Back to School

They are back to school.  Leah Grade 11 this year and Blake in Grade 8. Time is just flying by.  Both were not excited to go back this year.  Leah has got a full schedule, but good classes.

Blake has made a goal to pay more attention in school this year.  He does very well, but wants to improve.  I think they will both have a fun year. They are learning to get along better with out Cora. Not really much to say.  Remember who you are, study hard, pay attention, be kind, and good luck.

Montreal Part 2

Monday morning when we met back up we had planned to see the Old Port of Montreal.  As we were walking toward the boardwalk we saw this life size pirate ship with lots of rope obstacle courses.  Dave went to investigate as it looked like a really fun activity.  Turns out it is called Violes en Violes.  Which translates to Sails to Sails.  They have a life size pirate and naval ship that has multiple course going between at different levels of difficulty.  They highest is 35 feet off the ground.  They climbed around for just over 2 hours and still did not get on all the courses.  It was so fun.  

Some neat buildings we could see from the top of the pirate ship.

When Dave and the kids were done playing, we walked around the boardwalk and sat by the lake for our picnic lunch.  After lunch we walked back to see Notre Dame.  We took the tour because Cora loves history and it ended up being quite interesting.  It was then time to go back to the Mission Office.  It was really neat to see how everyone was excited to see Myrna and to help her fill an order.  Blake got a little antsy at this point.  He had a bad headache from the heat, it was seriously so hot and humid, we felt wet and sticky the whole time. Anyways I sat out on a couch with him for a while and we talked, which was nice, as everyone helped with the last few things.  Cora loved being around all the missionaries and Myrna told everyone about her call.  They were all so excited for her.  For dinner we tried another poutine place.  So many different kinds of poutine.  Cora has been planning a poutine party and we discussed how it would be fun to have others bring different toppings for it.  Like a poutine bar.  I think it would be a great party idea.  The one that Cora and I shared below had pulled pork, apples and a maple sorta sauce.

We stopped by Myrna's FHE group to meet those that we hadn't yet and then went for ice cream.  The ice cream shop she took us took was awesome.  Lots of different dip flavors for soft ice cream, hard ice cream, and gelato, plus lots more.  It was so good. 

Tuesday we decided to go to Mont Royal.  We took a bus most of the way and then hiked up the rest of the way.  It was not a hard hike, but again very hot.  Beautiful look out spots.

We had packed a lot of snack because we wanted to have and earlier dinner.  So we snacked as we walked around.  After going to the top and back we got back on the bus for a short ride and a long walk to another church. I wish I could remember the name.  It was not a really ornate church, and I liked it.  Myrna had told us it was 300 steps to the top and I was worried.  But they were easy steps and fun to do.  I actually enjoyed all the walking.  Dave said I looked like I was not having fun most of the time, which is to bad, because I was.  I just don't do well in heat.

We said good-bye to Myrna earlyish after one last stop at the ice cream place.  We had to get up at 4 in the morning Wednesday to catch the bus for the airport.  We made it without trouble.  We had a layover where Cora lives so she just didn't continue on with us and had a friend pick her up at the airport.  It worked out great.  We then got on the tiniest plane my kids had ever been on.  It only sat about 30 people and never got very high.  We didn't make it above the clouds.  We could feel all the air currents.  Blake absolutely loved it.  He kept looking at us with pure joy explaining, " we are going to die!!" 

But we landed safely.

It was a really great trip.  I am so glad we were able to make it work to go.  I loved taking my family to Palmyra and it was so good for Cora to see Grandma.  It will be a long time until they see each other again.  And it is always nice to get away from life for a bit. 

Montreal Part 1

Saturday we finally met up with Grandma. The whole reason for the trip out east. It was so good to see her.  The kids were excited.  We had wondered if Blake had grown since February, I guess he had since Grandma was surprised at how tall he had gotten.  

It was fun to see where she is living and the grocery store she uses.  From her apartment she can get right on the metro and to shopping at IGA without going outside.  Great for winter.  We helped her pick up food for an upcoming Zone Conference and then went to the local fruit stand.  It was so cute.  Lots of variety of fruit and all fresh and delicious.

