tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6997989106919740152024-03-05T18:45:33.171-07:00Life with Julie and Colin Jonesand the adventures of our family....J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-38917782865364167552012-04-15T07:18:00.002-06:002012-04-15T10:03:27.211-06:002012 A New Year<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uHfwQX16hKPTU2fmMrBHj4Wy7KPMK6aGrMnistCDpLiysTYX4mtAwGt5fJMTp0XPYvb5n8hC_qHsP8YwGu9CBUfRvWzTDyg6l5LMVesQyb-i9gds2FH6wJDnneauRukP-uN_MgT4JUM/s1600/IMG_19243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uHfwQX16hKPTU2fmMrBHj4Wy7KPMK6aGrMnistCDpLiysTYX4mtAwGt5fJMTp0XPYvb5n8hC_qHsP8YwGu9CBUfRvWzTDyg6l5LMVesQyb-i9gds2FH6wJDnneauRukP-uN_MgT4JUM/s320/IMG_19243.JPG" width="213" /></a> 2012 Events so far...<br />
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Brooklyn had a piano recital with her teacher Michel Muller.<br />
As you can see he is quite tall and Brooklyn feels about half his size.<br />
But she played very well for her recital: a Bach piece, Mendelssohn and Chopin.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAr9t2ddfCch3QITyLVjd67pEH0CHGJOk-FTVbdHr3UcwpmJhuT69mJdG04GKmUpFw0WxM_WdgEc36SJbZ0ihbwr7p7oBrudTx0KX49pPfUmNhd0Kc4EJsT3hcln1iVNZEjfTJEN3kWlk/s1600/IMG_20113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAr9t2ddfCch3QITyLVjd67pEH0CHGJOk-FTVbdHr3UcwpmJhuT69mJdG04GKmUpFw0WxM_WdgEc36SJbZ0ihbwr7p7oBrudTx0KX49pPfUmNhd0Kc4EJsT3hcln1iVNZEjfTJEN3kWlk/s640/IMG_20113.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-S2PRtrViy4axGSIlBJnEKnPgHWye4S3ulgW_YHo0BifO3O7MvpNYoPHa6w0k0QXzNsPrrqniZbdJOLMGCmL2k9aFc3ch5D_uHlep7QGws7IShreXZ4Ew74CAIze444vB2wNfxM2g3Kw/s1600/IMG_0398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-S2PRtrViy4axGSIlBJnEKnPgHWye4S3ulgW_YHo0BifO3O7MvpNYoPHa6w0k0QXzNsPrrqniZbdJOLMGCmL2k9aFc3ch5D_uHlep7QGws7IShreXZ4Ew74CAIze444vB2wNfxM2g3Kw/s320/IMG_0398.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
We had our friend Julie Heyland visit us from Calgary. It was so fun to go to the mountains, Interlaken and Chamonix. We rode cog wheel trains and went up to the top of the Jungfrau mountain. We also sped down in Chamonix on a luge sled.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqeqKpx0kYufPKw7kApeV0QFST3RBsK4yR8Fzyh5ifZJ84RoME6bUH6xgTlfZ0H7PwlXbd8iozOIKoejbzy4F88OsQBedHkSAtTEbaMPCSe3gEkcXbKas6wba6FqX7fmDnE2NrVzaRHY/s1600/DSCN2126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqeqKpx0kYufPKw7kApeV0QFST3RBsK4yR8Fzyh5ifZJ84RoME6bUH6xgTlfZ0H7PwlXbd8iozOIKoejbzy4F88OsQBedHkSAtTEbaMPCSe3gEkcXbKas6wba6FqX7fmDnE2NrVzaRHY/s320/DSCN2126.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Another favorite visit was to the Cailler chocolate factory. Reina is holding up toasted almonds from a gigantic sac that we were allowed to sample. The best part was the sampling room at the end of the tour where you could eat your fill of chocolates- honestly I was a little sick of chocolate by the end.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbsrwBQIiagIVD-uU0DS8aEj7g8jOIp07OB3vriQEiiQguRRXTpk-KmzYX5Mtdp1hCZvHhAAMCBn5GnQEoXeKweQx7VOml71RYDks1-TeMrtvIH7-oEIw9fsjShgHej8XFAIBoJjPfRA/s320/IMG_0346.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="" width="240" /> Here is Kelsey at the hospital. She had to stay overnight for her tonsillectomy. She was very brave and we are so happy that she can breathe much better now and no longer has sleep apnea.</td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h-l0PgQoUHa55n-yq9ZuBQkcFP40mxNRQx7lPxo-oJ5-CdYhJFW0fCMSw8UUVB15jK9yoP0MmYxRCKNmXQPeiOld-OA9osTsr44a7cI9H4TScarUjCQPo7hiSZv8lZwvDwyOsN2RvlE/s1600/IMG_0569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h-l0PgQoUHa55n-yq9ZuBQkcFP40mxNRQx7lPxo-oJ5-CdYhJFW0fCMSw8UUVB15jK9yoP0MmYxRCKNmXQPeiOld-OA9osTsr44a7cI9H4TScarUjCQPo7hiSZv8lZwvDwyOsN2RvlE/s320/IMG_0569.jpg" width="240" /></a>We found some really cool caves in the mountains to visit. It felt just like we were in a British Columbia rain forest outside the caves, and inside the kids LOVED seeing all the rock formations and walking by the underground river. The billboard below shows a little bit about what we saw inside the caves.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukb6rjgXmwmZxp-bm3Eys643ZnY54m3mBO3JMPfNiWb_HvA2Q9qlk-jW5J1bZpjH9oLWVUdWhLzaLfkqfodMuhYHMBE0qkidKLQUAC0ZQi0fEdjpkQGuYTK7Cy0O-dR9YSQFX0EBmHtI/s1600/IMG_0567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukb6rjgXmwmZxp-bm3Eys643ZnY54m3mBO3JMPfNiWb_HvA2Q9qlk-jW5J1bZpjH9oLWVUdWhLzaLfkqfodMuhYHMBE0qkidKLQUAC0ZQi0fEdjpkQGuYTK7Cy0O-dR9YSQFX0EBmHtI/s640/IMG_0567.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-70127307054698571922012-01-08T08:20:00.003-07:002012-01-08T09:17:44.347-07:00Before Christmas...We always try not to schedule too much for December and it always ends up feeling as crazy as ever.<div>This year was no exception and we were happy to have Colin with us for all of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>We started by taking the kids to an evening Christmas concert at VictoriaHall in Geneva. This was a great experiment to see if Kelsey (only 3) and Alek would be able to sit through an hour of hearing an orchestra play songs from the Nutcracker- by Tchykovsky. Thanks to the rococo over the top glittering hall and the fact that we could see the harp and timpani from the first balcony, the kids were very entertained and we had a great evening. Even Alek said it was the best night ever.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next was a trip to the Christmas markets- </div><div>The first one we visited was close to home at the castle of Chillon where we saw a medieval fair. We saw foot powered pottery wheels and wood lathes. We ate lentil soup in the 1000 year old dinning hall, helped make rope and coins and watched sword fighting techniques. It was a cold day but we still had fun.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiyf5gz10DeaevS-G13yWlYLDJoZ5B-ZnaoOAG08b5UukRFyc7SgbE3W9xHzKmYkNhf1esDVksGPCvEehY9MqtQCl315XN3hNa4s_yG-Ay4dmuPgiSGjcNZVMkAk1y3jROeC_NpyDkrE/s1600/IMG_15683.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiyf5gz10DeaevS-G13yWlYLDJoZ5B-ZnaoOAG08b5UukRFyc7SgbE3W9xHzKmYkNhf1esDVksGPCvEehY9MqtQCl315XN3hNa4s_yG-Ay4dmuPgiSGjcNZVMkAk1y3jROeC_NpyDkrE/s400/IMG_15683.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695284444096536834" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Next we planned a quick weekend trip up to Germany to see our friends in<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16v8sRbhf2le2GZIok-2S9GtgWPCBvDQb3GKkWPUiiY8fVD4m-qbqd12Ly5GuTUbeukQ7gVzMPFEuGHDotcb6Iee5M_RT-mdZ7hdBHDXPmfO-Odt7p8EToQOfF6Cp_rgmS5nq-iwL8nw/s400/IMG_16643.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695284446218653042" style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /> Freiburg - a 3 hour car journey.</div><div>The city was so fun and it felt like we were stepping into fairytale book. The houses looked like gingerbread creations and the center of town has a wonderful old clock tower with a tunnel for the tram (city bus) underneath. The whole town is decorated with red stars hanging from the buildings and the markets were full of people.</div><div><br /></div><div>Almost everyone walks or rides bikes and it was fun to see people cart their Christmas trees home over their shoulders or sitting on the baby carriage - with baby inside.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of our highlights there was celebrating Brooklyn's 12th birthday! I had baked the cake beforehand and brought it up in the car with us. But I forgot candles and luckily our friends helped us find that oh so important accessory to the cake.</div><div>We all had a fabulous time and the kids loved going to Ute and Dirk's house.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YX2roCyWch-p4PBl8zF1Ww-E1SeFmJ2DjeWoow3ho4p6Odxt-VKdlqCC9UX0yd2ERBZ8bDTCqBqUt6X7Wz330Dj9KtGCgQUQPkWtewNrO2c5kQbEeiMAr27rBQmO8nHTiArUapZ4-C0/s400/IMG_16873.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695284461887816834" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " />.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>With all the events before Christmas we tried to keep Christmas day nice and quiet. And because it was on Sunday we had a low key day playing with presents and eating a farm hen for dinner.</div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-20821741949257928492011-11-27T13:13:00.003-07:002011-11-27T13:39:27.808-07:00the Matterhorn<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">When we let the kids vote on what to do on an unscheduled saturday, they often want to go the the mountains. We thought it was about time we go and see the tallest peak in Switzerland- the Matterhorn.The best view is from the little ridge called Gornergrat.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6L33YeAXVvoBMHMIn41lSj0eWVs-lxOMVFz8QI4Ncf0c1aLPdFD0rJBVZhPdBjU_c2ePtCbH3u8BABdkHBbTvqmi5sgmlS_PtKYBbxCzCE2Nq-fxyLIJd_W5-abKUyXM4pXpw0fY5QSU/s400/IMG_14513.