Easter 2011

This past Saturday we had our annual Easter Egg Hunt. The weather was finally nice for this day and we had a wonderful time. We invited some friends over to look for eggs with us and there was lots to eat and drink. It was one of those perfect spring days that I wished would never end.

After the hunt was over and our guests had gone, we spent the rest of the afternoon outside. The kids blew bubbles and the girls and I played many rounds of Bocce.

Will let the chicks out of the coop for the first time. It gave them a chance to roam around the yard and to meet our other chickens.

Liam and Will digging in the garden

Viva Las Vegas

This past weekend, Will and I, the kids and Will's dad were in Las Vegas. It was the annual Highland games and we went down as vendors again. The weather was so wonderful. It was sunny and the temperatures stayed between 82F - 89F (27C - 31C). It was glorious especially considering what a cold and wet spring we've been having. I actually got to wear summer clothes and I didn't even need a sweater at all even early in the morning or late at night.

Our urban campground at Main Street Station. We had a freeway and an on-ramp behind us and the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue to the left of us. I had a lot of sleepless nights.

Friday night we drove down to the Belagio hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard and walked around. There were lots of people in costume on the sidewalks. The idea was that you could take your picture with a showgirl or Superman or some other "person" for a tip. We passed a lady who had two little rabbits that kids could have their picture taken with. Liam was brave enough to hold one.

The Belagio Hotel with the pool in the front. This is where we watched the fountain show.

The fountain show was amazing. After this one, we hung around to watch another one. The second one was choreographed to Elvis's "Viva Las Vegas".

Inside the Belagio is a conservatory that is supposed to look like a park. There was a pretend ferris wheel and a little carousel and lots and lots of flowers. This photo is of a "butterfly tree".

Inside this greenhouse were butterflies.

The ceiling in the main entrance was filled with giant Chihuly glass flowers.

My first gelato. I had tiramisu.

Kyla got a strawberry gelato cone that was as big as her face.

Saturday night Will and I left the kids with Jim and walked down to Fremont Street. We gambled a little, but we mostly just took in the sights.

Some of the pipebands from the games were playing there. This is the six time world champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band.

On Sunday night after the games were over and we had dinner, I took the girls to Fremont Street so we could do a little shopping.

The lights and the sounds and the sights all make Las Vegas so exciting. But another reason why I like it so much is that it's pretty. It's like an oasis in the middle of a desert. Everything is landscaped and pleasing to the eye. Take for example the cement walls surround the freeways:

they all have some kind of painted designs to look at.

The big empty spaces near the freeway on and off ramps were beautifully landscaped.

This tree? It's really a cell phone tower in disguise.

And the city is surrounding by low mountains.

The whole reason why we were in Las Vegas was for the Highland Games. This year I made lots of new products including pocket mirrors, buttons and bottle openers.

I also added magnets and notebooks...

and brought back my greeting cards.

There are lots of peacocks wandering through the park. This one was showing off for Kyla.

Besides music, food and shopping, one of the attractions is the athletics. This man here is doing the weighted throw.

Most games have some athletics for the kids to try. Moira, Kyla and Liam got to try out the caber toss.

In Las Vegas there is piping and drumming competitions as well as drum major competitions. The drum majors did their performances near our booth so we got to watch them.

We love going to Las Vegas and always have fun at the games. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Flowers of Spring

It never ceases to amaze me when, in the spring, flowers start to magically appear in our yard. All the bulbs I had forgotten that I had planted and flowers that I thought were dead were really just hibernating under the soil. One by one they start to bloom and I'm excited for another season of warmth and growth.

My favourite daffodils that pop up in the middle of the back yard

Pansies I planted last fall that I thought were gone forever

Anenomes and tulips in the front garden outside of my work table

Will planted these primroses for me for Valentine's Day.

Yeah, I know this isn't a flower, but look how adorable she is!

A Little Taste of Spring

We finally got our first hint of spring the other day. On Thursday and Friday the weather was so warm and sunny, which we haven't had in a very long time.

On Thursday I took the kids to the Foothills Learning Centre. We had never been there before and were excited to try something new. We were greeted by a wonderful woman who took the time to tell us about all the different programmes the centre has and even showed us how to dissect an owl pellet to find the bones of its last meal. There are lots of trails around the centre that traverse the foothills and they have their very own "Storybook Trail".

A beautiful dandelion sculpture outside of the Learning Centre

We saw lots of elk/deer prints

Moira read us the story at the different stations around the Storybook Trail

First hints of green

After we finished the Storybook Trail and hit one of the other trails for a short hike, we went to the Co-Op and got our favourite cheezies, some drinks and hit Camel's Back Park. Unfortunately, lots of other people had the same idea of picnicking in the park.

Liam and Moira climbing up the Camel's Back

A view of the park from part way up the hill

Liam and Moira sliding down the hill

Yesterday was another glorious day so we hit another park with some friends and then sat outside and had ice cream. Last night we barbecued and ate dinner under our new patio cover. Today it's rainy and windy again. It looks like we are back to our usual miserable weather. Oh, well. It was nice while it lasted.