It's Cooking Time

Gramma and Bunka, aka - Pat and Marion, have been busily teaching the kids different recipes to cook and techniques to use! I may soon be able to move out of the kitchen once we're back in NZ and let the kids do the cooking. Theo has learned how to make Cannelloni which is stuffed pasta. They were incredibly yummy and a lot of hard work went into them! Theo also made tammatilo sauce which is super yum with corn chips.


Madeline learned how to make a Canadian favourite...poutine! It is french fries, cheese curds and gravy. She made the gravy from scratch and it was beyond yummy!



Cohen has been wanting to make dumplings. When Lesley was here we were planning a big roast dinner with yorkshire "dumplings" (aka...puddings) You can see a video of some of he process by clicking here. 
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152271559052035&l=9106762673356298766


Todays creation was cheeseburger wontons for an appetiser for a dinner we are going to tonight! Again - yum! 
  Keep up the cooking lessons! Well done Fale kiddies! xx

Our budding Scientist

Cohen decided he wanted to make slime. He researched a lot of different videos on the ipad and came up with a favourite. He likes EvanTube - a young boy who makes lots of videos, so he thought it was his turn.

I hope you enjoy his video and his creation of a polymer!

Science with Cohen from The Fales on Vimeo.

Theo's Cannelloni

Today me and my Grandma made cannelloni and salad.
First we got the raw meat and started to cook it in a big pan.
Grandma looked after the meat while started on the bechamel sauce.
The sauce looked like pancake batter and then it started to thicken. Then we added cheese and it tasted nice and smooth.We saw that the meat was almost done and started to make the salad. In the salad we had white onion (left over from Theo's swag tomatillo salsa) lettuce, sweet peppers (yellow and red)  and mushrooms. After that we started to stuff the cannelloni shells.We put the cannelloni in the oven and waited... Then it was dinner!

Washing up! 

Chef Theo and Chef Gramma 

Table full of yummy food

Stuffing the shells

Theos SWAG Tomatillo Salsa!

.1 1/2 lb of Tamatillos 
.1/2 a of chopped white onion 
.1/2 a cup of cilantro leaves 
.1 Tbsp fresh lime juice 
.1/4 teaspoon of sugar
.2 jalapeno peppers or 2 Serrano peppers 
(jalapeno work best with the seeds out)
. salt and pepper to your taste
.a slice of sweet red or yellow pepper for colour


                                                                What to do
Peel the husk of of the tamatillo then boil for 5 minutes.Slice your white onion and jalapeno or serrano.
Then start picking off half a cup of cilantro.
Put the 1TBSP of lime juice and 1/4 teaspoon of sugar in a blender and put the white onions in the blender with the jalapeno peppers (or serrano) and mix.Take your mix out of the blender and put in bowl. 
Take your tamatillos and slice all in half and mix in blender. Dice the slice of sweet red (or yellow) pepper and put in bowl with the rest of the ingredients.
Finally take mixed tamatillos out of the blender and put it in the bowl with the other mixed vegetables and mix with spoon.

Add salt and pepper to taste. 

By Theo

<---------MAKER 

Fishing

Yesterday I went fishing and only the boys came. I only got nibbles.    

Cohen

Meanwhile in the B.C.

So the teachers are still on strike here. What it means for The Fales is...disappointed kids. Who would have thought?

 School is more than a place where you hope learning happens...it's the social mecca for children. We, as parents, can hope for and teach all the social graces we want, but school is their playing field. They won't be properly socialised at home being schooled by their parents. 

This is not a blog on homeschooling vs the classroom. Homeschooling your children is as much a viable choice as sending your kids to school. We're not typically homeschooling. We're doing school work in our home. BIG DIFFERENCE! 


 Our mornings our now routined. Wake up...moan....have your breakfast and then get out your table and chair and do some work...moan...then morning tea...YAY! Back to work...moan! Then an outing of sorts and some physical activity! The afternoons are typically their own. It's hard on them though...their friends are all in the same boat, but they're mostly off in daycare or being looked after by grandparents so there aren't a lot of friends about. It's not bad at all. Just different. Comox is beautiful. We go out to beaches, walks, up a mountain, play sports, pick wild blackberries or plums off the tree in the backyard. There has been science experiments, cooking lessons and fishing trips. It's a whole family approach - Bunka and Gramma lending their expertise when needed. 

What this all adds up to for me as a parent? I will never accept the excuse that they "just don't want to go to school today." 

