Educating Risa

After spending a couple hours in the hot sunshine at the bug class, we slowly headed back to the car. En route, I saw some interesting birds, like this spotted sandpiper:

When we got back to the hotel, we went for a swim. This was our first time staying at this hotel in Edmonton (the Hampton); it’s quite new and there was a good deal on rooms. And the pool area was fantastic! There was a little kid splash pool that Gareth enjoyed, a larger pool for swimming and playing volleyball, and a large hot tub. No waterslide, but IMO, if you’re gonna do waterslides in Edmonton, you’re heading to the waterpark at West Edmonton Mall anyways.

We had lots of fun. Gareth created a game he dubbed “Dino Ball”, that if you are familiar with “Calvin Ball” from the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, seemed to have the same rules (or lack of them–you just make ‘em up as you go along). There was throwing and catching:

‘alligator wiggling’:

running and kicking (with the occasional ‘hand ball’)

and general chasing around:

Daegan and I spent quite a bit of time in the larger pool too, as he is now able to swim and LOVES to race me:

Gareth still needs to be in parental arms in the deep pool, and loves goofing around (Daegan practicing his back floats behind us):

He also likes practicing his swimming kicks:

Jim preferred the hot tub:

and Daegan joined him from time to time too, clearly enjoying his birthday trip:

After our swim we headed off to Padmanadi, our fave veggie restaurant in Edmonton. The boys drew in their travel journals to pass the time as we were waiting for our food; it was clear the bug class left an impression:

We stuff ourselves silly with delish food, like this kung pao chick’n (wheat gluten based):

And on our way out, who should we bump into but Katie, the instructor from our Insect class, who was having dinner with friends! How odd in a city of a million people, don’t ya think?