The life and times of K, K, A and H !: January 2018

Hello friends and family! It has been quite some time since I've last posted some pictures on the happenings and such from the Heidel/Narits clan here in Cochrane. We have had a really nice winter thus far; a beautiful start to it with warm temps through November and into December and only one colder stretch coming around Christmas time which lasted only a couple of weeks. We're now enjoying + temperatures again in January which isn't all that uncommon for a town situated in the topography of mountains meeting prairies that's also affected by Chinook winds. Anyway, it sure makes our winters tolerable as we're able to get outside to enjoy the outdoors most of the winter days without the fear of old jack frost nipping at our noses.

Our big excitement this winter (aside from Kätlin, Kärolin's sister, giving birth to a beautiful baby girl this January!) is that the girls have learned to ski. It has become one of our focuses for outdoor activities this winter when Kärolin and I are able to coordinate a day off between schedules. The girls have really embraced it and now have their 'favourite' ski hills and are excited to go when we offer up the idea! Also, our friend Sven from Estonia is working up at Sunshine Village this winter and has graciously offered to help us out with discounted lift passes so we've now been up there to spend a day with Sven our resident tour guide. The girls get to ride the gondola up to the village so that is always a big hit (although the Cey's might contest that one from their trip in the spring of 2016 where they witnessed an Anni melt down in the gondola car upon trying to install a Tiny Tiger's lift pass onto Anni's jacket). I can assure you that these details have since been ironed out and she's quite excited to dawn her ski pass and step into the gondola car. They also get to ride the chair lift up from the village which has been an amazing experience for us all because we can now ski on the big hill as a family with Kärolin and I each assisting one of the girls to ski down with their ski harnesses. In February, brother Kurt and his family will be coming out to the mountains to ski so we've been diligently practicing so we'll be able to join them up on the slopes!

Anni has really enjoyed being in preschool this fall and winter and will be signed up for kindergarten come fall time. Helerin will be signed up for preschool this fall already and would be in class already if she had her way! Kärolin is keeping quite busy with her day home business and has developed a very good reputation amongst the moms in our community. There always seems to someone in need of her services and at times our house can become a little kid zoo!

Anyway, hope this finds everyone doing well and we wish you all a happy, healthy, prosperous new year in 2018. 😊