Lussier Hot Springs

Invermere is sandwiched between Radium Hot Springs and Fairmont. Both nice spots and as nice as i is to sit in the hot pools at Radium it always seems to be over flowing with tourists ... oh and did I mention the cover charge to get in!? Times 5. BOO. Instead of the over crowded, over priced Radium we went au natural and made our way to Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park to Lussier Hot Springs. It's a small group of hot pools located at the base of the river. The top pool being the hottest and each pool getting cooler the closer you get to the river. We've been before when Brayden was 7 months old but shortly after that they got flooded out and destroyed. Thankfully they've been rebuilt and ready for the public to enjoy ... for free and far better scenery!

We parked off the road and made the kids use the freezing cold porta-potties before carefully making our way down the ice covered path to the pools. Once at the pools we quickly stripped down in the freezing cold to our suits and jumped in the stinging hot water. We went early enough in the day there weren't a bunch of people there (I think at most 2 other vehicles) and we had a pool to ourselves pretty much the entire time. The only bad thing about finding a place off the beaten road is the getting out into the piles of snow in your bare feet, dripping wet, drying off as quickly as possible and trying to run up that semi-steep path covered in a shiny sheet of ice as quickly as possible without falling face first into the snow. This was not what I wanted to be doing 5 minutes after getting into the water and settled into a semi state of relaxation when my beautiful little girl looked up at me with those big clear eyes of hers and told me she needed to "pee real bad."
Looking at her, quickly looking up the snowy hill towards the porta potties and back to Madison I desperately tried to negotiate with her:
"Just go in the water"
Her eyes start to get frantic "NOOOOOOOO" and I can tell it goes against everything she's been taught since potty training.
"Please Maddy, it's ok. This is a special kind of pool."
Again, "NoooOOOooo." She's not budging in her decision.
What do I do!? I know, I'll tell Ryan. Maybe he'll take the hike up the hill with her if I'm lucky. "Ryan, Maddy needs to pee real bad."
He just kind of rolls his eyes as if to say sucks to be you.
Finally he takes her to the tiny warm pool off to the side making it the potty pool. He has to take her swim suit bottoms off and sit her in it as if she's sitting on the toilet and off she goes. Crisis adverted!
After sitting in those hot pools for a while you start to get over heated and there were a couple of quick fixes: jumping into the ice cold river or just dumping big chunks of ice from the ice cold river into the hot pool with you. Trust me, it works.

Natures Ice Rink

I don't know why I don't take the kids ice skating!? They love it and they are pretty good. I had bought a couple of ice skating guides to help the kids keep their balance before we took off for the weekend which was perfect at the lake. At the ice rink they have pylons or chairs to use but on a lake it was great to have something. They took off without reservation. Sydney can get going pretty quick if she has something to lean on. Brayden has only been skating one time before and used the guide at first to get his footing and then he took off. He was so proud of himself and you could see how much he was enjoying it on his face. It was so fun to watch. Madison doesn't have skates but she ran around on the ice and played around just fine.

It is just so beautiful down on the lake with the mountains everywhere you look. It's nice to get out of the city sometimes and remember how amazing this world is and breathe in that fresh air. It was just amazing to get out there, watch the kids and see the views even if my toes were freezing off in my mesh toed runners. Totally worth it!

Canadian Hockey

This is how hockey is meant to be played ... a cleared off patch of ice on a lake surrounded by mountains!

Finally! Snow!

Thankfully this year it hasn't been too cold yet. We definitely need the time to thicken up our blood and adjust back into these low temperatures after being spoiled for so long in the Philippines. Even though I appreciate the mild winter we've had so far I do miss the snow, especially the 'white' Christmas part of it. Brown Christmas with the dead grass, leaf less trees, and wind just is not pretty, just bland. After Christmas we went to Invermere for a few days to get out of town and a change of scenery. The moment I got excited and new it was going to be a great few days was when the scenery changed from brown to white!

