Our Canadian Winter

We have had an amazing time in Canada this winter, our kids have been able to experience a lot of really fun firsts! The youngest kids had no memory of seeing snow so they especially enjoyed a white Christmas and all the time they had to play outside! 

One of the houses we were given to use during our time here was in the very beautiful Whistler. It was so nice being away the 6 of us for a few nights to enjoy the sights but also just sleep in, watch Christmas movies and put a few puzzles together. 

Avin has been limited in the activity she can do but she had a great time playing in the snow and going for walks around the village and Lost Lake. 

Being in Whistler for a few days gave us the chance to eat at a few different places in the village, some of our favourites were Pure Bread, El Furniture Warehouse, Splitz Grill, and Hunter Gather.

We didn't do any skiing or tobogganing but we did ride the Peak 2 Peak gondola on a gorgeous day and it was definitely worth it, even just to walk around and enjoy the incredible view! 

Just days after we arrived in Canada Joel started his first job! He worked for friends of ours at Vancouver Photobooth taking Santa Photos at a nearby mall. He loved it and is so thankful for such a great experience and that he was able to make money for bible college next fall! 

Christmas celebrations with cousins! 

The kids with my sisters son, Ashton. 

With Jeff's sisters two kids, Tyler and Sarah. 

The kids doing their own version of the polar bear swim at Jeff's parents house in Nanaimo. 

They didn't last long in the ocean before running up to the hot tub! 

Our home while we lived in Canada was always near White Rock and it turned out that most of the houses we've been so generously lent during our stay have been also! Going to the beach for a walk or to skip rocks has been a favourite activity for all of us. 

We ended the Christmas season with friends in Tulameen, snowmobiling, sledding and ice skating, definitely a true Canadian winter holiday! 

Avin's friend Sophia who she spent the summer with is here for the week while Joel spends the week with a friend in Sechelt. 

It was so cold but so beautiful! 

Finn thought snowmobiling was the best thing ever. 

Avin was actually able to ride a bit too, finally a winter activity she could take part in! 

Mazzy fell in love with ice skating, unfortunately it's not something she'll get to do anytime soon in Uganda! 

Thank you Moody family for having us, we loved our time away! 

The Long Way Home

How have we been back home in Uganda for 1 month already!? We jumped right back into life and are loving it! Days after settling in we got into the routine of homeschool and then began getting ready for a team from Pacific Academy School. Although it already feels like forever ago we really did have an incredible summer. Our family was able to travel a bit through Europe before our month visiting with family, friends, and our supporters in BC.

 First stop for me was a day in Athens and then a few days in Santorini with Gabriella

It was way harder than we imagined to get this photo!!! 

Reunited in Rome! It was a first time for all of us to be in Italy and we loved it

 There are 2500 public fountains like this in the city of Rome, it was very hot out while we were there so we definitely took advantage filling our water bottles up every chance we got. Our kids actually found it pretty overwhelming coming from Uganda, seeing water flowing everywhere! 

Trevi Fountain is gorgeous, definitely my favourite spot in Rome!  

Inside the Colosseum, a rare picture with all 7 of us! 

Split Croatia was absolutely stunning, we loved our time here, it was very relaxing! 

Gorgeous waterfalls

Hanging out in an ancient palace

Playing Picigin, a favourite local game at Bacvice Beach in Split

Hike views

We didn't reazlie when we started our walk just how far away this beach would be, we are about half way and can now see it, really off in the distance. 

Worth the 10km walk to get here!! 

Oui, Oui, Paris! 

Louvre

View from the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower!

Picnic lunch at Jardin du Luxembourg

Sacre Cour

Beautiful Versailles

Our last day, now onto BC!! 

The day after we arrived in Vancouver all 4 kids went to camp for a week on Anvil Island, Joel as a counsellor and the other 3 as campers. 

This is always a highlight for the kids each year, they had such a great time!! 

A week without kids! Day 1 and 2 we missed them so much, but our week quickly filled up with visits and running errands. We did manage to fit in a quick hike, actually a very long hike up Grouse Mountain! Glad we did it but it was a lot harder than we thought!! 

When the kids got back from camp the beautiful summer weather Vancouver is known for appeared, perfect for bbqs, swimming and hanging out with family and friends! 

This is the first time for all of Jeff's family to get together since Nick and Hayley's wedding which we missed last summer. 

With cousins Tyler and Sarah on Jeff's side

With their cousin Ashton on Shan's side

Great Grandma Dyck

Great Grandma Unger

Great Grandpa Oshowy

With Jeff's siblings at our cousins wedding

Dinner out with Shan's not so little baby brothers

Helping Grandpa bbq dinner

My Mom

Avin with my sister Lisa and Mom

Sarah and Mazzy, cutest cousins! 

The kids at Wild Play in Nanaimo with Jeff's parents

Berries with their cousin Ashton

Krause Berry Farms with Gabriella

Finn and our good friend's Baby Finn! 

Last day in BC, we are really going to miss all of our family and friends for these next 2 years, so come visit us in Uganda!!! 

Goodbye, Vancouver!! 

We had a layover in Amsterdam on our way back to Uganda, also a first for all of us! 

I think we all agree that our favourite part was visiting the Hiding Place at Corrie ten Boom's house in Haarlem, our kids were tired and jet lagged but our tour guide had their full attention! 

Amsterdam is a very cool city, so relaxed except for the watching out for bikes zooming by, everywhere you look!! 

We'd highly recommend a canal tour, a great way to see the whole city and learn a lot too! 

Last Starbucks for a while!!! 

Next stop, Uganda!!!! 

Thank you to everyone who welcomed us this summer; gave us a place to stay, cars to use, dinners, coffees, and took time to spend with our family, we appreciate all of you so much! 

Next post is an update of our first month back!