Ice Hotel

One of the reasons we chose to go skiing at Mont Sainte Anne was so we could visit the Ice Hotel. I have always wanted to see it and it did not disappoint!  It was really something to see!

We decided to do the tour only and not stay overnight as I had heard it could be very cold and I figured the kids would be up half the night complaining.  As it was, the daytime tour was freezing!!!!  Wish I had worn my snow pants! We got some very cool photos though and the kids enjoyed the  ice slide. Check out the pictures from our tour....

Sitting in the hotel reception area

Another view of the reception and chandelier

Maya standing in the LED -lit bar

Mike and Aidan in the bar

The family at the front entrance

The chapel where weddings are held

The Frozen inspired room, complete with ice slide

The kids loved the slide!

Maya looks like a little polar bear

Carol sitting in the reception

Carol, Maya,and Aidan at the front desk....Aidan is licking the ice and strangely his tongue did not stick

Cool shot of Aidan in the main reception room

Typical hallway

The prettiest ice bed we saw

Mike and Maya freezing their butts off on ice chairs

The Viking room

Me and Mike "enjoying" our drinks in ice glasses in the bar. I really wanted at hot chocolate by this point...we were so cold!

Another view of the bar

The Longest Winter Ever

It's been a while since I have posted. When we have not been embracing winter, we have been hibernating. This winter has been one of the longest and coldest in many, many years. We did manage to get out and try some interesting winter sports...some for the first time. I taught Maya how to skate and she picked it up very quickly. We also went snow tubing for the first time and couldn't believe how fast those tubes whipped down the hill! 

The kids both continued with their skiing lessons.  Aidan is now quite a good skier and Maya has great control for her age.  In February, we took a short skiing trip to Holiday Valley in Ellicottville New York, which was a very nice resort. We also just returned from a ski trip to Mont Sainte Anne outside Quebec City.  There was a crazy amount of snow there, even at the end of March.  We enjoyed the skiing and the beautiful views during the day. Maya was always keen to go hot tubbing at night!

Besides skiing we took a fun tour of the Ice Hotel (which will be the subject of the next post) and went dog sledding for the first time. We even got to drive the sleds!  Here are a few photos from our winter adventures.....

Maya learning to skate

The mini-igloo built on the front lawn

Getting ready to go tubing

The tubing hill.

View of St.Lawrence River from top of Mont Sainte Anne

Aidan and Mike ready to hit the slopes

Carol and Aidan  near the chair lift

Aidan with his Go-Pro camera before he lost it 

Hot-tubbing!

Maya, Mike, and Aidan before our dog-sledding trip

The dog village...they could really howl

Dog-sledding.... The guide drove Aidan and Maya and Mike and I took turns driving our own dog sled and team

Happy New Year 2014!

Happy New Year !  I can't believe it is 2014 already!  This Christmas season has been chock full of activities as usual. Maya and I did a gingerbread house workshop at Casa Loma. The castle was beautifully decorated for Christmas. Maya enjoyed the play and visiting with Santa. Then we had two nights of Christmas concerts-one for Maya and one for Aidan. Maya recited a poem about an elf all dressed in green and it was one of the cutest things I've ever  seen! She also sang "Let it Snow",which she had been practicing for weeks. Aidan's class put on a skit,a spoof on Dragon's Den, in which he played a solar energy entrepreneur. Santa was looking for money to help kids.

Christmas morning was much anticipated for both Maya and Aidan. They were up late Christmas Eve, hoping to spot Santa and then up early Christmas morning to check out all their gifts.Maya and  Aidan both seemed to love all their presents. My sister's family came for Christmas dinner. My nephews brought a gingerbread house they had made and that Aidan could eat.

On Boxing Day, the kids couldn't wait to go tobogganing.I think Aidan has been 4 or  5 times so far.  We don't usually have so much snow.  It also allowed him to try out his new snow luge.Our neighbourhood was transformed into a winter wonderland courtesy of the ice storm that happened a few days before Christmas. 

Mike's parents also arrived on Boxing Day for a 4 -visit. The kids were delighted to see them and liked the gifts they brought.We mostly stayed around the house but enjoyed a neighbour's holiday party and a trip to the Science Centre.

Here are a few photos from the holiday season.....

Christmas card photo outtake

This year's Christmas card photo

Maya with her gingerbread creation at Casa Loma

 Maya in her class play

 Aidan in his class play

The winter wonderland

Maya and me at church on Christmas Eve

Maya opening her stocking and finding a Kinderegg surprise!

Aidan opening the G-shock watch he really wanted

Aidan sitting on his new snow luge. He couldn't wait to hit the hills!

 Maya with her Easy Bake oven (from Santa)

 Aidan donning several of his gifts,while standing on the skateboard he got from Santa

Chowing down on the cousin's gingerbread house

Maya digging into hers!

Aidan sledding with his two pals

 Grandma and Grandpa with Maya

 Aidan wearing his new hat and displaying his new book from  Grandma and Grandpa

 Maya showing he new doll and cards

 Grandpa opening his  new tablet

Halloween Fun

This Halloween was my turn to take the kids out.  It was rainy but warm.  Maya and I could not keep up with the boys; so we trick or treated with her friend Jooa. Here are a few snaps of Maya dressed as Hello Kitty, Aidan as Guy Fawkes (his idea) and a group photo of Aidan's scary gang....

Fall Fun

This fall, we enjoyed apple picking and the activities at a farm outside of Thornbury.  On Thanksgiving weekend, we took an old steam engine train ride.  The leaves were past their peak but the train was cool.  We had a lovely dinner and visit with my sister's family.  Here are a few snaps from the last few weeks.

Fun at the farm

 Apple picking

 Holding the cute rabbit

 Riding an old fashion steam engine

Aidan and cousin Justin hamming it up on Thanksgiving

Pam, my sister

 Mike and Aidan

With mouths full of turkey, they were actually quiet for a moment!

What's New

This September Maya started full day junior kindergarten.  We were hopeful that this would tire her out but alas it only did so for only one day!  She is the girl who needs very little sleep.  She is enjoying school, which is great.  She really needed more mental stimulation.  Lately she is very outgoing, loves sports, and occasionally doing "speriments" with her brother.  She is taking swimming and dance this fall.  

Aidan is now in Grade 6.  He has taken up piano again and is doing swimming and cubs.  He also just started to play the trombone.

Maya's first day of  J.K.

 She still loves Hello Kitty

She still loves playing restaurant

Speriments in the backyard - launching the rocket

 Playing basketball.  You go girl!

Aidan with his new trombone

Minneapolis Visit

 

It was a month for visiting with cousins!  The weekend after picnicking with my sister's kids, we went to Minneapolis to visit Mike's sister's family.  The kids had a great time at the beach and playing in their big backyard. They had a swing set, which the kids loved.  Maya took a shining to both Amanda and Katy and they were great babysitters.  It was great to see everyone!

 

I forgot to bring my good camera so the only decent photo is the one below that I took with my cell phone.  

 

 

Katy, Maya and Aidan at the beach.