Lots and lots of amazing white snow. The drive went smoothly with a few pit stops to get out and move our legs. At one spot there was a creek with a path packed down from cross country ski tracks up into the mountains. The snow was a few feet deep, more snow then we've seen all season in Lethbridge. The kids jumped out of the van and ran up and down the snow piles, threw some snow balls at each other (or more like Ryan threw snow balls at them) and when it was time to pile back into the van we had to brush the snow off their pants clinging up to their knees. While the kids ran around the parking lot happy with the amount of snow there I ran through piles of my own snow to find the bridge crossing the creek to take some pictures of the amazing untouched white white stuff surrounded by the snow topped trees. Maybe I was just a little excited because it's been a while since I've seen that much snow BUT it really was beautiful I couldn't resist! Usually the best views are off the beaten path but totally worth the extra few steps to get there, such a beautiful place.

The drive went smooth, the kids were distracted enough that it seemed relatively painless for them and we arrived with enough time to let them run for a little bit before getting them settle and into bed with promises of swimming and skating on the lake in the next few days. Yay!

Neighbours

We have one neighbour thanks to our corner lot and paved alley and she's amazing. She's always bringing over treats for the kids and Sage (the cat). Halloween she packs each of my kids a special bag of treats with a toy or two in there for them, she gave Brayden a big cardboard box of all the old LEGO she was getting rid of and since she's on her own she LOVES to chat. You need to give yourself a good half hour if you are going over to say hello but her stories are interesting and she has a lot of history to share growing up in Germany. Two brothers died in WWII and the third was lost for a few years until the end of the war in a concentration camp. This year before Christmas she brought over a poinsettia, chocolates, her daughter brought us a Christmas tray filled with home made treats and she got the kids a gingerbread house. In return we shovel her sidewalk and keep an eye out on her since she's getting up there in years and her husband is in a care home. The arrangement seems to work out for everyone.
So thanks Mrs. Hunter, the kids loved decorating this:

Fa la la la la

I think it's amazing the time and effort people put into the kids school Christmas Concert this year. They had two performances, a matinee and an evening performance which made for a very long day for the kids and it was perfect. The whole student body stayed on stage (except for the two kindergarten classes who left to put on their little angel costumes) and they all sat patiently waiting for their turn to get up to sing. It was a short program that went smoothly, the perfect length, with great songs. I think what I thought was great was that they didn't forget why we have Christmas. It seems that so many of the stores don't wish you a Merry Christmas, just a happy holidays to make things politically correct, and it takes the whole Christmas Spirit out of it for me. There is something magical about so many people uniting for the same occasion together. If someone were to wish me a Happy Hanukkah it would in no way offend me so what's the big deal!? Spread the cheer people. Anyway - side rant over ...
The kids Christmas concert still had a nativity and even though they had fun songs they also had some great Christmas songs reminding us the real reason we have Christmas. There were some songs that made me laugh, Brayden had a one liner into the microphone to say in front of everyone and he was loud and clear (I'm a proud mom) and Sydney almost brought me to tears when the kindergarteners came out glowing in their angel costumes during the nativity scene because really, when you are that young you are pretty innocent and pure like an angel.

When it was over and the kids were getting ready for bed Brayden turns to me and says "mom, I'm SO tired of singing."
I don't blame the poor guy! But, they were awesome.

He Rocks My World

Different cultures have different taste preferences. India tends to go spicy, North Americans like salty, South Pacific Islands love their root veg and the Philippines adds sugar to everything. The Philippines has a fast food restaurant named Jollibee that I would say is McDonalds main competition or the other way around. They serve lots of deep fried meals with rice, sweet style spaghetti, meat on a stick, fast food steak in gravy, and burgers that just don't taste quite like what we're used to. They have THE best spicy chicken joy hands down. Deep fried KFC style chicken with rice. It is so spicy and delicious picked apart with your hands and mixed with their cooked to perfection ball of rice wrapped in paper. YUM.
Aside from the mouth watering Chicken Joy the Jollibee mascot, The Jollibee, can not compare to Ronald McDonald, Wendy or the Burger King crown. It is SHUT THE FRONT DOOR awe-mazing. To prove it I am sharing this video of the Jollibee dancing at a birthday party. This is no joke. Although I have never seen the Jollibee perform this exact dance number I have seen him dance, and it's just as draw dropping good as this is so please enjoy!!!
PS It only gets better and better.

