Happy New Year! (Jan.1, 2026)

We had a good sleep in after our late night.

 

As you can see, even though she is little, she takes up the whole bed.

Eden was the last one to wake up.

She woke up in a good mood.

We called and got a late checkout so that we could take the girls for a swim before checking out.

Freya had made friends with a couple little girls that were here last time we stayed and they were still here this time so they had fun playing together.

They were sisters and they were really good with Eden too.

I love how kids just make friends so fast.

She loves going under the water and getting me to time how long she can stay under.

She's actually very good - she can stay under longer than I can.

I tried to find a floatie swimsuit for Eden but had no luck.

I'll order one online but for now she had to stay on the stairs but she was fine with that.

I really like the set up of the Sandman - this lobby area in the center of the hotel with the pool and hot tub is great.

While Jason and Freya played in the pool, Eden and I hung out in the hot tub.

Then they came and joined us so they could get warmed up.

It's a really deep hot tub - very nice.

I decided to give my sister a call to see how things were going for her.

Her son Declan decided that he wants to stay in NS with his dad so he can go to school with his friends and so she's having a bit of a hard time with that of course.

She was supposed to be flying back to AB today but told me she was going to try to change her flight.

I just wanted to check in.

Turns out she didn't change her flight and had in fact just landed in AB so we decided to stay another night in the city and go visit her and keep her company for the night.

But first the girls wanted to go back to the indoor playground we were at yesterday.

They have this room where you can watch your colorings come to life so we got pictures to color.

I helped Eden out with hers.

They scan it in for you then it pops up on the screen in this room and you can interact with it.

If you touch the screen, it will move or do something.

This was Eden's.

Trying to get a picture of her with it.

Freya colored a giraffe.

Here is hers come to life.

Jason colored a zebra.

There is his zebra.

The girls were hungry and they have a cafeteria area.

Freya really wanted a cheese pizza so we ordered one for us all to share.

Eden got a fruit roll up - she likes them.

She was super thirsty I guess!

Hiding out in her little hideout spot again.

Then back into the ball pit.

Not a worry in the world (which is exactly how it should be).

Of course Freya spent a lot of time back on the slide again.

There are lots of tubes to go through.

Eden loved it - Jason got a really good workout because he followed them around.

Eden trying to get up to the slide again.

She got a little further this time but it is very steep so she still wasn't able to make it up to the top.

Freya really loves that slide.

She makes the best faces.

Eden found something fun to do.

Test driving this jeep.

Hi Papa

After the playground, we headed over to Jen's.

They just recently opened a Jersey Mike's in North Edmonton so we stopped there for some subs for supper.

They were delicious.

The roads were snowy so the drive over there was slow again but we made it.

I was going to start back on WW again today and also I want to start making my 12,000 step a day goal again.

It wasn't very nice out so we decided to go to the gym in Morinville - it has treadmills and an indoor track.

Jen had a couple of free passes so Jason and I both went and she kept the girls for us.

Jason ran on the indoor track and I hopped on the treadmill.

It took me over 50 minutes to get to my 12,000 steps but I did it and it felt good.

Jason finished up the same time as I did.

I did end up ditching the start back to WW - I'll start that on Monday.

But I do feel good that I got going on the steps.

I had considered running 3k every day in January but that felt a bit out of reach right now since I haven't been running at all.

Maybe I can make that a goal for next month.

After our workout, we just hung out with Jen for the evening.

She's going to try to get posted back to NS now which I completely understand but I'm sure going to miss her.

I was so glad when she moved here, I just have to make sure to have lots of visits with her before she goes.

My total step count for today.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy!

Indoor Playground, Chop and Sandman Hotel - New Year's Eve 2025! (Dec.31, 2025)

We slept in this morning then had kind of a slow morning so it was later than we wanted when we finally dropped Miley off to her grandmothers then hit the road for the city.

The roads weren't the best so it was a slower drive but we made it safely and that is what is most important.

We headed straight to a new to us indoor playground that Jason found, Hide n Seek.

The girls were checking out these big figurines at the entrance.

Eden really liked it.

They both immediately loved the playground.

They headed straight for this super tall slide.

It was honestly kind of scary looking but the girls did it no problem.

There was another slide with these humps along the way down and Eden loved it.

Eden wanted to do it again and again.

I went down it with her a couple times myself.

They had a ball pit for the little kids and Eden just loved it.

We split up for a bit and I stayed with Eden while she explored.

She knows her way around.

She found a little area that she could crawl into and she laid there for a bit - proud of herself that she got in there by herself.

After playing for an hour or so, we stopped for a snack break.

Eden's little growly face cracks me up.

There was this super tall slide in the corner that you had to climb up.

There was a rope that you could use for assistance and some of the things that are on rock climbing walls.

It took Freya a few times but soon enough she was climbing that thing like a pro.

Sliding down the super slide.

She loved it and did it several times.

She tried it on her knees.

Check out her moves at the end.

Sweet!

Off to do it again.

Eden wanted to climb up and try the tall slide so we tried to help her.

It was pretty hard though.

Taking a break.

We couldn't get her up there but maybe we will try again another time.

Freya was loving this place - of all the ones we've been too thus far, this was her favorite.

We took Eden to the upstairs where there was a trampoline.

You could look through this peephole to see the playground down below.

We could see Freya down below - she found a few friends that she was playing for.

She always makes friends so easily.

After playing for a few hours, we left the playground and headed over to our dinner reservations.

Jason wanted to take Freya out for a steak dinner for New Years Eve because she loves steak so he made us a reservation at Chop Steakhouse.

Eden watching her baby 'Toks' while waiting for our dinner.

Eden and Papa.

Freya and I.

Because it was New Year's Eve, they brought us canapes on the house from the chef.

The also brought some for the girls.

Eden was loving her strawberries.

Yum Yum!

I ordered a Caesar salad as a starter and it was very good.

I ordered the filet with chimichurri (that's what sold me) and it was very good.

They had a child's steak and that is what Freya ordered.

Dinner and a show.

Jason got the rib eye - he said it was really good.

It came with a Yorkshire pudding which is what sold him on it.

We got Eden chicken tenders and fries and gravy which is her favorite.

She didn't eat a whole lot of it but she did eat some.

Then we ordered Freya the cheesecake for dessert and I got the upside down pineapple cake.

The whole meal was really great and I think we all enjoyed it then the best part was that the restaurant was right at the Sandman Hotel where we were staying so we didn't have far to go.

We checked in then took the girls swimming until the pool closed at 10 pm.

Freya wanted to play spies and go out in the hotel - there were lots of other kids hanging out in the lobby area with their parents and I think Freya just hoped to get a chance to play with some of them.

While they went out and did that, I got some Eden snuggles in which are rare for me.

She snuggled right in to me and I loved every moment.

Smiling for the camera.

Awww.

Happy New Year Mom & Dad.

Jason and Freya made it back to the room before midnight and we actually did the countdown together.

I think it's been a few years since I was actually awake at midnight on New Year's Eve.

We did go to sleep not too long after that - it was a perfect way to spend the evening.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy!