Vancouver Winter Christmas time

Unlike much of Canada, Vancouver has a very mild climate - much like Auckland or Hamilton, NZ in July - but a little less tropical. So, when December/winter rolls around it rains. The temperatures have hovered between 0 and 10 which isn't that bad. But the nights start early with the sun setting about 4pm. The winter light is something I never appreciated when we lived here but certainly do now.

On Tuesday evening, we went to Stanley Park for the Christmas Train. Stanley Park is situated right in the middle of downtown Vancouver. It is home to the Vancouver Aquarium and a little train. At Chrismas, the local fire fighters dress up the area around the train with thousands of lights and decorations. It is stunning! Funds raised go to charity. The train rides sell out each year. The theme this year was "Frozen", music, decorations and all. Here are some pictures.

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa - Naomi's Post

On Sunday, Grandpa picked us up from the airport and drove us to Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Auntie Rhonda, Uncle Joe, Patrick and Patrick's friend Alison came over for dinner.  We went to the park and it was fun.  It was very cold.  Hannah and I played with Patrick and Alison.  They were lots of fun.  We tickled Patrick lots because he is very ticklish, even on his face.

Dinner at Capilano Heights Chinese Restaurant

Grandpa, Naomi and Emma at
Capilano Heights Chinese Restaurant

On Monday we played games with Grandma and Grandpa.  Last night we went out for Chinese food and it was yummy.  Afterwards, we walked along Draycott Road and saw all the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations.  It was beautiful.  I wanted to walk up the hill and down the hill, and it was a long way.  We saw lots of Christmas lights, snowmen, pretty decorations on the trees, and Santa Clauses.

Lights on Draycott Road

On Tuesday, me and my family went to Princess Park.  Princess Park was made by my Great-Grandpa. He used dynamite to blast out stumps and rocks to make trails. There is even a big rock near then entrance which he decided needed to stay there.

Me and my sisters Hannah and Emma with Great Grandpa's rock!

We made a little house with sticks and leaves, and we used a hollowed out stump to make it too.  We opened the door to the house and we went home to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

The fort we built.

On Wednesday we went to science world.  We looked at lots of interesting science things.  We watched a movie called "Hidden Universe."  It was about the universe and big telescopes.  The big telescopes are used to look at all the stars in the sky.  I looked in a mirror and saw lots of Naomis. They are my 'new friends' and they are called Nancy-Rose, Naomi 1, Naomi 2, Naomi 3, Lily, Napira, Nathan, Nilly, Zaria, Zoe, Ruby, Milly, Nick, Sarah, Katherine, Hazel, Nicole, Lilac, Nandika, Felicity, and Michael.  I like the shadow pictures, and the kaleidoscope dancing. We also saw a Bubble show! I was in the bubble show.

Naomi and all of her friends!

This is the bubble show. I was a bit nervous. 

Back in Vancouver

We made it!  After all the planning and preparation, we are back in the Great White North.  Saturday and Sunday were incredibly busy days as we had to complete all our final packing and preparations before heading to Auckland and jumping on a plane.

Emma, Naomi, and Hannah with Brooklyn
in the St Paul's van.

It became apparent rather quickly that trying to clean and pack was going to be incredibly difficult with three children in the house and nothing for them to do!  The pouring rain did not help either.  In the end, Craig took Naomi and Hannah to visit Peter and Annie Osborne's new house while Ellen continued to pack and clean.  Big thanks to Annie and Michaela who went to the house to help with packing and cleaning!

We were literally packing and cleaning right up until the time when both our family and the Osborne family jumped in the St Paul's School van and drove to Auckland Airport!  We arrived three hours prior to our departure, checked our bags and had one final farewell drink with the Osborne's before going through security and heading towards the gate.  After some (very) last minute shopping, we were on the plane.

Ellen and Craig with Peter and Annie at the airport.

Emma, Naomi, Hannah with Brooklyn and Oliver at the airport.

The flight was remarkably smooth.  All three kids were very well behaved for the entire flight - thank goodness for in-flight movies!  Ellen was also incredibly well prepared (as usual) ensuring that the kids had their own personalised 'flight packs' with books, games and colouring pens.  The kids even slept well!

Naomi with Dad on the plane.

Hannah and Emma with Mum on the plane.

 We arrived in Vancouver at 11:40am - 20 minutes ahead of schedule - and after clearing customs, we were picked up by Craig's dad who drove us to 'Grandma and Grandpa's' house.  The kids were very excited to see their grandparents!  Auntie Rhonda, Uncle Joe, Patrick and his friend Alison came over for dinner.  The kids had a great time with playing with Patrick and Alison!

By 7pm we were all completed shattered from the long flight.  Most of us were asleep by 8pm.

Thus begins our new adventure in Canada.

Our van covered in frost the next morning!

Morning frost!!!

Packing at School - Naomi's Post

At school I was packing all my stuff, except the stuff in my tote tray.   Friday was my last day at school.  On Friday, I gave all my classmates chocolate and a picture of the Canadian flag, with my new address on it.  My best friends are Aubonte, Olivia, Mia, Samantha, Bianca, Max, and Nandika.

