hop to it!

I am not sure why it is,but my crew gets a big kick out of Easter festivities, and they absolutely love it!  Whether it's just the hunting for eggs, new "spring" goodies, or just that the feeling that spring is upon us (I use that sentence lightly as every year we get that one last snow storm just when the tulips pop), but the atmosphere around here changes.  The days are longer, we can get outside after dinner, and the scooters and bikes make appearances more often than not.  Our front walkway is usually an ever changing work of art as it is adorned with the ladies lovely chalk drawings.....it's a good different!  We still have quite a ways to go before summer and all the joy it brings, but it has been really quite lovely in these parts lately.  I am a fan!  That's for sure!
Easter morning brought with it all the craziness one would expect from this house of ours.  This year however, I had a helper.  Aidan joined me in the hiding of the eggs, and helping to make sure Easter morning was "just all that" for his younger counterparts.  It was kind of sad that he joined me in staging the Easter morning, but kind of great at the same time in that he got to take part in quite a different way.  In a new role if you will, and that to him, was very special.  Oh.....he still made sure that I hid eggs for him.  Afterall, as pointed out by Aidan...what would the others say if he had no eggs to find?  Wise.  Very wise.

Our hunt began indoors, and once those eggs were found, breakfast was had, and coffee was made, (and the time of day was decent enough to allow a few hyper kids outside)....the hunt continued outdoors!

Away they go!

And yes....apparently the only way to play paddle ball successfully....is to have your own little dance.  That's Maelle!

Hope everyone had a very fun Easter Weekend!  I am actually quite saddened that the kids go back to school tomorrow!
Chat soon!

edmonton

And we are off!  Off on a family adventure up to Edmonton this past weekend, for three solid days of adventure and fun!  Our first stop was on Friday afternoon, where we spent over four hours at the West Edmonton Mall water park.  This was so much fun!  The kids had a blast on the water slides, and especially in the gigantic wave pool as seen below.  Oh....and yes, that's Brent - and Maelle - who can be seen just to the left of the yellow water slide - zip lining from one end of the wave pool to the other....fifty feet above the pool, on the world's longest indoor zip line.  We actually waved to them while playing in the pool below as they zipped on by!  Brent even amazed the kids on some of the craziest water slides I have ever seen!  Who knew water slides could go upside down?  Not me!
Bree and Jenna even found a few slides that they did over and over and over again.  The kids area was absolutely fantastic and was perfect for kids who couldn't (or didn't want to!) do the main slides!

Saturday morning (first thing), we checked out Galaxy Land in the mall.  The kids were in awe at some of the roller coasters this place had.  Back in the day....Brent and I would have been first in line for these babies!  Now, I prefer, to stay upright and have both feet on the ground.  Firmly, thank you very much.  But, as a family, we did manage one of the smaller coasters.  The looks on Bree and Jenna's faces was totally worth the cost of admission!  Priceless!

The girls, and Brent, made it on a few more rides...giant boat swing anyone?

Aidan and I tried our luck at Skee-Ball....I still have it!  Just sayin'!   I think Aidan was impressed!

After the "ride with a grown up" version of bumper cars, Bree and Jenna had a go on their own with a kid size set up.

Before venturing back to Calgary, we decided to spend Sunday morning at the Edmonton Science Centre.  It was ok, although I must admit, I was sadly disappointed.  Our science centre here in Calgary rocks, so I think I expected the same from the Edmonton one.  Not.  At any rate, the kids found a few things that were quite fun, including a mock airport complete with luggage and security gates, and a pretend airplane.  Perfect for Bree and Jenna's upcoming trip to Ontario!

The Space exhibit was neat as well.  Lots of Chris Hadfield information which was kind of cool to read.

The last stop on the way out of town, and....in keeping with Snider tradition, the goofy photo op at the Alberta Legislature!  You may remember the silly pics from the Parliament Buildings in Victoria last summer....well, we keep the tradition alive and take the seriousness out of the politics!

Check this out!  I always manage to find something cool....this is a scaled replica of the Legislature...in Lego!  There are even people and superheroes (of course!) in the windows!  Very fun indeed!  The bottom right corner has a group of Storm Trooper's as "guards", well, just because.  Doesn't every important building need it's own clan of Storm Trooper's?

So, our little weekend adventure was quite the fun time.  Adventures were had, giggles were plenty, and we and the kids arrived home completely exhausted!  Success?  Why yes!

winter paradise

With the snow falling quite steadily, and less than ideal roads for our planned adventure to Kananaskis, our snowshoe outing this past Sunday was detoured to an area that we haven't explored in quite sometime.  Hello West Bragg Creek! And wow, this area did not disappoint!  Absolutely gorgeous!

We snowshoed for well over four hours in great conditions and near perfect temperatures.

Bree and Jenna opted for a hike and sled approach to this weekend's outing...

and the runs did not disappoint either.  Long, and winding, through the forest, ending often in a puff of feather light snow.

Hot chocolate's and snacks at the mid-way point!

If the snow sticks around in these parts, we are hopeful to get out for another adventure in this new to us area.  The best part....it was only a 25 minute drive from home!  I can already see that we will back...if not for snowshoeing....definitely for mountain biking!