Hazel abroad

Well, it was just Canada, and we disappointingly forgot to ask if either crossing would stamp her passport. We'll have to remember that next time. It's very cute that she has a passport though.
The day after Christmas, we headed up to Whistler BC, host to many Winter Olympic events next month. It was pretty much business as usual, with little changed for the upcoming events, but it was nice to drive on the improved highway and we had fun looking at Olympic souvenirs. We took some of Hazel's new toys with us, including her first video game. I know, that sounds awful at age almost three, but it's so cute to watch her play. It has one big blue button and one big red button, and after some initial frustration with figuring it out, by day two she was running the show herself. There's a shot of one of the five games, where you have to choose who jumps up to catch the falling music note. Exciting stuff!
After telling me for four or five months that she wanted to go ice skating at Whistler, where they have strollers to push the little kids on the ice, she didn't want to go. Okay - that probably actually saved me from a couple bruises, as I may not have skated since a work party in the late nineties. Instead, we took a sleigh ride, which was freezing, but I think she enjoyed seeing what a "one horse open sleigh" was - although ours was a two horse covered wagon-esque sleigh. She also got to play in the snow three times, having the most fun throwing snowballs at Daddy and making snow angels. I'll post a movie of the latter, once I get the files from my sister. Here she is in her layers - very cute tiny long underwear, pink fleece snowsuit and then snow pants and a jacket. She seemed to be able to walk okay, but she looked much thicker than usual.

Here, she's demonstrating her snowball throwing technique out on the deck. I just wanted a shot of this adorable sweater.

Hazel also enjoyed the offerings at the Whistler community center. We spent a few hours there, rather than ice skating. She enjoyed Legos, puzzles, blowup Christmas decor, and bounce houses just for the little kids. The "houses" only had a floor and walls, but they were huge, with lots of interior walls with games on them, and it was adorable the way Hazel just pranced around on the bouncy floor while matching shapes, letters and numbers. It made me wish that all our floors at home were inflatable - might be a good work out, although the static cling would be horrible.
Hazel was a real trooper for the long car ride both ways - six hours up but somehow eight hours home. She kept re-reading her favorite Christmas books - a Disney princess book that plays 10 Christmas songs and a Fisher Price book with a zillion flaps. Then she'd switch to listening to her talking magic mirror. We did pretty well not going crazy ourselves, while also listening to the book and mirror.
And just to prove that we saw something vaguely Olympic in nature, since there were security booths on all the roads that led to anything at all Olympic, here's a shot of an Olympic sign. You probably can't tell, but this is where they'll be hosting the biathlon, ski jumping, cross country events and something with a guy lying down in the snow. (I can't tell what the little picture depicts, can you? 2nd one from the right?). It will be fun to watch, starting February 12th, and see if we recognize anything. On a slightly related note, Hazel was watching a snowboard cross event on tv and said she wants to take lessons for that next year at Whistler. She said I could help her by giving her a push. She was very impressed at how quickly they raced down the hill. Fine by me, as long as I can wrap her in bubble wrap so she doesn't get hurt. :)