What we're looking forward too? Autumn colours, pumpkin picking, Canadian Thanksgiving, carving a jack-o-lantern, Hallowe'en, and visits from Uncle Kieran. Life is good. Enjoy the slideshow of the normal stuff we do everyday when we're not "on holiday!" The last slide is Bunka learning how to take a selfie! 


xx Hanging out in Comox on PhotoPeach

The Roads we Travelled

The Great Canadian Landscape on PhotoPeach

Day 9 - The Last Day

After a yummy cooked breakfast, we packed the van, for the last time. We packed the children in, for the last time. We handed over Gravol pills, for the last time and we hit the long, long road, for the last time.

Today was a big one. 

GO HARD OR GO HOME!

Funny! We were doing both today. That statement describes our attitude as well as the roads ahead - the Coquihalla! What goes up...must come down...and whoever said coming down a "hill" is easier than going up, is giving Pinnochio a run for his money!

My mantra, inside my head, as I was being brave mummy today, was nothing short of the Little Engine who Could. I think I can, I think I can... and I never said, I know I could...until I was on the ferry going over to the Island. 

Our poor Dodge Caravan got a work out...bumpy brakes... dreaded downhills...followed by a wee climb only to go downhill again...then into a thrilling tunnel (hold your breath)...around a curvy bend...down  few more "hills" ....through more tunnels...more curves...gearing down to 30 to make it safely...and... we were on flat ground. 

Joyous at the sight of the highway...traffic didn't bother me as we were all on a level playing field, and I mean LEVEL!

We made it to the Ferry Terminal and waited in line...we had all our fingers and toes crossed that we would make it onto the next crossing or it meant a 4 hour wait...I don't think there are enough Skittles and chocolate for that...these kids wanted out...they needed out! We needed them out! haha!

Our line began to move and we excitedly stop-started our way...closer to the front...with each car that made it on...was another chance we wouldn't, until...we were at the front of the line. This was it. Will we make it? He starts with lane 1 - we were at the front of Lane 5. One by one he let the fist car in each lane on...stopping just enough between each car to keep us all guessing. Lane 4...they got on and the girls in that car all whooped with joy! Our turn. There was a pause, that seemed eternal, and then the wave you hope for...proceed! I almost floored it...just in case he changed his mind...and with one last bump...we were on the ferry, heading back to Comox. Almost home.

The 2 big kids walked around the ferry...the freedom to be moving forward and being able to move at the same time...what a wonderful invention! They were so pleased to not be in the van! The ferry ride was smooth, sunny and had just enough movement to relax  me - to ready me for our last jaunt in the van. 

I felt like the meanest mother ever putting those kids back in the van. It was only a 90 minute drive...but they just wanted it over.

We were pros now. I could do this drive with my eyes closed! We were halfway home when we noticed other cars diverting and driving over the grassy median - even though there are signs clearly stating the opposite! What could it mean? One person driving over the median means they made a mistake...2...well it's conceivable...but this many...accident. And...it was. A big one. Luckily we could see nothing as we waited for our legal turn to cross over the highway...go back about 2 kilometres to the next off ramp, and take the old highway. At least there was an old high way! 

We headed home, once again. We turned the corner to cross the bridge into Comox. 

Driving along the Dyke road felt familiar and it was all I could do to not speed...but, as you could tell from my earlier statement, I am a law abiding citizen, so I stuck to the speed limit despite the lead, weighing my foot down onto the accelerator. 

5 minutes and we would be there. Gramma and Bunka would be there. Our toys would be there. Our own beds would be there. We would no longer be, on the road. We would be still. 

We turned down Cooke Ave and we saw balloons. Lots of balloons, welcoming us back! Then the excited faces of grandparents and I swear Cohen was out of the van before it stopped! Theo and Madeline peeled out next and then the parents. As Cohen said..." hugs, kisses, cuddles, toys then sleep." And it happened in that order. Except we snuck in some home cooking in there.

And that, my friends and family, is our Fale Family Road Trip, in a word or two! 

It was an experience. It was a trip of a lifetime. It was amazing.

Still Driving....

