West Edmonton Mall

Because of Reading Week at the university we didn't prepare a meal for Friday Forum--so we decided to explore the Edmonton Mall.  It was huge.  Among the hundreds of stores were other fun attractions. 

An ice skating rink

Full size replica of the Santa Maria

A large monature golf course

And shopping!  I think it must be prom season because we saw a lot of formals in the windows and young girls in the stores trying them on.  

Silver Skate Festival

OWe could only see the ice sculptures since the actitivites such as winter triathlon, horse drawn sleigh rides, singing groups, ice skating races, winter games, fire aculpture (whatever that is) and a story trail are held on the two week-ends of the festival.  

My favorite sculpture

A lot of them used the Olympic Theme

Children make it look easy.  Notice the brace the little was one was using to stay up.  

Inside the teepee

Along the Story Trail (made me curious what the story was about)

Family Day

February 17 is set aside as Family Day in Canada.  All government offices were closed, as was the gym, and a lot of business on our street.  The institute was also closed.  We were invited by Bob and Arja to come to their home ice fishing.  They live an hour south of Edmonton in a secluded spot by a lake, which is frozen solid this time of year.  In fact so hard a pick-up was driving on the lake pulling skiers behind him.  

We met Brother Patrick at the chapel in Devon and followed him the 1/2 hour drive to his home.

The view of the frozen lake from his back patio.

Max and the fishing tent that just "pops" out with a couple of pulls.

Ron Patrick digging the fishing holes in the ice which was about 4 feet thick.

One of four holes he dug.

Trying my luck at ice fishing.  I had a few nibbles and that was pretty exciting for me.  

It's hard to see from this picture, but it was fun to watch the fish come up to the bait and look at the shrimp and sardines we were using with an underwater camera.

Sad to say by the time we had to leave we hadn't caught anything.  But the whole experience was fun and it was nice to meet some of Ron and Arja's family and share with us their conversions stories. 

Brother and Sister Mandin (one of the institute teachers) took all of the teacher and us to an elementary school where their 22 year old daughter was in the cast of the Alberta Opera that presented Alladin.  (I thought it was going to be Opera-but it wasn't) There were only three cast member and one piano player.  Each cast member played from 2 -3 different parts with quick costume changes inbetween.  They sang, danced, moved props around and entertained the children for an hour.  I was so glad they invited us to go.

Max is talking to the the man overall the seminary teachers in Edmonton--there are about 40 of them.  His wife is sitting by him.  He is retiring in June and they are preparing to go on a missin soon after that.

The Catholic school principle giving instructions.  The school is French-immersion.

Two of those dancers were men--it was so funny.  The kids loved it.  (And I love to hear children laughing)

The Genie was their favorite part.  

Telus museum of Science

We visited the Harry Potter exhibition with original prop and costumes from the film, as they are called in Canada.  We could not take pictures inside the exhibit.

We saw a neat IMAX 3D movie about Jerusalem 

We were allowed to take a few pictures in the science museum.  It was definitely made for kids with hands out experiments they could try.  

Our week

We spent an hour cutting vegetables for this huge salad for Friday Forum.  Sister Bevanand Sister Cho (from Korea) were such good help.  We serve about 100 YSA students.  They are not all single.  A couple of people come I with their children.  The meal only costs $2 so it is a real good deal.  The speaker was Dima (YSA only go by first names).  

On Saturday we went to a Water Polo match played in Kayaks.  It was fun to watch as they are allowed to tip each other over andtheynget pretty intense trying to hit the ball into the basket.  

There were a lot of children in the facility taking swimming and diving lessons.  It was -20 C outside but everyone was walking around in swimming suits enjoying the water activities.  I think Canada has a niceloookingflag.  

The Ronald McDonald House

We have applied to work as volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House.  We took a tour of the facility.  I was amazed at the service that is offered to a family that has a child that is sick and has to spend time in the hospital.  They are equipped to take care of the whole family.  

The Director

Play room

The Kitchen

They give each child a quilt when they check in.  

We are scheduled to help next week, but only temporary until we are cleared by the Canadian Police to work with children.