So we spent our Family Canada Day with lots of other people in the 30C heat, petting farm animals, sliding and jumping on inflatable animals, riding on ponies and betting on the horses.
Well, we didn’t actually place real bets using real money, but over the course of the afternoon, we laid our wagers and then cheered for our picks.
The Assiniboia Downs had a special day for Canwest employees and our neighbour was able to snag us some tickets. I don’t approve of gambling. I think track horses have a desperately pathetic life, and I don’t think jockeys have it much better, but I laid my qualms aside to the bouncing cheers of my excited children. Afterall, it did include a free lunch. Reservations aside, we had a wonderful time! The weather was beautiful, the track was fast and the company was fantastic.
Afterward we popped home for some dinner, but no one wanted to eat. So we cut up a watermelon and filled our water bottles with juice (actually it was 1/3 juice and 2/3 water, but don’t tell the kids) and headed off to Assiniboine Park to wait for the sun to set enough so that we could our enjoy thousands of our taxpayer dollars lighting up the sky in a display of patriotic amour. Every year we go and every year tears stream down my face as thousands of people stand in the dark to sing out O Canada under the blazing sparkles. Definitely worth the time, the money and the bug bites.
We got home about 11:30 pm, which is when my tired, hot, sweaty, suncreen/bugspray coated children decided they were desperately hungry and would be unable to sleep listening to their tummy’s groan under the weight of my poor planning. So we sat down to bowls of cereal, then showers all round and finally lights out about 1:30 pm.
I’m lucky to live in this great beautiful country. And even luckier to share it with my family.
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Fun! We didn’t brave the fireworks yet, but we did take in the zoo.
Is that the infamous duct tape tie that MrPages is sporting?
Boy, I miss doing stuff like this with you guys. You have no idea. I overflow with wistful longing.
Mrs Branches:
Yes that is an infamous duct tape tie. We made it for him for Father’s Day (I mean a Dilbert inspired duct tape tie is the ultimate gift for a Geek Dad!)
He added the maple leaves for Canada Day. In fact all our of our maple leaf decorations are just cut from red duct tape and applied to our clothing. They lasted all day and left no residue when we peeled them off early the next morning.
-Jenn
Ash:
In no time at all we’ll be all heading out together again, and my kids will be able to ooh and ahh and enjoy the wonder of life through your little ones eyes. It will be wonderful and none of us can wait.
-Jenn