Spring Break 2011

For Spring Break we used the last of our time share points for Whistler. We stopped at the Britannia Mines on the way up. They have done a lot to the museum in the last little while and it was great to learn all about the mine and the community that developed there at the time. Britannia mine was mostly a copper mine. The community that was built as a result had many community events including the crowning of the Copper Queen. This is the original throne.
My other Copper Queen

Inside the processing and grinding part of the mine.

Waiting for our ride into the tunnels

Here we go

You can see all the oxidized copper on the walls of the tunnel

Oh my!

Had to use air compressed drills to avoid explosions

Can anyone guess what the "honey pot" was used for?

That is one big truck!

At Whistler, we decided to take a sleigh ride

Fun in the snow

Hot chocolate, a play in the snow and a warm fire at the half way point.

We ended the night with a fondue dinner

Vanessa enjoying chocolate fondue

Heather not wanting to get out of the hot tub at the resort

We stopped at the train museum in Squamish on the way home. royal Hudson is being preserved inside a newly built round house. Very impressive.

Lots of trains and cars to explore

Round-a-bout

Here is a video of our sleigh ride including the jingle bells.

Vanessa's Preschool Special Day #2

Vanessa was so excited to show us what she has been learning at preschool. Warm up Exercises

Songs

Numbers with sticks

Letters with ropes and working with a classmate

Here is a video of one of her presentations

Weekend in Vancouver

Heather and Piper had a Brownie sleepover at the aquarium. It had a late drop off and an early pick up so I decided to use some of our year's time share points on the Wall Centre for the weekend. We got a very small room but a beautiful view. Nicole and I stayed on the Friday and Todd and the girls stayed on the Saturday. On the Friday, we made it a girls night before we dropped them off at the aquarium.

Best Buddies forever

The girls got a kick out of the front of the girls washroom in the restaurant

we had time before our nail appointment so we decided to do some window shopping. The salesperson at Gucci was very friendly and gave the girls a bag and catalogue. You should have seen the looks the girls got walking around the streets of Vancouver with their Gucci bags.
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Heather getting her nails done at the spa

She chose a blue. Good for the aquarium.

When we went to pick up the girls from the aquarium, we were surprised with free admission for the day. We ended up buying a family pass for the year anyway. Todd and Vanessa joined us a little later and we all had a good time.

Where's Nemo?

Creepy Bats in the Amazon section

Beautiful birds

Heather the snake charmer or she has a parsal tongue (Harry Potter reference for those who can talk to snakes)

The 4D movies was fun with the ocean spray on our face and a poke in the back from the seas snakes

We met up with Vanessa and Todd at the Belugas'

Jellies!

Heather chose not to have a friend birthday party in December and decided to do an animal encounter instead with her friend Piper. A milestone for turning "8". She chose to feed the sea otters. I was disappointed we could not touch them but I guess they are actually quite vicious. This is the feeding chart in the back.

This one of their toys that acts like sea weed. They wrap themselves up in it.

That night, it snowed!

Here is a video of Heather feeding. Unfortunately I did it again and you will have to turn your head. When will I learn?

This one, I am feeding.