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679774765395098626" /></span><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:left;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzsv0Vj1eaGTUedNiXykTSLAx23uPj1_Fsxf-GMvZH707ghr5FmaE7_ens56WRQ_rsmdbra2QYVpb_-WxsEaKP2Ed8z-HveD-jtmCSzLcDXopxmRODGh6FzPUibhNHjX5UvA_VsLyQPk/s400/IMG_14493.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679774756954627922" /></div><div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> The tricky part is getting there. First you have to park your car in Tasch and take a train to Zermatt (15min). Then you change train stations and go on another train (30min) up to Gornergrat at 3089 meters or 10,000 ft. From there the views are spectacular and you can see more that 20 peaks that are taller than 4000 meters or 13,000 feet.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><img style="text-align: right;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbiTWSiR8A_T-s-lmNb-RcjRZho3QI-aU5niUaAm38sSgFUw0Aitzv9XV4kBZnA-afGOKs4o9dMPGst5ERh1qJEJl7h9HbZ0GGhV3do1w7iVFbGi7OM_iUM5YVo93kM4XwBeSuR2hfjU/s400/IMG_15143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679774742434848514" /><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The kids loved seeing and playing in the snow. It brought back many fond memories of Calgary and sledding.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5QDAEyK1dJba2OLUwZPFTpIe4s9lch3y2V8knidQi3G1r243jvwM6YMXWRTwwPnL8gEemhQ2yf9R_VGbT0TwDy2-L9p7BeSKJlDkBuAVeI3nO_1WTOpMpabiPR-WMLTZ0uuwSWqwSiY/s400/IMG_14733.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679774738079765810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /><div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">We did see one crazy mountain biker take his bike up on the train and then ride his bike down (almost 5000 ft) on the semi groomed trails to Zermatt.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-14814719557065548392011-11-07T14:17:00.005-07:002011-11-07T14:37:00.498-07:00Reina's 9th Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXUkOeo9KLOXd4VN3tRv6Z7Du_sbncSr7vkBUzmlEZKDQmsN3Kat04BPMJ5KMjpDE12IjFXnzWQ0-BzD3ft_VY4eDVqOilcOJv_guZCHXtdfelM4BT_NvIgnnytOYMeVvaWirQAtX80A/s1600/IMG_0452.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXUkOeo9KLOXd4VN3tRv6Z7Du_sbncSr7vkBUzmlEZKDQmsN3Kat04BPMJ5KMjpDE12IjFXnzWQ0-BzD3ft_VY4eDVqOilcOJv_guZCHXtdfelM4BT_NvIgnnytOYMeVvaWirQAtX80A/s400/IMG_0452.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672369563089312434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">LDS Church in Nice, France</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cv2EcLyorBu4lH7PXiHazbUCvzWBMdVZh6qc1050fX81zUTqDPiPC29cleIP794vzYMBt9MaN7MrLPzyW0yFOTO1HI6PO-Nf66BfMyqSvuJ5JewjGzrgjU0ekimYoS0YjLe1v5mXdlI/s1600/IMG_13703.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cv2EcLyorBu4lH7PXiHazbUCvzWBMdVZh6qc1050fX81zUTqDPiPC29cleIP794vzYMBt9MaN7MrLPzyW0yFOTO1HI6PO-Nf66BfMyqSvuJ5JewjGzrgjU0ekimYoS0YjLe1v5mXdlI/s400/IMG_13703.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672367478747085074" /></a><br /><div>Here's Reina feeding the sheep just around the corner from us. Her school class goes on long country walks at least once a week. One day she came back with an onion she picked up from the field they had walked through (a literal field trip). She was so pleased when I used it in our dinner that night.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-22aTWeLDHBX7tzgkCXyX3jh0e8oznX8ejs_Ob2CXI6_yGXfDvVUOPPbMbnqzQewF8_QetVdTtPt_Om3OMG_ZrreIOO4m8edaJ5abeEo9eX3sncVDaTZKL92mXJsSdew6TuCtLaZ3tOY/s1600/IMGP4729.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 383px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-22aTWeLDHBX7tzgkCXyX3jh0e8oznX8ejs_Ob2CXI6_yGXfDvVUOPPbMbnqzQewF8_QetVdTtPt_Om3OMG_ZrreIOO4m8edaJ5abeEo9eX3sncVDaTZKL92mXJsSdew6TuCtLaZ3tOY/s400/IMGP4729.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672367464832193202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEhVRTSkyEm6HCpuBYECNe2GSpxFyGBNRDJQncNomQV7V4t2uPIVhMcsGir6I73lpNBBITEGgUK1CFDPTeBNPYzT9F1R0f7-w5I9vTR4pVIpoDn3qE7tWIn_TbwHEolk-xT4fqrNTVaI/s1600/IMG_12953.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 361px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEhVRTSkyEm6HCpuBYECNe2GSpxFyGBNRDJQncNomQV7V4t2uPIVhMcsGir6I73lpNBBITEGgUK1CFDPTeBNPYzT9F1R0f7-w5I9vTR4pVIpoDn3qE7tWIn_TbwHEolk-xT4fqrNTVaI/s400/IMG_12953.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672367464049440546" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>Reina just turned 9 years old. The night before she was a little worried that I hadn't gotten her anything. But she assured me that was OK and that it could be late.</div><div><br /></div><div>So all night I spent making a huge birthday banner and wrapping her presents and printing a photo cube of pictures of her. She was very surprised in the morning.</div><div><br /></div><div>She had a family party and the best part was she had no school that day (teacher day) and Colin was in town. </div><div><br /></div><div>So all day she was treated like the queen that she is. Crepes for breakfast, fun afternoon of no school work and pulled pork on a bun for dinner with a family invited over from the ward (kids to play with). We had a great time.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> This is a very typical drinking fountain in Italy. The kids loved these - plug up the bottom and the water squirts out the top hole to make a nice arc.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Our neighbors insisted we eat raclette (french for "scrape"). A traditional melted cheese dish on top of boiled potatoes along with pickles. They loaned us their raclette pan and we enjoyed this meal so much that we borrowed it again. The most fun is scraping out the melted cheese from the little dishes.</div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-49469727855755963842011-09-27T13:27:00.007-06:002011-10-02T14:37:12.516-06:00Kelsey's 3rd birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlHfsMmLVKuSfAXoTL_QIMjfSeT2YlT1kOOIaOMB1IrpBY1MsoqzsQ4Vhtn4LEwXTKXIO0wmPkBm_APiV65_YAseUkmt7CQWFEVeG9CaOHxwbGrJ6tggZXmLmtY96UyzMGOZ6ErlO2AQ/s1600/IMG_11633.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlHfsMmLVKuSfAXoTL_QIMjfSeT2YlT1kOOIaOMB1IrpBY1MsoqzsQ4Vhtn4LEwXTKXIO0wmPkBm_APiV65_YAseUkmt7CQWFEVeG9CaOHxwbGrJ6tggZXmLmtY96UyzMGOZ6ErlO2AQ/s400/IMG_11633.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658884069728111858" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:tahoma, 'new york', times, serif;font-size:13px;"><div id="yui_3_2_0_14_131714934789348"><span id="yui_3_2_0_14_1317149347893340"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Brooklyn is starting to understand simple questions from our</span></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_14_131714934789348"><span id="yui_3_2_0_14_1317149347893340"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">neighbors- they are so nice.</span></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_14_131714934789348"><span id="yui_3_2_0_14_1317149347893340"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_14_131714934789348"><span id="yui_3_2_0_14_1317149347893340"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We had a birthday party for Kelsey in front of the houses and the neighbor kids had fun playing pin the tail on the sheep (it seemed like new game to them- no one really knew how to do it) and then we had a pinata and cake and presents. We were sad not to have Colin, but the older</span></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_14_131714934789348"><span id="yui_3_2_0_14_1317149347893340"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYn3BfIy_XB4bfi-H55f84K5Lbq3zok3LkxY1i3rFqpS-y93O6_3XdeNAvwE7AhyphenhyphenTinRsZ6sFHds2qpSIkBWFC1PVHy-GzYJUvl3zdnUtQlBRZdc_Z-lVPGLuCKwrwgFUJUCrSwbi6aQ/s400/IMG_11813.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658877339689424050" /> kids knew it was Kelsey's birthday and insisted on having a party on the day.</span></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_14_131714934789348"><span id="yui_3_2_0_14_1317149347893340"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_14_131714934789348"><span id="yui_3_2_0_14_1317149347893340"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The next week Colin came and our two neighbors were anxious to take him cycling.</span></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_14_131714934789348"><span id="yui_3_2_0_14_1317149347893340"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_14_131714934789348"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">They were waiting for him all week and were excited to show him around the countryside. After 23 miles they headed back and were happy that Colin could keep up. After all one of them goes on 4 hour bike rides every other day and the other one is a triathlete.