La Fete des Neiges

Today was a balmy -5 out so we bundled up and headed to Parc Jean-Drapeau for La Fete des Neiges also known as the Snow Festival. There was a lot to do including tube sliding, ice or boot hockey, kick sledding, and skating along Saint Lawrence River. We brought Arabella's sled and pulled her around in that. It was a great investment and a great way for her to get around in the snow! They also had a play area for the younger kids, as well as, snow sculptures and a snow carving area.

Arabella went snow tubing for the first time. At first she did not like it, they she did and then she had had enough.







Jay tried a Queues de Castor (a/k/a Beaver Tail). A Queues de Castor is a Canadian pastry made of whole-wheat dough, shaped like a much-respected national symbol: a beaver's tail. Fried in oil, it is served hot with a variety of toppings like cinnamon and sugar, chocolate hazelnut, maple butter, and apple cinnamon. To me it was just very thin fried dough with way too much cinnamon sugar and apple pie filling. Jay enjoyed it, Arabella liked the part with out the apple pie filling and it was too sweet for me so I will just stick to regular fried dough with powdered sugar.



Arabella enjoyed the trampoline with Dad and once again did not want to leave when her time was up. I really do think we have a little gymnast on our hands!





We also made Maple Syrup Candy. This is done by pouring hot maple syrup on snow and then allowing it to cool some before twisting it up on a stick. It was good, but again, Jay enjoyed it more than I did. I am not a huge maple fan so for me, after a few bites, I was good.



On the way out, we walked by the snow sculptures.







We had a great time and the fresh air wore us all out. Arabella fell right to sleep and I am sure that Jay and I will hit the pillows like a ton of bricks. Although, Jay and I do need to remember that we need to wear our ski pants for outdoor activities and not just jeans with long johns. At the end of the day, my legs were frozen...just like the St. Lawrence River below!