Now that's a lot of lights.

There is a house in our neighbourhood that is not only lit up and heavily decorated for Christmas, but they have completely filled their entire backyard with huge, lighted and air-filled Santas, snowmen and other Christmas characters. It's so packed that there are two separate paths you can walk down to view the wonder of it all. 


Their garage takes it to the next level; every inch is covered with some sort of Christmas decoration, from a train set complete with a little town, to Santas, angels and trees covering every wall and surface.


Very fun. ...and kinda creepy. But fun.


Oh, and it's a good thing that little wimpy garland was strung everywhere to politely remind us to stay out of the display area. At some point, a kid is gonna get up the nerve to take a flying leap at one of these big air-filled toys. I couldn't blame them; it's just too tempting.

It will be fun.

A 10am screening of the Polar Express at the IMAX followed by a visit with Father Christmas? For sure! 

The movie was awesome; even though we've seen the Polar Express many times before, it was Haven's first time seeing anything on the big (BIG) screen. Both kids were incredibly well behaved and they also waited really patiently to see Father Christmas. 

They were so excited while we were in the line; I thought for sure they would look just stoked in the photo.

Well, at least Father Christmas and I were having a good time...

Art lessons and animal crackers.

Haven was understandably torn between Sonja's impeccable drawing of a fairy princess and her cup of animal crackers. It was a tough call.

Sonja gave step-by-step instructions on how a fairy princess should be drawn. The small details and the order in which they are drawn are of utmost importance.


(crunch, crunch, crunch)

But even with all that painstaking instruction, Haven was not deemed ready to make her fairy-princess-drawing debut. Total rebuff.

(crunch, crunch, crunch)

Haven's quick switch to singing the praises of the animal cracker even got Sonja interested long enough to take a drawing break.

But drawing fairy princesses is really, really serious, so back to business. 

Apparently eating animal crackers also takes an immense amount of concentration. Oh, I see... what the heck are those goldfish crackers doing mixed in with the good stuff? Totally banished and rightly so.

(crunch, crunch, crunch)

"Haven's eating all the animal crackers."

"And you're drawing all the fairy princesses."

(laughs) "Yes, because I know how."

(crunch, crunch, crunch)

"Well, of course."

Running wild in the museum.

I got smart today and finally bought an annual membership to the Royal BC Museum. Duh; the kids are free until they are six! Why didn't I do this sooner?

We lucked out and were there at the same time as a whole bunch of other kids, so I was able to let the girls run a little wild. I didn't let them do anything crazy (no knocking over exhibits or running screaming through the place), but I didn't micromanage their visit. They were free to wander and explore and they had a total blast.

The permanent exhibits are always fun and interesting, but the highlight for me was Wildlife Photographer of the Year. The images are truly amazing and I could have stayed in there all day.

Of course we had to visit the mammoth multiple times during our visit. I still remember the first time I saw the mammoth when I was eight-years old; I stood there with my mouth hanging open because it looked so real. I love that it sparks as much wonder with Sonja and Haven as it did with me so many years ago. I'll happily stand in front of that mammoth as many times and for as long as they want.

Sonja is already asking when we can go back to the "moozeem". Very soon and probably pretty often over the winter. But let's be careful to not wear it out, shall we?

Checking out the wetlands.

Haven gleefully led us off course and into a random hallway.
They both loved it and it took some convincing to get them back to the exhibits.

Haven practised her running while I gushed over the photographs.

Seriously, they would have hung out in the hallways and corridors all afternoon.
Although the view was pretty nice from the top floor...

First Nations exhibit. It's interesting how the girls automatically
quieted down when we entered this room.

"Can you stay still for Mama? OK, maybe not your feet..."

Silent-movie theatre.

"Mama, I want that horse." (It was a My Little Pony from the 90's.)
"It's part of the exhibit, Baby; it's not for sale."
(Confused silence.)

Chillin' with the Elk, yo.

Shhh. It's a bear.

Sonja's best sea-lion impression.

Mammoth awe: she was fascinated and afraid all at the same time.