This Monday was a Canadian Holiday. It was Victoria day. People were off work and school, and the city was alive with people wanting to enjoy the day. We went to a park with some friends and had a cookout. We ate some great food and the kids had fun picking the wild flowers. It was a great time of fellowship.At one point during the cookout, we could hear a buzz sound. It kept getting louder and louder almost like a lawnmower. We looked up and saw the largest swarm of bees that I have ever seen! The wind or something had agitated the THREE hives about 30 feet above us. As the hives swung back and forth the bees were not happy. They kept getting lower and lower, and needless to say, we got out of there. They eventually settled down and went back up to their home, but we decided that we didn't like that particular spot anymore.
This park also had a free petting zoo. I just wonder what Lauren is saying to the goat. We saw goats, bunnies, pigs, and even a peacock (not to pet).
Besides the holiday, we also had family come in for a visit! Granddad and Mammy arrived on Thursday. They have been experiencing public transportation with us and seeing all the sights. Well, as much as we can. It has been rainy here the entire time they have been here.
We were all excited for them to get here, but especially the kids. It has been so good for them to see some familiar faces from the States. You can't tell that she is happy, can you? The kids picked out their clothes for that day and decided that they HAD to wear Tennessee stuff because it was Granddad coming.
They got a nice surprise of Skittles when the suitcases were unpacked. YUMMY!
We went to Granville Island, which Benjamin really enjoys. He likes the birds. They have a market and some little shops there.
This was my favorite place that we visited. We went to Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. It was beautiful and lots of fun. Granddad couldn't stand to watch all of us go across, so he took Lauren and went for a walk. :)
Benjamin was being a little photographer here. He said he that he needed to take a family picture before we went to Chinatown. He posed us exactly where he wanted us. I thought he did a good job. I'm not sure what Katherine is looking for in Mammy's hair.
Regan was wearing her Chinese clothes to Chinatown. We got many smiles (even in the rain). One shop owner even gave us "gifts." Benjamin got a stone necklace with a "real" scorpion inside, Regan got a bracelet, and I got a hair clip. I'll have to go back and visit this lady again. We had been in this store a month before, and she still remembered us.
We went to eat at an Italian Restaurant called Anton's. It was about two blocks from our house, and we have always seen a line out the door. We figured it must be good. It was great. It was more food than we could ever imagine trying to eat. Katherine was sitting on her knees while at the table and ended up getting stuck. It was quite a chore getting her out.
This was just one plate of food that came out. We ate and ate and ate and it looked like we hadn't touched it. The kid's portion was ridiculously large as well. Lauren got a "baby bowl" and it would have been plenty of food for my big kids.
Benjamin just couldn't hang in there any longer. He fell sound asleep. I woke him up to eat. It was the funniest thing. He popped up from the table, grabbed the parmesan shaker, and started shaking it like crazy. I'm sure you had to be there for it to be so funny, but it still makes me laugh.
Standing in the rain at Chinatown.
We went to Gastown and had our picture taken by the famous steam powered clock. It was neat, but I'm not sure I would go just to see the clock. I did enjoy the shops around the area though.
This was on our way to Lynn Canyon. Aren't those some cute kids.
This was the view from the suspension bridge. I love hearing the sound of the waterfall. We got about halfway across the bridge and Benjamin told me that he didn't think he liked heights either. He seemed to still enjoy it. I think it was more of the swaying back and forth that he didn't like.
My adventurous girl loved the bridge. I told her we would come back one day soon.
