Canada Day 2011 (5 days late).

I think we may have lost our marbles.

For the last year or two, Bella has seen & heard the O-Train (Ottawa's light rail that travels to the downtown core) almost daily because one of the stations is near our house. She has asked us countless times to go for a ride on it. So, we had the brilliant idea that perhaps it would be fun to take the O-Train to Parliament Hill on Canada Day. Because, apparently, we like to feel like packed sardines. With two young children. In a crowd of about 400, 000!

We mentioned the above idea to Bella just once and needless to say, she didn't forget. (Four-year-olds never do.) She was stoked. How could we change our minds and deny her? Besides, the Duke & Duchess were going to be there! (Yes, I have a huge crush on those two cutie-patooties...) and it would be kinda neat to say we were there. So, off we went (all 4 of us dressed appropriately) to show our love & appreciation for the fine country that we live in on Canada's 144th birthday.

Ready to go!

At the train station:

Alex finds the flag to be quite tasty.

Waiting patiently for the train.

A rare mommy & Bella pic (while still waiting).

All smiles!

With papa.

Flying her flag high! (Still waiting.)

Ed is pacing to keep the boy happy (it's past nap time) and Bella is chatting up strangers while (still) flying that flag high!
And there she is!

Soo excited.

On a bridge!

This was as close as we got to Parliament Hill before we couldn't move another inch. (And I think we may have even made it as far as downtown before we uttered the words "What were we thinking?!".)

Walking, walking and more walking.

Free m&m's!!!

We ran into our friends Laurie and John and their son Luca. Luca was also dressed for the occasion, however, he found the whole event to be a bit over-rated.

The novelty wore off quickly for Alex, too.

Chateau Laurier.

The War Memorial.

Rideau Street at 11am.

We may have lost our marbles, but I'm really thankful we didn't lose a child. That would have been a nightmare. And we will always know exactly what we were doing on Canada Day 2011 when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were in town.

We made it home safe and sound by mid-afternoon and followed it up with a Canada Day barbq/pool party at our place. It was a fabulous weekend!