Covid has changed a lot of things, and travelling to Canada was one area that we noticed big changes - first, our normal Delta flight to Saskatoon no longer existed. Instead of being able to travel there for about $800-$1000 each (which was already expensive in our mind!), the tickets jumped up to $1800 a piece and we could no longer use any Delta airmiles to make the tickets reasonable. We just couldn't justify that much for each ticket, so we began to explore flying to a city further away (Edmonton, Calgary etc) and driving - and our final decision was to fly to North Dakota and drive across the border. It ended up being significantly cheaper, AND we could use airmiles AND it made the Covid testing a little easier as we didn't have to test for Covid prior to coming back, so it saved us that headache and cost. Flying to North Dakota did mean that we flew, and then had an 8 hour drive ahead of us, so that was not as nice as 2 hours, but we still felt it was the better option. Driving the last 2 hours in a white-out blizzard though on the way there was less than fun -- but thankfully it was a four lane highway so we didn't have to worry about oncoming traffic, but there was only a path open in the middle of the road open, and extremely difficult to see at times.
Testing though to GO was still a requirement so we all tested 2 days before and then prayed that our test results would come in time, which they did. We also had vaccinated Addison in December so that we wouldn't run into problems with border but she was one day shy of being "fully" vaccinated as Canada required the 2 weeks and a day to have passed since her second shot and we were only 2 weeks past. With that in mind, she was still required to be tested on Day 1 and Day 8, and then Amy was also randomly chosen to be tested as well even though she was fully vaccinated - and the results didn't even come until after we'd gotten back to the US! Thankfully it didn't interfere with our visit to Canada as we always primarily stay at the farm anyway. It won't be a day too soon when this Covid business is done!
Anyway, on to the fun stuff! The farm is always a highlight - the kids have so much fun with their cousins, they are just giddy with delight. There is lots, lots, lots of good food and desserts and lots of games and puzzles, and now video games. We normally go bowling once while we're there but this year we decided to skip that in light of Covid but we did go to the movies once, and enjoyed the entire movie theater to ourselves as we went to the 11A showing and no-one else was there - so that was kind of nice!
Puzzles are a nice way to get everyone involved in hanging out together and something to do as we talk, so there were a few puzzles that were done this year, and even Addison got involved this year!
Speaking of games, one of our kids favorite things is the candy game - Aunt Lorie buys a bunch of different kinds of candy, chips, soda etc and then there is a dice game - depending on what you roll, you get to pick from a designated pile. First she let them each pick one item before the game began to ensure that they each would end up with something that they really liked, and then after that candy could be stolen, made "safe", or just in general had to pick from one of the three piles based on the dice numbers. And then afterwards, lots of trading happened anyway between the kids!
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| Explaining the rules |
A highlight in Canada is always all of the yummy treats to eat like cinnamon rolls. Addi this year helped grandma do a little of the baking which she enjoys - and then of course devour them afterwards!
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| pinching the edges together |
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| Making pink jello together |
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| working on a supper meal one day |
We enjoy playing a lot of games while we're there, such as stock ticker, Pitt, and we played a new game called "dice" this year which as you'd expect, is just a bunch of dice! :)
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| Rubik's Race |
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| Pit |
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| blokus |
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| The telephone game |
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| Doing a craft together |
This year the younger kids decided to try and do a sleepover on the air mattress, but it didn't last long before Gianna headed downstairs to snuggle with her Mama, and then the second night Uncle Karis' Stinky Pajama Gang story was too scary when a fish jumped into the imaginary canoe and knocked Nik out into the water so he headed on downstairs to his parents too! It was fun to let them try though, and they were all excited with their little stuffed animals to snuggle in together.
"Little Red" is always in high demand which is a sledding hill nearby, so they headed out there one day when the weather warmed up just a bit - it was bitterly cold (-35) most days, so it wasn't until the last Sunday that it got warmer just a bit and they all bundled up and went sledding.
With how bitterly cold it was, it made the science experiment of taking boiling water outside and throwing it into the air to watch it become snow before it hits the ground perfect! Addison and Nik (and Gianna a few times too!) must have done it 20-30 times as Amy manned the stove to keep the boiling water coming. Here is a series of pictures from the start to end below with Addison.
Speaking of science lessons, a science lesson was had this year when the younger kids learned all about static electricity - and suddenly that became a form of entertainment to "shock" everyone around. Uncle Karis is always game for tomfoolery, so he was happy to shock them back!
When the kids were really little (the youngest three weren't even born yet) and everyone was in Orlando one year, we did a group picture -- and this year we decided to recreate it. This was a hoot trying to each kid to look exactly like they did (as close as possible) so many years ago with expressions, body postures etc.
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| The original picture |
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| Hilarious! Kaleb has his tongue sticking out, Zachary is solemn and looking out into space, Connor is so cute playing itsy bitsy spider with his hands, and Emily was hugging Kaylie |
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| And Addison didn't want to be left out, so we did one afterwards with her in it. |
We have started to do a height picture each year as well as all of the kids are really stretching up.
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| The three brothers are all about the same height! |
No trip to the farm is complete with a work project - it makes the Z men happy to be sure - and this year they were working on the basement laundry/kitchen area - hopefully they will have it done by the summer and can enjoy the somewhat cooler space while cooking etc during the heat of the summer.
Oh, and no Christmas is complete without presents - so there was of course gift exchanges for the kids which they then enjoyed playing with the toys for the younger kids while the older kids got mostly money.
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| Lined up on the couch during gift exchange |
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| While the adults watch and chat! |
Not sure what made this the "piggy back" year - but one evening everyone seemed to be determined to give piggy back poses for the camera!
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| Even Dad got into the fun |
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| Even a sitting down on a chair piggy back! |
And really one of the most wonderful parts of the whole trip is just being able to watch the family bond, talking, sharing thoughts etc. It is a blessing to be part of a family to be sure - and we should all never take it for granted.
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| Emily is beloved, Addison adores her |
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| The Z matriarch and patriarch sneaking a smooch! |
This year the basement sewing area/TV space was finished, so the boys hung out there watching sports a LOT. And hiding if a parent came down for them to do chores! 😏
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| climbing out from under the sewing machines where they had hidden |