Day 5-6 was another border crossing day! We were heading out of Manitoba and into Alberta. We had planned a 2 day stay in Drumheller - The Badlands of Alberta...with it's magnificiently wierd land formations and dinosaur bones, who wouldn't want to stay? Our drive was another easy one. I love these straight roads! What a concept! We veered off the Trans Canada to head into Drumheller. We drove by odd shaped hills and browned and blackened earth. It was driving onto a movie set. We had booked an inn which was a nice change from the chain hotels. We felt like we were staying with our grandparents as the hosts were lovely! We set out to see the World's Largest Dinosaur but as we lined up, the skies blackened and filled with flashes of light! Forked lightening streaked across the skies as a major storm rolled in. As the dinosaur is made of steel, it was closed down for the night! Ah well. We headed to a fmily restaraunt for dinner and set our itinerary for the next day. Our stay in Drumheller was filled with dinosaurs, reptiles, fossils, rocks and canyons. What an awesome adventure.

Touching a real footprint of a T-Rex!

Looking out the mouth of the World's Largest Dinosuar!

Day 7 meant one more long drive to get us closer to the border. It was another grey day. Heavy clouds hun overhead which made the mountains seem ominous, rather than welcoming and grandiose! We popped into Banff one last time and got some gas and made our way to our rest stop of Revelstoke. The name has a western town feel to it and I imagined cowboys and tumbleweeds! The day got increasingly grey and rainy which dampens the mood of travellers. The roads are tricky enough...add rain and it makes it an adventure...but at this stage of the holiday, my adventure tank was on low. Who am I kidding, It was empty. Tapped out ages ago. I was faking it for a long time! LOL! After a long stop at the scene of a car accident...not unnerving AT ALL...where we watched a car being towed up the side of the cliff...more fun...we headed into Revelstoke. The entrance into Revelstoke is cool. I will give it that. Big stone pillars with grizzle bears on them. Yes! It was cool. Revelstoke was grey. I think I need a new word...ashy. Revelstoke was definitely ashy. The weather didn't help, but as we walked the streets, in search of food, I couldn't help but think, "who actually lives here? Like, who made the conscious decision that this was their home and why?" It wasn't horrible, but besides skiing, which doesn't happen in the summer or Fall, what do people do here? Again...maybe I was overly influenced by the disgusting weather which turned the skies the colour of a lead pencil tip, smudged against the white of a well worn notebook, and made the mountains look like jagged lumps of coal, jutting out from the ashen, green grass. Yes. I think the weather ruined Revelstoke for me. Sorry Revelstoke. I am sure you're not half bad...on a good day!









Day 8 and we were heading for our last Canadian border crossing! British Columbia, here we come! I had this funny feeling that the moment we saw the border, we'd almost be there! Well...not so! This was the drive I was dreading I think I may have said this a few times now. Don't misunderstand me. I love that we drove this amazing distance and country, but it's ok to dislike things during the process of doing them. If not, then it's not real life and it's some cheesy soap on American Tv where collagen filled lips smile the fake smile that let's everyone now everything's ok and if it's not it doesn't matter because there can always be a re-write later! Today's destination was Kelowna. Mum and Dad shouted us a fancy, smancy hotel where there were the choice of pools and fun for the kids and time for us parents to sit and relax and NOT DRIVE! The Manateo Resort was fun and relaxing and worth it. It was the prefect last stay in a hotel room as it was POSH and clean and resorty...if I can say that! haha! We had the famous Okanagan fruit - blueberries that tasted like lollies and juicy apples! We had the best rest and were ready for our last drive. Our last day of packing lunches for the road. Our last day of avoiding that question, which, luckily alluded us...."How much longer?" Well I can answer that question - 1 MORE DAY!!!!

The Long Drive Back

Our time in Ontario had come to an end so it was time to "hot the road!" We had planned our trip back and planned on 8 days to drive the 4568 kilometres. Our stops were going to be pretty similar to our stops heading East with a few exceptions. Day one was Toronto to Sault Ste Marie. We entrusted our trip to our TomTom. He decided to take us on a tiki tour around Lake Simcoe. This added another 2 hours of scenic, small town scenes to our journey. Lucky it was Day 1 or the scenic little town would have felt our wrath! After 5 hours of drivng, our first stop was in CopperCliffe to see our first house we lived in when my family immigrated to Canada 44 years ago.

After that short reminice we headed to The Soo, as they call it. It was a long day and we knew the windy, Northern Ontario roads were still ahead so after a feed and a splash in the pool, we headed to bed. Day 2 was from Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay. The roads were slick black and the skies were grey. Just as I remembered it from the last trip. There was quite a lot of road construction which added to our time but all was good. On our entry into Thunder Bay we stopped at the Terry Fox Monument. This was one of the most important roadside stops of our trip. My kiwi kids heard about Terry Fox in passing and had been training for the run but had no real idea of who he was and why. When we got to the monument we were in awe of how beautiful it is. It had a real presence about it. We met an older couple who had actually met Terry on his run and they had shaken is hand. They were so proud to have met some kids from New Zealand and that my kids now knew about "their" hero. As we walked away we could hear the older man say, "Wow. All the way from New Zealand!" What a day.

