THE GAIO FAMILY 2016 PHOTO ESSAY
WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND AND TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING IT’S HARD NOT TO NOTICE THAT IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS. IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME WELL, I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS THAT I’VE NEEDED TO WEAR BOOTS! THE BLUE SKIES AND CRISP AIR ARE A DELIGHTFUL CHANGE FROM THE TYPICAL RAIN WE GET. I LOVE TO SPEND TIME BUNDLED UP UNDER A WARM BLANKET, READING A GOOD BOOK, OR WORKING ON MY LIFE-LONG STAMP COLLECTION. I HARDLY FIND ENOUGH TIME TO DO THAT BECAUSE I AM WORKING MY TWO JOBS. I’M WRAPPING UP 2016 ENERGETIC AND THANKFUL FOR GOOD HEALTH, WHICH IS THE BEST GIFT I COULD EVER RECEIVE. MY CAREER AS A NURSE BRINGS ME FULFILLMENT AND JOY. ON MY DAYS OFF I ALWAYS FIND WAYS TO TRAVEL AND SHARE MY EXPERIENCES THROUGH THE LENS OF MY CAMERA. I DON’T SIT STILL FOR VERY LONG AND HAVE EXPLORED MANY INCREDIBLE PLACES AGAIN THIS YEAR. WE WERE SO HAPPY TO HAVE FAMILY VISIT FROM ITALY, GERMANY, AND THE STATES THIS YEAR. ALEXANDER STILL STUDIES URBAN PLANNING AT RYERSON UNIVERSITY IN TORONTO. HE SPENT HIS SPRING SEMESTER IN ENGLAND AND HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE PARTS OF EUROPE. CHRISTOPHER CONTINUES TO TEACH SWIMMING AND LIFEGUARDS AT OUR LOCAL POOL. HE HAS RECENTLY TAKEN ON A SECOND JOB WORKING AT A FOOD KIOSK IN THE NEW MEGA MALL WHICH OPENED ON THE TSAWWASSEN FIRST NATION. HE HAS PLANS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER (FINGERS CROSSED). PAULO CONTINUES TO ‘MAN THE HOUSE’ AND HELPS HIS MOTHER OUT WHENEVER NECESSARY. FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS— CHRISTMAS CHEER AND BLESSINGS TO ALL!
Christine
Alexander & Christopher Delta, BC
Matriarch and her kids Delta, BC Paulo, Luiza, Jassiva, Danny, Alma, Ana, Jenny
Zaanse Schans ‘Authentic’ Dutch Village Four Generations
Jassiva, baby Mia, Alma, Melina
Graventstein Castle Ghent, Belgium
Mom & Sisters Duncan, BC Heidi, Hildi, Val
National Art Gallery Ottawa, ON
Calgary Tower Calgary, AB
Christopher ft. Public Art Vancouver, BC
Cycling False Creek Vancouver, BC Christopher, Marian, Bodo, Till, Christine, Henrike, Mattis
Stand-up Paddle Boarding Westill Pond, CT Robin & Christine
Family Selfie Aldergrove, BC
Sunset St Lawrence River, QC German Aunts & Uncles Delta, BC Val, Erika, Barbel, Christine, Paulo, Fredrich, Georg
Elfin Lakes Garibaldi Provincial Park
KoiKoi Long Beach, CA Hoodoos Drumheller, AB
Luging Calgary, AB Peyto Lake Banff National Park, AB
Scholarship Recipient Los Angeles, CA Alexander & Proud Mom
Saranac Lake New York State
Land’s End Calling on the tip of the Gaspesie Forillon National Park, QC
Tallest Lighthouse in Canada (34m) Cap Madelene, Gaspasie, QC The mouth of the St Lawrence River
Pont de Routhierville Quebec
Fall Colours Quebec
Iamsterdam Sign Amsterdam, Netherlands Outside Rijksmuseum
Mt Baker from Boundary Bay Tsawwassen, BC
Rideau Canal, Château Laurier, and Parliament Hill Ottawa River, ON
Vianden Castle Luxembourg
Barn Owl Delta, BC
Northern Gannets Bonaventure National Park, QC
Pointe Ă la RenommĂŠe Lighthouse Gaspesie, QC
Centre Block on Parliament Hill Ottawa, ON
Bald Eagle Delta, BC
Breeching Orca Salish Sea, BC
Cruising Westhill Pond Connecticut Paulo & Martin
Cousin Gathering Aldergrove, BC Joe, John, Nicholas, Matthias, Alexaner, Gary, Carol, Paulo, Lisa, Marian, Steve, Till, Mattis, Bodo, Susan, Mary, Julie, Christine, Carl, Christoper, Henrike, Kim, Christine, Karen,
đ&#x;?ś Bruno
Alpine Meadows Manning Park, BC
Moraine Lake Banff, AB
Westhill Pond CT Robin & Christine
St Mark’s Summit Cypress Provincial Park, BC
Rocher Percé Percé, QC
Sea Lions Bonaventure Island National Park, QC
Christopher the Pianist Aldergrove, BC
Scenic Vermont State of Vermont
My view of the Downtown from Vancouver General Hospital Vancouver, BC
St Mark’s Summit Cypress Provincial Park, BC
Vancouver from Cypress Vancouver, BC
Château Frontenac Quebec, QC
HOPE YOU LIKE RED Happy holidays from our family to yours đ&#x;Ž„
Compiled by Alexander • Photos by Christine