</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_14_131714934789348"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So they plann</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_14_131714934789348"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ed another ride for Friday. That time they went 40 miles and I was happy to see Colin a little worn out. It's nice that he has someone to exercise with here.</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_14_131714934789348"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div></span>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-24982279713414416112011-09-11T12:38:00.007-06:002011-09-11T13:52:05.242-06:00Chateau de Chillon and Interlaken area<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6SnHXSziU_WhJQCB_fQdiUdRnftgblzz7ZcXf7e9xNehd-DNEY7qm29xF1xwlUNgP1ePuUXu4vFM00Vt7DXbgNmZs5kdcRIutre80VDreq9qUYwhMSryiK-J3_ee-CwViKVxs9MI7bE/s1600/IMG_11103.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6SnHXSziU_WhJQCB_fQdiUdRnftgblzz7ZcXf7e9xNehd-DNEY7qm29xF1xwlUNgP1ePuUXu4vFM00Vt7DXbgNmZs5kdcRIutre80VDreq9qUYwhMSryiK-J3_ee-CwViKVxs9MI7bE/s320/IMG_11103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651154147964061234" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><br /><br />Because the kids don't have school Wednesday<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPNI4C8Bp4vC7xDuzXoe-yU98pxmQ1GzumYq09omCTx6C6OeXUs_3uej4kIJp80bFXJYg8NxAvskWW1i0Gwk8OZLwHWKsyYuS4fVC4RsvDQeIbc6x39XrnL7AtXu03MkO5dzkM5ptztc/s320/IMG_10613.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651151664630183026" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /> afternoons wetry to go and do something fun if the weather is nice.<div><br /></div><div><br /><div>We were waiting for Colin to come so we could visit the</div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1aEsVVMCUXhpCaL1mPiyFexwCrul2VCZkLGD220ZTw3Gm6wtjNQfFGZoOQQVf8tNrOoXOFVq3ahtogJg2fMKxx_nTyluJubZCpc6LPK1qDcFC0RhkkWPKQ9sjPSJE0Za2OGK_NoKou0/s320/IMG_10893.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651184820411280978" />famous medieval castle of Chillon on the other side of the lake from where we are.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkS_xM9iRR9nkrMofGb4_V37U9etN8OHqbAIcoicZXTqb_S-25tyISmCeOZDdulWVEDKIj4XIPHyq-TpbsZsqErEihRLJRFJP_zFn64foHzNaiZBkrADu5pfWMFT3N-8UFt0JJP7i-PlA/s320/IMG_10463.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651151665746094098" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /><div><div>The kids loved running around </div><div>stairways from the 13th century and seeing real prisons where "witches" were held before being burned at the stake in the 15th century. The scariest part was the crypt under the chapel. I was even a little spooked. Their favorite part was the bathroom. Kelsey seemed a bit surprised at how far everything dropped.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Then on Saturday after all the chores and homework were done we decided to drive to the mountains. It was a late start but after two hours we were in the Swiss Alps and the village of Lauterbrunnen where we parked the car and headed to the tram.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvnCq2L7CQIRcOpbE9wGlOXcZAR-9d1zePa3Pxe0RU-lrbGSW6AispJCSZozvQ1I7o9XfVVjopmtRRqH9kqvZgZEL5PVG1436QpxLkDvDEVTCNCcB-UsUBjz6OKxQC6B7Prhqx9ffVJY/s320/IMG_11263.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651151656303595570" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /><div><br /></div><div> Looking up the houses are on the sides of the mountains and cows roam around the hillsides.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcCGePmH6Eg9ELHwcVi8q13CrrpYzqgUrALdW-UJYDlvW1l7xLz8rL3qLRYcFZ8qsfmKppG7sqQvEbdzTnS5wK571XRH5xq90SUsriFkSGtc_ey6AyzEZ3paJJRjoK1DeGfFeldjcUtM/s320/IMG_11353.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651151660317511890" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course all the mountain villages are connected with rail</div><div>roads and gondolas and we got to take both to get to the small village of Murren. We had a picnic and ate on the park benches looking out over the mountains. </div><div><br /></div><div>When you get thirsty its not</div><div>hard to find a public fountain with fresh mountain drinking water.</div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0D5LxfWlaiScNnscSNapMGT1ldwSoUBoqFnBunKo11QjdI-Z_uYHhtXfETcjeHqjQarAcXoXgGYNy9pMwAVh1Dovsayef2xvEJMIIRLRXcSyLt-_eiM-OsEwrFTCCBLL4AlpBPAH4l8/s320/IMG_11443.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651184823055560418" /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Our bonus for the day was watching the horn blowers (Swiss alphorn) practice their song out in the meadow.</div><div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy88Ze1sd5Jb_GgzaqY6caDLvAYNO7C-4F4gKsZTzlhk1iqkUpjF-xPCQcTnOCFZv7leezvu6yOtktXa8fuIA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-5985036339713326372011-09-04T13:22:00.006-06:002011-09-04T14:10:40.774-06:00School in Eysins<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgl8Ufw6Reo3ZX_b0jkwbO5b6HkhIZ1uGwzJCbfYsCsUff-auSbOlrXthS6j8_ndk6LPPwvf2SpvbUxBCMAYzQ9k80ZohtBKjBbJqx0r7u-1vfHU0TDce2myPFf-bwMuSg2ZY3hQ0ty1M/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgl8Ufw6Reo3ZX_b0jkwbO5b6HkhIZ1uGwzJCbfYsCsUff-auSbOlrXthS6j8_ndk6LPPwvf2SpvbUxBCMAYzQ9k80ZohtBKjBbJqx0r7u-1vfHU0TDce2myPFf-bwMuSg2ZY3hQ0ty1M/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648598347039974386" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgereEjEOM1P_k6WgzEGxOyCxZRF1i4LCjrJG69fzhmmZobDP9cCazPPzXBooVtprDWJ1ahXFsljpdg06tWhEFLC4j7o30bOb4N4KjRL-OPqLDmwJVYzMbUVV_phwqJW2Sbuk-ayDlokx0/s1600/IMG_0011.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgereEjEOM1P_k6WgzEGxOyCxZRF1i4LCjrJG69fzhmmZobDP9cCazPPzXBooVtprDWJ1ahXFsljpdg06tWhEFLC4j7o30bOb4N4KjRL-OPqLDmwJVYzMbUVV_phwqJW2Sbuk-ayDlokx0/s320/IMG_0011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648592833118738322" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dr_WvBt1B0egwVfEcO07lotpps5xnHOE-qyieaMjwKJhgnr77NY2dpOPXBUeya3WkKj62GSZHyg38MIyvp22Ec1jBw68QsspHIDoKbCTN5dLEiy1M_y5J8LJiChHGwMVNsaBaqeyiZA/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> The idea is to have the kids learn French in a place where they are used to teaching languages quickly to a lot of foreigners. The bonus is they also get</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">to learn some German too. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="yui-non"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So far we've been here two and a half weeks. The kids have been in school for two weeks and are settling in. They are picking up a few basic words and phrases but not too much. It's still pretty slow. Alek and Kelsey are learning the fastest though.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="yui-non"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">
<br /></span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Brooklyn has had to jump into junior high school. She has a busy schedule and lots of different teachers. Not only does she have a gym class every week but swimming every Thursday afternoon. I'm so glad she can swim because she said everyone in her class is a good swimmer.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWq251hYta4M8j9YkHTTlYl_DfDi-3F0OqOiLZtk6l7Z5Y0WPl6A_brYxD90TQB5kyYH0x4TEBS5ssIlkkDlPJ3PNfIEhzXdqUUnUKqAgA3eHW1x4n-0gUlpuMsqdhrQr54NQ0X-oywg/s320/IMG_0074.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648597263319392770" /></span><span class="yui-non"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But the kids are really enjoying it here and still have a positive attitude. One of their favorite activities after school is to go grocery shopping in France (about 5 min away by car). </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="yui-non"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There is so much chocolate and delicious yogu</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="yui-non"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">rt and chewy yummy bread. It's a feast every day.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">
<br /></span><span class="yui-non"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We also had fun going to France by boat when Colin finally arrived. Every little village if full o</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; ">f flowers and looks like it belongs on a post card.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="yui-non"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Another fun activity is the outdoor pools by the lake. They are unlike anything I've ever been to. One is lined with stainless steel to soak up the solar heat, another is a splash pool with fountains and the third is a deep pool for swimming lanes and they are all next to the lake- you can swim in that too.
