¡Vámonos!

2008-08-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-08-05T21:59:00.000-07:00

Hizee Ann -- Animal Lover

2008-07-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

2008-07-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

2008-07-27T13:57:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-07-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

Exploring the MCC grounds in Akron

2008-07-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-07-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

2008-07-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-15T20:26:00.000-07:00

Good-Bye Yellowknife

2008-07-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-06-19T07:06:00.000-07:00

2008-06-15T23:41:00.000-07:00

Loving Charleigh

2008-06-15T23:35:00.000-07:00

"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.

2008-06-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

2008-05-12T20:39:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-05-12T20:31:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-05-12T20:22:00.001-07:00

Our cheeky little Bean!

2008-05-12T20:15:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-05-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-05-12T18:56:00.000-07:00

2008-05-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

Artists in residence

2008-04-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

Yellowknife's annual Snowking Castle on Great Slave Lake

2008-04-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-06T20:42:00.000-07:00

Snow Queen

2008-04-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

Book work

2008-02-05T13:09:00.000-08:00

Hizee is nuts about noodles! So when we got a noodle-maker for Christmas she got straight to noodle-making. Here she is making the dough, flattening it, cutting the noodles and, finally, enjoying the fruits of her labour! YUM!

2008-01-11T20:40:00.000-08:00

2008-01-11T20:37:00.000-08:00

Outside or inside it's all about hockey for Ziko

2008-01-11T20:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the quinzhee Grandpa John

2008-01-11T20:27:00.000-08:00

Favourite Christmas gifts

2008-01-11T20:23:00.000-08:00

Bruce got his rink up and running this Christmas thanks to the help of his Dad. A series of warm weather spurts early in the season made flooding unpredicatble the last few months...but we're all set now complete with rink lights.

2008-01-11T20:15:00.000-08:00

Ziko is obsessed with anything relating to sports

2008-01-11T20:11:00.000-08:00

Ziko and his best friend Elvis

2008-01-11T20:07:00.000-08:00

Celebrating Advent

2007-12-21T22:59:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone

We wish you a happy and joyous holiday!!!!

2007-12-21T22:38:00.000-08:00

Click the play button to hear a special Christmas wish from Hizee

2007-12-21T22:31:00.000-08:00

Hizee's pre-school class sang a few numbers at the school's Christmas turkey lunch...it was completely priceless!!

2007-12-21T22:26:00.000-08:00

Zam and his buddies at their school's Christmas turkey lunch and evening concert

2007-12-21T22:24:00.000-08:00

Partners

2007-12-21T22:21:00.000-08:00

Tub Turkies

2007-12-21T22:18:00.000-08:00

Ziko caring for his pig

2007-12-21T22:13:00.000-08:00

Shepherds and sheep and a whole lotta fun at our church Christmas pagent...

2007-12-15T20:06:00.000-08:00

The kids are having a blast cross-country skiing this year. Even though Hizee's skis are about four sizes too big she plods along like nobody's business...she's super hardcore!!

2007-12-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

What fun!! Zam enjoyed setting up the Christmas tree so much this year that once we were finished he asked if we could take it down and do it all over again! Meanwhile, Ziko keeps a constant vigil of the tree, making sure all is in order. He takes this job very seriously.

2007-12-03T21:32:00.000-08:00

2007-12-03T21:28:00.000-08:00

Rats and Pigs

2007-11-28T19:50:00.000-08:00

That's Mr. Mohawk to you!

Zam gets his dream haircut.

2007-11-28T19:48:00.000-08:00

2007-11-28T19:43:00.000-08:00

Hizee re-enacting her dog sledding experience with play dough.

2007-11-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

A couple of weekends ago our friend Anna Bergen (she and Bruce actually knew each other from when their families were in Africa as kids and we met up in Yellowknife while taking a course together -- how cool is that!!) was kind enough to take the kids dog sledding with her team. The kids were beaming about the event!!! Just one of the many perks to living in the North...hint, hint, nudge, nudge...come and visit us all of you!!

2007-11-28T19:30:00.000-08:00

The three turkeys in the sled; and Hizee getting a chance to try out her mushing skills.

2007-11-14T20:49:00.000-08:00

Hey Auntie Sonia, this one's for you!

2007-11-11T19:54:00.000-08:00

a bunch of toboggan heads

2007-11-11T19:46:00.000-08:00

rejoicing in the spoils of Halloween

2007-11-11T19:35:00.000-08:00

This year's Halloween crew -- a tiger, a vampire, and a pink poodle!

2007-11-09T10:43:00.000-08:00

Caring for Charleigh

2007-11-07T21:01:00.000-08:00

It seems like pictures of Zam these days are few and far between (with him being at school all day), so I decided to post this priceless little video from 2004...

2007-11-07T20:45:00.000-08:00

The Happy Helper

2007-11-07T20:43:00.000-08:00

Sherpa Girl

2007-11-07T20:40:00.000-08:00

Bus Bums

2007-11-07T20:31:00.000-08:00

Chillin' with Charleigh

2007-11-01T19:16:00.000-07:00

Alien Invasion!

2007-11-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

Crafting pinatas with our friend Holly

2007-11-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

For those of you awaiting the baby rat update you can witness the freak of nature that occurred…guinea pigs!!! The rats failed to “produce” so we got two baby guinea pigs – Princess and Black Knight (both males so no possibility of babies there…although with a name like Princess, who knows!). The kids are really enjoying the pigs, together with their rats. The rats are scared of the pigs. It’s a dream come true for us (big kids and little kids) to have our very own indoor petting zoo!

2007-11-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

Happy 6th Birthday PokeZam!

