Summer Vacation Beginnings

Summer has been exciting and starting it with a visit from my family was amazing! If only they could have stayed longer or we could have done more!! We didn't even make it downtown to show them all of the wonderful areas to explore! Oh well, next time for sure.

with my nephew Tyler

CN Tower

We did go see a baseball game, which is tradition and so much fun. No we didn't win, but we had two home runs and the first one from Bautista the camera panned the crowd and my hubby at home saw my sis and I dancing away. Of course not our best view from behind, but nonetheless we were on t.v. Maybe a little embarrassing to our children we celebrated every hit like it was a home run and every out like it was the last one. We had fun no matter how silly we looked or sounded.

We also went to Wonderland and I discovered why I don't go as often. My oldest doesn't want to go on the big rides and is too tall for kiddie rides. He says he had fun, but how much fun can you have riding kiddie rides? My hubby, sister, my nephew Drew, and I did ride some of the big ones. Leviathon was new and really fun. My sister didn't enjoy it too much. Behemoth was awesome as always. The kids had a blast in the wave pool. Me personally? I would rather be in my backyard than swim in the public wave pool with all of those people and floating band-aids. Don't even get me started. We rode a few more rides, but were literally so exhausted we couldn't handle any more.

Taxi jam

In line for Leviathon

As you can see Maddox was the only lucky one who actually got to take a nap.

A big event in my life I got to go through the temple for the first time with my mom as my escort. It was an amazing experience and one that has definitely brought me closer to my Saviour and the spirit was so strong I could feel my dad there with me as well. If you want to know more about my church or even what happens in temples look here.

photo credit my friend Laurie Davidson

Sadly when people come visit me I don't take as many pictures as when I visit others. strange I know, but one week with them here and I am not sure I took even 50!! Oh well hopefully next time I'll be better.

Love this group shot!

Can't wait for the next time we meet again!!

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Vacation 2011

So I thought I would share this photo book with you. I cannot promise that I won't post some of the same pictures and blog more about my vacation. I had such a fun time playing that I might have to talk about it for a while. Enjoy!

Click here to view this photo book larger

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VACATION!!!

yay! I am off to sunny, humid Singapore. Leave in the middle of the night tomorrow and will be gone for 6 weeks! I know I am truly very excited. A break from making lunches and being a driver. Well pretty much from a lot of my motherly duties. I am most excited about getting to have some one on one time with my hubby. I know ewww, but seriously not having family here can really make those times scarce. So I am thankful for in-laws who love my children and can't wait to spend some good quality time with them. Let's just hope they don't get sick of us before we depart and can't wait for their lives to resume as usual.

I will do my best to keep on blogging. Especially about my trip and all the great stuff Singapore has to offer. Forgive me now because I will be sure to have lots of food pictures because that is what is most missing in my life in Canada from Singapore. Not all of it looks pretty but I assure you it tastes incredible! Twenty-four hours from now my best friend's hubby will be driving me and two of my kiddos to the airport. Why am I blogging now when I still have tons to do? I don't know I guess I am just excited and have to share the news.

Singapore here we come!

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Foie Gras Farm

I almost forgot about these pics. They were on my phone. I found it so exciting that I had to take lots of pics. I know I am a country girl living in a city probably too long, but this is definitely only found in the country. I stopped here to get a birthday present for a friend. I heard it was supposed to be really good. Foie Gras. If you haven't had it before it is goose liver made into pate with truffles. I bought three containers and then as she was kindly putting them in a great brown paper sack she told me she had a farm that was open to the public out back.

I had seen the geese when I pulled up and actually thought to myself, "Isn't that convenient to have the shop right at the farm". I quickly said yes and we ran out back. As you can see we found a lot more than just geese. (chickens according to Maddox)







McKayla found her family! She is calling out to them.



The nice man opened the gate and held one so that the kids could pet them. McKayla loved it, but Maddox was a little uncomfortable with that idea.



Much better when there is a fence between us don't you think?



These had gotten out, but McKayla was a good shepherd and got them back inside the gate.



They were happier here anyway there is a pond.



After seeing this big baby I was in the mood for Thanksgiving. The guy feeding them said that here it is puffing up itself to look really big so we would get scared away. He did look pretty mean I was going to test it.



They opened the cage so that the kids could pet the rabbits.



But as you can see they didn't want to go near my kids.

I think it was a perfect way to end our trip in St. Agapit and the recipient of the foie gras seemed happy for the gift. So we piled in our car and hit the road again. I think it is good for my city kids to get out in the country and experience a slower, quieter pace of life. I think it was a hit! Thank you friends for making it a great vacation!

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Embrace the Camera: September 16, 2010

So these are really the last of my vacation photos. This is in Montreal and a fabulous friends backyard. The sun was setting and I ran to take as many pictures of the kids I could. It was hard since they wanted to play, but they did cooperate.







And Marcus even took some photos of me with Maddox and McKayla. Not perfect, but he did a good job getting us in the photo.





