Adventures at Fort Edmonton Park

I was fortunate to win a year pass to the Fort. I have been a couple of times before with the kids on "free day" but it was always so busy that it became stressful. There are so many things for toddlers and preschoolers to see and explore. Here is a top 10 list of things that my kids have done and quite enjoyed:

Taken at the Midway on the Ferris Wheel

1. The Train
As you enter the gates, you can't help but feel excited as you see the train tracks. Hearing the whistle as the train rolls in brings many a squeal to patiently awaiting kids. The train ride is a short one which will take you from the Train Station to the Hudson's Bay Fort. You can take the a stroller on the train but it needs to be folded and stored in the first compartment of the train. There are no seats in the first compartment so if you are lucky to get on early, you can put your stroller in the first cart and look for a seat in the second cart. If the train is too full, we've visited the other attractions and then taken the train from the Fort back to the Train Station.







2. The Fort
The Fort is pretty amazing but the kids didn't want to see the bunkers or the house. They were more interested in the large boat and the sheep . Right outside the Fort, there is a small hill to the boat dock on the Saskatchewan River. Also throughout the park there are costumed individuals that will explain their "life" on the Fort. We love visiting the Teepee and hearing about the native Canadians and their lives. Sometimes they have yummy Bannock for a treat.

3. The Streetcar

Listening to the operator talk about the train

My kids love the Streetcar. They will sit quietly while the operator picks and drops off people to the various points in the park. I am always surprised of all the things I've learnt about the street cars. Every operator tells a different story. The only draw back is that you can't bring strollers (even if they are folded) onto the cars. This means that I have left the stroller and taken the round trip to retrieve said stroller.









4. Wagon Ride
You do have to buy tickets for this ride. You can buy tickets in different shops around the park. Two beautiful horses pull a wagon along the dirt lined road. The ride itself is not very long but it is a bit bumpy so it is just long enough to be enjoyable.







5. Looking at the animals
Horses, chickens, pigs, ponies, turkeys, sheep are some of the animals living at the Fort. These are not petting zoo animals and have been known to run free of their pens. Well just the chickens that we've seen, so be aware at all times.

6. Capitol Theatre
I wanted to go to this since it opened but I was nervous taking both kids with me alone. One day my hubby tagged along so we decided to go in for the movie. We were in for a shock. It is a state of the art movie theatre with a nostalgic theme. The movie we saw was about Edmonton complete with special effects. I thought that my 2 year old was going to running around but once the movie started he was enthralled by the movie. The best part is that it is free with admission.

Yes that is the size of a kid's cone

7. Bill's Confectionery
I must admit I have bypassed this stop a few times because the treats are so good. I could spend all my money here. Needless to say, the kids get a sugar rush after eating one of its many treats. They are so good.









8. The Playground
If you need to rest for a bit, let the kids run in the playground. The swings, slides and see-saws are definitely a blast from the past, but the kids don't care. There is a picnic area and washrooms. It is well used by the school groups that frequent the park .


9. Touring the shops and offices
You can definitely spend a whole day at the park. There is food available for purchase around the park as well as various picnic sites. I have done the latter so my spending money is on tickets for the rides. We've been to the post office, Motordome and Fire Hall just to name a few that the kids love to see. The interpreters that are around are definitely in character at all times. They do such a good job that you will find yourself drawn back in time without even realizing it.



10. The Midway

Waiting in line to ride the Carousel

The Midway is by far the newest of all the attractions. With that being said, we save it for the last as the kids love this the most. They have a carousel ride with beautiful hand-painted horses, mini carnival games like tin pan alley and bowling for the little ones. There is a Ferris wheel for the brave at heart and mini rides for kids. Some are rides are free but others will cost you 1 to 2 tickets.

I hope you get a chance to come to the park with your kids. It is a great history lesson as well as fun time to be had by all. Do you have a favourite attraction that you think kids will enjoy. Add it here and we'll definitely explore it the next time we are here.

