The Great Winter Storm of 2016/17

This winter, we got to enjoy the company of Sayaka's family while spending the Christmas holiday in their hometown of Hiroshima, Japan. It was a great trip that refreshed my mind and inspired me to be a better me for my family, clients, and friends. However, I had to return home ahead of my wife and kids to prepare for the upcoming year, which we anticipate to be busier than the media hopes. This winter also saw Mother Nature surprise the South Coast of BC with what the rest of Canada considers normal. We had an actual Canadian winter, complete with frozen lakes, blankets of snow, and frigid temperatures. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and frustrated when we are clearly not prepared for or accustomed to being surrounded by snow for a long stretch. While such weather systems bring with it the inconvenience for commuters, the strenuous chore of shoveling the driveways, and the fight of the century...for salt, it was a wonderful sight to see all the people playing outside and having fun with it! I sure wished my family was here to enjoy it all with me. Here is how I will remember winter of 2016/17. 

Pond hockey

One of the treats of the recent cold snap was the frozen ponds around town. Growing up, I spent a lot of time at Trout lake, having lived only 1 block away as a child. I had only ever seen it frozen once but finally, this year I could proudly say that I got to skate on it. A Canadian tradition that we Vancouverites have never complained about and would happily trade in for our mild West Coast weather we usually enjoy, it was rather pleasant to see how a natural frozen sheet of ice can bring out a small-town atmosphere to the community. When I went, it was the second day after officials deemed it safe for public enjoyment, and literally thousands of people were seen skating on it. Pickup games formed with the power of one guy with a shovel and random strangers joined in and taking turns to etch out a rink. It was great teamwork and lots of fun! No one kept score and there was no discrimination against age, race, gender or religion. Maybe world peace is possible after all. We just need one guy with a shovel. 

Beautiful snow covered trails

An unexpected perk that I personally got to experience was the natural beauty of the snow-covered trails around Burnaby Lake. I frequently take walks around the 10.2 km Burnaby Lake Loop with our dog, Boke and it's a beautiful lake to begin with. But covered with snow, partially frozen lake with a back drop of ice capped mountains, snow covered trees and pure white trails can truly take your breath away. If you can tough out the -3-degree temperature, the added difficulty of stretches of icy trail and deep snow, it is worth a try without the long drive through winding roads outside of the city. 

Ice flowing down the Fraser River

Lastly, one of my favorite spots in the Lower Mainland is in New Westminster at the Quay. I often take the family to the River Market to have a tasty lunch with one of the top-notch vendors and go for a scenic stroll along the picturesque boardwalk. The wooden plank trail is lined with flowers and takes you along the mighty Fraser River, where tug boats and loggers are frequently seen at work. I went there in mid January and to my surprise, ice was flowing down the river! I imagined seeing a stranded penguin or polar bear on one of these patches of ice like the documentaries of the arctic but it was just plain slow moving ice. Maybe it was just me but I found it so peaceful to observe the movement of pieces of ice flowing down a river wondering how far it traveled and if anyone got to play hockey on it.    

Although it was cold throughout the day and a little bit difficult navigating through some small streets at times, I would happily trade in these inconveniences to have a chance to enjoy the next Vancouver edition of a Canadian winter with my family any day of the week. It was rare for us City Folk to experience the long stretch of winter and seeing everyone and their dogs enjoying the outdoors together. That is how I will remember the great winter storm of 2016. Spring is just around the corner so let's get ready for some family fun in the new year!

 

 

FUN with SON: Lego Imagine Nation Tour

Living in Vancouver, we are spoiled by the surrounding natural beauty, fresh air, and picturesque views. We are also a magnet for many awesome traveling exhibits, conventions, and concerts. Last weekend, I managed to take a whole day off to take my little buddy D on a Fun with Son adventure to one of these events, the Lego Imagine Nation Tour while the girls had a relaxing day at home. Ever since school started, we don't get to spend as much time together doing fun stuff so this is big treat for both of us. In my mind, I expected to spend the day playing Lego with the boy. When we got there, it quickly occurred to me that I would only be watching him play. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

The tickets were relatively cheap ($28 each) and we had been looking forward to this event ever since we purchased the tickets back in August. We had a similar trip to Legoland in Tokyo last winter and had so much fun that we were looking forward to going back soon. Together, we had the whole day planned which included a nap before the event, catching the skytrain there and back, and taking a cab to dinner. Leading up to the event, I thought about when he was 2 years old and only into Mega Bloks. He would put together 3-4 blocks and tell me he built a car or a robot. These days, he would hold a seminar to show me how his complex Lego robots, driven by two Lego men shoots rockets and transforms into a coffee maker so he could make me a drink. I await the day when he builds a running time machine out of LEGO and asks me to come with him so he could tame a T-Rex.