Day 3 saw us heading out of Ontario and ending up in Winnipeg. This was the leg of the trip I was dreading. These turns and rocky ridges were the things of nightmares...especially in the rain. We started off, in the rain, and were well on our way. The traffic was heavy coming in the opposite direction. Long, speedy logging trucks barrelled down the hills past us while I silently prayed for the driver to maintain full control of his truck at all times. I knew these guys knew the roads, but they sure looked like they were going a wee bit too fast for my liking! We crossed the Ontario border and I felt a pang of sadness...perhaps realising that this was probably one of the last times I will be in Ontario, but definitley the last time I will ever drive the length on Ontario! HAHA!

Day 4 took us from Winnipeg to Moose Jaw. We didn't want to revisit Regina so we thought we'd give Moose Jaw a try. Who knew that it would be slim pickings for a hotel in Moose Jaw...I mean...why were there all these people here? Filo drove today as it was nice and straight and I could be a non-carsick passenger. The yellow canola fields and the green fields juxtaposed with one another were beautiful and I was so thankful to be able to take it all in. A lot of people pitied us for having to drive through the Prairies as they're boring and the roads go on forever...well the Prairies are beautiful and the only road that doesn't go on forever is a dead end one! I loved the poetry of the long road ahead and how you could see your journey ahead of you as opposed to the windy, North Ontario road, or the mountain roads, where every corner holds a surprise...not bad, just different! We spent the night in our budget hotel but at least our room had a door that led directly to the pool. We had lots of suggestions of what to do and see in Moose Jaw but when put to a vote, the kids just wanted to get home. We had hit the halfway mark and just wanted to make the last leg home a fast one.

Niagara Falls

Growing up in Sarnia, whenever anyone came over from Ireland, we would make the trek to The Falls. It was an obligatory Canadian trip. Back then all I could remember was the drive and then the Falls. Lots of water - A wishing fountain and more water. Well it was my duty to allow my children that same memory... oh, and Christopher as well. My little brother needed to experience this with his niece and nephews! It was a sunny day and we headed off. The drive wasn't too bad once we got out of Toronto traffic. Entering Niagara Falls it felt somewhat larger and more colourful. I remember a few malls along the way with some funky, cheap souvenir shops...now there are hundreds of shops which means hundreds, upon hundreds of shoppers. The water seemed almost secondary. 

After fuelling up at The IHOP(International House of Pancakes) we headed to the water. Hearing that sound made my tummy felt full of butterflies. I remembered that too. The sound of the water. It was all rushing back...(water metaphor omitted) LOL . Once we saw the water, the kids were amazed. 
"Where did it all start? Why is there a rainbow? I want to get wet. "

Desperate hunts for a loonie to look through the special binoculars ensued!

We headed to several spots in order to garner the best view. We finally got to the top end of the Falls and were able to get to the guardrail to see the water barrelling over the edge. It was mesmerising. Cohen was especially mesmerised! We all got sprayed by the mist and had our photos taken - did heaps of selfies and we quickly did a lap of the souvenir shop where I had to repeatedly say, "what does a stuffed purple snake have the do with Niagara Falls?" 

We could not find the wishing fountain...I guess there is not enough business in wishes. A bit of the magic had gone but we still left feeling like we saw something super special! 

 We did not go into any of the "attractions" that, again, have nothing to do with The Falls. I don't think the kids missed out by not going on a ride, buying a bubble blower or walk through a laser strike course! I just didn't want their memory of Niagara Falls to be one filled with arcade colours and sounds! It was about the water, after all.

