Canada Part 6

This photo is taken at many meters above sea level - it was beyond freezing. I have 6 layers in the top half of my body alone (and 5 are supposedly thermal - ha), 2 layers on the bottom half, 2 pairs of socks, 2 heaters in each foot, glove liners, gloves, 2 heaters per hand, hat liner, hat and 2 hoods. I was lucky to move, let alone ski. Not complaining - I didn't complain about it - in retrospect though it seems a tad extreme.

We woke on Christmas morning and spent the requisite time on presents (before skiing). Santa was both clever and stupid this year. Last year he spent all night looking for the kids and by the time he found them (in switzerland), he had already deposited the presents in Indonesia out of panic. This year, they told him where they would be. So he gave them a photo of what was waiting under the tree back in Jakarta. The two little ones carried these photos with them (and whispered to each other that they could not wait to get home). For C girl - he gave her a soccer t shirt and hat. She was so disappointed. As she said - I don't know how he got it so wrong - I don't even like that team. I like Arsinal. What an idiot - come on Santa - get your act together. Your letting the team down.

Christmas day was spent skiing Sunshine Valley. The kids were in ski school - but this was the explorers ski school. 3 mountains, 3 days, runs all over (we only saw them once per child over 3 days). So they started on xmas day and did Sunshine valley, then Lake Louise and finally Norquay.

On Christmas night we had a buffet in the hotel - very nice, with tonnes of ham (we live in a Muslim country - we appreciate pig). The next three days passed with skiing and showing off in the afternoon. It wasn't as cold - but it was still in the mid -20 degrees CELCIUS.

This was at Norquay after their final lessons. We went up to the top and skiied down (they insisted on doing the jumps). Norquay was the least fun of the three - but we ended up on the double black diamond run - so we didn't shirk in the face of an obstacle - and we survived. Great bonus.

This is on the last day in Sunshine Valley - where we chose to spend the last day (it was that or Lake Louise again). We just had a full day of family skiing. The fact that this is on top of a mountain is so cool. Only 1 year ago - the kids couldn't ski down so we could never have had a photo at the top. But now - no problem - they can all ski black runs at a pinch, blue is better (and speed up on the sides because it's a bit dull). Bear has overpassed Munchkin on skiing ability, C girl is miles ahead - but she is 3 years ahead. I need lessons to make sure I can keep up.

Please don't ask us to spend a xmas away from the snow. It is so much fun skiing and it is so much more fun than sitting around having a meal in the middle of the day. Plus there are no long lines - yippee. It is our family time and I love it.

Canada Part 5

We got into Banff at lunchtime. Planned out the rest of the day and then basically ran (literally). But it was worth it - we did some pretty great things on her birthday.

We fit in Ice skating on her birthday as well. The two girls are naturals, but Bear struggles a bit. It was at Banff Springs (fairmont hotel) - very flash hotel. A bit out of town (and we walked there) - but we don't need to stay somewhere flash when we are on holidays - we live flash at home, it's nice to rough it sometimes (okay - not everyones definition of roughing it, but for us it was alright).

We fitted in a sleigh ride (absolutely the lamest thing we did on our holiday) - far too cold for a sleigh ride - and don't go thinking a sprint through a snow palace. It was a 30 seater, full to the brim, through a back paddock. I asked the driver to let me know when we were 10 minutes from stopping so I could call a taxi. Munchkin tried to sing christmas carols (since it was christmas eve) - but no one joined in - but it makes for a nice photo (we will definitely do it in Europe this christmas as theirs were smaller and more like what you think of when you sing jingle bells).



Note on the hat - I didn't realise it looked that lame when I bought it - I might give it to Munchkin (she's wearing my hat I got in NZ in August). I promise I will spend more than 1 minute looking next time.

The kids hate these jumpers. I got them for last christmas (in switzerland), but when they saw them they just refused to wear them. They have to wear them on Christmas Eve and Christmas night - those are the two dressed up occassions (skiing during the day for christmas, so it's a no brainer). Birthday cake (again) at The Keg - a great steak house (and that is something that you really miss in Jakarata).

Daddy's litle girl. Butter really wouldn't melt in her mouth.



I think her best birthday ever.

Canada Part 4

We left Jasper on C girls birthday. We had pancakes and french toast in the diner next door to the hotel for breakfast (yes, us adults only ate 1/2 the portions because they were huge, the kids ate them all, but then didn't eat lunch). We made sure we had candles and sang happy birthday. You never know where you are going to end up - best to make sure that the singing and candles are definitely included in the day.

We got the bus from Jasper to Banff with Sundog tours. On the way the bus stopped due to the boot (you know - where the luggage is stored) light came on. When we arrived in Banff - much to our dismay, one of our bags had disappeared into thin air.
The driver was casual -I'm sure it's back at another hotel, it must have been taken off earlier. We never did hear back from SUNDOG tours. We rang twice (which was as good as useless), they never rang us. We had 3 brand new helmets in that bag - at least CAD300 worth. So if going from Jasper to Banff - do not go with these guys - no interest at all was shown in our lost luggage - we are just grateful that it was new stuff we lost- stuff we hadn't grown attached to (and not the xmas presents).

We went past 80 icefields (not glaciers we were assured - as they move, these don't). Spectacular stuff - deadly though. I couldn't imagine being stranded with a flat tyre in this country.

We left Jasper on C girls birthday. We had pancakes and french toast in the diner next door to the hotel (yes, us adults only ate 1/2 the portions because they were huge, the kids ate them all, but then didn't eat lunch). We made sure we had candles and sang happy birthday. You never know where you are going to end up - best to make sure that the singing and candles are definitely included in the day.

We got the bus from Jasper to Banff with Sundog. On the way the bus stopped due to the boot (you know - where the luggage is stored) light came on. When we arrived in Banff - much to our dismay, one of our bags had disappeared into thin air.

The driver was casual -I'm sure it's back at another hotel, it must have been taken off earlier. We never did hear back from SUNDOG tours. We rang twice (which was as good as useless), they never rang us. We had 3 brand new helmets in that bag - at least CAD300 worth. So if going from Jasper to Banff - do not go with these guys - no interest at all was shown in our lost luggage - we are just grateful that it was new stuff we lost- stuff we hadn't grown attached to (and not the xmas presents).



Beautiful trip from Jasper to Banff. We went past 80 icefields

Twas the night before christmas and all through the hotel - not a family member was resting, not even the littlest one (okay lame, have you got better?).