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Twilight, Travel, and Treats

Reflections of a Twihard on all things twilight, travel, and treats.

More Olympic Mascot Toys


Mr. TC made my day yesterday. Not only did he take the kids out while I stayed home but he came home bearing gifts.

He got me the only McDonald's Olympics Toys that I had been missing.

Goalie Quatchi moves limbs up/down when rolled


Luge Quatchi


When rolled Luge Quatchi gets Asian eyes
(yes, I can say it because I'm Chinese)

I had to line up the whole collection and take a pic - I was overflowing with giddiness.

This is the suggested lineup from the McDonald's toy
"instructions." I'm a sucker for manuals of any kind. 


I couldn't help but take a pic with mini-Edward

Quatchi teaching Edward the 2 Man Luge


Seriously 2 Man Luge is a real event. It's not some twisted gay porn activity.

See?


Olympics Mascots On Ice


Remember how in my Olympic hockey post my eldest got to meet Quatchi and Miga and I was sad that our youngest one missed it? Well, we pulled the youngest from school on a sunny Thursday to rectify that situation.

I had just bought the boys some Olympics Mascots hats since they were 50% off at the shop next to my office - score!

This is a photo of my youngest sporting sunglasses and loving his Miga hat. Funny how you can't tell if he's napping or not under all that.

My gangsta Miga boy


He really had fallen asleep. Even the 4 year old gangsta has an entourage to carry him around.

Mr. TC gets a workout being the entourage


As promised we trudged through the throng of people and made it to Robson Square - better known as GE Plaza during the Olympics. They've got a free outdoor skating rink with $3 skate rentals. A good deal and I'm happy they brought this rink back after many years without it.

Vancouver Art Gallery all dolled up
- looks like Vivienne Tam did it don't you think?


You know Mother Nature has a strange sense of humour when there are cherry blossoms out during the 'Winter' Olympics. She usually saves them for the Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring.

By the way, there is a Zip Trek line going above Robson Square. It's about 6 stories over this major social hub in Vancouver and people travel over 550 feet across. And you get to zoom in the sky across all these people while strapped into a harness for free. Which of course means massive lines (like 4 hours and over).

Hope the logos don't wear off the glass too quickly


Anyways, back to the Mascot skate. Canadian kids spend a lot of time at the ice rink. Thank goodness they love Zambonis and any other form of ice cleaning machine. It keeps them busy while waiting.

After they cleared the ice they put up an inflatable staging area at the other end of the rink. Thank goodness we guess properly where to stand because you couldn't see anything from the other side.

See those people behind the barricade? Sucks to be them


Finally the mascots came out and there were major cheers. Most of us had been standing for about 40 minutes, not too bad but a long wait for the kids.

They each did a lap walking around and hugging almost every kid who was by the rail. It was awesome! My son was in heaven and had his arms out the whole time just waiting for his hug.

First came Quatchi

He is gigantic


Acting oh so shy - they've got the
meek Asian bit down pat


Then Sumi

Sumi totally hams it up for the camera


Doesn't it look like he's giving you the finger?


And lastly, my sons favourite, Miga!

Too busy trying to keep my son from climbing
over the rail to take a good photo


They eventually came up with a dance that seemed to fit Vancouver. Lots of blues, greens, and sealife. The costumes were quirky but the kids loved them.

These glowing guys remind me of earplugs

Jellyfish


Hockey Quatchi came out to play too


My son left with an awesome smile on his face but the one question all the kids had was "Where is Mukmuk?" I told my son "Mukmuk is having a nap because he's so little." He seemed to buy it.

Here are some around Robson Square pics that I thought to throw in as well

Can you tell I love these hats?


The entrance to Pacific Centre Shopping Mall gets
turned into an igloo


With matching polar bears outside


Throng of people at GE Plaza just hanging out


And my favourite sign for the day should have been this - the biggest Canadian Flag in the world

World's Biggest Canadian Flag
corner of Georgia and Howe Street


Or even this one



But instead it was this one - it made me go back through the crowd with my cell phone.



Okay, going to Women's Hockey Semi-final tomorrow night with Mr. TC and both kids. Wish us luck.

More Olympic Mascots


I've been finding the little Olympic Mascots in the funniest places. I picked up a free Olympic map the other day and was happily surprised with the mascot graphics strewn throughout. I got strange looks from Mr. TC as I was taking multiple iphone pics of our map.

You'll notice that Sumi is missing since he is the Paralympic Mascot so we'll be seeing him in March at the Paralympic Games. Of the pics below my favourites are the Mukmuk referee and the strange shot of Quatchi giving Miga an orange while she is holding a purse. It just seems very Asian.