Niagara Falls on PhotoPeach

The ROM

Museums are boring! Well that's what I used to think...but the ROM is amazing. It has space to move around in...kid friendly exhibits and signs that kids can, and want to read. It has also remained true to what it is..a museum. So many times on this trip we have gone to something, like the Zoo..and there is also a waterpark and games...as if kids need all that to be constantly enthralled in their environment. Don't get me wrong. My kids love their devices and the words, "there is no wifi" sends their little hearts into a panic, but luckily enough, they also have brains and were able to use them during the museum trip. They read signs...asked questions, wondered, shared, with Museum staff, their own facts about animals and Egypt and the learned...and they did all this without the aid of any gimmick... unless you call bumble bee wings a gimmick! The dinosaur exhibition was amazing and the sheer size of these beasts was mind boggling. The kids loved talking with museum staff about the animals of Canada and hearing their facts about them and sharing their own stories of what they had seen so far on their trip. The ROM itself is beautiful. The building and the totem poles are beautiful. I was so glad to have my opinion of museums changed and to see that the kids could enjoy it as well - you know - old fashioned family fun! The music is Night at The Museum Theme Song. Enjoy! What do you mean we're going to a Museum??? on PhotoPeach

Rock and Roll and Science?

We headed to The Ontario Science Centre to relive yet another one of my childhood memories, and on the recommendation of one of my former students, Emily. The Science Centre had grown since my childhood. It was an amazing place where chaos rules and kids can touch things and there is fun. What a concept. Adults telling kids - "hey go ahead...touch it! Want to do a puzzle? Want to see how this works?" No more rushed parental conversation where a quick explanation is given in order to move along quickly. We actually took our time. We could have spent all day there...easily. Cohen loved opening and closing the "sneeze" machine...surprising passing guests! Madeline attempted to make shoes out of recycled materials while Theo perfected his paper aeroplane skills! 3 kids, 3 adults...we could do this! My favourite exhibit was the moon chair - watching the kids try to navigate a chair around and find obstacles - making them feel like they are in space - walking and working. You had to do opposite of your natural tendencies. To go right you turned left and to go forward you steered backwards. The kids found this concept quit easy - I think the gaming industry has something to do with this. Their fearless use of a remote control and having an innate sense of how to problem solve. I would have become totally frustrated that I could not, logically, get this chair to move. I stood in awe of their natural knowledge! There aren't tonnes of photos as I was busy actually doing stuff! Cool , eh! The song is Weird Science by Oingo Boingo! Enjoy! Weird Science on PhotoPeach

CN Tower and Bacon

This was a big day! The kids first streetcar and subway ride, a super high elevator ride to the top of the tower and then lunch at St Lawrence Market for the famous peameal bacon sandwich! Cohen loved the streetcar and took to it like a seasoned commuter. He asked for a newspaper so he could read on his "commute" and when I wouldn't give it to him, he went to sleep...as business do on their way to work! The subway was also a fun ride. The kids spent their time trying to stand without holding on to the rails! The subways today aren't like the ones I rode when I visited my Aunts in my youth. The lights do not go out when we go through tunnels. The subway cars area all one long car now too. Very cool and clean! The CN Tower was so much fun. Our Toronto CIty Pass helped us bypass all the queues and lines. There is a new addition since my last trip up the tower - the mechanical dog sniffers! You have to walk through these gates and then stop in the middle while strong puffs of air are blown onto your body and electronic sniffers and sensors suss you out for bombs. It went up 2 months after 9/11. The CN Tower attendant was happily explaining this to us...meanwhile in my head I am now adding terrorist plot to my list of things to be worried about while up a tower 126 or so stories high! Thanks Mr Friendly CN Tower Guy! Then my adult brain kicked in and I knew it made our trip safer...now just to worry about the normal stuff...like the elevator getting stuck! LOL! The kids loved the towers and immediately ran over to the windows to look down! We played a game of I spy that really battled my eye sight and their attention to details! LOL! We went up another level and walked on the glass floor. Again - the kids were fearless, as was Filo. I nervously stepped onto the floor with the help of Theo holding my hand. I can't say it changed my life but I've done it. This poster about the weight it can hold did little to appease my maths brain...how do I know that ll these people currently on the floor do NOT add up to 25,0000 blur jays? haha! We had a long walk to the St Lawrence Market for the famous bacon on a bun - peameal bacon! Yum! It was a long, busy and hot day but what a great addition to our holiday in Toronto! CN Tower and Bacon on PhotoPeach

Tarana...or bust!

