Claire Skis the Berkebeiner

Claire crossing the finish line at the 2010 Berkebeiner.

Claire Skis the Berkie

For the 2nd week in a row, Claire bundled up and Skied the Birkebeiner. The weather was less than Stellar, but she went for it anyway!!! The night before and just before the race, a ton of wet, squishy snow fell, making the well groomed trails not so well groomed. Claire skied 5 kms, but he skiing coach did the full race of 55 kms with a 5.5 kg pack strapped to his back. Mr. Dunn said it was the hardest Berkie he had completed in a long time.

People like to dress up for the Birkie. This is a clown waiting at the start line.

Another clown at the start.

Claire in the warm up tent before heading out to the start line.

Doesn't she look impressed with the weather?

Claire trying to stay warm at the start line.

Ready to go!

At the finish line. 5kms complete!

City of Edmonton Torch Relay Leg

Edmonton Stop on the Olympic Torch Relay

Group Shot before the Torch arrived in Sir Winston Churchill

Square.

The Hare Krishnas of the Torch Relay passing out

these cool light up, bang together balloon thingys!

D behind the Canadian Flag


D and the torch lit behind him.

Daniel and Hyrum taking in the festivities!

Daniel and his friend, Hyrum and I went into Edmonton over a month ago to take part in and see the Olympic Torch when it came to the City. It was very cool! We decided after the torch arrived to see how close we could get to the stage. During this process, we were adopted by a very small Asian lady who was obviously using me as her way to the front of the stage, she even at one point even said "I sorry, but you big!!!". Glad that I, as a strong well built Canadian girl, could be of help to one of our new immigrants at this great display of National pride.

MARLA

This is Marla. She is the daughter of a couple that are friends with my friend, Dena Friars. Dena got to babysit Marla for a week while her parents went on a lovely vacation to Florida. I LOVE THIS LITTLE GIRL!!!!! For starters, she has red hair and green eyes. She is also a bit of a terror, or as Dena likes to call her "The Terminator". I truly believe that this child was meant to be mine. I know, go take my meds (sigh). No plans to kidnap her...... yet.

Girl's Day Out

About a month ago, I took the Friar girls and Claire for a day at the West Edmonton Mall. The highlight of our trip was Build-a-Bear. If you have no idea what I am talking about, it is a store where you choose a flat plush animal and have it stuffed complete with a plush heart that you have made a wish on. You then get a Birth Certificate for your new best friend and then you can pick clothes, accessories and anything else you can think of to make your new friend feel truly loved and to drain your mother's bank account! We also went to Triple Flip(think Lululemon for girls) just to try on clothes! So fun!!

Eve with the Stuffies the girls made. Eve's is the pink

Unicorn, Claire's is the Cheetah and Emma's is the bear.

Claire with the new stuffed buddies

And last, but not least, Emma

Quadbogganing

This is your new word for the day "Quadbogganing". This is what my friend, Delphine, and her family, call pulling a sled or toboggan behind a quad at high speeds. Carlam is also very familiar with this outdoor northern Alberta sport and introduced Claire, Daniel and I to it recently.

Claire and Emma got to try it out one weekend when Emma slept over. This was their inaugural run and they weren't going very fast so, don't worry that they don't have helmets on.

One thing we have learned is that Chester cannot take part in this sport because he thinks it is fun to try to remove the slider from the sled and has ripped some jackets and even some skin!!!

Emma coming out of the pasture.

Claire getting ready to give it a try.

Claire still hanging on as she approaches the end of the lane way.