(Sorry to Dangrdafne that the Mukmuk shots couldn't be better. I know you love the little guy).


Our first Olympics Womens Hockey Game


So, last weekend, I brought my eldest kid to my Alma Mater the University of British Columbia (UBC) to watch an Olympics Womens hockey game. It was the first Olympic hockey game for the 2010 games so it was exciting for all. I hadn't planned on going at all. But the night before I was pleasantly surprised when Mr. TC offered to stay at home and watch our little one while I went out for the Olympics. So sweet.




UBC's Museum of Anthropology

Not only was it surreal bringing my son to UBC (where I had spent a good 10 years of my life) but being there for the Olympics made it unforgettable.

Outside the brand new Thunderbird Stadium we were greeted by these interesting ladies - they reminded me of something that belonged in Fifth Element and my son was too afraid to go take a photo. A cross somewhere between Nordic Supremes and Alien Miss Piggy they spoke with these fake Swedish accents and were hilarious.




Interesting Nordic Alien Supremes to greet
us outside Thunderbird Stadium


We were also greeted by Quatchi and Miga. I was as excited as my 7 year old. Also a bit sad as my 4 year old had just said the night before "Mommy, I really want to meet Miga. I love her!" Hopefully we'll catch up with them again when we have the little one with us.


I realized that I'd never taken my son to a hockey game before by myself. He asked me lots of questions about rules and other things that normally my husband would answer. It finally dawned on me that I had actually absorbed lots of hockey info growing up in Canada and watching hockey with Mr. TC for almost 20 years.



Sweden vs. Switzerland Womens

We watched Sweden versus Switzerland. There were a lot more Swedish fans and the guy next to us even had a Team Sweden umbrella.

Swedish fans everywhere


Not that I don't like hockey but I couldn't help taking some more shots of Olympics signs all over the place.

Very cool centre ice


On the pane of glass in front
of our seats


I've been watching Canucks games for so long the "Let's Make Noise" and "Score!" announcements have gotten a bit old. Being as mascot obsessed as I was it was awesome when I saw that all the announcements on the video screens had Quatchi, Miga, and Mukmuk on them. I took video of all of them on the pretense that I was taping them for my 4 year old.

One of many Olympic Mascot announcements


I wish I could post all the videos right now but I can't. Silly Wordpress.com limits before and now I'll figure out blogger too.

We headed off to the gift shop and I almost caved and bought my son the souvenir hockey stick but instead he got a puck (much more likely to get opened and flung around the house).

Miga & Quatchi souvenir puck


I'll eventually go back to Opening Ceremonies and also meeting Wayne Gretzky on top of Grouse Mountain at 4am!

I love the Olympic Mascots. Ever since they were released over 2 years ago I've been seeing their merchandise for sale and working hard to resist. The most comprehensive collection is sold at The Bay and Zellers. They sell tons of things including pins.

Miga Mogul pin in honour of our First Gold Medal on Canadian soil


So where to get Olympic Mascot stuff for cheap?

Well, I've been going to McDonald's so often it's making me sick. But I am on a mission to collect all of the Olympic Mascot toys so it's worth the extra trips. So far this is our lineup

They connect up together


You've met Snowboarding Miga who wiggles when she's rolled


Quatchi & Miga in a bobsleigh that
moves up/down when rolled


Sumi alpine skiing wiggling when rolled


Sumi almost looks majestic


Miga figure skating twirls when rolled


Quatchi ski jumping moves up/down when rolled


Such a funny angle for the ski jump


Sumi playing ice sledge hockey moving
his stick when rolled


I'm missing the last two - Quatchi goalie and Quatchi luge. I think the goalie will be hard to find considering it's our national obsession. Won't hurt to keep looking...

Speaking of looking, I was staring at the McDonalds display I noticed something that I know won't end up as a toy.

Miga doing skeleton


For those of you summer sports people, Miga is doing skeleton which is like luge but face first.

Doubtful that McDonald's will make a toy where you can slam Miga's face straight into something but if they made it I would want to collect it too.

On a local note, I found the cheapest price so far for Olympic Mascot plush with red mittens.

Mukmuk wearing famous red Olympic mittens


Save-On Foods has them for $9.99 with your Save-On Card. Better than the $16 minimum I've seen everywhere else.

Okay, lastly, let's see what Mini-Edward got up to today.

More bobsledding practice


Miga teaches Mini-E how to figure skate


Next post, more Olympics touring and Opening Ceremonies.