christmas in vancouver!

     

Christmas in Vancouver has been quite a slice so far - we've had a perfect balance of busy and relax, and the kids have been loving all of the activities West Vancouver has to offer (drop-in gymnastics, swimming, bouncy castles and plasma cars and gym time). Santa managed to find us, and we woke up Christmas morning to find stockings by our bedroom doors, just like when we were little (it bought my parents a bit more time in bed maybe?). I have some pretty strong memories of Christmas morning, and it all started there - creeping out to see if stockings were propped by the door, and then opening and re-opening with all of the sisters gathered in one room. Hendrik was pretty excited to receive more Pokemon cards from the big man, and before he'd even gotten to the bottom of his stocking proclaimed, "I can't WAIT for next Christmas!" We had the usual Osberg Christmas day breakfast of croissants and scrambled eggs before heading into the living room to dismantle the gifts wrapped up beneath the tree. Some of the gift highlights:

Alana: a new stuffed doggie - named "Teddy dog", a star night light projector, a glitter wand and doctor dress-up suit (adorable), new jammies and a lantern
Hendrik: a remote-control T-Rex, shoe light up thingies, mini walkie-talkies, a dino puppet, jammies, and a lantern
(We gave both of them a few books: Bedtime Math (which is a bit hit, surprisingly enough), The Utterly Amazing Human Body (super cool book) and Curious Creatures: A Mix and match book (also amazing)

Steve got new socks, some edibles (smoked salmon, beer, nuts, chocolate, etc.), a calendar, a t-shirt (pic to come) and a pair of gloves, and I was gifted some beautiful pottery, a scarf, a cookbook, and a personalized album of my childhood, made by my mom and dad. This last gift is pretty special, and I have yet to take the time to look through it from cover to cover.

Both Sarah and Claire left this morning, and it was so great to spend time with them and with my parents, especially over the holidays - we haven't been here for years and years, and I'm thankful that they were both able to come for several days. We have just three days left here, and then it's back to the mild east coast - it's actually colder here than it is in Toronto! Crazy. We had a nice walk up in the snow on Christmas day, and the kids loved it. When asked what their favourite part of Christmas was (after an incredible dinner), they both said "the muck" - from the walk. Sounds like familiar chimes from my childhood, when we'd say that the wrapping paper and the oversized boxes were the highlights of Christmas day (!!). Oh! And we went on the Stanley Park Christmas train last night - which was awesome. AND there were no incidents on the plane, and we were able to arrive in Vancouver mostly healthy; Hendrik was on the last remnants of his sickness, and somehow I managed to evade the bug. The kids have been sleeping well and my mission when we get home is to get Alana a twin bed - so she can sleep well and so I can sleep well. Even though she's 21 months younger than Hendrik, she's only 5 pounds lighter - which means she is too big for her bed (and too big for me to carry her around). She'll buy into the new bed idea, but not being carried around by mom is another story.

Merry Christmas to everyone, and Happy 2016!!

     

       

    

almost christmas!

Christmas holidays have begun! And so has the flu season in the Brinkman family. I was thinking this past week would be relaxing and less hectic than the few weeks previous, but I was mistaken; instead of having both kids in school, Alana was home sick - up sick all night and sick all day too, and the yuckies are making their rounds - keeping Hendrik and Steve close to home (and the bathroom) all day (and all night). All I'm really hoping for (besides not catching it myself), is that it's moved on by Monday. We fly to Vancouver Monday night and for the sake of all of the other people on the plane, I'd like everyone to be cured.

Anyways! We're feeling ready for Christmas - treats have been made and eaten, presents purchased and wrapped - and some unwrapped too. We arrived in Bowmanville yesterday afternoon and the kids have opened a few presents, as we're not lugging everything to Vancouver and back again (I'm sure we'll have enough stuff as it is.) With just a few major purchases made by mom and dad this year (new windows for the house, new swank minivan, trip to Vancouver), we're not exchanging gifts - though I did ask Steve to get himself a library card and insist that we find time to get out for a walk or something while in Vancouver when the kids are tucked in tight and sleeping (all night long I hope). We've been seriously sleep deprived with sick Alana, so I really really really want some good sleeps in the next two weeks while there are minimal must-do activities ruling our lives.

at the science centre and aquarium

LOVE this pic. science centre gold!