We walked down to a park and had a brown sack lunch.  Myrna bought fruit and it was so good.  After lunch we walked around Old Montreal.  It really is so neat.  I can see why people say it is like being in Europe.  The buildings are beautiful.

As we were walking around Myrna showed me a cool shoes shop she knew I would enjoy, we saw an out door market and then an 18th century market.  They were dressed in full costume.  Interesting to see.

We attended a Mass.  Also tried to see Notre Dam but it was closed for their mass.  Across the street was a protest, Dave had a fun conversation with one of the guys.  All very friendly and respectful.  The protest was how they treat animals, Dave explained that we treat our animals very well, and if we didn't raise them, they would go extinct.  Nobody raised cows for the fun of it.  etc etc.  They chatted for a while, it was kinda fun.  We walked a lot on Saturday and we so tired that night, but we loved seeing everything.  We had so much we wanted to pack into a few short days.  I commented to Dave about how it seems most people go somewhere to relax for vacation and we always seem to try to fit in as much as possible and go go go.  But we want to see and experience so much.  For dinner that night we went to a place called Deno (I think that is what it was)  Dave and Blake tried the famous Montreal Smoked Meat.  Blake wasn't a big fan but said it was ok.  After dinner we got back on the metro, said goodbye at grandma's stop and continued to our place.  The next morning was up and ready for church. I always enjoy attending church in other places.  I love that it is the same around the world.  Except we were served watermelon in Sunday School.  I don't get that in my ward. That is enough to make me go back. ;)

After church Myrna made dinner for us at her apartment.  The kids had been saying that they missed Grandma's Cordon Bleu a few weeks ago and that is what she served us.  It was just as good as they remembered.  With cheesecake.  Delicious!  We just hung out and relaxed for a while.  We had decided to go look at something, I can't remember what, but when we got out of the metro it started pouring.  We were close to the mission office, so we went there instead and looked around and saw where and how she spends her days.  Then is was time to head back to bed.

Palmyra

After our night in Buffalo, we got up and drove to Palmyra.  It was about a 2 hour drive.  Everything was so green and beautiful.  During lunch we had a lady talking to us and in the conversation she mentioned how dry it was for them.  Later Leah said she thought it was kinda funny since the province next to us is literally on fire.  But really it is what you are used to right.  We went to the Smith farm first.  This tiny house is where Joseph grew up.  It was amazing to see how they really maximized the little room they had.

We walked down a short lane to a bigger house they lived in for about 5 years before they lost it and then had moved back into the smaller one.  When they moved back some of the kids were already married and the in-laws and all moved in as well.  It would have been crazy packed.

I loved Lucy's kitchen.  Apparently she was pleased with her sink.  It was stone and had a plug in it to let the water drain to outside. 

Pantry above and Threshing barn below.

We then got to wander around the Sacred Grove.  It was a very special experience to be there.  It is still very peaceful and it was neat to walk around and ponder.

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.  Seeing all the things that Joseph had to go through and his family.  I know this church is true and it was an incredible sacrifice for them all to restore it to the Earth. 

We then went for lunch and had the best hamburger and milkshakes.  We really wanted to go back again the next day, but we left before they opened.  After lunch we went to the original spot that the Book of Mormon was printed. I can not even imagine setting all those tiny letters one by one by one to bring us this great book.  5000 Book of Mormon books were ordered to be printed in the first printing.  It took 7 months to print and 17 month to bind.  The binding process was also fascinating.

Next stop was Hill Cumorah.  We watched some wonderful videos and hiked up the hill to the spot Joseph Smith received the golden plates.  Another great experience.

We drove down to the Whitmer farm for our last stop of the day.  It was all so special and I am so glad I got to share that with my family.  Stories I had not heard before, and neat experiences.  I can't describe how much the time in Palmyra meant to us all. We stayed in Rochester that evening.  In the morning we went back to Palmyra and did temple baptisms.  I love that my whole family is old enough to do this together.

