Frozen Deer Lake

We experienced snow in Vancouver 2-3 times in a year but this year, we had snow that came on and off for weeks which resulted in frozen lakes that was hard enough to skate on. We were stoked to be able to experience the fun of outdoor skating. 

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DEER LAKE PARK

Burnaby, B.C.

Arenex Queen's Park: Intro to Gymnastics- PASSED!

This year, Kimi started doing gymnastic during school season. She first got a taste of gymnastic during Summer at Cartwheels in Richmond and another Summer at Phoenix Gym for a week each.

She seems to like it but she got some things on her plate then and I didn't want to fill up her days with activities so we opted to wait it out.

Winter Gymnastic started January with 10 classes ending mid March. Kimi was excited as she was doing the class with two of her best buddies in school. They all ended with the recommendation to go for the next level come March end. YEY!

I love the fact that Kimi seems to be more confident with all the equipments inside the gym by the end of her classes  and she truly enjoyed the class a lot.

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INTRO TO GYMNASTIC (6-12yo)

QUEEN's PARK ARENEX

New Westminster, B.C.

Tobogganing Year 2

This is our second year tobogganing and this time around, I was happy that Kimi can finally go with Kenzo instead of us going down every time with Kenzo and having to come up which was really tiring… Sign of old age :( hehe!

Kimi and Kenzo

Kimi also got more adventure this time around, finally trying going down the slope on her stomach...

Kimi

Kenzo, on the other hand, has finally agreed to going down the slope by himself. It was a bit of time before he agreed and when he finally tried it, he was screeching from delight and wanted to do in again and again...

Kenzo

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TOBOGGANING YEAR 2

Mt. Seymour

North Vancouver, B.C.

CNY @ Aberdeen

We wanted to experience the Chinese New Year but wanted it indoor because we wanted to be warm and comfortable as well.

Aberdeen was the best bet in experiencing the event and the rest of Richmond had the same idea, because I've never seen Aberdeen with this much people

* Stage Design for the Chinese New Year

There was a variety of entertainment available throughout the day for the enjoyment of the shoppers from dragon dance performing from store to store and different acrobatic dances showcasing their moves onstage.

The wide walkway was cramped with makeshift stalls that sells Chinese desserts, trinkets and decors just for the event. There were also posters with Chinese sayings as giveaways for those who want something of the event to remember by.

* Little Kiosks

* Lucy charms, Gold Statues and Dragon puppets

...there was also face painting from the Shaw booth that face paints your sign... or whatever animals you wanted. 

* Face Painting

* Wear you sign...

It was a bit of a wait but the result was well worth it :)

* Dragon Heads

* My Little Dragon Girl

* Mimicking the dance

* Hooray for the dragon dancer!

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CHEERS TO THE 

YEAR OF THE SNAKE

Chinese New Year Dinner- Kimi's duet with Grandpa

Father in law invited us to a Chinese New Year celebration hosted by the Filipino Chinese Association in B.C.

We decided to go since we don't have anything planned plus FIL is doing a number so we would like to show our support as well.

* The Programme

FIL was practicing for his song number and decided to let Kimi join him so the solo became a duet. I was especially worried because I don't know if Kimi will freak out when she sang with a mic and hear her voice out loud plus a real audience in front of her. She did better than I was expecting especially for her first time singing live. :) 

GOOD JOB KIMIKINS

* Kimi sings 祝你新年快乐 with Grandpa

Kenzo, on the other hand, found himself a new friend...

* Kenzo, Reese and Nana

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HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

Tobogganing at Mt. Seymour 2013

Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. It does takes awhile but now I learned to enjoy the 4 season that we have here in Vancouver, Canada. We do have our favourite but there is a certain excitement in waiting for the next one to arrive and to prepare the kids in their next adventure for the season.

Winter. It is still quite cold here but not snowy and the mommies decided to give the kids a nice surprise by planning a Winter Tobogganing Event right at the beginning of February at Mt Seymour. We kept everything under wrap for the reason that we wanted our sanity intact before the event and I don't think the kids can contain the excitement once they found out what is waiting for them. One more reason was that a few weeks before our event, kids are coming down with fever coughs and colds and we were keeping our fingers crossed that we will make it in time without anyone missing the fun or having to cancel the whole plan. Lucky me, Kenzo got fever 4 days before and Kimi 2 days before and I was actually thinking that we might be left behind... BUT, we were there and everyone was COMPLETE! (Double Hooray!)

* Getting comfortable sitting on the snow

It was my first time to do Tobogganing and I was more scared excited than scared until I saw the slope that we were going to slide from and the oversize plastic folder that were available for rent to rest our butt in as we go down the icy slide... Now, it was too late to make an excuse and I had to be brave especially since the Kimi and Kenzo saw their playmates and were quite excited at the prospect of sliding like their friends were doing.... Talk about good peer pressure.