We spent the night in a hotel in Toronto last weekend, and the kids LOVED it. I had a coaching thing to do on Saturday so Steve, the kids and Grandma and Gramps went to the Ontario Science Centre and were there for SIX hours - I thought they'd be waiting for me but I ended up waiting for them... there was so much to see and do and so much fun to be had. Another perk of membership at the London Children's Museum is free admission (until Dec 31st at least) to Ripley's Aquarium, so we stopped in their on our way east yesterday, and again, the kids had a great time. Now we're getting a few last minute things done/purchased (headphones for the plane, I found sheets and a duvet cover for Alana at Home Sense today - she needs a regular big bed so that when she comes to our bed and passes out, I can go to hers!) and then off we go. It's been a while since we've travelled together on a plane, so with the kids a bit older than last time we made a (mostly complete) family trip (I think it would have been home from Greece in April 2014) it'll be a different ball game. With that, I'd better go get them into bed... Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone!

our neighbour's friend sets this up every year - magical!!!

quickpost

I've fallen off the face of the earth! Not really, but for the rest of this week my time is dominated by end-of-term schoolwork, end-of-term schoolwork and end-of-term schoolwork (and family and house stuff). This afternoon I'm going on a field trip with Hendrik's class before a Christmas movie showing in the gym at school - that both kids are interested in (is it the juice box and popcorn or the movie?). I have completely failed my annual Christmas devotion to baking, with just ONE Christmas goodie made to date (jam diagonals). With some time available on Sunday (schoolwork should be finished and I have no coaching obligations), this year's list of treats (nanaimo bars, butter tarts and gingerbread cookies) might just get the attention it deserves; bake and EAT! This should be my one and only weekend goal. We go to Toronto on Friday afternoon as I have a coaching thing on Saturday in the city, and the family will come along and head to the Science Centre while I talk volleyball with other die-hards. With only a week, really, before we start our Christmas travels, there is much to do - but I don't want to think about it; first, schoolwork - second, relax; third - Christmas and travel prep. People are talking about the upcoming break but - and maybe I shouldn't be thinking this way - there's so much to do and so many things waiting in the wings that I'm not sure the break will ever really come. Maybe a self-imposed break is the only one I'll really get? No, Vancouver will be a break and I can't wait! We have a few things planned (Stanley Park Christmas Train), and I am really looking forward to seeing my family and friends there. Yay Christmas!

under a tree in Victoria Park - great Christmas vibe there, enjoyed by all!

Reading Planes, a comic book - a newly discovered movie/book enjoyed by everyone (even the tiger?)

in a cycle of nap + stay up late, Alana has been into Hendrik's bday lego... she loves it!

everyone under the tree!

we have a 5 year old!

Our little guy turned five over the weekend and it was one fabulous day - Hens had Fruit Loops for breakfast (best birthday breakfast evvvver), Grandma and Gramps were here, he had three of his friends over for a party, and - AND... he "finally!" got a Pokemon EX card (his words - said with mucho gusto). It really was an awesome day, complete with a visit from Darth Vader himself - the kids got to battle him with pool noodle light sabers and then took them home (along with noise makers - accompanied with profuse apologies from the two of us). Some pictures:

first thing on his bday - fruit loops and pokemon!

bday eats - another amazing cake from g&g!

darth vader action

hockey hype!

river's getting wider...

the boys

We played pin the light sabre on the Darth Vader (all of the Star Wars interest is because of friends at school), the river's getting wider, hockey, and of course the kids battled Darth Vader himself. They loved the noise makers (we didn't) and the cake and the basement battles, and we were all pretty darn tired at the end of the day.

We didn't waste much time on Sunday getting into the Christmas spirit - or, at least getting a Christmas tree (with the help of Grandma and Gramps). I realized I had to get the advent calendar out this afternoon - whilst skipping class after falling asleep on the couch (Alana joined me mid-nap), and the kids got the first ornament up before we left for swim lessons late this afternoon. Lights are up outside (pic to come) and we're planning on decorating the tree on Thursday. Steve spent the last few days in Bowmanville as some sad events took him home with his parents; his aunt Janna passed away last week and the funeral was this afternoon. Her death was the result of an accident, and it's just prompted us to reflect on how easily life can change, how unpredictable it can all be.

There've been some good quotes from the latest Mma Ramotswe book, and if it were downstairs I'd find a few of them... but I should get up and get reading, since there are just a few people on the waiting list, and I've been enjoying it just as much as all of the other books. Oh, and there's homework! Better go...