The Webskowskis in Calgary韋家來訪卡加利

Adam, Anne, and 3 kids (Amos didn't make it) came to visit in June. We had a lot of fun. Wish they could live closer. 

露意絲湖一日遊Lake Louise day trip: the big hike

星期天終於看到失蹤好幾天的太陽，約了新搬來卡加立的Greg和Amy一家去班夫和露意絲湖。

Gareth想去爬湖邊的一座小山。他上網找了資料，從網站資料上看起來不難的健行，卻快要了我的老命。Gareth也很厲害，背著Fiona爬完全程。Fiona走了一小段，但是路真的很陡，兩條小腿很快就累了。我十分能理解，因為我自己也想找人背我。

到了終點湖邊後，Gareth竟還要往上爬，只有Greg的大兒子Eric願意跟著走。留我們五個人在湖邊苦苦守候，我還得看著在湖邊玩水的Fiona，免的她跑到湖中央。

It was nice weather last Sunday, so we all took a day trip to beautiful Lake Louise in Banff National Park. What an outing!

Just after arriving at the lake. See the snow still hanging on the plain of 6 glaciers in the background.

We took some friends on this trip: Greg & Amy Sun and their 2 kids, Eric and Karen. Greg and Gareth used to work together at ORTV. In June Greg moved the family to Calgary to start a new life as Canadians
View across the lake, and up towards our hiking destination, 3.6 km away: The Lake Agnes Teahouse, via Mirror Lake, and possibly a trip up to the top of the Big Beehive... if we have the stamina
這是走了80分鐘後的第一個小湖：鏡面湖，看到透明的水了嗎？

First stop, 80 minutes later: Mirror Lake. Emerald water, crystal clear. Fiona wanted to go for a swim! Gareth weary from carrying Fiona in baby backpack. She is 14 kg now
The Big Beehive looms above. Will we scale it?
Karen Sun, Vivian and Fiona. Karen has only been in Canada for 3 weeks and is still pulling out the rabbit ears for every photo, Taiwan style -- we think it's cute
Another Sun family photo. The view keeps getting better and better the higher we go
The Canadian Rocky Mountains are taller, steeper and more dramatic than in Taiwan. And the bigger ones have snow on them year-round. The peaks are so barren and cold that no trees grow there, leaving only bare shale and rock
終點站Agnes湖流下的瀑布。

Cooling off at the waterfall just below the teahouse
終點站Agnes湖，有累又餓。

Mission accomplished -- we relax at Lake Agnes, pull out our sandwiches and enjoy lunch
A new friend: Mr. Chipmunk also takes lunch (right out of hikers' hands)
The view over the edge of the waterfall, down into the valley
湖邊還有個茶館

Lake Agnes Teahouse. They really do serve tea in there. We overheard other hikers talking, saying that the staff stay up here for several days at a time, bunking in a little cabin in the trees. Imagine that for a summer job
寧靜的Agnes湖。

A quiet Lake Agnes repose, looking across more crystal waters to even taller mountains
Teahouse and waterfall from another angle
Gareth和Eric開始遠征，又爬了1.6公里。

Lake Agnes is great, but we can't see Lake Louise or the Chateau from here. Some of us have the energy and ambition to press on. Yes, the Big Beehive must be climbed! Gareth and Eric Sun embark on the last 1.6 km up this steep but rewarding mountain
到了山頂後往下看路易斯湖，Gareth覺得不虛此行。

...and what a reward it is! Canoes ply the milky blue waters below, and clouds drift across the valley toward the Lake Louise ski slopes. That's Mirror Lake in the foreground, where we stopped on the way up
The Chateau, beautiful Lake Louise and surrounding mountain vista. Totally worth the climb
Taking the switchback down the Big Beehive, back to Lake Agnes and the rest of the party, who are probably wondering where we are. This is a steep trail
Back of Lake Agnes, walking back to the Teahouse
回程Fiona累倒在爸爸的背後，我也累的只能很勉強的在鏡頭前擠出笑容。

The journey down, about 3:30 in the afternoon. It's Fiona's naptime, so she is konked out in the baby backpack Gareth is wearing
夏日週末的露意絲湖失去原有的寧靜

Back down at lake level. The canoe shop is doing a booming trade in rentals, and some people are even bringing their own boats to row their dogs about in
So peaceful and idyllic. Next time here we may rent a canoe and paddle about. There's the Big Beehive in the distance
到班夫必遊之地，弓河瀑布，就在班夫旅館的後面。父女兩看的出來的累。

We stopped in Banff for dinner, visiting the Bow Valley Grill in the Banff Springs Hotel. Afterward we drove down to Bow Falls before heading home. What a great day, one to remember

Slideshow from Dad's memorial service

The memorial service for Dad last Saturday January 24 went pretty smoothly. We believe Dad would have been pleased that so many old friends and colleagues attended. There were a lot of people there who we hadn't seen in at least 10 years.