Inappropriate Moments

Today while at the grocery store my 4 year old son decides to show everyone in the meat department his little sausage. You can't even even imagine how mortified I was. "Put that thing away!", I said to the amusement of the other customers. Trying to not to yell at him through my teeth, I said, "Get you hands out of your pants!"

I spoke to my mother in law about this and she said that it is just a phase. Really? There is an end to this? You promise he is not going to grow up to be a deviant? Because I'm really losing it here.

I don't know exactly when it started, but he started to sit on the couch with no pants or underwear. Now he can't go anywhere without a hand constantly glued to the front of his pants. "Do you have to pee? No? Then GET YOUR HANDS OUT OF YOUR PANTS!"

One day I realized he is going commando and I say to my hubby, ask him why he is not wearing underwear. My dear son calmly replied, "I didn't want too!" Umm, you're 4 you are going to wear underwear. I have even said, look daddy wears underwear so does mummy, and granddad and so on but he just shrugs like "yeah so what?" I've gotten him to pick out his clothes and underwear but again having no underwear or having his hands in his pants seems like a better option for this kid.

So until this phase ends, I am ready to commit myself for sounding like a broken record player. Anyway, if there anyone out there who has some advice, I would greatly appreciate it. 

Charity starts at home

I have always tried to teach the kids to share. It is so hard sometimes because they are at the age where all I hear is MINE MINE MINE.

Some of the things I get them to share are food, a room and toys. The latter is always the hardest because at any given moment they both need to play with the same toy. 

One of things that I am trying to show them about sharing, is that it  comes from an attitude of giving. It is so easy to keep everything you've worked hard for and forget those who are struggling. I came from a family of one income and we lived frugally. I can remember getting new clothes, books, shoes that were hand-me-downs. As a kid, I didn't care because they were new to me. 

When my mom cooked, anyone that stopped by had a meal before they left. My parents have always set an example of giving. When we didn't have money, they gave their time, their knowledge to help anyone who asked. Up to this day, if someone stops by, my mom will pick fruits from her garden or a bunch of flowers to give. If you asked her to cook something that you haven't eaten in awhile, and she has the ingredients, she will start to make it right away. I had a great childhood because we didn't have much. We learned to use what we had and be generous to the less fortunate than us. 

I know what it is like to struggle in this economy. I went to University and worked menial jobs on campus so I could pay for health care, a bus pass, textbooks, rent and food. I remember going to bed hungry because food seemed less of a priority. It didn't stop me from volunteering at various festivals and donating Blood. 

Over the past years, I decided to say something nice to random strangers. You never know whose day you are going to brighten with a few kind words. I have complimented people on a hairstyle, clothes, kids, a nice smile and so on. 

It is not often that I can give a monetary donation, but I help out my neighbours, give to the food bank and volunteer. Recently, a friend of mine, Jen, reminded those on a global scale, that they can give. She started the project Make Jen's Day. It is a reminder that giving is better than receiving. You can follow on twitter with the hashtag #MakeJensDay or on Facebook. 

My kids can't give much but I teach them how to be kind and generous. Although working out the sharing of the toys is still a daily battle, they will hug and kiss people that have come to our home to show them that they are welcome. It is not much, but it is a surprise to those who haven't been at our house before.

Teach your kids by leading an example. Teach them to smile and say hello, offer kind words, and give. 

The Olympics are here

My kids love television. I get them to watch some educational stations but most of the time it is stuck on Treehouse or Disney Junior. Then the Olympics started. They are now looking at the gymnastics and the diving. It also happens to be what I'm currently watching as well.

The kids are watching it because of the jumping. They love to see the athletes leaping and naturally my kids think they can do the same feat in our house. Our couch arm is now the launching pad and the cushions are the safety.

These are the same kids that exhibit fear when going down a new slide but will readily jump off with nary a care in the world. The fits of laughter and squealing when they make the jumps is deafening at times.

