I’ve been looking forward to having my twins, my youngest children, ski for years. Re-discovering the mountains and skiing with my older kids was amazing 5 years ago and so when the opportunity to get my twins up Mount Seymour for a first ever ski lesson, I was stoked! My girls are nine years old and pretty athletic but I didn’t want to tackle teaching them myself. All kids learn differently for other people, so getting Chad as our instructor was great. He was friendly, fun, patient and perfect to teach my girls. I thought recording their progress through videos would be the easiest way to showcase what kids can learn in a first lesson. Here are three videos that show 1) 10 minutes into the lesson learning the snowplow (stopping or making a pizza with skis) 2) magic carpet on the bunny hill of Seymour that makes getting back up the mountain fun and easy 3) 30 minutes into the lesson my girls are skiing.
Mount Seymour private lesson. 10 minutes into the lesson. Learning the snow plow or making a pizza with your skis.
Getting onto the Mount Seymour magic carpet at the bottom of the bunny hill. This eliminates the fear of a chair lift for beginners.
30 minutes later into a private lesson with instructor Chad up Seymour Mountain. His patience with my girls was amazing! This is my favourite video because near the end of the video my girls encounter a bump in the snow and the huge smile on their face after they go over it was adorable.
Thank you to Seymour Mountain and our instructor Chad! Your patience and knowledge was awesome and the snow conditions up Mount Seymour mountain are perfect for beginner or advanced skiers.
Attention Vancouver mountain lovers! I missed the annual September early bird season pass at Mt Seymour last year (you save 72%!!) so I’m reminding you (and myself) early this year because you need to book by September 30th. With back-to-school and team sports starting up full swing in September, skiing can miss our Fall radar, but this is a wonderful opportunity to make skiing and snowboarding a more affordable activity for Vancouver families. We are also excited to be hosting a contest with the mountain for one lucky family to win a season’s pass!
My personal attachment to Mount Seymour is special because some of my happiest parenting moments were discovered there. My sons have turned into great skiers and there is no better way to connect with pre-teens then spending an entire day up a Mountain where there are no electronic devices or distractions. Our favourite Seymour runs are Pete’s Run and Black Unicorn, both intermediate that blow the myth that this mountain is a ‘beginner Mountain’. It’s a fantastic Mountain and close for all Fraser Valley and suburb communities to commute to.
About Mount Seymour
Mt Seymour is a one-stop winter activity centre for the whole family that offers something for everyone: skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, winter education programs, snow tubing, tobogganing, great food, and special events. An easy drive from Greater Vancouver carries you out of the city and into the pristine winter playground where you can take in breathtaking views of Mt Baker, Vancouver Island and beyond. Mt Seymour is a family-run organization guided by a passion for the outdoors and for providing great value and exceptional service. With a long-standing tradition of providing each and every guest with a memorable mountain experience, whether you’re seasoned pro or have never played in snow before, Mt Seymour welcomes you.
We are excited to bring Vancouver and BC families the opportunity to win aMount Seymour Family Pass! Our VERY generous sponsor, Mount Seymour, wants one of our lucky readers to have that chance. So, let’s get on to the giveaway!
One lucky winner will win this
Family Seasons Pass ($800 value)!
Giveaway ends 10/4/14 at 11:59 pm ET! Open to BC residents 18+ and older.
Disclaimer: The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. We are not associated with any of the companies named above. No purchase is necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received Open to US and Canada 18+ only. Confirmed Winner(s) (by Random.org) will be contacted by email. Winner(s) have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of this giveaway. My blog is not responsible for product shipment/delivery. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Did you know our apples are under threat? A small BC company called Okanagan Specialty Fruits has asked the Canadian and US governments to approve a genetically modified “non-browning” apple. Normally when an apple is first cut, it will brown, but this GM apple will not brown for 15 to 18 days!
NEW TO TWITTER PARTIES?
