Afternoon at the Museum

Sunday afternoon, after we watched the parachute jump in the morning, and Eli had to go back to work. 

So, we went home and refuelled, then went over to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, which I had previously blogged about earlier this school year when I went there on a Professional Development Day.

We got into the museum (which is always FREE), and took off the parkas, full snowsuits and other winter paraphernalia and the girls took off to explore! 

Accustomed to the Museum of Natural History in Halifax, they were really hoping that there would be animals in the museum, and they were not disappointed. 

To boot, there was also a whole aviation section, dedicated to the aviation history of the North. 

HUGE models and actual planes were in this beautifully wood-finished room. 

Not surprisingly, Papa enjoyed it a whole bunch. 

They also had some really awesome OLD skidoos and snow machines.

And, this massive hand-carved prop. 

Miss G wanted to know if Daddy could maybe take her for a drive on the old skidoo.

I pointed out the disrepair, and she was disappointed, but happy to know that Daddy does have a snowmobile at home. 

Meanwhile, Miss A found the very best part of the museum.

Seriously.

Any doubt she is my daughter? 

There was beautiful Norther art featured in one room. 

This one has one extra face... wearing a pink shirt... 

Miss G really wanted to see a polar bear, but she was totally disgusted by this display. 

She said, "Why does the polar bear have to eat a seal?  Why can't it just eat crackers?" 

This beautiful whale installation is complemented by the wavy lights that make it look as if it is under water. 

Beautiful. 

And, not nearly as disturbing to Miss G as the polar bear exhibit. 

This glassed-in replica of a muskrat habitat was very realistic. 

These examples of Northern fishing gear caught Papa's eye.   

He thought that Romeo and Stafford would appreciate it!  And, Eli... naturally. 

Miss G really liked the ones with a baby and a Mommy. 

Hello, Mr. Bison in the corner. 

Miss A checked out the polar bear pants!  Fuzzy! 

Miss G took some time to fill out a comment card.

She drew a picture, wrote her name, and had me print, "I like the animals.  Like the wolf and the fox.  But not the polar bear." 

Miss A, however, wanted to say that she liked the polar bear. 

And, off they went. 

Look waaaay up! 

The end of our visit was at the Discovery section, with miniature Northern habitats. 

Miss A camped out in the tent, first. 

And, Miss G moved in next door in the log cabin. 

Papa went into the tee pee. 

It was pretty cool for little kids and big kids. 

Miss A found another mirror.

I've never done this before... 

Miss A also tired on the costumes there for the kids to "play house." 

They were a tad big, but she liked them a lot. 

This is the last picture I took, because within the next 30 seconds, Miss G slipped inside the log cabin and smacked her chin on a table.

She was biting her lip, and pierced a hole inside her mouth and under her lips on the skin.

Poor Miss G.

She cried, but handled it very well, considering how shocked she was.

What Goes Up Must Come Down

Eli has been very busy this last month, with the Exercise Arctic Ram in and near Yellowknife.

A perk, so to say, of helping to coordinate all the necessary air flights, is that Eli had a chance to fly in a helicopter this past Saturday to watch as 63 army people parachute in the final exercise.

I told him to take my camera.

Miss G told him to remember what colour the helicopter was.

He travelled in one that was red and white.

It was cold and early when Eli arrived at the location of the parachute drop. 

Lots of snowmobiles were part of this important military exercise-- the first for the North, and a very large exercise.

Helicopters are cool. 

Here comes the Hercules. Hercules!  Hercules!  Hercules!

Aaah!  He jumped! 

Aaah!  A whole bunch of them jumped! 

Oh.  Right.  They have parachutes.  And, they know what they're doing. 

Second round... 

Make no mistake.

It's freakin' cold up there!! 

Brr. 

Eli said it was quite a treat to be close to the action. 

On Sunday, the Department of National Defence put on a community relations day, and we went down on to Frame Lake by city hall.

Don't tell Nanny, but she's standing on a lake. 

They cleared a big space (on the lake that Nanny may or may not be standing on) to accommodate the military vehicles and the public, and the girls climbed up onto the snowbanks for a good view. 

It's a lot like going to the Air Show in the East, aside from the minor detail that it is -30 degrees Celcius. 

The girls were well dressed. 

And, they played in the white white snow to stay warm. 

They loved having Daddy there. 

This friendly dog enjoyed the kids and the snow, too. 

Don't you love his doggie parka? 

Miss G found an army tent, equipped with a lantern and a Coleman stove. 

Eventually, the plane arrived and began to circle.

Eli actually chartered this plane for the event. 

Miss G and Papa 

Miss A and Daddy. 

Miss A is giving the frozen eye here, because it was taking a while and she was getting cold, even with all her layers on. 

The first parachutist descended with flags. 

He landed.  But, he missed  a large orange circle, which Miss G thought was the target, so she was seriously disappointed in his parachuting abilities.  Disgusted, really.

The girls ducked back into the "warm tent" with Nanny as the next parachutists prepared. 

Miss G also had a chance to visit the heavy military vehicles. 

Here they arrive! 

See the white camo?

Once the parachute demonstration was done, we headed back to the cars, but stopped to visit the vehicles parked on the lake. 

Miss G was careful to do a complete inspection.