I am seriously going to look into putting one of the kids in gymnastics soon if he keeps it up. I don't care if their growth will be stunted, according to the hubby, as long as they are having fun. Besides they've been doing the routine awhile now.

What Olympic sports did you want to compete in when you were a kid?

Can you have fun in Banff with two toddlers?

This spring, I got the chance to go to Banff, Alberta for a week. My hubby was away so I was solo-parenting and living in a hotel room for a week. I must admit, I was a wreck thinking of how I was going to entertain two kids every single day in an environment that I was not familiar with.

I didn't really know the town of Banff that well so I didn't want to venture to far. I was afraid that the car would break down somewhere and I would have a bear attack us. I watch too much TV.

The drive down to Banff was about 5 hours from Edmonton. We stopped in Calgary to stretch our legs and let the boys visit with their cousins. I packed lots of movies or should I say Treehouse dvds. I think I can recite all the Max and Ruby skits without actually seeing them.

After settling in for the first night which went surprisingly well, we decided to set off early the next morning to see what the hotel pool looked like. The kids loved the pool which had a kids play area and a hot tub. Since we went during the week, we had the pool to ourselves for almost the entire time.

After the pool, we ventured into the town. Each day I tried a different route in and around Banff so that I could get a feel of the town as well as discover some new and fun non touristy things. We found a couple of playgrounds and met a few other children to play with.

One of the first days that we were there, we went to Bow Falls. The kids liked it but they were still a bit tired  so I did the pictures and told them that there was a Castle nearby. That got the kids excited. We drove to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and back down the hill. My older son was not impressed as he thought we were actually going inside. So the next day we did the tour of the hotel. Although it was not what he expected, but we had fun exploring in our own little way.

Another highlight of our trip was visiting the Banff Gondola. I was a little worried about this one as it is a bit expensive. The Gondola ride was awesome but the kids were a little afraid because we were so high up in the sky. I showed them the Castle and the trees and tried to distract them from the fact that we were dangling by a cable a million meters in the air.

Once we got to the top of the mountain I showed them to the steps to get to Sulphur Mountain and they immediately took off. I don't know exactly how many steps we climbed but they were too busy passing other people for me to take pictures and enjoy the amazing views. I will admit that I was out of shape to climb those stairs but they had no trouble running up them so I had no choice but to follow.

When we did get to the top, they didn't want to leave. The view was amazing but since there was not ample barricades at the top, I didn't want to chance one of the kids falling off the mountain. I bribed them  to get down and finally we started our trek down having little snowball fights along the way. I submitted a picture with them climbing down the stairs to Unplug and Explore Contest.

Vote for these troopers 

Some of the other things that we did that were toddler friendly:
Throwing rocks in the river
Collecting cool looking rocks
Going on a trail hike
Eating at kid friendly establishments
Looking out for wild animals and poop
Eating Ice Cream from Cows
Shopping
Riding elevators and escalators
Checking out the horse stables and watching out for more poop
Finding a new mountain or waterfall.
And finally watching mummy make a hundred wrong turns looking for parking spot.I hope you get the chance to visit this amazing place. I can't wait till they are older so we can do more amazing things. I will start getting into shape to keep up with them. We had so much fun and so can you.

Having fun in the playgrounds of Edmonton

My two boys couldn't wait for summer to start. Being outside, playing in dirt, water and things that made them take a bath every night. My plan this year was to visit as many parks within this city. My only cost was food and gas.

I live on the west end of Edmonton and there are a 6 playgrounds within a 10km radius of our home. I also found 2 spray parks that the kids love. I have a routine that my kids enjoy and don't have the tantrums that usually accompanies leaving a fun attraction. You can find all the spray parks in Edmonton on the city's website.

After breakfast, I prep a light lunch and lots of snacks and drinks. I pack it all in a bag with a small blanket and a change of clothes. I keep a few towels in the car as well as a camping chair.