Held at the Vancouver Convention Center between September 30 to October 2, the Lego Imagine Nation Tour is an interactive family event for fans of all ages. Luckily they made a stop in Vancouver as they only planned five stops in Canada. The tour is made up of 14 exhibits and experiences that feature displays of life size iconic characters like Darth Vader, The Hulk, Spiderman, and R2D2. FUN FACT: Did you know there are only 7 Lego Master Builders in the world? Don't worry, I never heard of it either but one of these Masters were in attendance to give a demonstration on Lego building techniques so that the world may one day have 8 or 9 more Master Builders.

The missions and experiences that were introduced varied and caters to a wide range of fans. With limited time, we were only able to get through under half of it but we made the best of our time. Starting at Lego City, I watched as D expertly assembled a speedster that looks like a monster truck with its large wheels, crew cab, and a reinforced bumper meant for destroying anything that meets its path. He tested it numerous times to his satisfaction. After 45  minutes of his improv engineering, he declared that he was ready to race and challenged anyone who dared. I am pleased to announce that he won most of the races and the only car that got destroyed was his own. The genius planners save some space for people to valet their creations so they can come back and continue building if they please. 

Next door, was the Minecraft exhibition. D asked me to help him build a fort but as I was collecting pieces, I noticed all the kids were fighting for a 2 cell block with the letters TNT on it. D told me his was rich because he collected more TNT than anyone else. Puzzled, I asked, what is the TNT for? At least half the kids at the booth looked at me as if I were Donald Trump attempting an apology. They told me that it was like money in Minecraft; that the more you have the richer you were because you can blow things up. I still don't know what so great about it which, apparently, means that I am an uncool dad. 

Across from Minecraft was the NEXO Knights mission. Here, kids are asked to make a shield for their knights to display proudly during their epic battles. D worked hard at his simple but cleverly named, "My Face Shield," which he said is designed from his own face because he can scare people. The Lego helpers agreed that it was scary and rewarded him with a NEXO Knight catapult Lego set to take home. He was beaming with pride that his Face Shield was appreciated.

After a brief water break (where I lined up for 20 minutes), we continued through the event, where we finally arrived at the Ninjago Dojo design mission. The lineups had been long all day because the kids were to protect their creations from attacking ninjas in a virtual reality platform. We decided that I would line up while D works on his architectural master piece. He told me he would build a bridge to the dojo where he will plant some Minecraft TNT that he borrowed from the other exhibition and set some traps so the ninjas can't touch his dojo. After 45 minutes, it was time to put his ninja skills to the test. He did a lot of chopping and kicking and punching and spinning and slipping and winning. When he was done, he collapsed to the floor out of breath. It was quite an acrobatic display of poorly practiced ninjitsu that only warrants a pat on the back from the ancient warriors of Japan for his efforts.

D was drained as we entered the Star Wars challenge. The coolest part about this exhibit was the life size models of Yoda, Darth Vader, and R2 D2. It was an incredible display of  dedication, creativity, and determination for someone to put it all together. Anyhow, the challenge was to build a fighter ship and display it proudly in the Star Wars Galaxy display table. After all we had already been through, this was considered a pretty tame booth. Unfortunately for D, the Force was not with him as he soon passed out on a pile of lego at the Brick Pit.

Although I spent most of the day in lineups or on the sidelines staying out of the way of all the children who were feverishly picking out blocks, I felt we had a great time together. This is a traveling road show that we will definitely return to should they choose to come back to Vancouver! Until then, we shall "Play on."

 

10 things to do with your kids this summer

As the summer holidays get under way, you may be having a bit of a migrane trying to figure out how to drain some of the high octane energy your kids had previously reserved for their school teachers. It’s a bittersweet feeling to have them back full time so it's best to make the most of it while you can. This summer, our 5 year old will be attending some really fun and enlightening camps to expand his horizon but beyond that, it will be my duty as his best friend/dad to plan some awesome fun stuff so that it can turn into some epic stories for him to tell his friends when he gets back to school! It can be quite expensive to go out, so the goal is to try fun things which have little to no cost attached.

Here is a list of ten fun activities to do with your kids this summer without putting a dent in your wallet!

1. Visit a farm and go berry picking.

Is there a way to turn grocery shopping into a family activity? You bet there is! We do this every summer and this year will be no different! One of our favorite farms is Krause Berry Farm in Langley. At Krause Berry Farm you can pick a good selection of berries such as: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries! This year, a family fun field will be introduced where your kids can have an interactive learning experience testing their farming skills! I highly recommend visiting this place if you don’t mind the drive. Earlier this month, we spent $8 on the berries we picked, and after a good 6 hours in the kitchen together, we have ourselves a good supply jams, Jello, scones, muffins, and bagels! We froze some and gave some away to neighbors and everyone was happy except my impending dad bod! 

Our favorite farm in the Fraser Valley, Krause Berry Farms is an awesome family activity not far from home.