The Christmas Wall

I love the smell of a real Christmas tree, there is just something magical about it. Memories maybe, that pine scent that screams mountain air, I just love it. We had a real tree every Christmas growing up and I even remember going up into the mountains to cut our own tree down one year. So do I feel guilty about robbing my children of those same real tree experiences by purchasing our 'fake' tree this year? Not one bit.
Real tree's that I saw this year are $45. To spend that every year just wasn't seeming like the best financial plan especially when I got a 7' tree that is so thick and full for that same amount! Yay to used items.
We don't have a lot of Christmas decorations. Brayden has been bummed out this year at the lack of Christmas in the house but I'll just blame being gone for the last 5 years and slowly start building up the decorations from this Christmas on. We set up our 5 nativities, put up the lights, decorated the tree and that's about it. I ended up buying a wreath for the front door and that's pretty impressive for us.... our very first wreath. So the tree, lights and nativities are all up on one wall. 1/3 of the room. It's the Christmas wall and it looks fabulous and it's just enough Christmas for me.
The cat is pretty excited about the tree, almost as excited the kids. It's her playground. She climbs up the trunk and swats at the decorations trying to get them off the tree. Thankfully all our decoration are hand made or hand me downs from the 60's and so nothing too valuable to worry about and so far nothing broken.
So cheers. I hope Christmas comes quick because we're ready for it!

Sick Days That Force Stolen Creativity

Our girls have come down with a croup sounding cough. It really sucks to wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of a dog barking only to realize it's your kid. Sydney was so scared when she woke up coughing that she starting crying not understanding why that awful noise was coming out of her. Hearing it makes my chest hurt, my poor girls.
We had a very lazy day of sitting around and training Madison how to properly use the tissue box for her nose. The thing that sucks the most about these kinds of colds is you can still kind of do 'stuff' but you can't really do 'stuff' either. They were really lethargic but had a little more energy then sitting on the couch doing nothing kind of thing.
So what do you do? You go on pinterest and steal other peoples creativity. I know I've blogged about Pinterest before but it really has a lot of great easy idea's for days like yesterday. I have a craft shelf on the top and almost out of reach parts of our book shelf that was stocked with paper and paints so those were the type of crafts I was going for. We did some pretty generic stuff, Brayden brought up a huge cardboard box from the basement cutting arm and head holes out of it and made himself a robot shell and Sydney did her thing along side him. Maddy napped.
So here are some of the cute things we made thanks to pinterest which was how I got through the entire day inside my house. Today .... it's 10am and I'm already going crazy BUT I've got a list that can't wait so outside world, here I come!

On Dasher, On Cupid, On Donner and Blitzen

Ryan had heard on the radio that Santa would be arriving at the Park Place Mall Saturday night with his reindeer! I guess this is an annual thing but it was the first we'd ever heard of it and we were not going to pass on the chance to see Santa's real live reindeer, especially after watching the old Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer movie a few weeks ago. To be honest I was way more excited then the kids were because they had no idea what was going to happen and I think they were expecting to see little cartoons like the ones from the movie.
We set up camp right beside the pen for the reindeer because honestly ... we could see Santa any other day but the reindeer were a "one night only" kind of big deal. It was perfect. They announced Santa was in the building and all these hyper children and their exhausted parents stood there waiting and watching and then the cheering started. We couldn't see him but we knew he was there! Finally Santa was in our sites as he lead his reindeer into the pen and went and took his seat at the Santa display with one of his Reindeer (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer? I have no idea who the lucky reindeer was) and hunkered in for a long night of pictures and kids listing off their greedy idea's of what they want for Christmas.
Brayden had a melt down when we said it was time to leave. I guess we didn't state clearly enough all day long that we were going for the reindeer only and that talking to Santa would be saved for a different day. Not his best moment but I guess I did take a little pleasure in the fact that he was upset enough to obviously still believe in the magic of Santa.
As we were walking back to the Van one of the Reindeer was out for a walk and posing for pictures for some lucky kids. We totally were all over that action!

It was totally worth the late night. We only had to stand around for 30 minutes before Santa arrived and we ran into some friends which made the wait shorter and the kids burned off quite the amount of energy playing tag during that wait.
I am SO excited to plop the kids on Santa's lap and see what kind of picture we get this year!!!