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DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday April 23, 2014
Time: 6-7 pm PST
Twitter Party Hashtag: #NoGMapple
(Please follow these Twitter handles before the party starts)
If you are new to twitter parties then you might want to use the TWUBS Twitter Party Platform. Create an account, sign into twitter and click on our twubs Page: http://twubs.com/NOGMapple
MORE INFO ON THE GM APPLE
Back to the non-browning apple and why it needs to be stopped. Who wants a non-browning apple? Apple growers don’t want it. Consumers don’t want to buy it. But the GM apple could be approved this year. It would be the first genetically modified apple in the world and first GM fruit grown in Canada.
Consumers feel that a non-browning apple is deceptive – it will look fresh when they are not. And because neither the company nor Health Canada has conducted animal feeding trials to test the safety of eating GM apples, we are relying on one company’s opinion that it’s safe.
We need to raise awareness and get petitions signed so that our Government doesn’t approve it. Spread the word! Across Canada we need your action and if you live in BC, we need five thousand signatures in hard copy form by May 6th. Print off a copy of this petition, make sure your complete address and postal code are recorded, and mail to the address listed at the base of the petition.
My baby girls turned 8 years old and to celebrate we headed to their happy place Aldor Acres Farm in Langley. Not only were we blessed to host this party at this amazing farm, Raeleigh from Lark Rise Horse House Photography joined us to capture pictures and memories. I highly recommend bringing a photographer to special parties, especially if they are hosted outside. The natural lighting, nature backdrop and that ‘eye’ that talented photographers have makes all the difference from snapping your own pictures. And it allows you to truly enjoy the day and be in the moment, rather than concentrating on working a phone/camera. Follow both of these businesses here and here because what they share on Facebook, will bring you many smiles.
There is no reason for parties to generate more waste than practices in your everyday life. If you have an environmental commitment, it’s easy to incorporate these values into hosting a really fun Eco party!
5 Tips For Hosting An Eco Party
1) Limit Waste. You are hosting a party, not contributing to mass consumerism so why is a party any different than the rest of your life? Try to limit garbage. Especially if hosting at a park or farm, you don’t want to leave the event with a trunk load of garbage. We requested party guests bring reusable water bottles and used compostable tableware; palm plates, recycled napkins and wooden cutlery. We also requested no gifts which really helped limit non-recyclable gift wrap and plastic toy packaging. The twins have special reusable party banners so this also limits disposable waste from cheap decorations.
2) Re-think Goodie Bags. It’s easy to hit a dollar store and fill up a little bag of trinkets, but there are so many ways to send guests home with a give-away that is fun and eco-friendly. At this party we brought hanging baskets and the kids potted strawberry plants. They also received a little treat in a handmade bunny bag, but hopefully this summer when they see the first signs of strawberries, they’ll remember our party and their introduction to planting.
3) Eco Party Games. Classic party games are always a huge hit. We started with an egg toss and since we were at the farm, we had lots of space. I can’t believe it was my kids first time doing an egg toss and to increase the fun we didn’t boil them first. One of my sons ended up with egg on his face and hair..it was awesome! This was the most popular game and we had to buy more eggs from Aldor Acres because they wanted to keep playing. We continued with sack races (old coffee burlap bags) and three-legged race using ties my husband doesn’t use anymore. The burlap sacks and ties gave the games a cool vintage vibe. The classic party games are always amazing..kids yearn for simple things. Fun party memory was all the kids watching the dads have a sack race.
4) Host a Donation Party. As parents we feel guilty about many things. Since my twins have older siblings that only have donation parties, I started the girls early in life with no gift parties. Then last year I felt guilty that they didn’t have the experience of opening gifts and switched it to a gift party. I was quickly reminded of that huge layer of waste when party guests bring gifts. From the gift wrap to plastic packaging – it’s a lot. We switched back to a donation party this year and it was amazing. We will be donating the money collected to tinykittens – a foster home for rescue cats and kittens. My twins love holding and watching kittens, so they are very excited to visit and deliver their donations to this amazing place and sponsor a healthy kitten from birth to adoption.