Beautiful temple, another beautiful experience.

I wish I could explain the feelings, emotions, and the wonderfulness of touring the Church History site with our kids.  To feel the Spirit and share that together was very sacred and special.  It truly was an exceptional experience. After baptisms we made the 5 hour trip back up to Montreal.  We made a complete circle around Lake Ontario.  Returned our car and figured out the metro and bus system so we could get around Montreal.  We made it to the place we were staying.  I was quite concerned.  It seemed very sketchy, and the kitchen was not super clean, good thing we didn't need it much.  But the bathroom was new and clean and the sheets were clean so we made the best of it.

Little Side Note: All over the Palmyra area they had these cute little stands.  Lots sold corn, some watermelon, tomatoes, even raw milk and eggs.  Flowers at one. But what I loved is that no one was tending them.  They all had a box you put the money in and took your stuff.  It was all honor system.  Coolest thing.  We got nectarines from one and they were delicious.

Toronto-Niagrara

A couple of weeks ago we went up to get all of Cora's stuff.  She has found a furnished apartment for the last few months that she will be up there.  Leah had to work, but the rest of us went up.  Cora didn't get off work until 3 so we didn't have to leave at the crack of dawn.  She was packed and completely ready to go, when she got home it took only about 20 mins to get her all loaded up.  We brought her back with us since we would be leaving soon on our trip.  We had a nice relaxing Sunday and Monday, went through a box of clothes she has been saving for possible mission outfits and cleaned the house.  Tuesday we left.  These kids were so excited to get back on a plane again.  It truly is one of their favorite things.  With out fail, Leah got picked at the airport for extra security scans.  She said it was pretty said that she pretty much just walked over to the scan area and knew just how and where to stand.  She seriously gets it every time.

We landed in Montreal and found our car rental.  They upgraded us to a car with GPS for free and that ended up being such a life saver.  As usual before a trip, Dave had gone online and figured out all the roads and easiest routes.  But we were so lost.  Even with maps the French was hard to understand, there was a lot of construction and we were all over the place.  At one point Dave was even driving in a bicycle lane.  The kids will never let him live that down. Eventually we found our hotel and it was the cutest, most Canadian thing ever.  We definitely started with the best and digressed in the places we stayed.

We had packed lots of food for the trip, but still were a bit hungry when we finally arrived.  Dave found a cute little poutine place only 3 blocks away.  We walked over and got two to share.  I do not like poutine.  At all.  But since we were in Montreal I decided to try some anyways.  It really was not to bad.  They use a different gravy than here and not a ton of it. The one we got was loaded up with bacon and I picked the cheese off.  

The next morning we were up early and off to Toronto. Google had said it was a 5 hour trip.  Traffic our of Montreal and into Toronto was CRaZy!!  So it took us almost 7.  We finally found parking and went to see the CN Tower.  This is one thing that Dave has seen on many business trips and had told the kids about.  They were not disappointed.

We rode a glass elevator up and it was a strange feeling to see everything getting farther and farther away.

We stood on the glass floor and walked all around.  It was really neat.  Next to the CN Tower is the stadium where the Blue Jays play.  We could see into the field and could see the end of a game.  We grabbed lunch at Boston Pizza across the street and found our way out of stopped traffic to Niagara Falls.  Another thing that Dave always did when he was in Toronto.  I had also been when I was about 11 and was very excited to see it again and share it with the kids.

Leah took this picture below.  I like the different angles she takes and the eye she has for photography.  One of her favorites is reflection pictures in puddles.  At one point she was taking one of all the buildings reflecting and a little boy walked by, looked at her funny, and loudly whispered to his mom, 'she knows that is just a puddle right?'  Leah though it was hilarious.

We got there in perfect time for the kids to see Niagara in the light.  We got a little souvenir and by that time the sun had gone down and they also were able to see it all lite up at night. There were many colors, but I liked the Canada Flag the best.

Next we headed across the border and into Buffalo for the night.