You Yell "Fore," Shoot Six, and Write Down Five - Paul Harvey

We took the kids mini golfing on Friday to celebrate Ryan finishing up his work day in the early afternoon. I had decided that it was going to go one of two ways. Madison would freak out and get frustrated with the whole thing or she'd love it and not really care what was going on and be happy just to have a club of her own. She went with the latter which was the route I was hoping for. Her club was just her size and she would just plop her golf ball down wherever she felt like it and tap it into the hole. She stayed out of the way when she needed to and did an amazing job fetching my ball out of the hole and bringing it to me and of course it helps that she's just so dang cute.
Brayden just seemed to be an all star. I don't think it ever took him more then three shots putts to get it into the hole and at the end hole he plopped it right into the middle slot winning himself a free round. As quickly as he picked it up it was a little annoying to hear him brag for the rest of the night and flaunt that free ticket around with him. Maybe i'm just jealous he beat me?
Sydney seemed to prefer to take a Happy Gilmore approach to golf and attack the ball like a slap shot at the puck. Since Friday's we do a movie as a way to end off the school/work week and the movie this day was "Tooth Fiary" which stars Dwayne Johnson as a hockey player, I'm pretty sure that's where she picked up that swing of hers. At least she had no problems getting the golf ball down the green towards the hole, it was the lightly tapping in that seemed to be a challenge.
Other then it being the coldest day to date for us Filipino's in a long long time, it was a good day! Lots of fun to get out of the house together as a family and just relax and have a good time. The bonus, we have to go back at some point to redeem Brayden's free coupon. Hopefully the next time it will be just as fun.

Filipino Nativity

Our first Christmas in the Philippines, which we thought would be our only, we stumbled across this great nativity. We loved it mostly because it had a Lechon (pig on a spit) which is totally Filipino. The characters were also wearing traditional Filipino costume and one man was carrying a rooster. It was very much Filipino and we loved that. It was huge though and super expensive so we couldn't justify the purchase. Every year after that around Christmas time we would bring up the nativity and contemplate purchasing it with the possibility of it being our last Christmas in the Philippines. Each year we couldn't bring ourselves to justify the cost of the purchase and so we just coveted it from a distance.
Ryan's very last trip to the Philippines was a few weeks ago and he mentioned that maybe we could get that nativitiy with the Lechon. This time it wasn't just the cost on my mind but the problem of getting it home. They recently went and slashed luggage allowance and we knew with excess things he had picked up for friends of ours we were already well over the allowance. Ryan decided to go to the store and see what good fortune his negotiating skills could provide for us. I have to admit he did all right. I think the amount that he saved was the amount it cost us to get our excess luggage home which every peso saved helps.
Sadly a few pieces didn't make it home as in tact as we'd hoped. The angels wings busted off, the pig on the spit was broken into at least 3 pieces and the caribow's horns were no longer sharp BUT with Ryan's amazing hands he glued it all perfectly and we got some good touch up paint and now it's like new.
It's huge, it's busy with colours and animals but it's Filipino and wouldn't be Filipino any other way. The different styles of clothing worn are beautiful and a part of their history. The pig, the man cuddling his rooster, the ducks and caribow are something we saw everyday and wouldn't ever think twice about seeing. It has been the last 5 amazing years of our lives and the memories and warm fuzzies it brings me every time I look at it were worth the money spent. It sits on reeds in the corner next to some sands from the Phiippine waters and our Philippines outdoor broom next to the fireplace. We are SO proudly Filipino/Canadian!

First Real Snow

A little while ago we bought the kids some snow shovels of their own at Toys R Us. They've been pretty excited to try them out but other then the littlest skiff of snow there hadn't been anything shovel worthy. Finally that first legit snow fell from the sky and as soon as the kids were home from school they were outside shovelling away. They were out and then in and then back out some more making the absolute most of the snow fall. I finally had to force them inside because we were going to families for dinner. I have to say that for $5/shovel it was the best $10 i've spent in a long time.
Hopefully this excitement doesn't dwindle as the real cold sets in and the snow gets old but I guess I should just be happy and thankfully take what I can get. Besides it's the middle of November already!

