Quebec Trip :: Final Stretch

Hello dear family and friends!

It's official: we can finally say we are coming home this week!

We plan to leave either Thursday evening or Friday morning, depending on Shawn's work requirements.

We so look forward to the "homey things" like:

playing with Poppy

 running in the yard

walking down the lane at sunset

picking berries

feeding chickens

mowing grass

petting cats

eating dinner outside

going to our own church

cutting flowers

and mostly: seeing you all again!

On the other hand, we are all already feeling sadness in leaving our dear friends.

Please pray for a smooth drive home and continued health for everyone.

And we can't wait too see you soon!

Quebec Trip :: More Mondial

Just a few more pictures to share of the Mondial today.

a dress made of plastic spoons

the cool thing about the Mondial is that during the day, the musicians and dancers perform right in the park grounds, so the kids can get nice and close and really enjoy it. celene really wants those skirts. :)

don't you love it when a baby is just enthralled? such wonder in those eyes.   :)

these dancers were from Finland. they were fun, and quite entertaining. they would routinely grab people from the audience and do simple dances with them. as you can see, the kids get to sit up front and close.

the kids section right next to the stage :)

snoozerville at the park

the kids favorite treat was the homemade chips. they are served really hot so here a cute pic of them all trying to eat to piping hot chips. ;)

Miles and Lili-Rose racing up the inflatable castle

waiting on line

my little circus performer ;)

a mainstage show

Quebec Trip :: The Mondial

Here in Drummondville, arguably the largest and most anticipated yearly summer event 

is the Mondial des Cultures. 

It's a weeklong celebration of cultural music and performance held in the largest city park downtown.

Huge tents, little shops, kids activity center, and a mainstage are set up throughout the park.

The days hold all sorts of fun activities for kids, like inflatable castles for bouncing, face painting, music that the kids get to participate in, a kids train, petting zoo, and a Native American village complete with teepees and campfires and a display of furs, tools, and clothing.

The evenings hold large performances on the mainstage, all put on by performers coming from all over the world. 

Some of the musicians and dancers we saw came from Taiwan, Dominican Republic, Finland, and many more. 

The costumes and music were just beautiful!

A person Shawn works with bought us tickets, and we visited the majority of the days it was open, often meeting friends there too!

It was a great experience.

flags from the countries represented at the Mondial

the main stage with South American performers (I can't remember which country)

Eli, our little music lover, clapped through the entire shows

the performers mingled with the crowds between shows

native american performer

there are always little shows going on throughout the park

banners and lights strung from the trees

celene begged for about a week for cotton candy. she finally got it. :)

the native american village

Quebec Trip :: Camping Friends

Hello folks.

Just a few more camping pictures to share today.

This was another family of neighbors who invited our kids to come over and help smash the pinata for their mama's 40th birthday celebration.

What fun!

Quebec Trip :: Hannah's Birthday

It was a very happy day for our little Firecracker, who turned 4 on July 4th, 2014, this year!

Thank you so much to our dear friends who came to make her party special and gifted an amazing chocolate coconut raspberry cake, 

complete with homemade raspberry gummies and candles. :)

We also went swimming, (thank you Marie, for your help!!!,) and relaxed, playing Play Doh and reading stories, Hannah's favorite activities.

We had been grounded at the campground for several days without a vehicle, 

so her gifts came from the campstore, wrapped in newspaper.

But she loved them! :)

Our neighbor camper, Suzy, also brought over cookies with a sparkler stuck in one, 

singing to Hannah the morning of her big day. 

Such big-hearted people to make a little girl feel loved.

playing train

she was so excited Daddy was "home" she disregarded the downpour

celene made hannah a birthday banner with coloring pages on a clothesline - so sweet

gifts wrapped in newspaper...i don't think she even noticed

Quebec Trip :: More Camping Photos and Stories

We've met so many wonderful people here. Such blessings!

Time spent relaxing at campground gives plenty opportunity to make friends and meet new people.

I have to mention a few stories.

The first week we met a sweet mama, Suzy, and her boy Raphael.

Miles and Rafael enjoyed playing basketball and racing their bikes and kicking balls together.

Suzy was wonderful...she took the older ones swimming and played with them while I let Eli nap,

or was busy cooking or cleaning up dinner. 

She even watched over the tent while they slept early one morning, while I dropped Shawn off at work. 

She also gave them snacks and shared marshmallows and played movies on a tiny screen.

Miles and Raphael hope to exchange letters once we get home. 

They are from Montreal, which, being a larger city, has more bilingual people. 

Suzy spoke English well, and Raphael understood most of it.

The second week was graced by a fun single mama named Anny and her little guy, Jacob.

She lost her husband to a brain aneurism when Jacob was a baby.

She was nothing but wonderful also...she had a trunkload of toys which kept my kids busy for days.

She routinely beckoned them over to play games, read stories, and also took them swimming.

She said it was a blessing I shared my kids with her, that Jacob was lonely, and loved friends.

She said it gave HER a break when my kids came over!

I tend to disagree, that the blessing all mine, but I was glad for her nonetheless.

this is where eli took his bath each night

enjoying the campfire

roasting something

riding bikes

one of the campground playgrounds

Hannah learned to pump!

3 buried kids sleeping one chilly morning

Anny and Jacob playing games with the kids

Anny's trunk full of toys