Just a bit chilly!

Brrr, we've had our first real cold snap! The "cold" we've felt until now was nothing! From inside the house it looks great out there with constant snow falling, it's just beautiful.
The kids are loving it and have rugged up twice today to head outdoors to play. I haven't stepped outside today as it's too cold and windy for me. I stayed in and baked Anzac biscuits (Happy Australia Day) and we also played a game of Aussie Monopoly (Thanks Hutleys!).

It has snowed all day! Here's the weather situation...

Visions of Edmonton in Winter

Living in the cold and snow has some real benefits... it can be simply stunning! Here are some photos from the Connect2Edmonton "Snap Edmonton" photo competition. Hope you enjoy!

Christmas and New Year in The Rockies

Christmas was very special this year because we spent it at a beautiful place called Jasper Park Lodge (JPL). The brochure says that Jasper Park Lodge is "Nestled in between captivating and majestic mountains and enchanting lakes" and it's true, it's tucked away and fully self contained resort living at its best. There is iceskating on the frozen lakes, the heated outdoor pool, indoor games, horse and cart rides around the lake or... quiet corners to curl up and read a book.

While at JPL we skied at Marmot basin (a 10 minute drive away) on Christmas day and again two days later. Although the locals think it's "not a great season", we Aussies think that a metre of natural snow is pretty OK!

While at JPL Christmas arrived. It was truly a magical, white Christmas just like Bing or Frank might sing about. There were no hot north winds, no "six white boomers", just snow and quiet. We went to a lovely Lutheran service to remember the true meaning of the season.

We opened presents before leaving Edmonton and then some smaller ones at JPL. Of course it was a bit of an electronic Christmas (typical us!) as we all received a cell phone, the kids got a Wii (OT approved of course) and Anita got a digital photo frame so that she can avoid work and stare at photos of family and friends (new photos needed... send today!!!).

A real digital highlight was linking up with family on Skype as they came together on Boxing Day. If you don't have Skype get it NOW! We were able to open presents together and the most wonderful thing is that the kids (Scott, Charlotte and Daisy) just accepted that we were "in the computer". It was so real Sam felt suddenly homesick.

After 6 days at Jasper it was time to move on and the destination was Banff! Well, what a drive through the Rocky Mountains and the Icefields. Every corner outdid the last as we "OOOOh-ed and AAAAAAAAH-ed" for about 4 hours. With four photographers in the car (yep, all the cell phones have very good cameras) there was a constant noise of shutter-bugging.

On the way through to Banff we stopped at various locations, Lake Louise being one of the most spectacular. We really knew we were in Canada when we were there. The lake is frozen and there was an ice castle and horse and sled rides around the lake. It was most picturesque but a bit too busy with tourists for our liking.

In Banff we did a few touristy things... we went on the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain, we played 5-pin bowling with a great family we met in Jasper (John, Mary and Georgia Benjamin) and of course we went skiing. This time at Sunshine Village. Oh yes.. and New Year came around and we had a lovely room service meal with a special bottle of bubbly! Yum!

So, if you ever want to drive through the Rockies take your time, be prepared to be amazed and tell us... coz we'll come too

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Farewell Johnstons!

Amanda, Will, Jack and George headed back to Oz today after their year on exchange here in Alberta. We had breakfast at the airport with them and waved them off on a chilly -20 morning. It was brilliant having friends here to help get around Edmonton and meet some new people through them... thanks J's see you back in Oz.

The Hamigos New Home

We have found a home...

Skiing in the suburbs of Edmonton

Just enjoy that snow... it's not going anywhere!

We visited a nice little ski hill at "Snow Valley" today to get our legs ready for our big trip to Jasper and Banff next week (over Christmas and New Year). It's a 5 minute drive from our house and it's effectively the same as life where we would go to Torquay for a quick dip.

I'm going to add a couple of pics... I took a photo of Alec this week as I sat in the car (as it warmed up) and he scraped off the ice... I took this photo because the ice is really pretty.

Something we enjoy doing is squirting the windshield with water to clean it and then watch the residue freeze across the windscreen. If you're wondering... yes there is "antifreeze" in the windscreen cleaning fluid!

Another picture here is the crabapple tree in the back yard, so pretty with snow! I'm told that the birds eat them over winter and fly into windows as they are drunk on the fermented fruit.

Preparing for Christmas

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...

It's so hard to feel Christmas-y when it's Winter!!!... but as Christmas fast approaches we finally got into the spirit and decorated our beautiful tree.

We were happy to have retrieved our ornaments from storage as they made us feel a bit "homely". The tree is real by the way! Wish we had smell-o-vision!