their mishap. Thankfully it was not salt water and that the truck made it home in working condition.
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