Due to the obvious geographic specificity of this blog’s address (yellowknifehappenings) we are ending this blog and beginning a new blog as we embark on our journey to Mexico. Our new blog can be found at the following link: http://friesenpankratz.blogspot.com/ or you can click on "Our new blog" found under "MCCers in the Field" in the red box directly to the right of this entry.

Hizee Ann -- Animal Lover

We are now in Manitoba and will be here until we leave for Mexico on August 26. We are enjoying just relaxing and hanging out with family!

We spent two weeks in Akron Pennsylvania for our Mennonite Central Committee (MCC -- the organization who we're going to Mexico with) orientation. The kids had their own orientation which they really enjoyed. It was another busy and very full two weeks. Although the kids are down right zonked at times, they are doing very well with all the transition and lack of routine in their lives right now.

Exploring the MCC grounds in Akron

Upon arriving in Winnipeg we were treated to a time with Great Grandma who was visiting from Sasatchewan. It was the first time that Ziko and Great Grandma had met, and boy did they ever make up for lost time! Both Great Grandma and Ziko love to tease and they spent most of their time together figuring out how to get the best of each other...it was quite entertaining!

After an action-packed four days of touring Yellowknife and packing up our house, Bruce, Ivan, Grandpa and all the kids (minus Ziko) drove from Yellowknife to Winnipeg in a loaded-down mini van. An amazing time was had by all with nights spent at hotels, short pit-stops for treats, and an extra long pit-stop at the West Edmonton mall. Thankfully Spondge Bob was also able to accompany the crew in the van, keeping everyone well entertained during the four day journey!
Ziko and Jaime flew to Winnipeg.

Prior to leaving Yellowknife at the end of June, our cousins Andie and Luke (along with our Uncle Ivan and Grandpa John) came to visit us in Yellowknife! To say that we were excited would be a vast understatement...WE WERE OVER THE MOON WITH EXCITMENT! We showed Andie and Luke all of our favourite places and things to do...it was an action packed four days that has left us with a bazillon amazing memories!

My Three Amigos

Saying good-bye to Yellowknife via this blog wouldn't be complete without saying good-bye to my three crazy, beautiful pals Michelle, Sheila, and Natalie!!! We packed some serious fun, laughter, love, and tears into our time as "bus babes" and I will miss them dearly!

How much better could it be than to get a surprise Mexican themed send off complete with sombreros and maracas! Thank you, I love you guys!

Good-Bye Yellowknife

Saying Good-Bye To Charleigh

We found a great home for Charleigh, however, that didn't make it any easier to say good-bye to her. She was a great girl and we will really miss her! Thanks for all the memories Charleigh, and thank you Ann Marie, Marion, Corbin and Dawson for making Charleigh a part of your family.

Loving Charleigh

"Bus 4 checked and empty" is what we radio in when we're done our run; and we radioed in for the last time a few weeks ago. We had a blast driving the school bus and will really miss it! Hizee took a camera on our last day and below you can see her little "photo journal" of a typical bus ride.

As most of you may already know we are moving to Mexico for a three year term with MCC. The kids are very excited about Mexico...the other day Hizee asked "are we leaving for Mexico tomorrow?" However, one sad aspect of moving is that we have to say good-bye to our pets. We found new homes for the rats and guinea pigs and here is Hizee and her rat Sunshine before Sunshine left for her new home. It's been hard saying good-bye to the pets but the kids have been assured by the new owners that they will send regular updates. The only pet we have yet to find a home for in our girl Charleigh...anyone interested?

Hizee watering our Northern cactus garden that we started from seed when we lived in Lac Brochet a few years ago.

Grandpa Bernie came to our house to fix it up so we could get it ready to sell. He came bearing gifts from Grandma Ann. Thank you Grandma, and thank you Grandpa for all the hard work and silliness...we had a great time!

Our cheeky little Bean!

Zam's mohawk had grown out so he and Bruce thought it was time for a new do...a Blue Bomber lighting bolt from the top and a Z from the side. I think Bruce is living out his hair dreams through Zam!

Hizee and I are trying to potty train Ziko...our little dude has attitude... let's just say we celebrate the small successes!

Our first big spring (or what might seem more like mid-winter) hike in late April. We hiked out to Cameron Falls -- you can see the falls attempting to burst out through the snow (hard to see in this pic but a beautiful sight in real life)!

Charleigh was esctatic...got herself all stuck in a snow bank

This cheeky little Wiskey Jack followed us all the way to the falls and back. We rewarded her with some graham crackers when we got back to the van.

Artists in residence

Yellowknife's annual Snowking Castle on Great Slave Lake

Ziko got tired of waiting for his hot chocolate at the ice castle and started eating the table

Snow Queen