Gareth went through a lot of old photographs and created this slide show which was broadcast at the start of the service:

Quite a few other people couldn't make it on the 24th, but they sent in some nice cards and email messages or called on the phone offering their condolences. The family appreciates your kindness.

We were also touched by all the kind things so many of the guests said about Dad. He was well liked by a lot of people. I guess we knew that but it was still comforting to hear the same sentiments from so many. "Kind and gentle." "Polite, generous." "A real gentleman." He was like that with his friends and coworkers. It makes sense to think of him as "a gentle man"-- he had a likeable manner that was born out of a different generation, a time when people thought and acted much differently. I guess people like him are more of a rare breed nowadays.

We love you and miss you Dad. Thanks for sharing life's journey with us. You were very special.

Fiona's third birthday

Fiona turned 3 years old on November 3rd. My how the time flies. For her special day we invited some little friends over for a party. We made some crafts, played games, had snacks and cake, plus opened several presents. Thanks to Mackenzie, Anna and Maya (and their mamas!) for coming over to enjoy the special day with us. Vivian also worked very hard making the food, plus special Princess costumes for everyone, to go along with the Princess party theme. Gareth decorated the house with baloons and streamers (Fiona is really into pink these days).
Modelling her Princess dress -- handmade by Mama
Trying on princess shoes
Happy day!
Four little princesses: our party guests Mackenzie, Anna and Maya
Sitting down for some snacks
Birthday cake from Cinderella
Enjoying a sweet treat
Group photo. Thanks everyone for coming to our party!


Here's a little video of party highlights. Includes music from Fiona's new personalized CD!

The following day we had more guests: Nai Nai and Ye Ye (Fiona's grandma and grandpa, a.k.a. Gareth's parents), plus Vivian's college friend Heidy and her family: Felipe, Philip and Dylan. Another enjoyable party, with more presents!
Vivian cooked up a bounty of dishes
Fun times with Dylan and Philip

Mom's group媽媽們的咖啡時間

經由一個在台灣的美國朋友的介紹，認識了Melonie。Melonie介紹我到這一個很棒的媽媽小組。每個星期一早上我們會在一個咖啡店碰面，小朋友在地下室玩，每一次會有一個媽媽留在下面看孩子，其餘的媽媽就到一樓喝咖啡談媽媽經。很棒吧！讓媽媽可以有喘息的機會。
這裡的照片是在Lea家拍的。因為咖啡店在裝修，我們只好去Lea家玩。Lea是這個媽媽小組的招集人。 這是大概兩個多月前拍的。
Through our American friend in Taipei, Matt, we met his high school friend, Melonie. She introduced me to this Mom’s group. They meet every Monday morning and take turns looking after the kids when all the other moms can sit, have some coffee and chat with each other. I love the idea and I like those moms too. They are so cool and friendly. I even signed up to look after the kids couple times.
The photos here were taken about 2 months ago in Lea's place. When the "House cafe" was doing the renovation, we met in Lea's house once. Lea is our coordinator.

這就是Lea。腿上坐著的是他的兒子Login，中間是他的女兒，Naomi。
That's Lea. Her son, Login is on her laps and daughter, Naomi is in the middle.



有一對雙胞胎，我老分不清楚，雖然是龍鳳胎！穿紅色衣服的應該是雙胞胎中的女生，Georgia。孟田躺在那裡研究拼圖。
I got confused with the twins sometimes, even they are one boy and one girl. I believe the girl in red is Georgia. Fiona is trying to figure out the puzzle.

這是Kathy和他的女兒Anna，還有一個去年12月才出生的小女兒，Grace。
This is Kathy and her daughter, Anna. Anna has a baby sister now, Grace. She is only about 3 months old. (Marcia, I know they don't look like you at all, but somehow, they remind me a lot of you and your girls, Mikayla and Izzy.)



Melonie和Mikayla在左邊，Nula和他的雙胞胎在右邊。
Melonie and Mikayla are in the dark. And Nula with her twins are under the light.




我有個直覺，孟田以後應該很愛打鼓。
我以後再放一些我們平常聚會的照片。
I have a feeling. Fiona will be a good drummer one day.
I'll try to post more regular mom's group meeting photos next time.(If I spell some of your names wrong, please forgive me and let me know.)