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<br /></span></span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZ3dl4oaFTwUfhhrh_xiqcui8uoU-25qml9SXe5pCRw7Y7rpweJpkxQijnEM7FmtroeIVzWkioskJcIpvB_tLRWLUpeSaHst9IZTqyl7Uokb5zprFLwQb7d1eEMJ_i0pXDJf6tq7Kcu4/s320/IMG_09083.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648597276465798066" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We have some wonderful Swiss neighbors who are very welcoming and kind. The people are really nice and fun to get to know. There are so many rules in Switzerland: no noise after 8pm, mow lawn between 8am-7pm Mon-Sat (sunday yard work is against the law), virtually all stores are closed on Sunday, if you leave bikes in front of your house you can get a ticket.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">
<br /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWV1MZQpy1l-z_fOmtA_M5LrYkK34_TBjVpdk4SMTivFAYJj5qauWdWFHafEJBmHiWlk35bUH6k79dkoFNPxScl73E2Jbo7SLx8P1ob29KfxjnbBxGpsAw1kFt0ZGs01IcsNjirE3ed4/s320/IMG_09733.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648597266556797298" /></span><span class="yui-non"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But the nice thing here is everyone still trusts everyone else. Even if you buy something on the internet, you don't have to pay for it right then you can just get the bill in the mail. And if you say you will do something or be somewhere- then you will be because that is how everyone is.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">
<br /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQL8mbGyaSJLnfpJV5McZe5-G8DEdv5NLGL_tkV9srZvBiA0JhFx03mpjuIkim-a2fvHte_VR70mcANlWWfK_Usxl-fjXNe_uvIqU4BHTYrnyRD_Hm1tZpRrN8y2oLLJGEAFLriZCU6Y/s320/IMG_09773.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648597272372793234" /></span><span class="yui-non"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We still can't believe we're here, but so far it has been lots of fun and we have made many new friends.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">
<br />Of course we would love to have any visitors that can make it over.
<br /></span><span class="yui-non"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We'll keep this post updated as we go.</span></span></span></div></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-26885928717382022482011-08-27T01:23:00.008-06:002011-08-27T01:48:15.004-06:00The move to Switzerland<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">
<br /></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">How was the flight?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Had I known the flight on Air Canada was really a three stop flight (web price showed just one) and was over an hour late, I would have paid a lot of extra money to go on a different flight. But even with our 10 carry-on items and stroller that we had to load on and off the planes six times we somehow managed. Usually I had five bags, Brooklyn had four, Alek had one and Reina had Kelsey in the stroller. The kids were generally well behaved and were thankfully able to sleep for a few hours before landing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We landed in Geneva and made it through customs and baggage claim exhausted and tired. It took several minutes to figure out how to additionally carry our 5 large suitcases as well our our 10 carry-on items - that we were now experts at transporting. Thanks to a luggage cart and extra effort from the kids we made it to the rental car. At this point I have to insert that in the commotion of figuring out the baggage I forgot to pick up the oversized baby car seat (which I’m kind of glad I did since there was no way we could have loaded that on top our our already overloaded tottering cart). So I had to leave the kids alone with all the luggage for 5 minutes while I ran back and got the car seat.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The rental car.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We had tried to rent a mini van but the counter help said he had another nice big car for us and we’d have no problem fitting in our luggage. Our hearts sank as we</span></p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5gtUH3eKUSM0Tr-frbOOBJw5KpvVvXjxE2zfrxDgJT1LBvYmlkAD7VU7mzh3-lO_XUyVbVz16fXJ3__8HwDeubAWby2FiHDAzpglLI8hzddU3K5w6laQw_ZtSUPbq-2OYoLF8Ai8Pzg/s320/IMG_0047.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645437204952271874" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> saw our five passenger mid-size SUV. I quickly surveyed the other rental cars in the garage to see if there were any mini vans. None. So once again we spent several minutes dealing with the luggage. We loaded and unloaded the car in different configurations. We smashed and crammed and finally ended up pulling all the children out (except Kelsey) and loading the car full of the luggage and then loading the children in on top of or in between the cracks of the luggage.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Finally we were off to our new house. Miraculously we made it out of the airport and past the Swiss boarder guard, with a smile and a wave as he looked at my children crammed in the back window of the car, and onto the freeway to Eysins.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The addendum to this story is that my friend who knew we had a lot of luggage had waited for us at the airport for a long very time but we barely missed her because we were so slow!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The house</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Everyone was in a good mood now as we rolled along lush green hills and quaint farms. We had no problems finding our house and were happy that the</span></p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrekDuXmCYtYOLJ7LKFAnfMUScwkXzW_WRyT4L5kzhMHQgmPz4jInl6d3pNi4s_LGiJy3yssBqBQS9uOmVU6OsZi_ggBL53OT3HcmsgeIqQ7PPdcezJ8Oxozc0iooxuU4nOvKtY7R5tw/s320/IMG_0043.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645435980316371826" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> management company, a seventy-five year old man, was there to check us in. After an hour wallkthrough we were finally home. The suitcases became chairs and we had one table that belonged to the house. The kids loved running around a new house but I was anxious to get to the store. We went to town and parked underground at the grocery store/mall (at this point I was very glad to have a small car and not the mini van I had hoped for). Close parking spaces had a new meaning.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">That night my wonderful friend brought over air mattresses, pillows and blankets and towels and we were able to finally settle into our new home.</span></p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAX34y76ebOxOqhF_pJs_ew0C2HTOh9H1sGuJ5oKqQ9HXa6T-dKW-sOQo13sQw_Ct-63QFYmHGqvwUGw4zPwajqMyOS3nV7OEjQQuE_jhOKEUzQrxE8bXBmadQo06wu7d5cyh9nwJF6mc/s320/IMG_0007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645434180807238450" /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDfHIwhhsll66CZFH9ZoleZQRQ_HQ3HfP-uCzZBR-BeQ5e2WEnkc5vULi-A-KHpA_UZ2oao8W-7f3_-d-xPoSOfE_hfQ63sD8e9IpGgWItjH7Ta6L-h-8Fk1yaEYgN9d5L6gUxhUmx4s/s320/IMG_0006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645434180395235522" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">
<br /></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-82340135314271820302011-05-23T17:58:00.001-06:002011-05-23T17:59:53.428-06:00addendum to the long weekend<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Bear.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 13px/1.22 arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">We knew we only had one day to pull off a two family and one out of town aunt outing that would be fun and memorable. We love it when Sabynthe visits Calgary for a week and we wanted to get out to the mountains with her. Our destination was Johnston's Canyon: the most popular trail in Banff.<br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br />Allen, Laura and their kids as well as our family and Sabynthe left early Monday morning (9:30) for the hike. We arrived by 11am and all ten children were read to run up the trail. After a short 1/2 mile along a winding trail, with exposed tree roots and moss encrusted logs, we reached the lower waterfall.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br />A cascade of water falling 50ft or more can be viewed from a distance on a bridge or up close via a rock tunnel with water dripping from the ceiling. Ascending the stairs at the end of the tunnel leads to a rock shelf that is directly in front of the waterfall. The mist covered the children's hair.<br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">After appreciating this water wonder we continued on the trail towards the upper falls. It was another mile but everyone was having fun and wanted to keep going. This portion of the trail was much steeper and tiring. Reina and I decided we would turn back early to eat our lunch (we were both fighting colds).</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br />Normally the return trip goes faster because most of it is downhill. We were making pretty good time and feeling like we were almost to the trailhead when all of a sudden a lady in front of us said, "Stop! Don't go! There's a bear up ahead." Startled, we stopped in our tracks, not sure what to do or if we should turn back. As we waited with several other people we head the same woman yell back to us that is was safe to proceed now because the bear had gone.