George Johnston is 8

George celebrated his 8th birthday in true style last Thursday.
Best gift: baseball glove
Favourite dinner: Tacos

What more could you ask for?

Amanda baked a small mountain of cupcakes which George distributed to all the members of his class and a few carefully selected adults. Each cupcake was decorated with a little Australian flag. Are you paying attention to our patriotism, Mr. Howard?

Long Weekend Skiing at Marmot Basin, Jasper

Another quick escape from school on Thursday saw us speeding down the road for a long weekend in Jasper. Teachers get a day-in-lieu for their work at Parent/Teacher interviews - now this is an idea that I need to take home to Australia.

Ex-Teacher exchangees the Osborne's had kindly invited us to join with them on a weekend's skiing and we jumped at the offer. The High School sends Year 9 students to the snow either side of the long weekend so a few teachers stay the weekend to sneak in a days skiing.

Conditions at Jasper were superb. For us, the previous best skiing would have been at Mt. Buller about 20 years ago (haven't skiied since). This year Jasper is seeing the best skiing in 30 years. We know how lucky we've been.

We like Jasper and hope to sneak in another ski during the Spring break. We look forward to spending 4 nights near Jasper with Janet and family in early July before our European Vacation over summer.

Great dinner on the Saturday night when everybody brought something to eat to the Osborne's room at Marmot Lodge. Tasty and fun.

Once again it's photos that we really want to show you.

Above: At the Chalet

Below: Amanda elegantly executes another turn

Unfortunately, Outer Limits was closed for the weekend. We had to console ourselves with skiing everything else. The powder was adequate, I suppose.

Operation on Daffodil Day Bear the Wombat

In Canmore where we went dogsledding Daffodil Day Bear the Wombat (my teddy) split his leg. His stuffing was coming out so we had to put him in a plastic bag. We had to borrow someone's sewing kit. Dad peformed the operation and after we used the handwarmer to make it heal. Now he's feeling alot better.
Written by George!

Hockey

Hockey is so fun I already play for a team called the Thunderbirds as you can see. I played my first game we lost 5 to 7. George nearly scored but he fell over. We have just had our team photos the photographer man makes hockey cards. I will bring them back to Australia for you.
In the top photo, George and I are with Brett. He helped us put our new hockey gear on. Thanks Brett!
Pretty nice, eh?!

P.S. The Montreal Canadiens ROCK!

About tests and homework by Jack

In Canada nearly everyday you have a test. Tests are pretty hard especially Math and Science tests. We have had about ten Math tests and a 13 page Science test and I have only been here 8 weeks. For homework I like to find information from books and computers.
Here is a photo of me finding information from my science book.

Heat Wave in Barrhead

The temperature climbed to +12 degrees yesterday and there was some serious melting going on. This was unexpected because there have been very few days that have climbed above zero since we arrived. The snow was sticky enough to make snow balls and snow men. Amanda slept off her night's work. After Hockey, Will and George made a snowbear/man and cleared the driveway (again) and Jack played at a friends house.

Jack (right) and friends

Snow balls

George and Will in the sun. Snow creature in background. Note path and driveway completely free of snow and ice - nice work boys. As I write this (next day) the temperature is back to -15C and I'm about to go outside and clear the fresh snow that fell last night. Soon, no doubt, I'll be joining the growing chorus of Albertans who are complaining about the length of their winter. We've only been here 2 months. The snow arrived in late October. Meanwhile the days are getting longer and I'm awaiting the first flock of geese. Spring is in the air. Nearly.

We saw a moose last weekend having been taken to see it by a kind neighbour. George was impressed by the Moose but later said, "They taste better than they look."

Jack and Will off to school last Tuesday morning. George was at home nursing his snow-covered tonsils (again). Everything's covered in snow.