Aubonte helps me learn and helps me at lunch time and morning tea when I get hurt.
Olivia plays with me very nicely and kindly at morning tea and lunch.
Mia is a friend who is very kind and helps people.
Samantha is a friend who is very kind and fun, and she plays Frozen with me.  I was Elsa and she was Anna.
Bianca is kind and fun to play with.
Max loves me and likes it when I bring toys to school.  We are not allowed bringing toys to school.  Only at 'let us guess.'

And Nandika, me and Hannah play at Nandika's house with Lalani, and she goes to my school.We have fun at her house.

I will miss all my friends at Hillcrest Normal School.

This is Naomi swing on the tire swing.

This is Hannah swing on the tire swing.

The final farewells

Over the past few weeks we have visited with many friends. While we have not caught up with everyone, it has been really good to spend some time with those that we have seen. Craig caught up with a few of the boys, Ellen had lunches with past colleagues.

Slowly we sold off or gave away stuff we didn't need or couldn't bring (oh no the TV is gone!).  Our van sold, stickers and all.

It is amazing how time has flown and the number of great people we leave behind. Emma had her last violin lesson with her wonderful teacher (and cat).
 

Murphy the Lab went to his new home north of Hamilton. He now lives with a lovely family with 2 boys. They are dog sitting for friends so he spends his time terrorizing and being terrorized by Zoe, the 9 year old lab who refuses to act her age! I hear he is fitting in well and from the photos and conversations we've had with the family, he has found an ideal home.




Thursday Emma had her final prizegiving at Southwell. While she did not receive a prize, she has grown enormously in the time she has attended that school. It has been a fantastic learning environment for her. I know that she will miss it.

Naomi and Hannah visited their past home-based childcarer, Lalani and her daughter Nandika. Lalani and her family played an important role in caring for both girls.

On Friday, the cats went to the kennel - aka Fat-Camp for Finnegan (8.5kg now) and the Retirement-Village for Chance (15 years old). They will travel to Ontario together in the coming weeks. Hopefully Finn is a bit lighter by the time he arrives!





Friday was also Hannah's final day at Montessori. It too has been a wonderful learning environment for her. There was a music show performed by the children. Apparently Hannah chose not to attend most of the rehearsals, instead choosing to help one of the teachers clean the other room. When it came time for the performance, she knew all the words and actions as if she'd attended those rehersals. She also 'helped' those around her (man-handled them into place or showed them the actions). Choreography perhaps?!



Naomi was sad to leave her school on Friday. She gave each of her classmates a little chocolate wrapped in a Canadian flag with her email address written on the back. After school she spend time with one of her best friend's Olivia. We gave Olivia one of three necklaces. The second goes to Samantha and the third Naomi keeps. She was very sad to leave Olivia.  Again, we really hope to keep in touch.

Emma spent Friday at Waterworld and Saturday at Jump (indoor trampoline place) with some of her school friends. She has made some wonderful friends, who are world travelers like us, and intends on keeping in touch with each of them.

Saturday we spent with friends we have known since the week we arrived in New Zealand. Way back then we registered Emma in gymnastics. At that time, unbeknownst to us, another family who had just immigrated from England did the same for their son Marius. His mum and I were both standing on the side watching the kids and one day began to chat. The kids gelled like glue and have been very close ever since. We have spent holidays and Christmas with Sue, Iain, Marius and Yasmin over the years. Last evening it was our final kiwi BBQ followed by fireworks.

Overall, our 8 years in New Zealand has been filled with friends and adventures. We hope to see many of you kiwis in Canada! We have New Zealand Citizenship and maybe one day, we'll be back. I would imagine the kids will be very keen to do an OE in New Zealand at some stage.

The Final Week at St Paul's

Last week was an emotional and exhausting week for Craig as he completed the last of his farewells to the St Paul's Community.  On November 29, Craig drove down to the Tihoi Venture campus for the Final Lunch and Prizegiving for Tihoi Intake 2014/2.  Tihoi will hold a special place in Craig's heart with its focus on the outdoors and experiential learning.  On the morning of December 1, the St Paul's community welcomed back the Tihoi 2014/2 Intake to the main campus and farewelled Tihoi Intake 2015/1.  It was also the morning for the Junior Prizegiving and Year 10 Graduation to the Senior School.

The Tihoi Campus

That night, St Paul's had its annual Christmas Service of 9 Lessons and Carols.  It is one of Craig's favourite services of the year.  The choir were phenomenal as they sang several beautiful anthems and the students sang amazingly well as they always do for special occasions.

The morning of December 2 was the final assembly for the whole school community.  Craig and a fellow colleague who was leaving, Nick Clothier, treated the school to a bit of Canadiana by singing the Barenaked Ladies song "If I Had a Million Dollars."  Despite Craig's limited singing abilities, the song was a big hit and a fun way to say 'Goodbye.'

That night was the Leaver's Service, where we said farewell all the school leavers, in particular, those in Year 13.  Craig preached his final sermon called '6 Things I have Learned at St Paul's.'  The students sang their favourite hymns with incredible passion.

December 3 was the Prizegiving.  The highlight of that Prizegiving was the students honouring the Headmaster, Mr Grant Lander, with a very emotional haka as a tribute to him as he takes a leave of absence to deal with some health issues.

Craig will miss St Paul's greatly.  It is a fantastic school, and, more importantly, a fantastic community.  It has truly been both a blessing and a privilege to work there.