I found a sturdier mat (Thanks Jo!) and with a bit of encouragement, I got Kimi to go the first slide with me and I actually went straight for the Starting flag with a loud Thump.... Oooh my pride hurt more than anything and I went up with a sigh and turned to find everyone looking at my nice start. I decided to sit it out a bit and sulk pretend nothing happened out of the ordinary hehe!

Picture taking seems like a good idea so, 

* Eron, Hubby and Kenzo

Hubby decided to finally try it with Kenzo and he actually did a whole lot better than me (Hmph!)

  

* Eron, Kenzo and Kimi

I finally got the courage as soon as I saw kids half my size doing it on their own. 

* Mel and Kenzo

I got Kenzo which was wiggling all the way down. I was holding onto him and screaming all the way down hoping that I can stay in the mat without holding anything except an overzealous toddler... and I DID! (Pat on the back)

Several more slides and I was getting more confident but the hike up was really tiring me down and Kenzo wanted me to carry him every time it was uphill (Double Sigh)

Kimi finally got the confidence and decided to try it be herself... 

* Kimi's First Attempt by Herself...

She did tumble on the second attempt but she went on as if nothing happened (Atta Girl!)

Uncle Warren and Rex was going up and down the hill fetching the kids and sliding with them...I don't know where they got the stamina. Uncle Charlie and Steve held on to their cameras in between slides to make sure they got everything captured. I was so glad Eron was there to help with Kenzo as well. 

* Uncle Warren, Ryker and Justin

* Uncle Rex and Kenzo

* Papa Karl and Kimi

* Kenzo pouting over waiting for his turn...

...more picture taking in between slides

* A Bit of relaxation

* Group Picture

...and last but not the least,

* Picture with my favourite girls...

...must be the age, my back is still hurting from all the activity that Saturday... BUT Totally Worth it and would definitely do it again! Cheers to the next event ;)

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TOBOGGANING 2013

Mt. Seymour @ North Vancouver

Pinoy Fiesta Themed Christmas Dinner

Two years ago, we had a Gossip Girl Inspired Christmas with the Vancouver Icans. I am an honorary member as I never been an Ican. We skipped a year, good thing is, we are able to make another Christmas dinner together this year.

All of us have something in common, Philippines has been our home once in our past, hence, the theme for this year for a Philippine Themed Christmas.

We did the celebration at Bert's place this year...

* Nico did a fabulous Christmas table setting

Each of us tried our hands at a Filipino dish for our event.

* Bert's Lumpiang Shanghai, Leslie's Crispy Chicken, Candice's Gising Gising,

Steph's Embutido, Jayson's Sinigang, Mel's Filipino Style Spaghetti and 

Nico's Cassava Cake

The party favorite is the exchange of gift... Thank you Elfster for making the gift exchanging way easier.

* Santa Parents and their babies...

I actually bought gift for our babies, Nico and James. Turns out that hubby really got me as his baby and I was really surprised and Nico ended up with 2 presents :)

Nico got a Babycakes which she generously brought to the party to get Kimi and us gals an activity of making cake pops using her handy machine.

* Festive Cake Pops

* Kimi was so proud of her cake pops

* Kenzo, on the other hand, just wanted to consume as much as he can

* Thank you Nico :)

The Co Sisters also got gifts for Kimi and Kenzo (Aaaw so sweet!). I was able to do Les' gift for Kimi with her on Christmas Day and got Nico and Steph's gift on my craft stash for the future :)

* Kimi's personal pretty Santas :)

... it was a great way to bond on a Christmas Day.

* Finish Product

...as for the gift I got from my Secret Santa?

* It's an everyday necklace... Thank you :)

2012 SFDS Christmas Concert

The SFDS Christmas Concert was a collaboration of all the students in SFDS, each level has their own time to shine. The Grade 7 students were the ones who portrayed the main cast while each grade do a number that broke the story into segments with a song.

* The stage

* The Main Cast- Grade 7s

Of course, each mother/ father in the audience was waiting for their little one to go on the stage. I was not the exception and was more than excited when I saw the kindergarten was next with their song "Lullaby of Love". 

* My Kimikins... 

* Lullaby of Love Video

via Sony Bloggie

The Finale was the part wherein every student came together once again for the last time to sing a summary of all the song sang throughout the program.

* SFDS Students

* Christmas Concert Finale

via Sony Bloggie

Kimi was really great in all the performance (Matinee and Evening). Snow or shine we were the to support her and I was there on both shows with all the jackets and warm accessories I could wear and a shovel at the back of our car in case we got stuck in the snow. Great Job, Kindergartens and I am proud of you, Kimi.

* Donkey wishing to be a sheep...

I haven't seen a donkey cuter than you.

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SFDS CHRISTMAS CONCERT

December 19, 2012

Burnaby, B.C.