connecticut day 1

Melanie, Truman and Elliot picked us up at JFK airport. We then drove to Prospect and spent the rest of the day enjoying their family. After work, of course, Spencer joined us.

montreal day 5

We took a road trip today to Quebec City. We were quite interested to see this road sign:














Quebec City has very charming European style streets in the old part of town. We had lunch at this beautiful hotel called Chateau Frontenac orginally built in the late 1800's by the Canadian Railway to accomodate their wealthy travelers. We had a stunning view overlooking the St. Lawrence River.

















Then we drove to the Ile de Orleans. There were many interesting villages. We stopped at a shop that had once been a church and purchased a birdhouse made by the owner as a remembrance of our experiences in Canada.

montreal day 6

Sunday we went to church. The ward we attended had eight missionaries. They had English speaking, French speaking, Spanish speaking and and Chinese speaking elders.

After four straight days of rain, we were very pleased to have the opportunity of spending the afternoon walking the botanical gardens.

montreal day 4

We had brunch at this cute place...
From the menu:
"We are a
company committed
to innovation and eggcellence.
Meeting your "Eggspectations" is
part of our everyday eggsperience,
striving to surpass them is what
makes us "eggstraordinary".

We need an Egg Spectation in Mt. Dora!



The Plateau or Plateau Mont-Royal is one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in Canada. It is characterized by brightly-coloured houses, cafés, book shops, and any number of trendy clothing stores have their place along the strip of St-Laurent.

We spent the day walking and shopping. Doug bought me a suit at Tristan and America.

montreal day 3

Doug and I went to this great little bagel shoppe for breakfast. It has been in business since 1919, famous now for their hand rolled bagels...loved it! We ate our bagels in the park next to this very picturesque fire station.

Next, we were off to Olympic Park where Doug took this very cool picture of the Biodome.
Inside the Biodome, we learned some very interesting things and saw some very interesting animals, including this sleeping porcupine.

We ended the day in a section of the city called "The Plateau". It is famous for small but fantastic bistros. We went to Laloux. We both agreed it was terrific!

montreal day 2

We went to the Atwater Market this morning where we had breakfast at a great boulangerie.








The market was a visual feast of flowers and produce.




Afterwards we walked along the Lachine Canal. The canal and it's locks were restored in 2002 and there are nice pedestrian and bicycle paths alongside.














We took the metro and the city bus system to get to MontRoyal. The park was designed by Olmstead,who is famous for Central Park in NYC. We saw many joggers and walkers and we actually walked a fair distance ourselves. In the winter they snow ski the trails. The park has tons of giant trees throughout and some fantastic mansions on the outskirts.

happy birthday to me!

You have to get a good first impression of a place that sells fresh flowers at the airport. We were told to take a bus downtown and get off at the last stop...which clearly means something different in French than it does in English because there was only one stop. I must be looking older today because the bus ticket lady gave us the "senior discount."

We went to eat at the port in Old Montreal. We ate at a hospital built in 1694. The structure was renovated in 1967 and is now called Gibbys, the name coming from the horses' stalls which were located inthe central countyard.



I had sirloin en crote which was a steak encrusted with Dijon mustard, breadcrumbs and black peppercorns. I was feeling quite"crote"ish evidently, because we shared hot apple crote for dessert which was a fantastically delicious cross between a crossaint and puff pastry laced with hot caramel and apples. The French have a wonderful reputation for cooking for a reason!



Afterwards we walked along the quays (pronounced keys) and up to the Place Jacques-Cartier. It was like Disneyland only much better because it was real...sidewalk artists, flowercarts, street entertainers, all the windows decorated with flowers and open so that the patrons could enjoy the warm evening. It's spring here in Montreal and tonight the scent of lilac is heavy in the air.

baby update

Clark woke up at 1.45 and 5.45 last night. He ate voraciously and went right back to sleep...me too! This morning Brianna woke up and played with him, then I got the bottle ready for her to feed him. Afterwards he had a bath in the kitchen sink and he loved it just as much as his cousins in the past have enjoyed it.
While bathing Clark, I looked out the kitchen window and saw a big turtle crossing the yard. We often see turtles in the lake, but seldom in the yard, so we were quite excited about it.

weekend plans

Doug is off to visit with the Young Women of our stake at the Deseret Ranch where they are having Girls Camp.

Chezzie and Tanner went to Amelia Island with a group of people from the firm where Tanner works.

Brianna and I are babysitting Clark. After 10 hours we can say, so far, so good.

book club meeting

The book club met tonight. We had a great chat. Next month we will be reading America's Women: Four hundred years of dolls, drudges, helpmates and heroines.

charlotte airport

It was a quick trip and we felt very fortunate for all the things we were able to accomplish. The only minor hitch was the fact that both of our flights were delayed leaving...but who could complain about getting stuck at the Charlotte Airport?

decorator moo

Tricia invited me to come to Charlotte to help decorate her house. It was so much fun! If my students get the better of me next year...maybe I will go back to school???

Actually, I think it was mostly fun because I was hanging out with pregnant Tricia who kept me laughing all day long.

garden update

Our baby plants have grown enough for us to add mulch to the garden without losing sight of them. Two of our locals came by to check out the updated garden. Then they raced off to tell all their friends.

Hope

Melanie prepared a wonderful talk about hope for her Sacrament meeting today. Both Cherylyn and I used her text as the basis for our Young Women's lessons. My favorite quote was one she found by Elder Maxwell.

“Hope helps us to walk by faith, not by sight. This can actually be safer. When unaided spiritually, natural sight often shrinks from the odds. It is immobilized by improbabilities. Mauled by his moods and intimidated by his fears, the natural man overreacts to, while hope overrides the disappointments of the day.”

a relaxing Saturday

Today we spent time relaxing down at our little lake. It was lovely.

party time for Mom

After school today, I invited the second grade teachers over to the house to waterski and jet ski. It turned out to be a very fun and humorous afternoon. Almost everyone tried waterskiing. We were successful in getting my teaching partner Linda Stewart up and Cindy Monell. Andrea McDonald skied for a few seconds. It was her first time ever. Linda and Cindy had not skied in years and were pleased as could be at their success. For the rest it was just a good laugh and a pleasant afternoon after a very stressful year.

party time for B

Tonight Brianna went to her friends Natalie's house to celebrate the end of the school year. They went to the movies




and out for pizza



to the Coldstone Creamery for ice cream



and swimming with her friends. She met her teacher's husband who lives in the same development where the pool is and right next door to Natalie's sister-in-law, Rhea. He was a little worried that the whole 4th grade was going to show up at his house!

last day of school 2005-2006

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye

I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye

-- Goodbye!

I'm glad to go, I cannot tell a lie

I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly

-- Goodbye!

4th grade awards

Brianna has had a terrific year with Mrs. Desourdy. She has helped her develop her natural talents to excel academically, and she has gone the extra mile tutoring after school to help Brianna and other students strengthen their math skills. We are all grateful for this wonderful teacher. The only thing that would have made it perfect is if we could have talked Mrs. Desourdy into coming back to church...maybe in time.

Mrs. Desourdy finished her master's degree this month as well. Brianna and Bevrline threw her a surprise party yesterday; even Dr. Moxley, our principal was in on it. We are pleased that Brianna is thoughtful and makes the extra effort to acknowledge the accomplishments of others. Mrs. Desourdy was thrilled and amazed!

Good job Brianna on a wonderful end to a wonderful year!

my early birthday party

Today at school the 2nd grade team had a surprise party for me at lunch. We ate razzleberry pie and they gave me garden-ish gifts--a watering can, three seed starter kits, a plant pot and cutest of all...

dragonfly lights!