<br /><br />Cautiously our group of 8-9 people started forward trying to make lots of noise and trying to stay close together. It didn't work. Up ahead someone yelled, "Bear!" We all stopped. I told Reina to hide behind a tree and just then a bear turned the corner on the path 20 feet ahead of us. It looked at us for a moment and then charged us.<br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">We all started running and screaming and then I remembered that Reina was still standing by the tree and had not seen the bear. I yelled for her to start running! As we ran past the people coming up from the trail behind us they were yelling at us not to run away. We were just happy to put some other people between us and the bear.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br />Moments later someone yelled that it was safe and the bear had crossed the river next to the trail. Once again we huddled together and made lots of noise as we walked to the trail head. All the adults were holding hands with their kids; young and old. I was more than a bit relieved to make it back to our car and rest from the hike. <br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The next people to make it back to base camp were John Ross and Paul. When I asked them if they saw the bear they both looked at me and laughed. I had to spend 20 minutes trying to convince them we had really seen a bear on the trail.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></span></div></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-80486288034296427612011-05-22T14:46:00.008-06:002011-05-22T15:21:50.412-06:00Victoria Day Weekend (aka the long weekend in May)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrdq4vaRWafTK8k9RLjTk0HAOxxed3yrf5wz3m5ACzX3E_M_Qiyc7_aNsJZ_1PYcAevWav5nq6Qk3hbMUNLBjzVzl7QAE3CEwfgvFUX2S8fDVsQ1TExtAM_RctB_JVKvHaMH7qpN0tdY/s1600/IMG_05823.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AOqy2y16eLrwqzFZUnQPWPMBpUcUAgKNoBAwpWTe5aXVwCGnXLv5DOKITok1nP67ckhnNtmqjV3GJjGPZgmD-ZED3F8HujLUFlHtMTB-ryrieeoeL_2E2neC6J_ucBw3HSh3OJSef9I/s1600/IMG_05603.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AOqy2y16eLrwqzFZUnQPWPMBpUcUAgKNoBAwpWTe5aXVwCGnXLv5DOKITok1nP67ckhnNtmqjV3GJjGPZgmD-ZED3F8HujLUFlHtMTB-ryrieeoeL_2E2neC6J_ucBw3HSh3OJSef9I/s400/IMG_05603.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609647965528902434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b>Kootenay National Park, BC</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">Not wanting to waste a weekend where the weather was nice and Colin was just coming off a graveyard shift. We were able to leave early Friday morning and explore some more places only a few hours drive from Calgary. This weekend we decided to visit Radium Hot Springs in British Columbia.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The drive through the mountains was beautiful and full of wildlife. Besides seeing many deer we even got to see a bear right on the side of the road.</span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgizjOw9b4tLX9RdxUGiwPexh4v1rb-qacQXcc8UKXFiSJMfgJcPtom96gomQ0n4x94gLkqIsPeZIUT7FM6NTTTRYa4h_XRd367KnhcLruRyrSU-t_pCN8-2L7GkFjFgD0LSQ5Qxl2moE/s400/IMG_05543.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609647759500303682" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Another roadside stop was Numa Falls. The kids loved climbing around the rocks and eating lunch next to the river.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrdq4vaRWafTK8k9RLjTk0HAOxxed3yrf5wz3m5ACzX3E_M_Qiyc7_aNsJZ_1PYcAevWav5nq6Qk3hbMUNLBjzVzl7QAE3CEwfgvFUX2S8fDVsQ1TExtAM_RctB_JVKvHaMH7qpN0tdY/s400/IMG_05823.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609649107087948754" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We love packing as much in as possible so the kids got their first introduction to golf on the putting green, racquetball in the fitness area at the resort and swimming in two different pools at the hot springs: a hot pool and the cooler pool. The hot mineral water was wonderful to soak in and we enjoyed being outdoors with the kids.</span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKnxdeQyS_GwVNCDG-dy76cEtPfE6DVpT8oz8F-xtpqysx2g9kl1RKp1GyawliLlDhDTdWKORZc3UEwdeSXdzNAjuKrfJCfF-_1ztbCZi2rHl5BW7jgpqIROYgGB27xNh4RxXKuzS0fE/s400/IMG_05473.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609649707465582514" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /><div><br /></div></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-23817458660218815432011-02-09T16:30:00.003-07:002011-02-09T16:41:02.143-07:00what to do in the winter..It seems we've tried almost every winter sport there is. I've had so many people tell me to "embrace" the winter and then it doesn't seem so long or dreary. If you can find fun things to do, well then, it should be fun.<div><br /></div><div>So we've tried ice skating - every Canadian mom feels this is a required sport- kind of like learning how to ride a bike.</div><div>We've tried sledding - we now own two very fast sleds.</div><div>We've tried cross-country (or Nordic) skiing - Brooklyn and Reina seemed to catch on pretty fast.</div><div>But our favorite so far is Alpine (or down hill) skiing.</div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL7iYPwPFTRbKUPL6YXtQn2_vAiSkwGvRTJJ3RemSfZzSUabF6yxYw242fNeHv-uqUXd33IwYJXnrnIGznDoiQ6ykUR7U3c_8ei7nU_AAw-A8VAk-S3EsiO3r0F38De8MthQrladGI3g/s400/IMGP4132.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571838534994530162" /><div>Last year Brooklyn and Reina learned and after a few lessons felt they has mastered the sport.</div><div>So this year while the older kids are at school I run up to the local learning hill with Alek and Kelsey and we ride the magic carpets. We've gone twice and it is more fun than I could have imagined. Both kids love it despite not being able to really stop or turn. But with a little more time I'm </div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuHoJIIFKkrg_CulOlS3aVWukUWSEke3xZpDX2uFJEyp1q4RUNipTSc1Ia0aZH8R0JZ2cs8bfXeK60_StTwMezZo2NiJv4T761tk3xnp7K0qYAZ9b7gwG9baNqXeDJthZX67sLho8KGI/s400/IMGP4131.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571838528847490578" /><div>confident we'll all say winter isn't so bad here.</div><div><br /></div><div>Canada Olympic Park</div><div>Feb 9, 2011</div><div>Alek 5 1/2</div><div>Kelsey 2 1/2</div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-31191310797396739512011-01-31T09:11:00.003-07:002011-01-31T09:36:34.135-07:00Living in the deep freezeIt gets colder here than I thought possible for children. But amazingly it's not so bad when you get used to it. We consider ourselves ready to live at the Antarctic research stations. One of the most interesting parts is how "squeaky" the snow sounds when it's this cold.<div>Enjoy-</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dydMQ7Xfx2FLFwgRkzUtYYEHicUqdHatjOT-ywNlnTg2vuD7iosF6g9ONppuktwP0AClbtmIohTOXOJ2R7X' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-45205177324198020872010-10-11T21:19:00.006-06:002010-10-11T21:41:19.095-06:00Having Dad in Calgary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPg6R49blGrIktmjkApMePFC9pQVfzT01e6WuwBSslsEOnb_MpKv3TnTycEig6QJy2Oe7bEaLym8WJtP5J_5k_EMpQH1KLkdXzZ_h4ZtXvVqh3U4WstxTvPCcBqxlc_96gxun7T5t858/s1600/DSC00331.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPg6R49blGrIktmjkApMePFC9pQVfzT01e6WuwBSslsEOnb_MpKv3TnTycEig6QJy2Oe7bEaLym8WJtP5J_5k_EMpQH1KLkdXzZ_h4ZtXvVqh3U4WstxTvPCcBqxlc_96gxun7T5t858/s400/DSC00331.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526998309092451506" /></a><div style=""><br /></div>Dad never guessed that our little weekend trip down to Utah over Labor Day weekend would result in him coming back with us to Calgary.<div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Jaren</span> pushed and I pulled him out the door and off we went at 5:00am for a 14 hour drive up the I-15.</div><div>He did very well and seemed to enjoy the road trip. And once we got into Calgary he found a bed and collapsed.</div><div>We kept busy doing kid things and school things and shopping things, but mostly he just wanted to sit in a chair or sleep or make special eating requests.</div><div>The highlight came on the weekend when we went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Banff</span>. Our first stop was Lake Louise. I never get tired of visiting this lake.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XZYSJQ6cMyAJA010fbXvGbeb2BcJX1njLgd9UbQ6a2XdqCf5jAkx58LohvNe0Tc8xTF-9uR0nQZk7HfvHut-foThlrwCG6EbQ4l6ZEpaI4rkoqHHpKaycYzH92dQJQwF0EPCd-BjKfY/s400/DSC00351.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526996326624594370" /><div>Then we saw Lake Moraine. It was quite chilly that day.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7JlSHypOEzghfEPmxbsa5Hss_R12xNviuMmHA3-WQvZ7360t6vq6_Wec5LAi9tK7ACeuvPagOslvKBickFisRfXyoHBC72Nqxg0hL1sWg2PkCGU8h96OLA-PgPO0IVCxeYcQYwwEikc/s400/DSC00345.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526996311117952850" /><div>Dad had lots of fun on the drive, but once again when we got home he found a bed and collapsed.</div><img style="text-align: right;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zpHVYvB38s8oxoOvZtEN8EgKadl3L6xEEXWkIaChJQeRIwnL4R-tY4hciQmBcPz8xMSZOi94PcColnKewkspoGc-EPvVAnDEJfc2MWnXeCWt_Udmtppr1_coz-AmvByP23W1YLID0-k/s400/DSC00341.