Canada's Wonderland!

This past Friday we made an impromptu weekend roadtrip to Toronto to visit Canada's Wonderland with our friends Yvonne & Scott, and their boys Travis & Phoenix, as well as Travis' girlfriend Danielle. The forecast called for rain all weekend, but we took our chances. We managed to dodge the rain all day Saturday and it was well worth the drive, because we had a a great time and it ended being an amazing and much-deserved mini-vacay!! There's definitely someting to be said for spontaneity!

I had to settle for this family photo... I'm not sure what drives me more crazy, my daughter who absolutely refuses to look at the camera, or my husband, who thinks that he has to make this kind of face in every picture... Ah well, there was always that one family photo that turned out nice way back when.... (hardy har har...)

The first cartoon character of the day. She loves Dora, but there was no way she was going to get closer than this to her!


This was how I managed to occupy her while she waited patiently for everyone to go on the rollercoasters. She said: "No mama, I can't have junk food, only healthy food that will make me grow big and strong." Then she tried the Pringles, and I couldn't pry the can away from her. (By the way, we weren't allowed to bring any food into the park and Pringles was one of the 'healthier' choices)...terrible...the healthiest food I could find was a $12 grilled cheese sandwich combo with a 250ml milk and (per a huge sign over the cash register), 'a choice of apple slices or fries'. OH, WAIT!!, except they didn't have the apple slices!! And the attendant had no idea what I was referring to when I asked for them. Then she proceeded to look at me like I was an alien from a far away planet asking for something in a language that she couldn't understand... Argghh!

Going up the wooden rollercoaster...and I'm still taking photos! This was Ed's first trip to Wonderland (and my first visit since I was in my late teens or early 20's...)

A quick photo of the adrenaline rush that follows. ..crazy fun!
A ride more appropriate for somebody under 4 ft tall... She was bored stiff, and so was I!


With papa on the Dora ride. This was much more up her alley.



Oh ya, now we're talking... A cartoon character carousel! Ed tried to get Bella on the moving Dino behind Yogi Bear, but he said the lady behind him in this picture got to it first with her kid. Then he proceeded to call her a bunch of bad names (under his breath, of course!). Oh well, Ysabella didn't mind one bit. (However, a cat fight would have been pretty hilarious!!)

A train, "just like Thomas!", of course!

This could very possibly be the craziest thing I ever saw my husband do. Not one ounce of hesitation. Ed, Danielle (the girlfriend of Yvonne's son, Travis) and Phoenix, Yvonne's 8 YEAR OLD son!!! went on this. Here's a description, direct from the Wonderland Website:

Xtreme Skyflyer is Canada's largest free-fall swing. On Xtreme Skyflyer riders control their own ride experience by pulling the rip cord and initiating a 170-foot power flight that takes riders through a breathtaking pendulum swing, soaring a mere six feet above the ground! Drawing its inspiration from skydiving, riders will experience weightlessness and speeds of more than 100km/hr.

The accompanying video. (Great job pulling the ripcord, Danielle!!)



And this is possibly the cutest (at least to me) set of 3 pics I've seen in a long time.
Bella sees Boots and feels brave enough to wave to him.

Then Boots waves back to her, and this is her reaction! Sooo precious! (She couldn't wait to run and tell me!) Look at that smile!!! I wish we could have stayed in this moment forever!

And finally, Bella can't wait to run and give Boots a hug! Fear be gone!