The Price They Pay

I think that one of my talents is my compassion. I used to be a little embarrassed about how I would cry at a Hallmark commercial or random tears would form in my eyes while I watched an elderly person walk solo past my house everyday thinking that he might be on his own having already buried his long time companion. Now I guess I've just come to except the fact that I'm a cryer. Often upon hearing bad news I don't know what to do to help or what words of wisdom to offer but I can easily share my tears.
I think that as we get older and gain more life time experiences compassion grows. I also think appreciation for life and our blessings, big and small, becomes deeper. We realize how precious life is, how rare perfect health is becoming and that sometimes we have to sacrifice the things we want for the needs of others. I think i've learned the last since becoming a mother. Parents often sacrifice for their children's safety, health and happiness, but today I don't want to talk about me as a parent; I want to thank those strangers who have fought and sacrificed for me to be free.
I look at my little boy, his freckles, his genuine smile and how he tilts his head to the side when making a goofy grin, his desire to learn and never ending questions. He has a thirst for knowledge and life. I can not imagine sending him off to war. To fight for me, for a stranger, to witness death that way, watching friends and enemies fall by the hands of others and taking away his sweet innocence. I think of Ryan, my rock. I think of those strong women who have said good bye to their husbands and stayed strong for their children knowing the battle their husbands are walking into. My heart aches knowing that some men never make it home and those that have are most likely forever changed.
Canada is a beautiful country. Rocky Mountains, prairies, beautiful lakes and forests. People (mostly American's) make fun of our kindness and politeness but I'm proud to be seen that way. I'm proud to be Canadian because my country is beautiful, diverse, accepting (for the most part) and free. "True North, strong and free."
I'm am SO thankful for the opportunity to set aside a moment today on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month to think off all those who sacrificed their lives, do sacrifice their lives so that my family is free. I'm grateful for those mothers who let their sons leave, those wives who somehow made it through so that I can be a mother to my three amazing children in such an amazing country. Life as I know it is because of those who fought. I'm sure many of you have had family fight for our freedom and today I feel proud to know that someone in my family sacrificed because he loved his wife and son enough to fight for their freedom.
So on Remembrance Day I'd like to say "Lest We Forget."

First Christmas Decoration for The Year

Last year I ordered the Fisher Price Little People Christmas Nativity but it remained unopened because it was in Canada and we were in the Philippines. I was excited to bring it out this year and check it out and it's been sitting in our dining room since August taunting me. A few nights ago the kids were running around the house making tons of noise right before bed time. I was trying to think of something I could do other then read books to settle them down and I decided that setting up the nativity would be perfect.
I just started to open the box up and as they sprinted past me it caught their attention. Within seconds I had 3 pairs of curious eyes staring at me and then moments later 3 sets of little fingers helping me pull out all the little characters. Of course we've always had a nativity or two set up around Christmas time but never one the kids could touch and play with. They set it up themselves, I told them the story and then they played quietly together re-acting it out until it was time for our bedtime routine.
The next morning I woke up to my kids huddled around the nativity lighting the star and dancing to the Christmas tune it sings. It was perfect. I love nativities. I love that I now have one that the kids can play with and act out the Christmas story of Baby Jesus. I love that they love it! I think that every family with small children needs a nativity that they tinker with. It's been out for a few days now and although I do find a random donkey on the kitchen floor or a Joseph in the hall, they are still playing with it and every time they do they are remembering what Christmas is really celebrating.

5 Years

Wow. So 5 years ago this weekend we boarded our first flight to the Philippines. We had no idea what to expect and that probably was a good thing. What was going to be a 6 month stint while waiting for Ryan's US work VISA to come through turned into 5 years and no US work VISA. We took our newly turned 2 year old boy and 6 months old baby girl, took a deep breath and away we flew.
We survived and came back better people then when we left, being the first Focus sent over to the Philippines, they went above and beyond to make sure that we were happy and safe in our new home. We took advantage of the location and tried to see as much as that part of the world as we could travelling around the Philippines and South East Asia. I think that with all the wild and crazy things we did and saw the thing that blows my mind the most is that we left with my two babies and came back with 3, the youngest being older then the oldest was when we left! It is only fitting that Ryan is leaving Bacolod for the last time this weekend to officially mark his 5 years over there and I guess they had one big party his last day/night. I'm sure it was nice to see that he was loved and would be missed.
So we did more then survived, we thrived! Yay for us.