Zam had his party at the pool this year and 27 of his pals joined him for an all-out, crazy, chaotic, and fun-filled celebration! The best part of it all was the suprise guest who was in attendance -- Jarrin!! Jarrin is Zam's best friend (and former neighbor) who came all the way from Camrose AB for Zam's party!

2007-11-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

Snow cones

2007-10-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

Let it snow!

2007-10-29T13:15:00.000-07:00

A final snow-free hike

2007-10-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

Caring for caterpillars and babies

2007-10-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

Ziko the Hug-Master

Ignore the dopey look on his mom's face and concentrate on the powerful and joyful hugs that The Bean is able to give!

2007-10-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

2007-10-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

Reaching the Summit

2007-09-14T12:14:00.000-07:00

Zam and Hizee are still the best of friends. Hizee is really missing Zam now that he is back at school and I think the reverse is true as well. The other day when he got home from school, Zam set up a school for Hizee – it was very sweet to watch.

2007-09-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Zam and Ziko are also very close. Zam is Ziko’s hero; and Zam would do absolutely anything for Ziko. Zam hates to see Ziko upset so when we tell Ziko that we are not going to carry him around all day, Zam will often run to his rescue and carry him wherever he wants to go. I wonder why that little turkey isn’t walking yet?

2007-09-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

Hizee and Ziko are quite a team! They get into these modes where they are totally in sync with each other and they look for trouble to get into. It usually begins with Hizee deciding to crawl with Ziko. Once they are at the same level they scope the area for possible mischief to cause – they are very quiet during the whole process and carry looks of intense concentration. At the garden this mischief usually involves crawling as far away from the rest of us as possible, finding a watering can (or other possible water sources), making a huge mud puddle, and painting each other up.

2007-09-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

Partners in Crime -- " Gonna stand my ground...and I won't back down" What an appropriate theme song for these two!

2007-09-14T08:14:00.000-07:00

Flower Child

Ziko is mesmerized by flowers and does not leave or enter the yard without demanding one. Once he has picked a flower he holds onto it for long periods of time – sometimes a few hours!

2007-09-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

Meet Smarty…the newest addition to our rat pack. Smarty lives up to his name – he is smart, smart, smart and sweet as can be! He is hopefully the soon-to-be proud papa of his own little rat pack. We bred him with Rascus and Sunshine (held by Hizee) but don’t know if it “worked.” We should find out this weekend as the gestation period for rats is only 22-24 days. Stay posted for labour and delivery updates!

2007-09-14T07:58:00.000-07:00

Killer Bee, Killer Sky

A couple of weekends ago we went on this canoe trip and stopped at an island for a hike. The kids refused to disembark at the island because there was a huge bee patrolling the shore. Bruce got out of the boat and made light of it, saying he’d take care of that crazy bee. He took one swing at it and… voila, the paddle disintegrated before our eyes. It was the only paddle we had along but luckily a good little chunk of it remained in tact and our car was parked just around the corner from the island.

On a separate canoe trip Bruce took this amazing picture of these killer beautiful skies!

2007-09-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

Early this spring (mid June by Yellowknife standards) I threw down some wild flower seed in our front flower bed. I was pretty much obsessed with seeing what would grow and I meticulously weeded and watered the bed every day (well almost every day). Stuff was coming up, however, due to my lack of gardening experience I had basically no idea what most of the stuff was. When we were just about to leave for Manitoba for holidays (in mid July) a number of the plants had huge buds on them that were about to burst. I was mortified that I would not be there to see them bloom and thought they might be dead by the time we returned from holidays (due to the short summer season in Yellowknife). So I called my good friend (and neighbor) Michelle and asked her if she ever happened to be walking by our house with a camera would she mind taking a few pictures of my flowers. Michelle was kind enough to oblige and the result are these award-winning flower photos! Thank you so much Michelle…you rock!!!
And as a bit of an epilogue to this story, yes I am still enjoying those big beautiful poppy blooms (I now know what they are). I guess I underestimated the length of a Yellowknife summer. But in any case, it sure is nice to have the pictures!

2007-09-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

This sunflower was just about to bloom when we left and when we got home it was basically dead from lack of water; so I am super happy that Michelle got this photo so that I could at least enjoy the sunflower in some capacity.

2007-09-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

Mature…kind…sensitive…silly…zaney…Zammer!

2007-09-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

whimsical…hilarious…humble…hardcore….helpful...Hizee Ann!

2007-09-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

Our little man Ziko!

While he may not be walking he is climbing mountains…and for what he may lack in bipedal abilities he makes up for with his tenaciousness in every other area of his life! Ziko also has an amazing sense of humour and has assumed the role of peacemaker in the family. Whenever someone has been hurt (physically or emotionally) Ziko rushes to their side and offers a hug. It is the sweetest thing!

2007-09-01T08:12:00.000-07:00

DropShots.com/Yellowknifer If you click on this link you can view a part human, part fish taking a swim, as well as two little people who are "Somewhere a Workin' for My Lord..."

2007-08-28T00:16:00.000-07:00

We spent just over two weeks in Manitoba this summer and what an action-packed time it was! It was filled with plenty of fun and sun, weddings, and nice long visits. The kids had a beyond-joyous reunion with their cousins: together they played, swam, jumped on trampolines, and just plain enjoyed one another’s company. One could say that our holiday was a time of intense bonding with…

2007-08-28T00:06:00.000-07:00

2007-08-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

...Grandmas and Grandpas...

2007-08-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

...with aunts and uncles...

2007-08-27T23:51:00.000-07:00

...with Oma...

2007-08-27T23:45:00.000-07:00

...with water and sand...

2007-08-27T23:37:00.000-07:00

...with Friesen cousins...

2007-08-27T23:30:00.000-07:00

...with Pankratz cousins...

2007-08-27T23:26:00.000-07:00

...with kittens...