First family snowmobiling trip

Time to settle into a different house. We often had deer walking by, which are nice to watch!

Jennifer tried out driving a snowmobile for the first time. Grandpa wanted her and Daniel to get comfortable...maybe they could ride up the mountain on our outing?

Packing up for the big day! Matthew and Jethro loaded up the sleds for us. There is quite a collection of them!

After driving to the trail we have to do unload everything again.

And off we go! Grandpa convinced Daniel to drive the bravo up the mountain. It's a dependable machine that's easy to learn on. He took his time going up, and did a great job!

Jennifer doubled up with me. And Evelyn went with Grandma. Neither of them wanted to go with Philip. :p He has a bit of a reputation.

Such a beautiful day to be up in the mountains!!

We all made it to the cabin. Some of us a lot faster than the others...but we all made it!

Then it was time to go fooling around in the deep snow. And getting stuck, or helping out anyone who got stuck.

Such lovely views!

I got permission to drive one of the stronger and newer sleds. It was a lot of fun to drive! :)

Having snack and chilling together. Jethro tried to convince a whiskey jack to come feed out of his hand. It was  kind of shy today.

Lunch in the cabin.

Almost a family picture.

Heading back down...we have to stop to analyze some sled problems. It's pretty rare to have a trip with so many old sleds and have nothing struggle. But this time it was Grandma's new sled!

Beautiful! God's handiwork is so amazing!

Once we were down we had to load everything up again. It was pretty warm at the bottom...the season for snowmobiling is reaching it's end! We are super thankful we were able to enjoy a trip like this! (Except maybe Evelyn...who said she'd rather have spent the day with her cousins)

BC Bound Mar 25-28, 2023

Another day, another thousand and more kilometers to cover.

Listening to stories and music helps the time go by.

With only seven in the van we had room in the middle for fancy lunches. Last trip home we discovered chips and salsa. It's a nice break from crackers and cheese. Plus it travels well and doesn't require a fridge to store it. Nathan took a turn driving us again.

A new experience: sitting in the back of my van beside my husband while my son drives the family.

We spent the weekend at a cousins' farm. It was lovely to stop in the middle. It was even lovelier to see the cousin happily married and doing well. We also got to hang out with my brother and his family, as we just happened to be crossing paths halfway across Canada. Super excited to be living closer to each other when they move to Ontario in the summer!

We wished many happy returns of the day to someone who was counting on a real big bash at the destination.

Another walk. Such beautiful weather! It is cold, though! Especially when the wind picks up!

We were back on the road again bright and early on Monday.

We were cruising along uneventfully when the trailer came into some issues. After a bang (and seeing something go flying and bouncing over the road...and smoke coming up from the trailer shortly after...we pulled to a quick stop. Turns out the spring had come loose and flew off...

Fortunately Nathan had a wrench (the right size) ready and accessible. And nuts and washers as well. This was the problem area in PEI as well. Four of us took turns trying to tighten the nut on the bolt, or hold the wrench and trailer in the right spot while the other did the tightening...it was soo soo cold out! Gloves didn't protect your hands for long in minus 20 weather. In ten to fifteen minutes the trailer was repaired and we were on the road again.

After that we played an Exit game...I prefer planned excitement over roadside repairs...especially in the freezing cold prairies!! Daniel played "avoid the camera" successfully.

The trip is really long and gets really boring sometimes. So tired of driving!

Finally in the Bulkley Valley!! We made it!!

Preparations. The trip begins! March 2023

My girls were all super eager to leave...they volunteered to clean the van for me! All I had to do was drive it out of the garage, and they did all the work.

I spent a day visiting a friend who just had a baby. Beautiful brand new boy! I brought some meals, including some made from a friend who hadn't even met this friend...just wanting to help!

Packed and ready to go at last! We decided to use some suitcases this time, since they are a bit handier than Rubbermaids to be moving in and out of buildings. No camping across Canada in March! Even if we were crazy enough to try, there are no places that are open this time of year.

While we are working hard, Matthew has been helping out in his Uncle's shop, doing brakes and tires. And going for snowmobiling outings, and getting stuck. Four people sent me pictures of his one epic stuck spot. They needed four strong people and as saw to get him out. He enjoyed every second of it.

Trailer getting loaded...last things tied down tightly.

And off we went north and through the Canadian shield. The weather cleared up after an hour or so and the roads were nice and clear.

Nathan got to do some highway driving too.

And we moved around in the van after every bathroom stop. It's nice to have variety in where to sit, especially if you don't have the most comfortable seat!

We stopped at a motel in a super tiny place before Thunder Bay. We had instant noodles for dinner. You can microwave the water, or heat it up in the coffee maker, if you are desperate. Nothing like hot soup after a long out of sorts kind of day.

A motel room (even two) sure feels like a small space for a family of 7(not 8 because Matthew is probably enjoying an epic snowmobile outing right now while we are only 1/4 of the way across the country) so we also went for a walk. Hoping it would help us sleep better at night too, having gotten a bit of exercise.

Oh my faithful blue van, how I miss you!

Most of March 2023

Until the end of the month, we were busy working hard on getting our schoolwork and regular life done. After all, we want to have enough done in time so that we can enjoy an extra long spring break.

Daniel getting out of bed the hard way:

Matthew working on a writing project. Not his favourite activity.

We got a nice sized dump of snow. It as a big job to clear off of the driveway! Matthew drove the co-cart.

The go-cart sometimes doesn't want to shift anymore...but it still can push a pretty heavy pile of snow! (If it's not too high and goes over the plow!)

Evelyn getting her art work done.

Snack time gives you more energy to get the rest of your school work done! Especially the last few things that you've been avoiding!

Evelyn got a quilt done for one of her cousins. After all, we can hand deliver it soon! She's planned it ages ago...nothing like a deadline to make the project get done finally!

Hard work at art. This project required pens that needed to be dipped in ink. Kinda fun to try out, but also very challenging to learn how to draw neatly...and it's impossible to correct anything by erasing!!

Matthew was the lucky one to leave before the rest of us and hang out with cousins and extended family...while the rest of us finish up at home and then drive slowly across the country after him. He assured me that although he'd never flown since he was about 6 years old, that he would have no problem switching planes by himself in Vancouver.

He happily left me behind and didn't even bother to turn back and wave at his mom. Absolutely ready for some fun!

Matthew is 15!! (back in Feb 2023)

We have decided that birthday outings/parties are for younger kids...once you are old enough for a summer job you have to do school on your birthday if it happens during the week. Like all those poor kids out there who aren't homeschooled. But Matthew still got to pick what cake and dinner he had for his birthday.

The cake was really delicious!

Jennifer spent a lot of time making a mobile for him. With airplanes. To match a theme Matthew has going on. It is a pretty impressive creation, with all the balance required to make it work!

And several siblings teamed up to get him a stunt remote control car. It does jumps and flips and things.

Evelyn made Matthew a farm, complete with homemade clay animals. It was a lot of work to make!

The car was a hit with siblings in addition to the birthday boy.

We are thankful for another year of life with Matthew! He is still our most outgoing kid, quick to strike up an acquaintance with someone new...and generally very easy going. 

We love his smile (when it is genuine) his sense of humour and his hands on approach to life. He is quickly growing up to be a hard working (charming?) young man.