Good bye 2013...Bienvenue 2014!

We say good bye to 2013 in Canada. We are at the very start of our big OE(overseas excursion). 

As the New Year approaches(3 hours away), we feel compelled to make resolutions. 

Andrea - I want to read more, and read real books - not just ebooks!
Filo - Read more.
Madeline - Meet 5SOS...(lol) see an Orca in the wild. 
Theo - I want to have a go at everything and read more. 
Cohen - I want to learn more about science at school.

Looks like we have a big learning year ahead of us. What are you planning to do in 2014?

All I know is this year, it is time to BE MORE AWESOME!!!

All the best to you and your families over the next year!

The KiwiCanadian Fales

Ice Skating

Yesterday (28th December) me, my uncle Kieran, and my sister Madz, and my dad went to take some photos.
1 First we had to get in line and after that get me and Madz our skates.
2 Then we put them on and wait for the Zamboni to clear the ice
3 We got on the ice. Madz was good at it but I needed something to help me balance so Uncle Kieran got me a green thing to help me!
4 I got told to try and skate by myself and I did for 7 seconds. I felt really proud. 

By Theo

 

The Polar Dip

Thursday 26th of December. {Boxing Day}

Once a year, on the day after Christmas {Boxing Day} Comox Valley has a small tradition called the Polar Dip. The name pretty much explains what happens. A whole lot of Comoxians {not sure if that is an official name or not} gather at the Goose Spit to jump into the freezing cold winter water.

So, we drove over to the spit. Me, Dad, Uncle Kieran and Theo signed in, because we were the only ones that had the Balls guts to do it. We wore our after-dip clothes over our swimming ones. As we waited, we saw people dressed up as Clowns, people in their Pyjamas, and more. Soon, we were given the 5 minute warning. Everyone who was watching, went and stood back. The rest of us, got ready and lined up at the edge of the shore.  They started to count down from 10.

At one, everyone jumped in. After hearing everything Uncle Kieran had said, quote- "It took me 4 years to recover"- I was expecting worse. It was freezing, don't get me wrong, but after around 30 seconds, I got used to it. The waves were huge, almost taller than me. And according to a lot of the other people around me, the sand was full of sharp rocks, but I didn't really feel it. {My feet were numb} Theo and Uncle Kieran were in and out, but I stayed in a bit longer. Dad, was one of the last to come out, actually.

 After we got changed, Uncle Kieran led us to go and get some hot chocolate. Free, too. It was nice and warm, and kinda made my teeth hurt because it warmed them up so fast. But it was still good.
And that's it. So..


Good Day. {by the way, this was by Madeline.} Photos below :)

 

 

                                                                                                ^ ^ I look so sexy

My Red Bike

My bike is red and my bike has three wheels. I like riding my red bike on the front of our house. My bike is easy to ride. Bunka bought the bike for me. It's really old.I have another bike with two wheels that I am going to learn to ride. I like bikes.

By Cohen

Drive Way Hockey and Snowball Fights!

On Monday my older sister Madz, Cohen my little brother and my dad were playing drive way hockey.This is how we did it.

 #1 We made a hockey net.

 #2 We got our hockey sticks from the garage. 

#3  We had a snow ball fight and got the puck from the shed (a orange ball) 

#4  We started to play. Madz was goalie, Coco/Cohen as defence he and dad had the puck.

On Sunday I went outside and started to make snow balls. When Coco and Madz came out - pew pew pew pew - 4 big snow balls hit Madz and Coco. I started to run and then Coco ran up to the snow balls and gave some to Madz and Pew pew pew pew pew, I got hit!!

By Theo.

Let it Snow

We arrived to snow but because it was late at night the kids had to wait until the next day to get out into the snow! When they finally woke up they put on whatever warm clothes they had and ventured outside to throw snowballs and build a snowman. 

He is a little snowman but he is mighty! He survived the day, the dropping temperature and even survived a zombie attack! When the kids went outside the next day  Cohen discovered the snowman's nose was gone! Once Cohen investigated the evidence left behind, little round poos, he figured out that a deer had come along and eaten the nose! So there was no zombie attack.. Just a hungry deer! 

Taking Off

We left New Zealand on the 19th December and it was a lovely hot day. Our plane ride was turbulent for the entire journey. None of us had a good time but the most important thing is that we got to  Canada safely. We saw Gramma and Bunka right away and Cohen ran to them! Kieran was there too! There were lots of tears and happy smiles.

We left the airport to head for the ferry and it was cold. It was 1 degree outside. It was refreshing but it was mostly cold. We had to wait a bit for the ferry so we got to have some wraps that Gramma made us and we all had a hot drink.  

The Ferry was massive and our sailing was called the Halibut. (which was the fish I was looking forward to eating)

The ferry took 2 hours but it was nice and smooth sailing. Once the ferry docked we drove off into snow. It was nice to see snow. I forgot how difficult it is to drive in. We made it to Comox safely and on the way into mum and dad's driveway we saw a deer in the yard across the road! What a Canadian welcome home! 

We hope you will follow our blog and come along on our OE with us! 

The kids and I will take turns writing posts! 

We are finally relaxed and are sitting in the family room, fire on, watching Frosty the Snowman!

Take care and leave us a comment!

Andrea