I get the boys dressed and head out the door. We've gone either to the playground or spray park. The kids don't mind which they go to. After playing for an hour or two I pull out the blanket and set a picnic. My kids think this is the best invention ever "eating outdoors". They eat, then play a bit more.

When they get a little droopy or it gets close to 2pm , I tell them that it is time to go. They are happy to veg out in the air-conditioned car on the ride home.

But what do I do when the weather is crappy you say. Well the Library is fun. They love "checking out" their books using the automated system. We have also gone to toy stores to "demo" toys. The local Chapters/IndigoKids also has a play area set up for kids. I love this one because during the summer they have mini camps that the toddlers can join. They make crafts, have scavenger hunts and so on.

I have often scheduled trips to the grocery during this time to get them to pick out fruits and veggies they want to eat. Also Safeway and Sobeys give the kids a cookie while they shop. I also bring them along to errands like the hardware store or craft store. If we don't buy anything, they don't care as long as I say we are heading on an adventure. Kids love that word.

How are your adventures going this summer?

Chocolate? Yes I give it to my kids

I think every mom wonders, are their kids eating enough, are they getting enough nutrition in their diet, what can I give them that they'll actually want to eat.

A month ago, I got introduced to Xocai chocolate. It is a brand of healthy chocolate that does not contain any refined sugars, waxes and fillers. When I heard about it, I thought to myself, oh I bet it is going to taste horrible especially if it is good for you.

I was surprised that it tasted so good. I gave it to my kids and they love it too. I was able to leave it in plain view because I knew they weren't getting sugar highs. What I didn't expect was this

• They did not want regular chocolate bars after eating the Healthy chocolate. Easter treats are still in the pantry.
• THEY were asking for healthy food like fruit salad for a snack
• They were sleeping better

Not to mention how much energy I have to chase after two very active boys. I am able to resist the cravings for chips, popcorn, nachos, soda pop, french fries, cookies, you get the point. I can't say enough good things about this chocolate. 

Now if my kids ask me, can I have a snack, I can offer them a piece of healthy chocolate and we are BOTH happy.  

Here are some helpful links if you want to find out more about Xocai

Dr Steven Warren's take on Healthy Chocolate
Dr Gordon Pedersen
Cocoa "Vitamin" Benefits

10 Things to Look for in Healthy Chocolate

1. Choose dried, not roasted, cacao beans that have been washed and thoroughly cleaned.

2. Avoid chocolates that have undergone any alkalization or “dutching” processes, which can neutralize the effects of nutrients in the beans, as well as interfere with its antioxidant potential.

3. The chocolate should be tested for bacteria and other infectious agents, as well as for lead.

4. Processing temperature for cacao beans should not exceed 110°F.

5. Look at the ingredients—a healthful chocolate product should have cocoa butter and cocoa solids as primary ingredients, not milk fats or hydrogenated oils. Avoid chocolate products high in refined sugar, corn syrup and/ or preservatives.

6. Bitter is best. Although milk chocolate isn’t “bad,” studies have confirmed that chocolate products with the highest antioxidant activity contain at least 70 percent pure cocoa powder.

7. How chocolate is sweetened is another important point. Obviously, avoid products high in refined sugars. Instead, good sweetening agents include low-glycemic sugars such as unprocessed crystallized cane sugar, fructose, and agave syrup. Also, sugar alcohols such as erythritol are a good alternative. Low-glycemic sugars and sugar alcohols do not increase blood sugar levels because they are released more slowly into the blood. Though there may be contradictory information on the Internet regarding some of these sweetening agents, academic research shows they are effective and healthier than traditional refined sugars.

8. Avoid products that use waxes and preservatives.

9. Consider a healthful chocolate beverage, as they are an effective supplement delivery option designed for maximum nutritional effect. Not only are such products more easily absorbed and utilized by the body; they are also easier for the elderly and children to incorporate into a balanced, nutritionally sound diet plan.

10. Consider cocoa products combined with other nutrients and/or antioxidant compounds. Good options include those with berry ingredients like blueberry or acai berry