John Harvey Photo

December 2016

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images Way more snow than usual



Walking to Work

For three and half years, I worked at Capcom in Burnaby.  December 2nd was my last day at my old job and December 5th was the first day at my new job - downtown!  I now mostly walk to work so I'm trying to bring a camera to take photos of things along the way.  My walk starts with taking Nara to school so there are sometimes things to see along the way.

Nara Walking With Light Dusting Of SnowNara Watching Construction At 6th And FirNara Playing With Snow At School

After dropping Nara off, I walk over a bridge to get downtown.  I mostly walk over the Burrard Street Bridge which is a mess of construction.  This year it snowed so sometimes the Granville Street Bridge is a better option.

Backed Up Busses On Granville StreetPaved Bike Lane At Burrard And Pacific

Snow Covered Docks
On my way home I mostly walk over the Granville Street Bridge.   The snow days have made for "rare views" - parts of the city that aren't normally blanketed white.
 


Granville Island Snowy Night

Visiting Jericho Sailing Center

Our weekends are pretty busy right now with Chinese class on both days.  When I do get some time to get away, I don't want to spend all the time driving - close destinations maximize daylight time.  Jericho Sailing Center has a nice dock and usually lots of birds floating by.  

Flock Of Merganser Flying By

I didn't really appreciate how Vancouver has different birds in the winter and summer (and during migrations).  I was surprised to see a Horned Grebe fishing by the dock - in the summer, I've only seen the pied-billed grebe.  A small (compared to our larger gulls)
Bonapartes Gull was also nice to see floating on the water looking for handouts.

Horned GrebeBonapartes Gull

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?


Snowy Vancouver Behind
Most years, the snow in Vancouver lasts a few days and is gone - if you want to take a photo of snow, you really have to take advantage of the day.  It snowed this morning so we decided to go out to the park to build snowmen!  The kids have good winter gear (we hope to go skiing over Christmas) so they could play outside without getting cold.


I wanted the muted colours of the city in the background to contrast against the kids bright snow suits.

Nara Building Up BaseNara Installing Face FeaturesClaira With Her SnowmanClairas Snowman Has Olaf Treatment

I probably should have brought a longer lens and shot from further away.

Christmas Performance

Nara is in grade 1.  I don't remember a Christmas performance last year when Nara was in Kindergarden, but to our surprise we got invited to a Christmas Performance just after school opened in the morning.  The three grade 1 classes were combined together to make a dancing and singing performance that lasted about 20 minutes.  It was nice to see lots of kids trying to be synchronized.

Nara Two Feet JumpingNara Walking On SpotNara PassingNara Kicking Feet

Haircuts 


Nara With Bubbles In HairNara Getting Updo
Haircuts are a great time to get portraits.  The lighting isn't bad, the kids are generally happy and they can't go very far because they are in a booster seat and trying to behave well for a stranger.  It helps that our hairdresser gives the kids pocky so there are always extra smiles.


Last time Claira took a handful of hair trimmings and put them in her mouth.  This time I was quite happy to see that she didn't repeat the stunt.  Kids do learn pretty quickly and have a decent memory.

Claira BeforeClaira Hair WashedClaira With DrinkYou Can See Clairas Eyes

Gymnastics

Nara Superman Slide Horiz
There was a time when both kids had Gymnastics class at the same time in different studios in the same building - photo day was a mad rush from one studio to the other to get a few good photos in the last 10 minutes of class.  Now that they are separate days, there is more opportunity to get a good photo.  Of course, if all Nara wants to do is superman slides, that's pretty much all you will get photos of.


Nara Hanging On BarNara Out Of FrameNara Superman Slide Vert

Claira Ta DaClaira Balancing On One Leg
Claira's class is younger and more structured.  They start with a "Ta Da!" and receive a ribbon.  Then they get about 10 minutes to do what they want, but they still follow the circuit, moving from station to station.  Given the big smiles, I think Claira is really happy someone is watching.  It probably also helped that she saw Nara's class the night before so she had some idea of what was coming.


Photographing a kid doing gymnastics in such a way you can show it on the internet is a bit of a challenge.

Claira Swinging On RopeClaira Hanging Upside DownClaira At Rings

VanDusen Christmas Lights

There are lots of Christmas lights opportunities in Vancouver - VanDusen, Bright Nights at Stanley Park, The Christmas Market downtown and this year there is "Enchant - a Christmas Maze" along with hundreds of smaller places that have lights set up.  The weather has been heavy on rain and snow this year but I was still surprised that the line up at VanDusen wasn't long.

Claira And Helen On CarouselNara Riding Purple Horse

New to me, this year they had a carousel.  There is a carousel at Butchart Gardens so the kids know it's a fun ride.  We were fortunate with out lineup placement so that the kids were seated on the outside.

