I've been a little sick since we got back from camping on the weekend. It means I don't get out of the house very much. The sun has been shining nice and bright and I have been hiding from it in my dark dungeon of a living room. Today was the first day that I have been able to get out. I've been hoping for some nice and warm weather so we can go exploring here in town. So I promised the kids that we would go out to the splash park today. We waited until later in the day hoping to avoid both the hot noon weather and the crowds. So we went grocery shopping came home to unload and packed up towels, a picnic supper, bug spray and lawn chairs and headed out. It took us less than 2 seconds to remember we weren't in Calgary anymore. The splash park had four things that sprayed water. A huge step down from our favorite park in Calgary. Despite the difference the kids did have fun. Although Micah suggested that we try to find a bigger and better splash park in Edmonton this summer.
We have plans to get out exploring in the city this summer and it will be fun but I must confess to missing Calgary. I didn't have to explore Calgary, I knew where everything was. A five block walk from our house was the C-Train and from there the city was available to us. We often hoped on and headed downtown. We would head to Devonian Gardens for awhile, wonder down Stephan Ave. and see what entertainment was happening there and what free things were being offered, then we would enter Olympic Plaza and see what was happening there.
And that was just one day in the city.
Sigh.
I think it's because this coming week is the Stampede and right now I should be filling water bottles, pulling out lawn chairs, packing backpacks and filling them with more food than 7 people really need for the morning. Then at 5:00am tomorrow morning Dad and Mark should head out to get us our usual spots for the Stampede Parade. Micah did not look impressed today when we told him we were missing it. He figures we should get up at 2:00 in the morning and drive down to watch the parade. I confess I almost thought it was a good idea. After all, for the first year in five we are missing the parade and Prince William and Princess Kate will be there.
It's not just the parade though it's also the Stampede on Sunday, which we always get in free for, and the dozens of free pancake breakfasts offered next week.
Right now Edmonton is not looking that fun, or free.
But tomorrow on Mark's day off we are going to head into the city and try to forget what we are missing and make some new memories. I hope we don't get lost if we try out the LRT here. I wonder if we can find a free pancake breakfast somewhere.
1 comment:
Going to a new place is so hard. Especially when you have kids and you are used to things a certain way. I was used to being close to Edmonton and knew my way around a bit. Going to this area has been a real challenge. When we first moved here (for about two yrs) I hated it. Lloyd is such a (I was going to use a descriptive term here that I've told my kids is not a nice word **whisper- stupid**) city. I still don't love it but I tolerate it. I hope you learn the new hot spots and learn to at least "like" Edmonton. It does have some good qualities. Like automatic doors (stupid Lloyd!)...and actual waterparks without all the garbage...and great shopping. I could go on. But as I said, getting to know a new area can be a difficult adjustment. I don't like trying to find my way around. Let's hope the weather warms up to so we all can enjoy the summer a bit more!!!
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