2. Go hiking.

Vancouver has some of the most beautiful scenery around and it would be a real shame if we didn’t take advantage of it. If you are looking for an easy route, I would suggest Deer Lake in Burnaby. Most of the trail is along a boardwalk and visitors are often treated to calm breezes in the shade and some mild wildlife lurking among the woods. Those of you who love a good challenge should definitely check out Quarry Rock in North Vancouver. It offers a good mix of terrain with an amazing view as a reward for reaching the peak. Just be sure that your kids can handle the hike too before you find them attached to your back half way up or down! 

A hike that is easy enough for a kid is also not too strenuous for adults.

View from Quarry Rock. I think our dog enjoyed it the most.

3. Have a picnic.

This is an activity that we do all the time. It can perfectly complement any of the activities on this list or be the reward of a skytrain journey to a local tourist destination such as the Convention center to watch seaplanes take off or the Lonsdale Quay just so we can ride the seabus. You could pack some lunch, find a spot somewhere with a view, and enjoy your company. The kids can even help prepare the lunches and snacks.

Looks simple enough except I would want Big Star to make my sandwiches for me.

4. Collect rocks and paint them.

We were introduced to this idea last summer when a friend invited us to his fishing cabin on the island. All guests were to paint a rock as a signature of their visit. We loved it and vowed to do this when we got home. A good place to find stones is the seawall at Stanley Park. The key is to find rocks with nice shapes and smooth surfaces. You can paint some silly faces, landscapes or even write a special message on the rocks. You can keep it as decoration or give them to as a personal gift, which I am sure the receiver will enjoy. 

Collecting rocks at Seymour Mountain. This guy found many nice smooth and flat rocks for us to use!

This was done by Saya and D from our last haul.

5. Have a waterfight.

One of the more obvious things you could do this summer is have a waterfight. Having a waterfight is one of the best ways to cool down when it's hot. You could buy some colourful water balloons or some inexpensive squirt guns for this purpose. Find a quiet park with facilities to reload and run wild!

This idea from Pinterest is my dream water fight. Not sure if I have the patience to fill the balloons though.

6. Build a fort at home.

As we do live in a wet climate, it is inevitable to experience a few rainy days. This is a good activity because building a fort doesn't require much material and can be done in your living room, or backyard. Everything you need can be found around the home. Chairs, tables, and bed frames make for a good foundation and bed sheets are breathable, which offers good coverage for a roof. Furnish the insides to your taste and you can practically live in it! This activity is great because it will test your kid's hand-eye coordination, and stimulate their imagination.

Something like this cardboard fort I found on Pinterest would be ideal!

7. Play sports.

Like other 90s kids, I spent my much of my free time outdoors playing street hockey, riding a bike or playing catch. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot of life skills playing sports. While my playing days are mostly behind me, I feel that, as someone who enjoyed competition in their youth, I can contribute to the athletic success of the kids by joining them in play. D loves soccer, tennis and basketball and I enjoy watching him improve each time out. We also like to visit Deer Lake on a really hot day for some canoeing, which I highly recommend to anyone looking for some leisurely paddling. On a cold day, swimming or golf at the driving range are great alternatives.

The driving range at Eaglequest is child friendly and the instructors are great if you want to get some lessons!

Paddling at Deer Lake is an intimate activity that is a great way to relax while staying in the city.

8. Attend a free outdoor concert or movie.

Did you know the City of Burnaby sponsors some great free concerts and/movie nights all summer? Summer Sundays at Civic Square in Burnaby Metrotown Library or Symphony in the Park at Deer Lake are great events to enjoy a free outdoor concert or movie. Bring a blanket, a good attitude, and enjoy the evening with your kids!

Symphony in the Park 2015. We didn't get center stage seats as we got there a bit late but still not bad!

9. Go bike riding.

My hope is that we can ride a bike together this summer since my little buddy is still on training wheels. If we succeed, this classic activity will be awesome because it is much cooler on a bike with the breeze on a hot summer day. Your kids will be outside and you will be getting some much needed exercise since “Dad Bod” will never be in style.

The Aldergrove zoo was where this picture was taken a couple of years ago but this is a safe place for a kid to learn.

10. Catch a fish.

I had an interesting conversation with my cousin the other day about our upbringing versus the ideas both of us have about life. We are both highly technical and eager learners plus we don’t really know our limits. They sound like great attributes until we realize we really don’t have a clue what we are doing and it became especially depressing when it dawned on us that we would likely die if we didn’t have electricity. As I continued to reflect, I was determined to use the knowledge I so painstakingly acquired through not knowing what I was doing to teach the boy how to survive in the wild! I am aware that this may sound like what Homer Simpson or Peter Griffin might attempt but I swear that I know some stuff! This summer, we will try our luck at fishing at a local lake. Did you know that many of the municipal lakes are stocked with trout twice a year and you can catch them? You will need to buy a license but if you have the equipment, then you are ready to go fishing! We like Como Lake and Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam and you can find many other lakes in your area where you can do this!   

This was us last fall at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam shortly after a fish release.