5) Give an Experience. I love hosting parties where guests get to experience something new or get a close look at things my family loves. From our love of Harry Potter, indoor rockwall climbing, forest fairy walks and scavenger hunts, to now sharing the magic of Aldor Acres. I love to watch the excitement from my usually introverted twins build and become contagious with their friends about party themes. When you love where and what you doing, so will the people around you. How often do you get to participate in a goat parade and help herd them? This along with holding lots of baby bunnies, goats, lambs, hay ride, and having space to run and play with your friends. . . kids love it. And don’t be fooled, even the teenagers that come to the farm with us love it. There is no age limit bonding with animals and spending time outside.
I think you would be surprised how happy a farmer would be to share their little bit of heaven with a birthday party. With the Spring and Summer months now here, think about booking your next party outside. Thank you to Lark Rise Horse House for capturing so many moments in time that I’ll want to remember forever. Also, Farmer Melissa and Katie for being incredible role models for my daughters. My kids know that behind the smiling faces that greet them at Aldor Acres Farm are very hard working farmers and it’s important to support such a valuable resource. Thank you for being amazing stewards for farmers in BC’s Fraser Valley.
We’ve welcomed back some old friends with our new ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ contest and are excited to work with Dilly Dally Kids, Pip and Pin, and Simply Merino on this amazing contest! Imagine the snow is falling outside, you’ve are snuggling your child in their chemical free wool PJs, you are wearing a beautiful hand-knit cowl, and the kids bring out some family favourite games to play. Now you’ve got the concept for ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’.
We are excited to introduce our new friend Simply Merino clothing company. If you are looking for chemical free sleep wear made without synthetic materials or flame retardants, you’ve got a friend in Simply Merino. These clothes are made in New Zealand from 100% Merino wool and are a wonderful barrier for children between their skin and athletic gear, to wear as sleep wear, or use as layering pieces. I know in our house, my sons are so limited with PJs this year because I’ve had a tough time finding sleep wear that isn’t made from polyester. The thought of them sleeping in a synthetic blend just isn’t how I want them spending 10+ hours. This holiday season, parents & family love to give the gift of cozy jammies. Let them know that Simply Merino is offering a 10% discount code to Mommy Footprint readers – just enter mommy10 at checkout after ordering.
Next to join the winter party is our friends Pip and Pin. We fell in love with these talented West Coast sisters two years ago after discovering their craft for making beautiful hand knit items. They are also adorable, kind, and the type of small business owners you want to support. My favourite signature Pip and Pin design are their cowls and the lucky contest winner of this contest can select a cowl with or without buttons and work with Megan and Katie with colours. Make sure to check them out at Make It Vancouver this weekend if you’re attending.
If you live in Greater Vancouver, chances are you’ve been to Commercial Drive and fallen in love with Dilly Dally Kids toy store that offers a wide variety of heirloom quality toys. I love the wooden selection at Dilly Dally Kids and they’ve done a great job with supporting local artists, sustainable toy options, along with classic favourites. They have generously allowed Mommy Footprint to select three fun family games to anchor our ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ contest. My family has spent hours enjoying these three games and I’m excited that another family will get to enjoy them too: Sleeping Queens Card Game, Rush Hour, and Zingo (pictured below). Visit Dilly Dally Kids in-store and enjoy the unique experience of finding holiday gifts in wide assortment and age ranges. Enter the below contest and your shopping will already be off to a great start if you win this prize basket.
Our ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ contest will run for one week November 26th – December 3rd at midnight. This contest is open to North American residents and I’m thankful to Simply Merino, Pip and Pin, and Dilly Dally Kids for working together for this amazing contest. Now close your eyes, imagine the snow falling outside, and think of how lucky you’d be to win a wool pair of kid’s PJs, cozy cowl, and family games package.
