Skating & Christmas

So I had wanted to go to Grousse mountain this weekend and check out the sleigh ride and the skating rink.

We got there and the tickets were $45 a ticket for the ride up! So we said nuts to that and Mike had the great idea to see if we could skate at Robson Square because they reopened the skating rink there for the olympics.

We got there and they were just clearing the ice with a mini zamboni.


It's pretty cool down there (figuratively and literally). They have lights reflecting Christmas shapes like snowflakes and candy canes over the ice and Christmas music playing.

They have rentals and if you don't need to rent, it's free! Take that Grousse Mountain!

Mike and I discovered that we are both now pretty terrible skaters from years of no practice. We're used to roller blades and I've sort of forgotten how to stop properly. We need some of those plastic walker things they have for the kids. It was pretty crowded but fun. We're starting to get into the Christmas spirit now. Last weekend Mike and I checked out the light show on the Canada Place sails like I mentioned in my last post. It was pretty cool and I'll post the photos for that soon. We haven't managed to get to Van Dussen gardens celebration of light yet due to the rain, but might get to squeeze it in on Tuesday night. Also the other day Mike went out and got us the National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation dvd which I really enjoyed watching.
I've finished all my shopping and wrapping and I even made some cookies and finished decorating. I'm looking forward to the break and I'm going to get to see Emily too. She's going to come visit us in Calgary.

Last night we went to a really fun Christmas party too. Here we are in front of their tree.

It was a really gorgeous tree with some really beautiful decorations.

Today they finally delivered our olympic tickets so we're excited that that is coming up soon too.

They required a signature and identity check so if we didn't manage to be home when they delivered them, we'd have to go pick them up personally later so we were lucky.

This is probaby my last post before Christmas so Merry Christmas Everyone! I'll be sure to call home over the holidays. Love Andrea and Mike

Holiday Readiness

As I write this, it is snowing quite heavily here in Vancouver. The first snow we've gotten so far. I'm waiting for enough to be on the ground to take Tala and Unos to the park. They love playing in the snow. It gives them this crazy energy and the skip around like puppies.

We're preparing for the holidays and Christmas is getting close! I've bought all the presents and already sent many of them out. On Friday my company Christmas party was held in a nice restaurant in Gastown. I can't believe how many people we have now! The place was full and it was much larger than the venue for last year.

Last night we went out to UFC event with some friends. We discovered this great restaurant that hosts it. They have fantastic food, nothing like the regular pub fare that most places that host it serve.


The pictures I am posting are of the St. Paul's Hospital lights. They cover the hospital in lights and the stars are sponsored by donations. It is really gorgeous.

Mike and I have a few things planned to get into the holiday spirit. Tonight we are going to get some dinner and check out the light show at Canada Place. If you go to Stanley park to view it, it is apparently quite amazing:
http://www.canadaplace.ca/christmas/Sail_Light_Show.php


We're also planning on going to see the lights at the Vandusen Botanical Garden next week.

http://vancouver.ca/PARKS/parks/vandusen/website/events/fol.htm


It is apparently quite good and we've never been to see it over the years. We are just trying to find a good clear night to go with a few friends. After this snow today it is supposed to rain until next weekend :( so maybe next Sunday. Next weekend on the Saturday we plan to go to

Grousse mountain. They are having a bunch of activities including a skating rink and sleigh rides. We also might bring our snowshoes and do a little relaxed snowshoeing.

So that is what we're doing to get into the spirit. I also am thinking I should maybe do a little baking today. I'm off to hunt around now to see if I have baking goods. :) Hopefully I have some sugar, flour and butter and I can make shortbread.

Love to everyone! Ho, ho, ho!
P.S. A little naughty holiday joke for your pleasure: What is the difference between Santa Claus and Tiger Woods? Give up? Santa stops at three ho's :)