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526996301499536818" /><div>ONE short week away from home was about all he could take. He felt very homesick and wanted the comforts of his own bed and bathroom.</div><div>We had lots of fun while he was here and would welcome him back gladly.</div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-32791825362193653552010-07-19T21:53:00.013-06:002010-07-19T23:03:51.830-06:00Summer vacation 2010<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlheRJTT4WmoTBY6VpV_8lXDeoLO1ZjrUghwQMTWPvMJgPP_07bWE0hUnoEWllDTFccqrc6kMFO3KT-Fe5RCGG5F4fW1bB-suJx1Xm9i7U-xccaJ5zL67fbqLT86JTlWYDpKeayoIrjaU/s320/DSC00032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495836891608842258" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">We had just moved into our new house and the unpacking was coming to a dead end. All the nooks and crannies were filling up and there was no more room for all our stuff. So I determined we'd have to leave the rest for later. School went until the end of June and we were all ready for a family vacation. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This time we were heading WEST unlike so many other times when the destination was</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> South (Utah). Colin had vacation time and we were headed for British Columbia. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Our first stop was at the picturesque lake of Shuswap. We stayed at a cabin on the lake owned by some of Colin's friends parents. They were there and we had a great time. Then after two days we drove to the Vancouver area and caught the car ferry from Tsawwasen to Nanaimo. We had a great time the next day in Parksville looking for sea creatures at low tide and flying kites on the beach. Reina was the best at collecting sand dollars.</span></span></div><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxarz_NGsvjgloqp4psdjXgsRykn9cyJPkjW2zCTNvnLKwZd3prfjCO2TgqaDPQZ3ZImNprI6XrVLQkGuVTdSHrYFU-vcAPameGaSiu17itcILHkFT0vAiS16e7U1dgdmJnwIHiyQM9EQ/s320/DSC00049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495837924695166610" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Then next day we drove across the island to the West side to a town called Tofino which is on the border of a temperate rain forest.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It was absolutely stunning. We </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">were all amazed at the beauty of the ocean and forests.</span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01zXiYRSW3I9R-TiddLm7QFTWT74og-TfUuOXOUpdzBuYHnb0DQdE-27o9hg7GA0Diaodd-X-wAItd3H0eKPYqGUHvpnJEzG5u-CemOoXKiDXzr31MvrhDWgvoMnv8j_EQPj_-asvOrs/s200/DSC00140.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495843266339706162" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The Pacific Rim National Forest feels like it's a thousand years old. We were able to explore winding boardwalk trails, take a boat to watch whales and soak in steaming hot springs.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It was so much fun and a very relaxing place to be in so much nature.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br /></span></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TPZlDcAUgBE06XwnQrPASGAkikMBXFoeAnmDBa4u9cyMzBOEc3Q1N9oOdJEPxL13RrlepCd_G1Cud-qnPHZBfWYEXrXD_fp86f2a4T6JX4-GjyYTSEtVSXRe5NjatGTrToFwK9yN91g/s400/DSC00107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495831967598362546" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGKVSMJgGzaoaCLroTTLkP3RHQU3at_6EggHKE9SH2O6-bbXm1uh17V5g9Y7by3ihLtr7t9eRFOk3W6N_SoZwImS-ho3yesYgWPce5a8TYMljdTy4XSVbFHs7o8f9e65Z4Gr9GL2rZGQ/s400/DSC00161.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495839551360466018" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Here is a very bad picture of the grey whales we saw- I'll never make it as a national geographic photographer. But you can see the whale "blow" and see a bit of the tale of another whale.</span></span></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Vp4JC0cprzired9h-s727M8XvLYSoGCtpKBg9EV6H04H1bmY5B-K70SxWrUc3F10kbl8tnVtDIh48H2HCKFc4l_tsuTbgB9ipadDQieZBNKw9CBc8TYXZQt4arJaNsMtwFP9gxz7eWE/s400/DSC00271.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495840350791652786" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">After four days we left to see another beautiful spot on the island. The Buchart Gardens. It was well worth the day detour and the kids loved the orderliness of the beautiful flower beds. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">After seeing so much greenery it was time to get back to my desert roots. We took the ferry back and crossed the US border near Seattle (a very busy crossing!! 1 hour and 40 minute wait). Then we took two days to drive to Utah where we stayed with my Dad for a week. We had a great time seeing our Utah families but were ready to head for home at the end of the week.</span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfXmZiRbRQMa2KCnQqmWSwDVwozXdX2ebbBUnI5LY8xzJaCI6ZCj45yTVPJWhSGiEe0PWQD-40SFygptr9ACYopFMxf5Hcy9Et5N8PERd7GpikZ4yLlCgSn5rP2WRbki5Ig-HpOwaCBA/s1600/DSC00040.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfXmZiRbRQMa2KCnQqmWSwDVwozXdX2ebbBUnI5LY8xzJaCI6ZCj45yTVPJWhSGiEe0PWQD-40SFygptr9ACYopFMxf5Hcy9Et5N8PERd7GpikZ4yLlCgSn5rP2WRbki5Ig-HpOwaCBA/s400/DSC00040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495844094122151266" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-9627130943631107032010-03-18T16:09:00.001-06:002010-03-18T16:11:54.177-06:00A small miracle..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwQ3YJYX8VnS-3gusuMOXTdJtejACAu3nmAHx1yv-Rhj-4bClf7-hkJH90hDylM78wOXSg1gQyMcElIUsh3KJLu8wROKPD5Bh8XuaHZtbqVIPxKllLYn8Wi3ij2sS7I5BoIRR0QLU-0Y/s1600-h/IMGP3683.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwQ3YJYX8VnS-3gusuMOXTdJtejACAu3nmAHx1yv-Rhj-4bClf7-hkJH90hDylM78wOXSg1gQyMcElIUsh3KJLu8wROKPD5Bh8XuaHZtbqVIPxKllLYn8Wi3ij2sS7I5BoIRR0QLU-0Y/s400/IMGP3683.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450099650538683954" /></a>Alek's preschool.<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Was it a coincidence or by divine design that I dropped Alek off late at his preschool today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had been trying for weeks to get a specific present for a lady I’m assigned to visit in our ward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She just had a baby and I needed to get to the baby store way up North and back before Alek’s preschool started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I knew I would be cutting it close for time but decided it was worth being a little late so I could get the gift I thought would be perfect for her.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As expected, I was running about 7 minutes late as I approached the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But what I didn’t expect was seeing a little 3-4 year old boy running down the sidewalk and in front of my car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I quickly stepped on the brakes and scanned the area looking for an adult or anyone... no one was there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Before he passed my car and could cross the big road I quickly jumped out of my car and grabbed his arm asking him where he was going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In a crying voice he told me he was looking for his mommy and couldn’t find her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I told him to wait on the grass next to the sidewalk while I parked my car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was blocking the right hand turn lane.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After I parked, I got Alek out of the car an asked him if this little boy was in his class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He nodded his head yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Only partially believing him, because he’s 4, I decided there was no other option and we walked to the preschool and brought him with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When we arrived the teacher looked at our stray boy a little quizzically but ushered him in the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She was probably wondering how come I had brought him in.... again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When I told her where I had found him she was greatly relieved and astonished that he could have slipped out so easily (probably during the confusion when the other mom’s were dropping off their kids). </p> <p class="MsoNormal">As I reflected on this situation I marveled that I crossed paths with this boy at the exact right time and place. And that only I could have known where to bring him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There were a few other drivers that could have helped this boy instead of me but there is no way they could have figured out from that boy where his school was. The preschool is quite hidden and if you don’t have a child there you wouldn’t know it existed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m sure that God is watching over his children and we are all instruments if we allow ourselves to be.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Miracles have not ceased and we can witness them if we do what is right and endeavor to keep the commandments.</p> <!--EndFragment--> <div><br /></div></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-58278122847062141842010-02-08T21:48:00.000-07:002010-02-08T21:51:29.993-07:00<div>Top of the mountain in Utah at 'Brighton' ski resort.