Next stop, The Mall!

Shopping .. because an international trip with us wouldn't be complete without shopping :)

We flew into an Indian Summer at Edmonton and even though the weather hadn't exactly been cold anywhere else, it felt reeeeaaallly nice to be outside in Edmonton. Shortly after we landed, Renee called her mum to say hi and Cody was cruising her way between us while Renee talked. Then suddenly Cody started taking steps between us! She took one step between us consistently and then once, she took 4 steps. After all our efforts to get her walking in Greece, then Sarnia, then Toronto, we finally got it. Then she promptly refused to do it again *laugh*. Smart kid - she knew we'd have her walking if she kept doing it!

To make up for not enjoying the hotel so much, we shopped lots *laugh*. Ok let me rephrase. We looked at lots of shops :) Being conscious of our baggage, we didn't go overboard and most of what we bought was for Cody anyways, so small stuff.

And a trip to Edmonton for the express intention of seeing and shopping at the West Edmonton Mall, wouldn't be complete without visiting the other attractions within the mall. We watched a whole bunch of ice skating at the skating rink, visited the amusement park and spent some time at the water park. Yay! :D

Cody had her first time on a carousel (white knuckles and shaking with fear but still able to force a smile and wave to her Mum as we swung by) and then her first time on a little ferris wheel with both of us. She probably wasn't as keen on that as she was by the end of the carousel ride (white knuckles aside *grin*). Grunge also had her first time in a wave pool. By gosh did she love that!! I don't think I have ever seen her quite as excited as waiting for the wave and then jumping with me as it came :) Them's the things ya remember.

All in all, there were so many firsts for us in Edmonton and I'm glad we didn't rush everything by trying to make it further north to see the northern lights :)