Driving out of Burlington into Toronto was like a legoland puzzle of cars and trucks on tracks and I had to choose the right track or be stuck behind a semi for the duration of the drive. Luckily the lane gods were with us and we made the 45 minute trip with no stoppages...just a little slowdown when the Police had to zoom by for some reason... but we made it... Driving across Canada was less stressful than driving on these 5-6 lane highways. You see...there are posted speed limits...the ones the law requires you to do and then there are the inferred speed limits...the ones the drivers in ALL the other cars require you to do. Driving is constant mental battle of following the law and breaking the law due to car, peer pressure. When you find yourself pushing 115 in the slow lane, something's wrong. So I dropped it to 105 and let the crazy world of commuters pass us by. After all...I have the Fale Five in the car and they're more important than the pride one may feel being in the fast lane and getting there(wherever there is...) first. Driving into Toronto was like being swallowed by a concrete sea of high rises. Buildings of 60-70 floors surrounded us as we drove along The Gardiner and Lakeshore. Patches of green along the road that acted like nature provided little respite from our new home of concrete and people. However, as we got closer to where Christopher lives, the buildings shrunk and the old Toronto emerged. Tiny, brick houses dotted the streets. Trees and curious gardens replaced the corporate planted gardens and it felt ore homely. Christopher's street is lovely and full of houses that make us a little homesick for Grey Lynn. The diversity of the gardens, house colours and inhabitants differ from the suburbia of Burlington. Here, I have no idea who owns the Infinity as there are no driveways to park your trophies...all trophies/cars, are neatly parked on the streets...swapping sides once a month just to keep the locals on their toes and the parking officers in employment. Christopher is being a great host and seeing him getting to be a full time uncle is the reason we are doing this trip. My kids need to really know their Canadian family and so far it has been a very successful trip. We are going to be total tourists in Toronto. We have already been to the Zoo followed by dinner at my Aunt's house and today we tackled the CN Tower and downtown Toronto and the St Lawrence Market. I loved people watching and people listening. I think I heard over 10 different languages today. Toronto is diverse. You wear what you want and people sure do and I love it! Stay tuned for more Toronto (ta-raa-nah) posts! The music is, Lost by Blue Rodeo - a Toronto band and a favourite of mine. Lost is how we Fales feel while driving in Toronto...even with TomTom! xx The Fales xx The Fales are in Toronto! on PhotoPeach

Forest

Our next stop was Forest Ontario. We went to stay with Ruth Ann and Peter. Ruth Ann was my writing teacher in high school and we had reconnected a few years ago. They had popped over to NZ, as one does, and stayed with us while they toured the island! They invited us to stay with them when we next came to Canada, so we did. Easy as that! They opened their home to us...literally. We stayed in the house and they stayed in their trailer. We were fed and watered in true home cooking style! We were the dinner for many deer flies as the clearly live NZ blood! Now when people say. " oh those flies..." We can say..." Yes. Bloody awful things nearly are us alive!" A true Canadian war story! Lol! 

Cohen and Theo had hit pay dirt as they had a real bow and arrow to shoot! All the kids loved it...especially the two big kids, Peter and Filo! Cohen loved all of Peter's "big boy toys." His very own tractor and digger! Peter let the boys drive it and they loved it! 

Ruth Ann had a selection of books for Madeline and she had her own room with  a cozy reading chair do she was  in heaven! 

There were lots of tales of Ruth Ann and Peter's sailing trips and of life down East.

A few people thought it different or slightly weird that I would visit, let alone stay with a former teacher. We hadn't stated in touch and it had been well over 20 years since I spoke or saw Ruth Ann, but she was a teacher you remembered because you were memorable to her! She connected. She cared and she taught you to be who you want to be without lecturing...without lessons. She showed us how to look inward to get the answer and she taught Creative Writing...there were no "right" answers! It was the beginning of finding yourself and I was fortunate to have her in my last year of high school. A year that carries so much personal and emotional weight it can make or break a kid. There were no special words of wisdom...just a feeling and a knowledge that she cared about you. She was the type of teacher you needed and need in schools and she's the type of teacher I hope I am. Connected. Caring. Present. Believe me...it matters. 

http://flipagram.com/f/G6G8W3Q8Eo

Thanks for an amazing visit and more stories and memories for Our Fale Five! 

Burlington,BBQ's and Blaney

After our adventures in Forest we have arrived safely in Burlington at Uncle Paul and Aunt Colette's place. 

We could hardly contain Cohen's excitement when he saw the pool! He wanted to dive right in. 

Aunt Joan greeted us and then Aunt Colette and Uncle John appeared!
Ryan and his fiancé and daughter came around to meet us too. Mark arrived home from work and Kyle came home so we got to see everyone! 

We spent the first day or two int he pool. The kids can literally be in the pool for hours without lunch etc...they LOVE the pool is clearly an understatement. Theo wants one now. Badly! 
Madeline is loving being spoiled by Aunt Colette! 

