We just got back yesterday from Revelstoke and judging by all the snow we’ve had today, it was the perfect time to come home. We had an awesome time hanging out with family and Maddy had a blast playing with Oma and Opa everyday.
The drive there was great. Maddy slept well in the car and we only made one stop in Merrit for lunch and gas. It’s so much easier now that she can have her milk in a sippy cup instead of having to pull over to nurse her. The road conditions were good and we didn’t run into any trouble. This trip was also easier because Maddy is now more or less eating the same things we do. No more having to pack food for the road or while we are visiting. She loved Oma’s cooking and at times looked as though she was packing it in for fear that there would be no food the next day.
We celebrated Christmas the following night and it’s alway so much fun seeing what everyone comes up with for ‘surprisa’. Every year the adults draw names and in addition to getting a gift for your person, we also make some kind of a gag gift for that person too. Usually there is some type of a riddle or poem that goes with the ‘surprisa’. We had a great time.
Kim made me my dream crafting room and mom made Josh some overalls to wear when he works on his “man-cave” (the Westy).
Maddy also had a good time this year. She was pretty into opening the presents and then keeping up with her older cousin Kaes and his friend Sophia. By the time we put her to bed, she was pooped.
We had so many plans for the rest of the week, but Maddy was a little sick and so we tried to really stick to her naps and stayed home for a whole day. We did get to take her sledding a couple of times. She loved it the first time, especially when a couple of the neighbourhood dogs tagged along. The second time we took her out, she wasn’t as enthusiastic about it and by then she’d learned to say “up” and demanded to be picked up for the way back.
We didn’t plan to go skiing this year so we left all of our equipment at home. We did take the new gondola up to the top. Well it wasn’t the very top, seeing as there was yet another chair. The snow looked great and for those you skiers or boarders, we hear that the new mountain is great.
It is a Dutch tradition to make Olibal (oil balls) for New Years. It is a dough batter filled with raisins, currants and apples. It is then deep fried and served with powdered sugar. Mom said that the recipe is a lot of work so when she makes them, she usually makes a lot. She wasn’t kidding!! Everyone had multiple Olibals to ring in the new year and we have a freezer full to last us for a while. Maddy still gets all excited when she sees us eating one and madly signs for “more”.
That tub of batter is the same sized tub we use to bathe Maddy in at home!
On our last day we went to visit Uncle Pascal, Auntie Kim and Kaes. Again Maddy went nuts when she saw Yoda the cat and kept screaming “hi” at him. Yoda was amazingly patient and let her pet him quite a bit. Maddy also had a great time playing with Kaes and his ‘big boy’ toys. Every January 1st, the cross country ski club hosts a Lantern Ski at night. They light the x-country ski trail with lanterns and the trail is a 5km loop with a stop at the cabin for cookies and hot chocolate. It’s really dark and that is the magical part of it, but it’s also freaky to be going down hill in darkness with nothing but head lamp. We had a lot of laughs and it was a great time.
The next day we packed up the car right after breakfast in hopes of being on the road early. We were making great time and just finished saying our last goodbyes. Josh and I went to get in the car when we realized the doors were locked, with the engine running and Maddy inside!! BIG TIME Ooops!!! We still don’t know how it happened but luckily BCAA was there quickly and Maddy was just fine. At least the car was nice and warm by the time we got in!
Thanks for a great week Blommestein clan! We’re already looking forward to camping at Canon Beach this summer.
2 comments:
sounds like a good time! well, until you locked yourselves out of the car :( happy new year!
Thanks for everything you guys, it is always great to have you here with us. We miss Maddy,s happy smile , but we will come and visit soon. Today Lyn and me went up the trail again and we skied the 6 km loop. Love you all.
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