Bottle Top FlowersNara And Claira Around String Of Lights
I've been to Vandusen at least a dozen times - in the daylight I know my way from anywhere to anywhere, often using shortcuts.  I'll admit, at night with trails blocked off, I had a hard time figuring out how to get around.  The kids really wanted to see the mermaid and the Octopus (a favorite from last year) but once we were on an outer trail, we were kind of stuck going all the way around.

Well Lit Up Trees At Vandusen


Lanterns In TreesNara And Claira On Trail
 
Octopus Mermaid And BraCarousel In The Background
 

Slot Canyon at Sombrio Beach, Vancouver Island

Surfers On The Beach
I stumbled onto pictures of a canyon near Sombrio beach that can be described as a "slot" canyon.  My parents had the kids (we were in Victoria) so Helen and I got in the car and drove an hour and half out to the beach to go on a wild goose chase.  Helen made me do more research before we left - basically follow the trail down to the beach, taking the left at the fork.  Once you get to the beach, turn left (south) and walk another 20 minutes.  You will see a small creek draining into the beach - follow it up and you find a short canyon.


Entrance To Slot CanyonPeople Walking In CanyonHelen And John In Canyon

  Log Down At WaterfallLush Green WallsHelen Standing In Slot Canyon
 

Making Gingerbread Houses

One of the gifts the girls got for Christmas were gingerbread house kits - graham crakers cemented with icing into a basic house shape and more icing and candy to decorate it.  This is a time sensitive gift - you want to consume it fresh.  We snipped the corners off the ziplock bags and very quickly the kids had ideas how to decorate.

  Nara Working Roof LineAdding SmartiesWorking Around Roof
Claira Done YardClaira Adding Candy Cane

Claira Eating Icing From Bag
I don't know how exactly the icing works that it sets up when exposed to air, but not all the icing even got the chance.  Claira was done decorating first and figured the remaining icing could just go directly into her mouth.  Nara follow very soon afterwards.


Skiing at Grouse

Last year we took the kids for a day of skiing at Cypress.  It was a herculean effort.  Renting the gear off mountain, finding parking, moving the kids in boots to snow, finding no good hill to learn on, paying crazy high lift tickets we didn't get to use.  The real kicker was that the kids asked us for lessons next time.  Well, it's next time and we booked lessons and Grouse.

Building Up PowderFirst Day On Skiis


Nara is 6 and Claira is 4.  Nara has two instructors for 6 kids and they basically roam the mountain.  Claira goes to "skiwee" where they have their own building and a small army of instructors.  Nara was fitted for boots and skis the first day and keeps them for all four days.  Claira gets new boots and ski's every day.  Nara is dropped off at the bottom at 7:45, pick up at the top at 11am.  Claira is dropped off at the top of the mountain and 9:15, picked up at 11:45.  It's quite workable, but it does take some juggling.

The weather was quite different each day.  The first day was fog and snow.  Another day we got a clear morning but it was colder and windy - hard on little kids.  Because Nara was part of ski-school we got to go up on the first gondola and sometimes got to catch beautiful sunrise light. 

Claira Windy SunriseClaira Snow Flying ByClear Sunrise


Claira started with a "Never Ever" purple bib.  Her second day (and every day after) was a yellow "Learning to Turn" bib. 

Claira Snowplowing Back Down
Claira started with the gentlest of slopes. The snow kept falling all morning and it was sticky - sometimes Claira would just freeze in place mid descent because the snow would decide to adhere to her ski's.

Claira Walking Up Carpet
 
Nara's class finished before Claira's so I would pick her up and take the sleigh ride over to the skiwee area to pick up Claira.  Nara could practice on the little bunny hill and after Claira's class was finished, she was allowed to borrow her gear for another hour so we could all play together. 
 
Nara On SkiisNara On Magic Carpet Up HillNara And Claira On Practice Hill
 
Second Day Bib
Both kids made great progress.  Claira's classes were cut short (the building "lost power") on the last day, but the mountain was kind enough to give her credit for a make up day in February.  Nara had a good time in class (her instructor was also in French immersion school) and was pretty good at skiing by the end of the week.

Nara With Frosty Hair

I was a little tired of the 5:45 am wake up's, but it was a productive and memorable way to spend the holidays.



