Playing in the Snow!

Not very often do we as a family get to play in the snow!! The last couple of snow events were no exception and I really feel that I'm missing out on the last snowmen and last sledding. Yesterday, we headed out to find the snow. Our trek took us to Cypress Mtn and the tube park.

As we approached North Van it was really snowing and Dwayne and I started questioning how sane we actually are! The tubing is a set price for a tube and 2 hours of sliding...it was about all the cold and wet we could take. The kids could have gone all day! Cypress even has a tow rope if you're feeling tuckered out nearing the end. We did take advantage of it a couple of times but found it faster to hike up (after all it was about maximum runs!!). If you get a hankering to play in the snow, I totally recommend Cypress, there's even a toboggan run if you bring your own!

Christmas letter blog

The year is quickly coming to an end and this year we are reflecting in a most unusual way. Blogging has become a great way of keeping up with friends and family easily. I hope you enjoy reflecting along with us!

Our babies seem to be growing in leaps and bounds and it really doesn't seem fair. Sarah is almost 13 and is in Grade 7. She is still dancing and riding and is still able to hold an A average at school. She is described as a social girl but is so helpful with everyone. Her joy is dance...and of course her friends. Sarah amazes us all the time with her ability to adapt to new things and even enjoy them (or pretend very well). She took the babysitting course in the summer and now the odd babysitting job for Auntie Jo-Ann. If you're looking for a sitter, she even does dishes!

Cam is growing like a weed! He turned 10 on Dec 22 and he is still very much a home body. Cam is still not afraid to show his friends who his parents are and I still get hugs at school (I take advantage of this as it will end soon enough!). Last winter Cam took to BMX racing. He is eager to get back at it after Christmas break is over. His decisions are still very lead by his heart, he's one kid that wears his on his sleeve. I love that he is concerned with me being lonely during the day! His teacher this year is amazing and is really bringing out the best of him.

Dwayne and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary in 2007. We celebrated in Jamaica so the actual day in May was low key. We did dinner and talked about the things we want to do for the next 15!

The kids goofing around on the cruise!

We have had many adventures during this year with our family. We did a Caribean cruise in March and then Dwayne and I spent 12 days in Jamaica by ourselves. It was a much needed vacation and break after a crazy snow season.

Dwayne diving in Jamaica

In August, our usual family summer vacation time, we took off to San Diego. What a blast! We did absolutely everything that a tourist could do...Legoland, Zoo, SeaWorld, shopping, tour of the Midway (a must do!) and many other things. We then spent a few days in LA doing things like Knotts Berry Farm and Universal Studios (that was Cam's fav). We had an amazing time!

Our year began with a bang...SNOW! Last year was a great year for Chinook Winter Management which meant a busy season for our family and of course work team. Chinook continues to grow and just recently we have been named to #49 on the top 100 Snow and Ice Contractors in North America. Doesn't seem like much to some people but our sweat and tears are in it so it's amazing. I was on the cover of the Snow Business Magazine for December 2007 with a really great article. Like I said, it's been a great year of growth!

Pacific RIM Services is still growing at a steady pace. They were named #99 in Profit Magazines top 100 fastest growing companies in Canada. WOW! Dwayne is still making very strategic plans for the company and is a great driver on that bus!!

We hope you've enjoyed a little piece of our lives. You can go back and read the posts to learn more. This is a time to be reminded about our friends and family near and far...we are so thankful for each and every one of you. Even (an especially) during our busy times, we are thankful for family and friends to lean on. THANK YOU!

Love to you all from us...Diane, Dwayne, Sarah and Cam xoxo

Busy Saturday...whew!

What a busy weekend we are having...but it's extremely productive!! We are fed up with clutter...it has taken over our lives and we can't seem to find our way out. In October we decided to look into a garage organizing company. We had them out to check out our space and agreed to have them come and de-clutter and give us spaces for everything. They were great!! Mostly it was a catalyst for us to do the work that should have been done a couple of years ago when PRS moved out of the office (including the garage that got turned into an office when they grew too big!!). Kyle came and took away our garbage, did a donations run and even went with Dwayne to our storage unit (yeah, yeah) and cleaned it out!! I am glad to say we have our garage back(and no payment to Uhaul storage!) !! Check out our before and after shots!




Clearly there's a difference!! Everything is up off the ground except for the lawnmower!! I just can't believe it! (yes that is the same side of the garage in the pic)


THEN...while the men were installing our new system, we ducked out for our Christmas tree.


A hunting we will go...a hunting we will go....





We are now de-cluttered (mostly) and totally Christmas-ified!! What a great weekend!!

Dancing Princess!

Sarah has been dancing for many years and continues to love what she does! On Friday she performed for us in the dance schools' Christmas celebration...a jazzed up Nutcracker! Emily Lang joined us as she LOVES pretty dresses and having her with us just made us appreciate everything so much more! Here are the girls being crazy (notice the yummy in Emma's hand...she loved the pretty dresses and the yummys!)

Here is Sarah doing her ballet dance (she's the one in the back)

Cam is a funny kid!

Cam woke up this morning and was so excited.

"It's only 8 days Mom!!" "And then it's 10 days!"

I couldn't figure out what he was talking about. Then I had to ask what in the world he was talking about. Ohhhhh, it's 8 days until he turns 10 and then 10 days until Christmas Eve!

We work so hard at making his birthday separate from Christmas and this year the party was December 1st, and honestly I hadn't forgotten but it's not the countdown for me that it is for him. I do so love that those little things make such a big deal for him.

The other thing he is totally stoked about is that Garage Tek is coming tomorrow to outfit our garage. Come on dude, it's a garage!! They will come and take everything out (absolutely everything) and then install organizational stuff. I have no idea why he's so excited but I suppose he'll be more helpful then!

Check back here for our Christmas Family blog. We are doing cards but our usual Christmas letter is going to be on here....is that lazy or smart??

Asking....(just a rant!)

Is it too much to ask for a week of no below zero temps?? As I sit here waiting for the guys to finish the salting routes, I hope beyond hope, for a GREEN Christmas! Our poor drivers have been out nearly every night for the past 2 weeks, good for the bottom line, but not so good for their sleep patterns. I do get to sleep but it's so restless, thinking about them and how they're doing that I should probably get up and do the housework or go to the office....ugh!

Now my girl is up and I have to head to the office for a bit and then get the kids off to school. Has anyone wrapped all their gifts yet?? I am going to sit by the phone this morning in the office and wrap and wait...that's my speciality, the waiting part!

Hey....I feel totally better now! Thanks for listening!!

SNOW!!

It has been a week of work and it ended with a really fun night of play! Dwayne and I, along with many others, have filled our week with a snow fall (starting on the 26th) and a full week of nightly saltings or anti-ice trips (we don't actually do that work, but it's on our minds). It finished this weekend with an amazing party.

It's the annual Pacific RIM Services/Chinook party in Harrison. I had decided this year our theme was going to be Grad '80s style. IT WAS A BLAST! The decor was amazing, the food was even better than that and the company at our table was over the top! My '80s style/colored dress (light teal) was nice but the white tuxedos complete with pink vests and bow ties were so cool to see. Our band, 60 Cycle, was incredible!

Thanks to everyone who made this week an amazing ride!