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Published July 30, 2010 @ 21:15 by Tania in Kids Activities

One of our family traditions is a visit to the souvenir shop on the last day of our vacation, where the kids are each allowed to pick out one souvenir. I am not sure exactly how this evolved, but I am sure it has something to do with them knowing that they would get something for sure on the last day, so we don't have to listen to them ask for something everyday of the trip.

They are trilled by the prospect of wandering the aisles and picking something of their very own. Unfortunately, I am sure that this is the actually translation for souvenir:

sou-ve-nir n. From the French for recall, or memory; modern usage - bringing home a bunch of stuff that has no use but to collect dust.

Today's shopping option was the souvenir shop in the Ottawa Travelodge. The kids were seriously excited, and I was not.

It was your typical motel shop. A two-metre-square confectionery/momento haven, filled with everything that you will never need, most with the word, "Canada" plastered across it. There was everything that you will find in ANY souvenir shop in Canada:

• The Mountie Moose



• Many Mountie Teddy-Bears


• Playing Cards


• Soap Stone Sculptures


• Paper Weights


• Snow Globes


• Key Chains


• Magnets


• Pins


• T-Shirts


• Mini-Tour Buses


• Planes


• Trains


• Postcards


• Hats


• Bottles of Maple Suryp


• Hand Towels


• Etc.

When shopping for souvenirs, I try to steer the kids towards one of two items: food or T-shirts. My theory is that at least they wear the T-shirts, and the perishable items don't last too long in our family. And most souvenir shops have either fudge, a wonderful sugary love-substitute, or "moose-droppings" (chocolate covered almonds, for those of you who don't know!)

Of course, the kids wandered, and wandered and wandered and select nothing. 15 minutes in I had to remind them that McDonald's only serves breakfast until 10:30 am. At 20 minutes I sent their father in to deal with them. 8 minutes later he came out with three children, 1 new webkinz (yes, I know!), a stuffed husky, and an Ottawa Canadian Flag Pin... and a $37 Visa bill.