You Can See Clairas Eyes
Person: Claira
Tags: haircut
Claira Adding Candy Cane
Person: Claira
Tags: candy
Flock Of Merganser Flying By
Species: Mergus merganser (Common Merganser)
Altitude: 6m (19 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: flock in flight
Nara Passing
Person: Nara
Tags: dancing
Nara Building Up Base
Person: Nara
Altitude: 7m (22 feet)
Location: Go To...
Claira Hair Washed
Person: Claira
Tags: haircut
Nara On Skiis
Person: Nara
Altitude: 1095m (3592 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Grouse Mountain
Nara Hanging On Bar
Person: Nara
Tags: gymnastics
Lush Green Walls
Altitude: 14m (45 feet)
Location: Go To...
Bottle Top Flowers
Nara Walking On Spot
Person: Nara
Octopus Mermaid And Bra
Nara And Claira Around String Of Lights
Person: Nara, Claira
Tags: lights, night, VanDusen
Horned Grebe
Species: Podiceps auritus (Horned Grebe)
Altitude: 6m (19 feet)
Location: Go To...
Second Day Bib
Person: Claira
Claira At Rings
Person: Claira
Tags: gymnastics
Nara Superman Slide Vert
Person: Nara
Tags: gymnastics
Helen Standing In Slot Canyon
Person: Helen
Altitude: 26m (85 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: canyon
Claira With Her Snowman
Person: Claira
Altitude: 4m (13 feet)
Location: Go To...
Helen And John In Canyon
Person: Helen, John
Altitude: 14m (45 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara And Claira On Trail
Person: Nara, Claira
Nara Two Feet Jumping
Person: Nara
Working Around Roof
Claira And Helen On Carousel
Person: Claira, Helen
Tags: carousel, VanDusen
Log Down At Waterfall
Altitude: 26m (85 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: graffiti, waterfall
Adding Smarties
Person: Nara
Lanterns In Trees
Nara Installing Face Features
Person: Nara
Location: Go To...
Bonapartes Gull
Species: Chroicocephalus philadelphia (Bonaparte's Gull)
Altitude: 6m (19 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara With Frosty Hair
Person: Nara
Altitude: 1098m (3602 feet)
Location: Go To...
People Walking In Canyon
Altitude: 14m (45 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara With Bubbles In Hair
Person: Nara
Tags: haircut
Granville Island Snowy Night
Altitude: 28m (91 feet)
Location: Go To...
Claira Snow Flying By
Person: Claira
Altitude: 1094m (3589 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Grouse Mountain, sunrise, windy
Nara Out Of Frame
Person: Nara
Tags: gymnastics, trampoline
Nara And Claira On Practice Hill
Person: Nara, Claira
Altitude: 1094m (3589 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Grouse Mountain
Snow Covered Docks
Tags: bridge, dock, night, snow, Vancouver
Claira Done Yard
Person: Claira
Claira Ta Da
Person: Claira
Tags: gymnastics
Claira Walking Up Carpet
Person: Claira
Altitude: 1090m (3576 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Grouse Mountain
Nara On Magic Carpet Up Hill
Person: Nara
Tags: Grouse Mountain
Claira Hanging Upside Down
Person: Claira
Tags: gymnastics, upside down
Claira Balancing On One Leg
Person: Claira
Tags: gymnastics
Nara Watching Construction At 6th And Fir
Altitude: 26m (85 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: construction, crane
Nara Superman Slide Horiz
Person: Nara
Tags: gymnastics
Snowy Vancouver Behind
Person: Nara
Altitude: 2m (6 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara Working Roof Line
Person: Nara
Nara Playing With Snow At School
Person: Nara
Tags: snow, snowball
Clear Sunrise
Person: Claira
Altitude: 1092m (3582 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: cloud, Grouse Mountain, sunrise
Nara Getting Updo
Person: Nara
Tags: haircut
Nara Riding Purple Horse
Person: Nara
Tags: carousel, VanDusen
Carousel In The Background
Backed Up Busses On Granville Street
Altitude: 15m (49 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara Walking With Light Dusting Of Snow
Person: Nara
Claira With Drink
Person: Claira
Tags: haircut
Clairas Snowman Has Olaf Treatment
Person: Claira
Altitude: 7m (22 feet)
Location: Go To...
Surfers On The Beach
Tags: beach, silhouette
Entrance To Slot Canyon
Altitude: 12m (39 feet)
Location: Go To...
Claira Before
Person: Claira
Tags: haircut
Well Lit Up Trees At Vandusen
First Day On Skiis
Person: Claira
Tags: Grouse Mountain, skiing
Building Up Powder
Person: Nara
Altitude: 1089m (3572 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Grouse Mountain, skiing
Paved Bike Lane At Burrard And Pacific
Altitude: 24m (78 feet)
Location: Go To...
Claira Swinging On Rope
Person: Claira
Tags: gymnastics
Claira Eating Icing From Bag
Person: Claira
Claira Snowplowing Back Down
Person: Claira
Altitude: 1091m (3579 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Grouse Mountain
Nara Kicking Feet
Person: Nara
Tags: dancing
Claira Windy Sunrise
Person: Claira
Altitude: 1094m (3589 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Grouse Mountain, sunrise, windy
Tags: Grouse Mountain(10), gymnastics(9), haircut(6), VanDusen(3), sunrise(3), windy(2)
People: Nara(25), Claira(25), Helen(3), John(1)
From: John Harvey Photo > Blogs for 2023 to 2005 > December 2016

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