We are being treated like royalty and Aunt Colette is the Queen of treats for our three kids. Cohen is loving it, and her! My cousins, Ryan, Mark and Kyle are his personal helpers as well! Amazing how the youngest one can figure this all out in the first day of meeting everyone! Cohen calls the boys, "the teenagers" when he cannot remember their names.

The highlight of the trip is the annual Blaney BBQ that we are here for...a kind of family reunion! All the cousins came and my Aunts and Uncles as well. It was amazing seeing everyone and meeting all my cousins significant others! Facebook is a wonderful thing but seeing everyone in person is much better! Wonderful in fact! 

Jamie Oliver...AKA Uncle Paul prepared a feast! His sous chef...AKA Aunt Colette sorted him out in the kitchen and made sure he had everything he needed to make his feast!
Meatball Subs at Noon...followed by appetizers and snacks from they guests and Aunt Colette...followed by the main meal of BBQ steak, cauliflower gratin, zucchini bake, famous shrimp, chocolate cake and lemon cake. There was a tonne more food and lots of laughs! 

The BBQ went well into the night with only the "cool" kids left...and of course those of us who live or are staying here. haha!

When I left Canada these big cousins of mine were wee...in primary/high school, and now they are married, getting married or working full time in amazing jobs! 17 years changes a lot! 

Enjoy the video of our family fun. There are lots of shots of all the kids in the pool! 

Blaney BBQ 2014 from The Fales on Vimeo.

Sarnia...you were good to us!

Well our Sarnia trip has come to an end. My BFF Sarah and her hubby Wayne and the three girls, Emma, Chloe and Hannah were AMAZING hosts. We wanted for nothing...except perhaps, more time and for good byes to not be ugly and sad and necessary. Emma is a beautiful young woman with talent to boot! She is serious about school and life but still knows how to have fun. I will have to recreate Werewolf as it is now a Fale family favourite. Chloe is a lovely young lady who is sporty and feisty. She will not be one to be walked over later in life. Hannah is the baby of the family and a cutie! Her high pitched voice and love of meat is hilarious. She is the apple of her daddy's eye and his little buddy. She was so good to Cohen and loved hanging with him(sometimes). The girls made sure Madeline had a great time and she loved sleeping in the trailer. What a treat. Even Cohen had a sleepover in it! Theo loved his private room and his sleep ins! Cohen also enjoyed flirting with Emma and making Michael jealous! (and he was...LOL) We did everything we wanted to. The most important things were connections. It is wonderful how you can meet up again after 9 years and feel like just a week had passed. True friendship feels right and easy. Sandra, other BFF came down for the weekend and we took advantage of hanging out together leaving Wayne and Filo behind to complain how they never get to do anything, but secretly they love it. No time with nagging wives and Sandra around to ask them to do stuff! I loved catching up with all the Donkers who were around. Not much has changed there too except Emily went ahead and grew up into a beautiful and talented young woman. She is sporty and independent and just has this air of sophistication about her! I loved hearing stories of her being "naughty" and how much fun she is having. Herb and Anne are a wonderful couple to be around. Their love for each other is so evident and Herb still makes us laugh! Bubble Boy Forever. I cannot wait to meet up with Adam in Guelph and try and find Ray in Edmonton! Such a great family! We went out and saw the old house and had a quick catch up with the neighbours. Bright's Grove is a perfect place to grow up. Beaches. Sun. Safe community. Lucky us back then. Enjoy the slideshow. It's long but it's our week in photos. Good bye Sarnia. It was fun The Fales.
Sarnia from Andrea Fale on Vimeo.

Sarnia

WE MADE IT! We finally turned the last bend and are staying put for a week! We're here at my best friend's place in Sarnia. Sarah, Wayne and the three girls are hosting us for a week! The house is full of activity and food and fun! Sandra has come down for the weekend too so we have been having campfires and s'mores and Pie Irons(Canadian pies - bread, butter and pit filling all baked in an iron...it's kind of like a pop tart but better! We have just been doing a lot of hanging out and the kids are all having a great time hanging out. Sarah has rolled out the welcome mat and bought the kids "kiddie" cereal and even let them put skittles on their cereal as well! THEY THINK SHE"S AWESOME!!!!! There will be more Sarnia posts but this is the start of them! The song is Patio Lanterns by Kim Mitchell, a Sarnia native and I've been doing a lot of patio action so I thought it was fitting! Enjoy! SARNIA! on PhotoPeach

