Lake Louise

 James and I managed to take advantage of our live in sitters when we went to Lake Louise and enjoyed a XC ski round Fair View loop. The Grandparents enjoyed their time at the Chateau with all the Christmas decorations, the model train set was a hit with Finlay and of course they all enjoyed a hot chocolate. Heather and Finlay managed to convince Granny and Grandad that they meeded yet another soft toy...however they were very cute if I do say so myself. Penny the penguin and Tangled the dog!!!

 Once James and I returned we ventured outside to enjoyed some snow chutes and laughed as we watched other people attempt the renowned Canadian ice skates. Some people were gracefully skating around while others were slipping and sliding, holding tightly onto one another and others were not so gracefully sliding around on their knees,trying to get up. Granny and Grandad did not try the skates this day!!!

 However snow chutes and sliding on ones bum was a must for young and old!!

 Granny and Grandad then enjoyed a walk on Lake Louise which was probably unfamiliar to them walking on ice which is more than 6 inches thick and feeling quite safe as a tractor passes to clear some snow.

 All the cold activities were rounded off with drop by the Ice Bar by the side of the lake to enjoy more hot chocolate, this time with some added liqueur to warm the cockles of the heart, a fire pit to warm the tips of toes and fingers and maple taffy to entice the kids out from the snow drifts keeping us all very happy.
Maple Taffy is a tradition from Eastern Canada where they pour just the correct mixture of melted Maple sap from a Maple tree onto snow and then wrapped up onto a stick.