The sound of spring and a nice warm day

I was already enjoying it, looking out the bathroom window to find the source of the sound - chirping birds - when A came running up the stairs.  "The birds are back!!"  And we both shared a few minutes listening to the sweet noise we'd failed to realize had been absent for months.  It's not the daffodils being seen already in Vancouver, but still a welcome pleasure . . .

S is currently in Toronto on a work trip and A has come down with a cold, so church this morning wasn't a good option.  However, since she's such a non-complainer when sick, we headed out to The Forks, once again discovering why we love it so much.    There are now small ice rinks for impromptu hockey games or for ice skating or dancing scattered around the area, linked by ice pathways.  Ice paths also extend down and connect to the River Trail:  5 kms of maintained ice on the Red River (I think its usually more than that, but its been such a warm winter).   There are warming huts along the way, so the kids enjoyed playing in an ice igloo.  Fortunately the temperature was hovering around zero, so it wasn't a problem that all three of them stuck their tongues on the the surface.  They got a good lecture about not doing that outside, that normally it's much colder and their tongues could get stuck, etc.  But maybe I'm wrong . . .  does that only happen on metal?  I'm not wanting them to demonstrate, anyway!

The Forks also has a little toboggan hill, so next time I'll bring some sleds.  Instead, the kids climbed a nearby pile of reject, dirty snow.  Having such fun, they soon attracted a group of others and it turned out to be a rowdy spot.  Iz did her usual routine of carrying around a hunk of snow and chomping on it.

The sun and location made for such a nice morning - all of it free!  That's one of the things I enjoy about Winnipeg.  It doesn't take long to get around, especially from where we live, and its such a kid-friendly city.  There are lots of different cheap options out there, even the movie A went to see shortly after we got home.  Neighbour Sue and her daughter took A along to Cinematheque for their free 'Cabin Fever' movie, offered each Sunday afternoon through the winter months.  Not bad for a "sick day."  We'll see how she fairs tomorrow . . .