Winter Olympics -- last day

We slept in late this day because Rachel Claire was up for a while during the night. We went to see the Olympic flame because some fencing surrounding it had been taken down to allow better access to it by the general public...this had been a bit of an uproar the week we were there. We got there later than we planned but found a good vantage point on a bench. I think the photos are in a different day's entry.

Then we headed to the Vancouver Aquarium to replace the lost Sophie. Also stocked up on gifts to bring back home. I like to shop once, think about it and then come back and buy the things I remember...it helps me not be so impulsive.

Finally we headed for curling, our last sporting event (and one that had been looking forward to for 4 years since I had gotten the idea to come on this trip while watching the 2006 Torino Olympics!). I had been trying to explain curling to Rachel Claire along the way so she would understand it. We successfully got into the venue without any of our food getting taken away. It was actually quite close to our Vancouver home which was nice.

All of our favorite teams were playing: China, Canada, the United States. Plus the team with the snappiest outfits, the Norwegians! Rachel Claire had a meltdown about 2/3 of the way through the matches but she rallied and made it through. Curling is not terribly riveting if you don't know the rules quite well but we were sitting by some people who were very helpful in explaining. It didn't hurt that Canada had a walk-off over whoever they were playing (France I think) and they didn't even finish the game...done in the 7th inning or something. All during curling my camera was wigging out on me, and I could take a few photos but then had to take the battery out and put it back in...luckily it was our last day!

We made it home in time to have a delightful dinner with Holly and Roger (salmon salad as I recall -- they eat so wonderfully there!). I made an improvised mac n' cheese for Rachel Claire, her first batch in a week!

The next morning, Holly took us to the airport (yay!) and even though we were quite early (our flight got delayed) we needed almost all of that time to check our luggage. Luckily a nice man employed by the airline came around with suckers for all of the squirmy kids...including mine! And then they had a playground at the gate, an added bonus. Picked up a few last minute Olympic goodies including a snappy Canada jacket that I had been coveting (which were sold out at the Olympic store!).

We had good flights back and a short connection in Chicago. Our neighbor Jeanne picked us up (in our old car, which she bought from me) and it was cold and snowy here (after sunny and 50s the whole week there!). And, our wonderful neighbor cleaned off our car and sidewalk, so awesome! My ear was clogged when we got back and I was worried it would be stuffed up for weeks...but alas, when I woke up the next day it was all better, I was hugely relieved!

Strangely several things were awry when we got home...and I wasn't sure why. Rachel Claire was sure it was the leprechauns but it turns out that Sid the mysterious cat that had been sneaking into our basement had come in while we were gone. I think he got stuck in here for a few days and he scared poor Heather who came over to check the mail and such. He hasn't been back since, I think it scared him too to be stuck in here for days with no one to let him out...a good way to solve that problem!

All in all it was an awesome trip, something I'll cherish for ever. Looking forward to our next big adventure, whatever it might be! And now back to your regularly scheduled programming...actually not quite yet, a few photos that Roger took when he went to luge are up next. Cheerio!