Christmas Countdown

Halloween is over. A good evening with only a little snow that thankfully melted as soon as it hit the ground but it was enough that Madison didn't know what was going on! She's seen snow before but when she was a baby. Nothing that she remembers. She just froze staring at her little hands watching these little white flakes melt on her skin while her teeth chattered away. Now that we're into November I guess we all know it's coming and by it's I mean snow. *knock on wood*
So with this impending weather on the horizon and Halloween marked off the calendar I'm focusing my attention to the Christmas season! I dusted off the wood burning fire place and had a fire this week to make sure the chimney wasn't clogged. I pulled the newly washed electric blanket out from the closet and plugged it into the wall while making the bed and I sadly put away all the sandals and crocs that were crowding the shoe rack to make room for winter boots. I don't have Christmas decorations or lights up or anything but I'm thinking the Little People nativity will make it's appearance this week. I have to admit that after a nice warm Christmas in Thailand last year I'm excited for a white Christmas home in Canada surrounded by all our families this year ... so bring it on!

Trick or Treat

Halloween must be the best day ever for young children! You get to dress up in costume ALL day long, eat awesome snacks at school and totally clean up in the evening with treats! Seriously, I remember running from house to house to fill a pillow case with loot as a kid and if I remember correctly we filled pillowcases. *plural*
We've missed out a bit on the wonderful Halloween holiday known to North American's while in the Philippines. They don't really do Halloween and then those that do dress up are all pretty gothic. I think it's because November 1st is All Saints Day where they go to the cemeteries and light candles. The following day is All Souls Day. With that being said, we've never been trick or treating in the Philippines and so they were really pumped about going this year which made it a lot more fun for me. So here are my little rays of sunshine all excited for the big day:

My Halloween Treats

I get to bring snacks into school today for both Sydney and Brayden. The school prefers healthy snacks which is perfect so I did a little google search and found a couple of cute ideas and went to town! We have coconut covered ghost banana's, strawberry ghosts, ghost rice krispy's along with black cats and monster mouths made with apples. Luckily Brayden has an allergy free classroom so we could fill those mouths with peanut butter! YUM.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my hours of hard work and fantastic idea's stolen from the internet!

Hopefully they taste as yummy as they look!

Jack-O's

We finally got around to some pumpkin carving, just in time for halloween! Sydney actually got to carve her pumpkin Thursday at school with her classmates. It was pretty huge thanks to Brayden for picking out the pumpkins. Sadly though Madison's pumpkin got stolen off our front door step sometime Friday night so we had to make a special pumpkin run for her Saturday where she picked out her second pumpkin of the year. Seriously, who steals pumpkins from people's door steps, that's just so mean!
Anyway, I'm not too sure what Brayden was expecting but a pumpkin filled with slimy seeds was not it. He was actually a little repulsed by the idea of putting your hand inside that mess and pulling the gunk out. Madison absolutely refused and so mom to the rescue on the first pumpkin. I tried to make seem as fun as possible but they weren't buying it for some reason. I tried to explain it was just the stuff put into pumpkin pie and they actually have eaten that slimy gunk before but that didn't really work either. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if the kids never ate pumpkin pie again by the horrified looks on their faces.
Finally once Madison's pumpkin was carved and lookin' amazing they got more into it. Sydney wouldn't touch it with her hands but she tried to scrape it out the best she could with her spoon. Brayden surprised me and dove in for a couple good scoops with his hands before resorting to a spoon.

Of course once the pumpkins were completed we had to make sure they looked cool and test them out.

They were so proud of their pumpkins and we had to sit with the lights off forever before the novelty wore off. I remember how exciting that was when I was a child. It's kind of interesting because it's been a couple years since we've been in Canada for Halloween and had the chance to carve pumpkins, the kids are almost experiencing it for the first time and it's so fun to watch. So bring on Halloween! We're ready.