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVVzHR1jhxwrRaaQ-pH1tGb96AWf1PsAdVAUdlKVcHvrDdG3QPB3vyCOwcpQUTUQZnsQ0foxJXnGyt9uKje7vTcOStg_V3_xjQfl78SWECZpy9dSBVqXpdBxa-zFKegrmn3vmNkiZzro/s1600-h/DSCN0225.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVVzHR1jhxwrRaaQ-pH1tGb96AWf1PsAdVAUdlKVcHvrDdG3QPB3vyCOwcpQUTUQZnsQ0foxJXnGyt9uKje7vTcOStg_V3_xjQfl78SWECZpy9dSBVqXpdBxa-zFKegrmn3vmNkiZzro/s400/DSCN0225.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436101544012449842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkBF9xtC1fDMh2_wZzZm9bcHxG1b4j2wlcrc9wMY3u0XH617hwc78GGMlQRtVg0UhdC71wIURcTBueAEC_jjh7x4PfPxhK62uJ0qbtbl8E-PFqb9ufHQIwJsToxBn2xEZ_KW9TFk5O4Q/s1600-h/DSCN0219.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkBF9xtC1fDMh2_wZzZm9bcHxG1b4j2wlcrc9wMY3u0XH617hwc78GGMlQRtVg0UhdC71wIURcTBueAEC_jjh7x4PfPxhK62uJ0qbtbl8E-PFqb9ufHQIwJsToxBn2xEZ_KW9TFk5O4Q/s400/DSCN0219.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436101530792936706" /></a>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-28016056394861124582010-01-16T20:09:00.003-07:002010-01-16T20:20:51.719-07:00Lake Chaparral in the Winter<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Ice Skating at the lake in our community. There are many paths to take or you can just stay on the perimeter. Alek skated for a little then just wanted to be pulled on the toboggan.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_R4BJHYxAZl-eUTv3nTcOB9kZUlSawwUIBPrKyeq70pNKGAeBQjtDH8ohXY-xEwbjv8pd4tew9oVM8l_DRyjf4ukKKwu5YOl2ylGyrFdxxRe2iNOR65CN7AOVmVT49DsFnZm0I1cH6LA/s1600-h/IMGP3671.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKsHxFiKyojwCD38z7Gg-5jxDQkkEaujAjh_95Jo84_hU8wAEKK-6QYNhKQyX9VkxUlJiRZczAJDPFjA5kq-debOgZACE2CCnsJ8TeHyJOoFHXYhCuePLZlA-ZT5NCyuv0qOLai_BIE0/s1600-h/IMGP3668.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKsHxFiKyojwCD38z7Gg-5jxDQkkEaujAjh_95Jo84_hU8wAEKK-6QYNhKQyX9VkxUlJiRZczAJDPFjA5kq-debOgZACE2CCnsJ8TeHyJOoFHXYhCuePLZlA-ZT5NCyuv0qOLai_BIE0/s400/IMGP3668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427541129097911826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is the ice rink next to the lake if you want a more tame experience. Both are connected by a rubber path so you can go from one to the other. Kelsey and Mom just walked in shoes but by the end of the day I was thinking I might just break down and buy myself a pair of skates too.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKPwHS5_goVwZv4jQcX_bAAutxTCVk1za135N7gW_7RzyT2R_mwxqZ-hQlUvjPWe6hRWXdH5ZQf5NxMZozsqhMny3S-xwaybz25jMIrRanLfOtEw4dzqwjE05qKIgHmoVfFN1eD_H06M/s1600-h/IMGP3664.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKPwHS5_goVwZv4jQcX_bAAutxTCVk1za135N7gW_7RzyT2R_mwxqZ-hQlUvjPWe6hRWXdH5ZQf5NxMZozsqhMny3S-xwaybz25jMIrRanLfOtEw4dzqwjE05qKIgHmoVfFN1eD_H06M/s400/IMGP3664.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427541114644969778" /></a>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-10407125427754035202009-12-26T21:59:00.010-07:002009-12-26T23:04:31.404-07:00The end of 2009<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLKeBv4UWkL4vQZIfMXW23ML6VRllePhWCv4MgCff74Xiuymgm8wjD0ghuty7pDvUv2hutTHFLHhz23EHsulDznmKIOLhIpteJc-iFffVtSp1LoqSCwfXwqfXalOWtv_6_rET79KHbXI/s1600-h/DSCN0111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLKeBv4UWkL4vQZIfMXW23ML6VRllePhWCv4MgCff74Xiuymgm8wjD0ghuty7pDvUv2hutTHFLHhz23EHsulDznmKIOLhIpteJc-iFffVtSp1LoqSCwfXwqfXalOWtv_6_rET79KHbXI/s400/DSCN0111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419786245164340162" /></a>Lake Louise- Banff Canada November 2009<div><br />The festivities are over and I'm just sitting here alone on Boxing Day night. Colin has had to work 7 days strait every evening (tomorrow is his 7th) and it hasn't been the most normal Christmas week.<div>We've been busy in the mornings while Colin is at home, then the evenings are relaxed and uneventful.</div><div>But we did get a lot done like getting Brooklyn and Reina to ski school for three consecutive days, having all the Joneses in town over for Christmas Eve lunch, wrapping Christmas presents and introducing the kids to the classic movie Ben-Hur - which they seemed to like.</div><div><br /></div><div>But mostly I think this year represents a lot of traveling for me. We had the big move from Toronto over the summer. Since we've been here we drove to Utah twice (once for Canadian Thanksgiving in Oct</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ReNW4XYvRRWPLvVGcLOoVCyqogjiJJmjoD_xiL_Lb-sACURhyuL9A0w2GP6VLz-uZhHtxwuPsTfz1p_QDc_XlMraK6TsS6aob85JzdL8Otrwr61MaVffbHpmiMTSbwq2sNzPF1bqAEI/s200/IMGP3604.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419787893202062498" /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9p2M1HfcRWoRPQHiJvNisT9s-yqwo4zmCtOn3l7erlTpWoFbbZBCIw9LEN5O-fz4mgKNQYPuzg7GlCJ9lpvkrVWH6tiXr7MBcM_v-OFOwp-NiM8b5v4TGk1lfc0Srj_jIe92JkdffNw/s200/IMGP3605.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419785854178639666" /><div>ober and </div><div>once for American Thanksgiving in November). And now no more traveling for a little while so we can save up for a down payment on a house.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN63puQ2qMLK2rZqtU73V1CB83gOmNpJ9Rv1xrz3LL6XgjD2mvxSpIEFfCHdQZio03FZv8Jlt03EQUm80kax0nq9f18eyD4CQUqtoPD5IgXnTgGF7TUjY2VdnZxCnDjqeXiVxSJs9mqk/s200/IMGP3606.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419788626378791330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><div>Colin really likes his job and the people he works with. We feel like they've treated him very well and he's happy about his final outcome with all his training. I get pieces of his life when he shares stories from time to time like:</div><div><br /></div><div>*I had to put a catheter in someone's salivary gland today to inject with contrast and get a CT to look for a big mass</div><div><br /></div><div>*Someone came in with abdominal pain and we had to inform her it was because she was pregnant</div><div><br /></div><div>*If you want to find the lymph node that is the likely next cancer culprit on a suspiciou</div><div>s breast mass patient you have to inject the breast right by the mass and watch where the radioactive particles accumulate</div><div><br /></div><div>*I read a shoulder MR today that was really tough and everyone was glad to see it go off the list.</div><div><br /></div><div>*Sometimes when I get home I don't want to talk, I just want to listen, because at work I'm talking and thinking as fast as I can for eight hours strait.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I'll leave you with some picture of the road trips which typify my sentiments.</div><div><br /></div><div>(1) Banff National Park<br /><div>(2) Somewhere in Southern Alberta</div><div>(3) Probably Montana</div><div><br /></div></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvTHjZA91UsN0xaR4NgNvGrxzGipK8fzTuCyLdp9Lj8zLBi4EXvqgfSsozDs23ungKf8B4PdzIy2JLH3kV1fOJ9VMfIBvr9KUXE7TXzBpF7yOWX8usqfrHuBADnKXkOjkfRaKwt4igdk/s400/DSCN0123.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419787146522552338" /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqZW4wD9skJOXGvfqcoGHxbzI5MmCt4rxohzb9u4zhHIFo5qYVk6cd2uFxM1dO8arpQWYiPCti6Dw9noD9A71Q6xkDsDHaQ5y7SI00CsSVXdBql5RYNjK2yQGZCsWzVo02tRZ2b2dWSo/s400/IMGP3611.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419787138560279666" /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0FSi6-CaLeyGXl_pSUCvD9wup8WbYenjJSYbL8Qtjqj7pWqM-uAUtcsz1pU-7v7s-BtJA7BjJqF5mQZMC_UnDt7xhuqmnnfesp6UtCAzbJs69dkVon-yjzBqtUOIwEj7RCDUnw9-iaE/s400/IMGP3566.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419787129954301042" /></div></div></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-29075173202991356282009-08-18T11:44:00.012-06:002009-08-18T12:15:02.327-06:00The Canadian Rockies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0_L0LizqE8emY3WAvNK4WriwhOpr9-kakKU4z-EtxK3_Mw0m0xDl63RFtk_jrZhGabLotihugqTo-4cYELJdOZFIGTUVFomK-P21D9tCod9YsJ1b-OqeWwjszgZ_xjKdoGaZ_KiCPrM/s1600-h/IMGP3433.JPG"></a>x<br /><br />We've been living in Calgary for about <img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeAJ8BQDW6iZzfWk1VaXksMRJzjTk7Fu2c88v0x5bu7QnwXkQnig-hVffFqqcIVRkp9KvKZpUpO1WB_P4IIo2HOiVUtypdhFdX0Fz-vrbqYM-g9k6lRzmYUvNnZuGLuMdNi7O4C-fW2M/s320/IMGP3455.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371363183896315090" />3 weeks now and Colin could hardly wait to get to the mountains. So here are some pictures of what we can drive to in about 1.5 hrs. <div>Here the kids are at the top of Sulfur Mountain overlooking th</div><div>e town of Banff. We took an</div><div> 8 minute gondola ride up to about 7000ft and then climbed the extra bit to the cosmic ray station. Of course while we w</div><div>ere up there it did snow a little bit- and that's par for the course in August.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other picture shows </div><div>Two Jack lake and that is where we brought food for a pick nick. There is a wandering trail around the lake that the kids had lots of fun on and a camp ground on the other side that looked perfect for another time.</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizup8Jl86qPfys3EII6geMRP_BMF9vl5e6HBql9eGUrMWi7jN6mameM9vMmsPQ9z1iz1WJwJEvMbe-qlH2oxT82Gs4eGkIBOVQfFcNsRQ-luvBzFvfEmvbB6SZTTk5Bytx3XsybfGfGA8/s320/IMGP3463.