Just some Scenic Shots

We stopped in Kenora to stretch our legs! Kenora on PhotoPeach

Welcome to Ontario

Zooming past the sign was a good thing as a wee bit of emotion welled up in me. I was in Ontario. You drive and drive and drive and then that feeling of home hits you. It wasn't that I felt fondly of Thunder Bay or Wawa...it was that I was from Ontario. This is the Canada I know and knew from my childhood. I never travelled through these rocky terrains as a youngster either. We tried camping. We didn't succeed. We saw parts of Northern Ontario in cottage season but my adult eyes are very different and there are things I want to see. Crossing the border lulled me into a sense of comfort and I thought Sarnia was right around the corner. It wasn't...and there were lots of corners! Beautiful, rocky corners. People had stopped and made little Inukshuks along the way. I loved that having those little guides along the way, watching over us and making sure we were on the right path. The highway was a two lane highway and I longed for a large motorway where I could do the speed limit and not be THAT van doing 90 and seemingly holding up all the other holidayers who zoomed past every time a passing lane appeared. My holiday is well planned but not so well timed that I had to maniacally drive in order to enjoy it. That's just ironic to me! Thunder Bay was just a stop. A place to rest our heads and have dinner at 11:00 at night as I had forgotten about, yet another, time change! That's what holidays area ll about though...eating hot dogs and ice cream sandwiches at odd times. We headed to Wawa. The name alone intrigued me. Our hotel was called The Mystic Isle and it was beside The White Fang. I couldn't help but think I was driving into an episode of Twin Peaks...the massively darkened trees from the rain, fog...random fog hovering on the road..just enough to make the hair on your arms tingle...and the stone roads leading up to your lodge! We went to see the town of Wawa first. We did the obligatory photos of us standing under the largest Canada Goose and we loved it. There were theses colourful totems that are called Gitchigoomies. Gitchigoomee is the Ojibwa (Chippewa) word for Lake Superior. Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot sings about Lake Superior in his song THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD: "The Legend lives on from the Chippewa on down of the big lake they called Gitchigoomee. Wawa was a fun spot and I am glad we did it. How many kiwi kids are going to be able to say they've been to Wawa? Our slideshow features the song, The Edmund Fitzgerald, by Gordon Lightfoot. Wawa on PhotoPeach

Our fourth province - Manitoba

So today we started our journey in Saskatchewan and ended in Manitoba. I must say I thought there would be more pomp...more umphhh....more something when crossing into a new province. Other provinces have let us down in that department but Manitoba had a large, hey I'm a really cool province, sign!  The sign is what is cool about Manitoba! haha!

Today we left early as there has been flooding and parts of Manitoba are under a state of emergency due to the Assiniboine River rising. Scary stuff for travellers but farmers have lost all their crops and people have lost their homes. With that said, I am glad we made it. It wasn't really hairy at all. A few places where the water kissed the edges of the highway. Nothing too scary for me.


There were massive wind turbines along the highway today. I was telling the kids how they are there to generate power and Cohen pipes up..." Great. Let's see if we can get some wifi!"  Now that would be something. Wifi on the highway! I bet the van would be silent then!!!

We thought we would be stopping more along the way to look at historical landmarks, but as we have our goal in mind of getting to Sarnia, we just drive on. I don't think we are missing much this time around as we have to drive back. Then we can stop...as long as everyone wants too. 

We do look out the window and notice our country. We watch the massively long trains wind their way through the hills and try and guess what's in the Canadian Tire cars. Cohen counts the number of cars or sees how long he can count and says, That car was 65 seconds long." When we do stop for a snack or for a toilet stop, we look around and we notice. This country is beautiful and the people are vastly different province to province.  For example, today I was in a corner store, not on a corner, but that's a different story. Almost everyone had on Saskatchewan Rough riders gear and you could buy anything to do with their CFL league in this shop. Deep seeded pride in their team! 



Gramma and Bunka shouted us a dinner at Boston Pizza. It was yummy and the kids loved it. Cohen tried to order 3 of the children's dishes...as usual in his funny manner. Theo had spicy sausage pasta. He is missing his Bunka's cooking and Madeline has nachos and is missing Gramma's endless supply of sour cream. We are in a really nice hotel that has an awesome pool and spa so we are all clean and relaxed and now drinking complimentary hot chocolates and green tea! 

Today's slideshow is short and the music is Harvest Moon by Neil Young, a Manitoba native. You'll thank me that it's short. You either love him or hate him. Either way, he's iconic!





Manitoba on PhotoPeach