Take Off Fridays at YVR

Mommy found out that every Friday in July and August, the Vancouver International Airport hosts Take Off Fridays, a family friendly way to experience YVR.  Discounts are offered at YVR merchants, a map is provided to help you find your way to cool spots that you normally may not get to experience when you're rushing to catch your flight, and some fun activities and treats for the kiddos.  So Mommy and the Little Dumers went last Friday and had a grand old time.

 We listened for a while to this fun ensemble called The Cannery Row Cajun Band

 And while Mommy held their place in line, Jordy and Cygni climbed around the Bill Reid sculpture

Mommy was very thankful this was so diverting for them, as the wait was over a half hour for face-painting!

 Cygni asked for a butterfly

 ooh, pretty!

 And Jordy asked for a light blue star!

 After getting something to eat and getting some lollipops from the information ladies, we waited in another half hour queue for balloon animals.  The Cool Balloon Guy was busy!  He was so inundated with youngsters that he rather than complex multi-balloon figures, he announced that he was only making swords or flowers, but Jordan stepped up and ALL BY HIMSELF requested a blue doggy!  And The Cool Balloon Guy kindly obliged, it was so simple though, that he could do it without looking, and he did!

Cygni was up next and before she could make her request for a kitty cat, The Cool Balloon Guy said, if we wouldn't mind letting him surprise us he had a single balloon animal he would like to make for her that was very cute too.  Imagine Mommy's surprise when a few twists of a white balloon later he presented little C with a Swan!  She informed him that our little girl is named after The Swan constellation!  And he laughed and said, he knew that, and that I should come back next week when he would tell our futures!  Not to worry about Cygni being disappointed, she loved her little swan, and gave it lots of kisses!

 We had a lot of fun but two long line-ups was a bit much for the kids and Mom so we resolved to head home.  On our way we ran into Grizzly Bear and Brown Beaver and the kids said hi, and gave hugs and high-fives.  Jordy also tweaked Beaver's nose.  Beav was a good sport about it though!

It was a fun visit out to YVR, but Mommy got very lucky with the Little Dumers' patience for queueing that day.  And it's always cool to people watch at the airport.  Maybe we'll try one more Take Off Friday before the summer ends.  You know, just to see how far we can push our luck.