When we moved to Edmonton, we heard lots about its summer attractions -- the parks, festivals, markets, and all the rest. However, it seems that the main thing to do in the winter (that is, the other 10 months of the year :)) is go to The West Edmonton Mall. So, despite not really being "mall people", we have ended up going to the mall a few times this winter, and have had a surprisingly good time, in large part because of the mind-bogglingly wide range of things you can do. We stayed overnight at the Fantasyland hotel, watched minor hockey games, played in the wave pool, visited a petting zoo, and even found time to do a bit of shopping. Here is an assortment of pictures from our mall visits, to give you a sense of what we've been up to.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXrPmF5bj1OXp4fQKulGEfYtYTgrXpZUOhdolzMWWiDhbQS50xwxOfFJW1MOmtGijwDDcl5mDC_sZVY8smBC_k3vgyKKosApD6D7FpabQCvOelRB4mO7T0UQQrnCFQxA9Qvj1iY-G7o90/s320/DSCF2879.JPG)
Maybe we'll do this in July :)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTwM19ryTmubsUYcxVyfmsG1GsSfgiP1oEUOa5nC7ePmN1qxjEa1gi45STzDYgK0vlACj-dR3YPiqngVzBvbH2asJyeZhRqbWlh-YUoOZQuZnvgOopj6Ll-R0_EvT47SDIl5bK8p189Fo/s320/DSCF2898.JPG)
This was going on while we stayed at the hotel.
Watch for our duet on an upcoming show :)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibekX4B5Jza8Nfq6tDc2vduTwFQ6bSE0j8iBmKNqaUXJWB2S7aT_1vYgai2iK66gBIhFf-CTyYv_eAEAi6bMLi0O6ALoxhiN_kAO2VyEDC8HMo4-D6GCnv2Ioin3mwYUdHwLNdt77pNpEf/s320/DSCF2899.JPG)
Marika and Natasha posing with "Le Gnome",
who sells various kitchen gadgets
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8tYKMk-g_fY6PMQhJ_hnnbdTml-obAlvoEcOlXR2QG0itgwaspxRma9Sykk75pU33c8SwxUxbDOITo41i7DDe7t6LjYMoeBxItcxDb8y955CeZxzrpUlxM-Y5OfTZ-2QvoFH-1ib5VcW/s320/DSCF2902.JPG)
A statue commemorating Edmonton's
oily beginnings
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tIHIAWQHqcSzeTSgn5piyb38MsLJpaKciMyTYrl0XoRltyQ705pg84QvmM3qp0-4pDGMWFlPSnl4348cCUk-AIaupc7PrSO6bazDPqIg4Ub58hAfdz9gMu0Oih_PEMphUfyt99lwbhLg/s320/DSCF2888.JPG)
Sheep at the petting zoo
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCk9QQ8GVHubvSdfnpG_u9ktBu1sp_hWbrVPL6l1lm291Fuz3HdeCLQ9MXWZC5bxr39KLZBXIumtDksvJ6PIMxVHpcuxJ52aiA9skZZwRmsj5rDAxqCwfLDwrbP8FF3-I4wn02zM9gvF3/s320/DSCF3034.JPG)
Pigs at the petting zoo.
Natasha really likes watching these guys.
They're really little and their tails wag constantly.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnS8bwTEtPy6RpA2IhdXd1QbUKICFxn5RJZ6W-1LIItJC4oEUN5aix1AlIh-JqN7GgWh3nnEHSXJLsuY7h41O-anSDJ8zHQff5Bd-f0ZqoZLuxk5DQoYspz-sJTAgVnVEAjFX7TYDxHSWK/s320/DSCF3016.JPG)
The wave pool at the water park
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_j9fGciWrbUX7S920wSVy_9CnhAPzibwDG1smqiLLH3wxbLXA9NGxqCmxYsmEyCAgDmvQM_EULaZ2OLxkEkGADddfPVREf37LxDQukMSp90uBGlHAtK4MkoSxM228-erk8LiD1v2Q9Ok/s320/DSCF3000.JPG)
Natasha hanging out in an inner tube we stole from a child
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Dave, also relaxing
(We returned the inner tube once we took these pictures.)
PS. We're not really appearing on Canadian Idol, for those of you who weren't sure.