I actually took better pics of kids that were not my own, but since they are not my own I will not post them. Our vacation was fun and I tried to make a conscience effort to be in as many photos with them as I could. Seeing as I didn't have hubby with me I think I did a good job. Makes me happy because my little monkey sees these pictures and it puts a smile on his face. Then, he starts to babble about what? I really I don't know, but I know it is good.

Thanks for joining me and you should really join Emily and embrace the camera with me.

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Day Five Quebec: Part Two

So on really our last fun-filled day in St. Agapit we tried to stuff a lot into one day. Horses in the morning, poutine for lunch, and then to the Chute in St. Agathe for the afternoon. (As well as I made a chocolate cake for Mika. Her Birthday was on day three and no one told me!! So using my sister Stephanie's recipe I made a deliciously moist chocolate trifle cake.)



The kids went on an adventure. Climbed up and over rocks and swam in the semi-cold water trying their best to get as close as possible to the waterfall. Monkey and I followed as best we could tag-teaming it up and around all of the rocks.





As Monkey and I tried to make our way there he was always ready to pose for me. I thought we had some great mommy and monkey bonding moments. He was really good to follow my instructions like "don't move", "stay right there", "be careful", "wait for mommy", etc.



I was really proud of him.

and then he had a little too much fun.

this is him about 3 seconds before he threw mud on me.



and yes I was wearing white and shouldn't have. We continued to have a mud fight, but he didn't like the mud being thrown at him. I wonder why?



The big kids climbed their way back to us and then we had our snacks by the edge of the water and were on our way home. I had to bribe them with the chocolate cake to give Mika and I some peace and quiet in the car!



mmm...I need another occasion to make it. Thanks sis it was really yummy!

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Day Five Quebec: Part one: horses again

So on Day Five we just had to go ride the horses again this time with saddle, but being as the pony we new she had a brand new saddle and the stirrups needed to have new holes punched for the little kids so instead we just grabbed the reigns and they got to go solo. McKayla was a natural. She had no fear going at it alone. She even had it trotting. I didn't take any more video, but I did get lots of great photos.

McKayla ride the most. She didn't want to quit. So you can see I got a lot more photos of her.


This photo is a little deceiving because Marcus looks so happy. I think he had fun, but I only took this one picture and then I got nervous because he was nervous. She didn't want to listen to his commands. Granted he is quiet, but I think she could smell that he was nervous because she went off and did her own thing. He didn't fall off again, but he also only rode her once that day. I think he had enough of the horses.



My Monkey enjoyed himself again. As you can see he even held on to the mane as tight as he could. McKayla did a good job steering the horse while he was on. Mika was even impressed with how he rides with his heels down which apparently how you are supposed to ride a horse. I think he just had his foot flexed to keep from falling off the horse!



The kids also allowed me to take some photos of them and Julie couldn't help herself she loved it! Doesn't Julie look like she could be McKayla's sister?

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Day Four in Quebec: Musee du Civilisation

Alright so I told you about this museum that was free for kids and super cheap for adults. Well now you get to see some pics. It was so much fun. My favorite part was the fairytale world. So much fun first you get to pick a costume...



In my dream world I have money to buy gorgeous fabrics and super fabulous sewing machines and on top of that top notch sewing skills and don't forget endless hours to create. Alas, I do not have any of these things so that is why I was in love when I walked into this room. Did I dress up? Oh yeah!



McKayla and Monkey/Puss in Boots would not stand still long enough for me to get a decent picture. They were so excited as the ran up the tower to go down the slide,



played in the witch's/Three Little Pig's house (you can see in the background the blocks that had a different image on each side including candy for the witches house),



jousted,



stepped on musical footprints,



helped Jack climb the beanstalk,



stuck their hands in creepy holes in the trees,

got inside a tree and freaked out when lightening and creepy witches cackled,



climbed through tiny doors,



sat on large leaves (I think from like Thumbelina or something),



and sat in a carriage.



I know a lot to do huh? Can you imagine having a play room built like that? Being able to go into another world whenever you want. It was very cool.

At one point we took off our costumes because it got hot and we were done. Then, we found the other room where McKayla found the little door and funky mirrors.

The Egypt section of the museum was also a lot of fun the dressed up in egyptian clothing,



and played an egyptian game (Which they played so loudly a security guard came over to tell us to keep it down. So embarrassing! )



They played the circular game not the rectangle one. I would have taken photos as they played, but like I said earlier I was trying to keep them calm and watch out for cheating. Apparently everyone at some point or other cheated. Marcus one which made him super happy. He can be competitive at times.

It also had a room about mummies and how they were prepared and things very hands on including fabric organs you sort into the different jars. Also rubber hearts you put on a scale to weigh and see if it is lighter than the feather. Monkey liked the mummy and opening up the flaps to see the different things they used to keep it.

There was also a science type area with different kinds of rocks, an earthquake simulator, a tornado simulator, and little mini quizzes about oceans and seas, etc. They enjoyed it too, but as you can see I didn't find it fascinating enough to take any pictures. sigh.

Hopefully you were not too bored with this post. I think it went on a little too long, but I definitely recommend going if you are ever in Quebec City!

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