Great Girls on the Mountain

So what do you do 'up the mountain' if you don't ski?   I have found myself in the food hall most mornings blogging, checking emails, face booking, sewing and reading. On quiet days  I've had my head in a novel. Other days I've had people come 'visit' with me and share where they are from and their skiing adventures. 

One little girl, Sierra, stole my heart.  Her family had come into the hall for lunch and seemed quite weary.  Sierra, on the other hand, was a live wire.  She chatted about her Christmas gifts, her pets and what she wanted to be when she grows up.  She became so friendly with me that by the end of their lunch break she was sitting comfortably on my knee telling me which coloured 'yarn' to use for my sewing piece.  She also suggested I get some skiing lessons so I could go out and ski with my family.  'Was this a little angel's prompting?', I briefly asked myself.  'Nah'.  Even if I did have some lessons I would never keep up with my amazingly talented family zipping down the hills.  

Instead I have been happy to remain indoors with a hot drink in hand.  The 'Girl's in the food hall have spoilt us; always serving up the most delicious drinks- whether it be a flat white, tea, latte, hot chocolate, apple & caramel macchiato or even a london fog. 

One of our friendly 'baristas', Terri

It's been great to spend some time with the 'girls' during the quiet times.  Most are Australian and it's nice to sit and chat and hear where they are from and how they are going on their working holiday here in Canada.  Neale had a D&M with one great girl from Perth and now she's even following our travels on the blog! 

In the food hall with friend Annie

Today is the last day up the mountain.  We won't miss the early mornings to get up here but we will miss the most spectacular views and long runs which are just unheard of in Australia.

Our White Christmas is nearly over.  

Tomorrow we will begin our second adventure as we head down to the States.  

Theatre in the Woods

Friday:  This evening's highlight was going to see a quirky play set out in the woods.  

Caravan Farm Theatre:  We all rugged up in our snow gear and took an evening drive 'out bush' to where the production would be performed.  

10 sleds, 18 people per sleighs, 20 horses, jingling sleigh bells, and light falling snow made for a magical night of outdoor theatre as we moved from scene to scene through the woods.

Magical Memory Making Moments.

White Christmas Celebrations-

 Canadian Style

Monday afternoon:  After our trip up the mountain for snowboarding lessons we headed back down to the house for a music soiree with some lovely neighbours, Naroumi (Concert violinist) & John (guitarist).  

Neale playing with Mya

We sang our way through the afternoon as well as being entertained by their gorgeous children Aya (3) and Mya (10mths).  Aya also plays violin but chose not to play on this particular day.  For those who are musical- her violin is 1/16!  For the rest of us- her violin is itsy bitsy-teeny weeny!  

Crown of thorns in the manger

In the evening we went to one of the local churches, Vernon Alliance Church, for their Christmas Eve service.  It was just like sipping an ice cool drink on a hot day- refreshing; refreshing to be with God's people (yes, we found some young people in Vernon at last),  hear God's Word in a fresh & visual way by their Scottish Pastor, enjoy watching an Artist worship God through painting and laugh at the corny but well done skit about Christmas needing to be simple.  It put us all in the right frame of mind for Christmas Day.

Tuesday:  Merry Christmas!  

Bob carving his 1st turkey

(Or as Aidan prefers to say) Happy Jesus' Birthday!

What a great day- reading the Christmas story in bed with the kids, opening presents, hot breakfast ('Wife Saver' made by Darlene, our head chef), setting up the Kobos/ eReaders for the kids & Darlene (Hay read a full length book in 4 1/2 hrs!), organising and devouring our yummy, traditional Christmas dinner and relaxing, watching Christmas television shows including Dr Who and lots of Christmas Friends episodes.  

Meredith family Christmas dinner

Wednesday:  Neale & Aidan went up the mountain to ski.  They had the best father/son time.  Aidan came home beaming and Neale says he will treasure that day forever. 

Bob stayed home to have a break from all the festivities and Darlene and I took Hayley shopping!  I was a little apprehensive about going to my 1st Boxing Day sale.  Not a fan of crowds or consumerism (especially the day after Christmas).  But I did need to exchange a gift and Darlene wanted Hayley to choose her own Christmas outfit.  It ended up not being too busy and we enjoyed watching Hayley touch and feel and enjoy her shopping experience.

Thursday:  We're up the mountain today.  I've got my usual place in the lunch room, hot drink in hand, looking out over the mountain watching the little kids skiing on the training slope.  They are so cute.  The waitresses come over occasionally to chat while it's quiet; most of them are Australian. 

I've been checking emails and have found out that my work was broken into while I've been away.  Mixed emotions over about that.  Sad it happened and that it inconvenienced my boss.  Happy I was on holidays at the time.  I'm actually starting to miss all our regular patients.  Neale is so relaxed and definitely not thinking about work.  We are all looking forward to the next stage of our holiday experience as we head to the US on Sunday.  

New Adventures on the Hill

Sunday afternoon

We went tubing (pronounced 'toobing')
You are 'towed' up to the top of the hill in your tube and then pushed/spun as you head down the hill.

Afterwards we went back to friends' (from Sydney) rental house on the hill.  Their  9 & 7 yr olds love skiing and we enjoyed spending some time with other 'Aussies'.






































Monday morning (Christmas Eve)

We headed up the hill early this morning so the kids could have snowboarding lessons.  Initially Hayley said she'd do it because Aidan was but then they were put in different classes.  Aidan was Level 4 as he'd boarded before.  He was only one of two in his class and the other person was a girl called Blake who is the granddaughter of Annie & Frank (Bob & Darlene's friends).   Hayley was level 1 and moved through to level 3 quickly.

Once they come in off the hill we'll have an update on how they went.