Winterlude

Today we decided to have a Winterlude day- considering it was the last weekend for it if we didn't go today we would've totally missed it - so we packed our stuff (and kids) up and went to Jacques-Cartier Park to Snowflake Kingdom and had the best weather for it!!! And really, what better thing to take Grampa Bailey too!!!

We started off in the snow sculptures, where each province had an entry - the kids loved the details carved out of the snow. And of course we HAD to have BeaverTails - and I'm pretty sure that we now have Grampa hooked!!!

Standing in front of the winning sculpture - Alberta's Ice Skates

Then we entered the park where Mommy just HAD to take a picture of everyone in front of the Winterlude Mascots, Mr and Mrs. Ice Hog (okay so the Mrs. was otherwise occupied with other guest so it's just with the Mr - hehehe!).

There were various other characters roaming the site as well . . . .

Grampa and the "girls"

Grampa and Navia by one of the snow carvings

The CANADA ARMY and MARINES had areas that you could try out various things and the one that the kids couldn't wait to do was hook up Grampa and Daddy up to the sled and have them pull Kaleb and Navia around while Emma was pushing at the back. Needless to say, Emma fell. But Emma wouldn't just fall and let go - nope! She hung on for dear life and was dragged around the course - it was hilarious to watch!!! I just happened to take a small video of it - check it out below - I'm thinking she really only got a couple steps out before she fell :)

Kaleb wanted to give a try pushing it while Grampa and Emma were off at another ARMY area, but as you can see - he wasn't any more successful than Emma at pushing it for the entire time!

There was also an area that you could try snowshoeing - which the kids did pretty well!!!

Emma was pretty fast - even trying to run

Kaleb thought that racing Navia would be a fun thing, but . . .

Yep - Navia's one snowshoe fell off! It didn't stop her though - she just picked it up and kept on running!

Then - the part that we really came for - the ice slides!!! There were various ones to choose from, single and group ones. The kids loved how fast they could slide down and even Daddy and Grampa did numerous runs!

Navia trying the sitting pose to see which if it is faster than lying down.

Kaleb figured the lying down was the fastest!!!

Then they tried the group one - and came down in a huge falling-over mess!!! Would you believe that they started in a line all nice and straight?!?!?

Grampa and Navia ended up coming in first, with Daddy a close third, then Emma and then at the end, Kaleb

Daddy doing a slide - sitting works better for him because he can see where to stop at the end and not run into an unsuspecting child :)

There also was a tubing area that they all took turns doing - it's Grampa's turn!!!

Daddy goofing around with Emma - she was pretty dizzy after being swung around so fast! (kinda neat seeing the Parliament Buildings in the background)

We then went to Confederation Park to see the ice sculptures and came across "Taffy on Snow". The last time that Gramma Bailey came down Brade and the kids went to a Sugar Bush place with her and it was the first time they'd tried maple taffy - it was cool to be able to now do the same with Grampa.

Choosing which one they wanted

You can't see the little syrup drips on Kaleb's head after Grampa and I were showing off our taffy - oops - guess it's laundry time!!!

I think we just might have hooked Grampa on another sweet treat!!!

So the day started out with a McDonald's breakfast - then did Winterlude for the entire afternoon - came home and put the kids to bed and is now ending with "Memphis Bell" - yep - it was a good day!