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371366870821159938" /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYmC97cxfIVW7GMbJLA2P_JoSFHt9HaXxrT9yDQI_BU1L0ElpEa0kk7ald8XvrGf9Ex-Dw2OUujMPz-Kp7kJULVGm5dGdzxrdaRy8ydDrKFSYW6SXaE3_QD1DDcbTlWGMYBxBliqRnuY/s400/IMGP3433.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371368707951933602" /></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-31866624202220301062009-06-18T12:44:00.004-06:002009-06-18T12:49:01.014-06:00What house we're living in in Calgary!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0LAnbYcShDg2HIjt1kq_LScQalHbFg8eauuq_KL8OmmD9IN7jpTfbJMTJ9EM7jMKy_NmBClFbEFcGsmmc8xqMS8l4UCQK54Hlpy3iaC2vBx2VA1UgURDbftZsCj2A3MloV1Ern4_9zw/s1600-h/DSCF1804.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0LAnbYcShDg2HIjt1kq_LScQalHbFg8eauuq_KL8OmmD9IN7jpTfbJMTJ9EM7jMKy_NmBClFbEFcGsmmc8xqMS8l4UCQK54Hlpy3iaC2vBx2VA1UgURDbftZsCj2A3MloV1Ern4_9zw/s320/DSCF1804.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348741236513463714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTa7F3G7k_wVrLrblsGLwlVxvH1qwlKlCY3GLRz2MGWUEZC7N7GeWVeTi1WMJT0ghrVqbLs9L6EzJCZDU72nKySwmQBZV8465MQOjTO0xh5ZKyCaqdqBWydvTt_76vwVqX1wqoqE4VXn0/s1600-h/DSCF1782.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTa7F3G7k_wVrLrblsGLwlVxvH1qwlKlCY3GLRz2MGWUEZC7N7GeWVeTi1WMJT0ghrVqbLs9L6EzJCZDU72nKySwmQBZV8465MQOjTO0xh5ZKyCaqdqBWydvTt_76vwVqX1wqoqE4VXn0/s320/DSCF1782.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348741227161514962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxidORaomi30TNGEjfetVJ498yfY5zJ3FPeQL0Cjea2pIXELI7wYuVdgHo6Rm2mPK3o16S-bX80ayzpj9bVRZlO4I2KFOz1wdKdnCVf_y0jlMZAjv4Ly3HgkB1-j6XrM-9TZrbzi37U_c/s1600-h/DSCF1779.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxidORaomi30TNGEjfetVJ498yfY5zJ3FPeQL0Cjea2pIXELI7wYuVdgHo6Rm2mPK3o16S-bX80ayzpj9bVRZlO4I2KFOz1wdKdnCVf_y0jlMZAjv4Ly3HgkB1-j6XrM-9TZrbzi37U_c/s320/DSCF1779.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348740985110186162" /></a><br />Book your Calgary vacations now. Here is where you can stay with us on a quiet street in the very South part of Calgary.<div>157 Chaparral Ravine View SE</div><div>Calgary, AB T2X 0A4</div><div><br /></div><div>We'll be there August 1st 2009.</div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-58836341937400895762009-03-14T20:32:00.005-06:002009-04-11T17:14:19.327-06:00Pictures from Toronto<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTNph5VXkcxt9O1x30a22UY7C0mTFNhCdMmliD_2aKbT809_T-0Xw2f_oNIq8MRG4oVTraMzuXAPtFaVx94RqCPW9AeIMyawpeQymlrGJLxlXIGcy_cBo8wj0qBLcO_lVOHZzgc3Z9aI/s1600-h/IMGP2466.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTNph5VXkcxt9O1x30a22UY7C0mTFNhCdMmliD_2aKbT809_T-0Xw2f_oNIq8MRG4oVTraMzuXAPtFaVx94RqCPW9AeIMyawpeQymlrGJLxlXIGcy_cBo8wj0qBLcO_lVOHZzgc3Z9aI/s320/IMGP2466.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313239398639681954" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BPCSCwKjc32YwSgfpn7VYY7JcoYX85VHqC9emLbqGxwj9KmXt9PtEIy9kcOmldLznn6sYNOOBhrYgmFAxYgH3Z2RXLQLVSMo_-KMpIzt2xUJVAlClm02KTTx1_Wh8f4ldiI9Cpx1KXw/s1600-h/IMGP2095.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BPCSCwKjc32YwSgfpn7VYY7JcoYX85VHqC9emLbqGxwj9KmXt9PtEIy9kcOmldLznn6sYNOOBhrYgmFAxYgH3Z2RXLQLVSMo_-KMpIzt2xUJVAlClm02KTTx1_Wh8f4ldiI9Cpx1KXw/s320/IMGP2095.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313239039405050082" /></a><br />We will only be here 3.5 more months. I can't believe how time gets faster the older you get.<div>Last Saturday we had a babysitter and Colin and I went to dinner in the "Kensington Market" district at El Torito. We hadn't made reservations but they had space at the bar- which was fine for us.</div><div>The food was so good and we happened to be sitting by the kitchen and the chef kept checking the tables- so I commented on the Andalusian Chick Pea and Spinach soup. What I really wanted to know was how it was made and he graciously told </div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjCq1ImpA1CGqmjVknZq_egmruN1cJ8de07BOWc80zfDOk-hVB_11iyzFnBriaPgbhsJOgh3qT5zG1VSZQxwF67qlYHVxs-IQeSW7H9NtTzu5TF_CJO8lp7an37LRxDvlGSkKRLbopqQ/s320/IMGP2230.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313239194765584418" /><div>me. No short cuts. It takes time to make good food.</div><div>Even though we miss our family and the mountains, I've had so much fun here experiencing other cultures and different views. I'm glad we came.</div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-37494041079290143082009-01-24T16:40:00.002-07:002009-01-24T16:42:32.906-07:00Kelsey 3months old<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqT1jWwYMvBsfkTI07a0lKTRD6PfyUMRmm-EHQdA1xxa36rjN4Nwjo4k-mR2wlcLl_WStJR7qBtC_ywUrpjvlVQU17KIf8uG0VIhZRCgcYcBCcu3isN3agZ5ehpwqjx0BynSHCCEU4V0/s1600-h/F1000017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqT1jWwYMvBsfkTI07a0lKTRD6PfyUMRmm-EHQdA1xxa36rjN4Nwjo4k-mR2wlcLl_WStJR7qBtC_ywUrpjvlVQU17KIf8uG0VIhZRCgcYcBCcu3isN3agZ5ehpwqjx0BynSHCCEU4V0/s400/F1000017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295009816388096642" /></a><br />This is her true happy face.<div><br /></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-24274120417402449062009-01-24T09:55:00.005-07:002009-01-24T10:07:55.873-07:00Snow Removal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oZzTTXHMUbBWsPgWr9kooNixV76fx4LNCcNLmef-knXH-HcXHm1DBrhrQeKTyeixCyW0RcDzM6BMlSZSdl8YwQW33Bg-3ncVBX5O5l5lXStbzmwMkMGvJdR4zDs5ruChoCSC77irYxk/s1600-h/IMGP2743.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oZzTTXHMUbBWsPgWr9kooNixV76fx4LNCcNLmef-knXH-HcXHm1DBrhrQeKTyeixCyW0RcDzM6BMlSZSdl8YwQW33Bg-3ncVBX5O5l5lXStbzmwMkMGvJdR4zDs5ruChoCSC77irYxk/s320/IMGP2743.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294906781744115746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3sq6Ouf2V9ZCJj6csW9zIoZIlHN7IjXGgZL5FerTOJoHcA3zB8mxXztNimQPB2HUWNntW2QMTABTyOvDZjVCiIHQR0ubOEQP5ceIuctIaG4bOi9GwxQBNyfX0C0ccPIe4ZYghopCxtQ/s1600-h/IMGP2744.JPG"><br /></a>This city is buried in snow. And temperatures have not reached above freezing for months- so it never melts. But there are some very creative solutions to remove snow from the narrow streets that suffer.<div><br /></div><div>The "Snow Spitter" is a giant snow blower. The auger grinds up the snow banks and then spits it into the back of dump truck.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfJ6Uy6Z_6mi_Tsii_MBAO19inTBk8aeLqfX-O8XFEs07hkdPyp23Ra3UsFfoJEhJfEXGW2BDQcfA4P6Qp4A77NnNqoqebo0h-CWodkWYDxkJgT_XPp4e9aQO_tl6hnqDbyAflU249e4/s320/IMGP2741.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294907163765408018" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Then the job is finished off by large and small tractors that clear the roads and sidewalks.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a nice public service but you pay a premium for it (50% tax bracket). But the kids sure enjoyed watching.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaASa9wzVnuhprosJvj29AC-hjV013C3tqeODkvP5o4GautfHawiDUeEiSTInMjbqcBmkU0YvY83cayrhfth0KydRAxUP0oIfT5ZYKnXCTHr6Qc6La3KkCJvg3MbRZJf0zPahbrFL7WY/s320/IMGP2742.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294907918849324738" /></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-593975566878026782009-01-24T09:50:00.002-07:002009-01-24T09:54:55.286-07:00Reina Quotes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0CIVO2rGJes7lIi2U5l8EmtkaLPonpp7LLunAkombhAdFF87fSwHpVjRjHLZ0nd3ws-mmShs2p6YOjucgtaELgSCA0m7H4d_DwOhmyoIesUyux_GSqJEm07xfrJhxuybKbuz9cc6S9g/s1600-h/IMGP2709.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0CIVO2rGJes7lIi2U5l8EmtkaLPonpp7LLunAkombhAdFF87fSwHpVjRjHLZ0nd3ws-mmShs2p6YOjucgtaELgSCA0m7H4d_DwOhmyoIesUyux_GSqJEm07xfrJhxuybKbuz9cc6S9g/s320/IMGP2709.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294904667807693682" /></a>"I want to cut the beans!"<br /><div><br />"Yes, I like the salad, except for the leaves."<div><br /></div><div>"Mom, I want to see the spiting truck"</div><div>(see snow removal for picture)</div></div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699798910691974015.post-59999406076078742612009-01-02T18:43:00.006-07:002009-01-02T20:50:49.464-07:00Winter break Skate Camp<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJTjSrvddZjDdrG_egUUZwV5j5VcRa0LydyBtSkYXQdP7yLIE6v-z2Iw_5UPMlMVT7w_0rduMrn-sCYiCbBT1XRPlbyihG6C_mT6NAjAZWzkrWv7pzNrcFu8cFMpdRmByA3PiCDmww5o/s1600-h/IMGP2697.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJTjSrvddZjDdrG_egUUZwV5j5VcRa0LydyBtSkYXQdP7yLIE6v-z2Iw_5UPMlMVT7w_0rduMrn-sCYiCbBT1XRPlbyihG6C_mT6NAjAZWzkrWv7pzNrcFu8cFMpdRmByA3PiCDmww5o/s320/IMGP2697.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286879667518120338" /></a><br />You want to be good to your kids. You want them to have fun. Then why did my kids think I was torturing them when I enrolled them in ice skating camp over the Christmas holidays? I thought that this would be a great way to learn to skate without going to weekly lessons.<div>Needless to say after 3-4 hours of skating (for three days) Brooklyn and Reina had nothing good to say about the experience. I told them now that they live in Canada they have to learn how to skate. Everyone does it.</div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0vHHoa_oS42Lp7KjAOia4KMWXuqgJZ4bfuyQpQ8Ev72CZoaIrCPz8ORI_cIVLuP8GIvy-61utECgCU2-NhfTw_GiDT9_W5c0v1rJlwLYWMyqKeX53IiKIl7TMV9VJ37-oBvqk28W4wc/s320/IMGP2693.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286878651312821170" /><div><br /></div><div>However, I did learn one lesson, "Less is more." especially at Christmas time.</div>J.A. Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199272412260076754noreply@blogger.com0