Time Flies

It is really, really incredible how quickly time flies.  I've been glancing at photos of just a couple of years ago and I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the enormous changes that have happened to my kids.  They are growing up so very quickly.  I am so glad I take as many photos as I do because those memories, those moments in time are frozen for the brief second and I can revisit it and love that moment all over again.  I hold those moments in my heart.  They are so precious perhaps because they are so fleeting.

I spend a good portion of documenting our bits and pieces of daily life on instagram.  But I'm hoping to do a better job of chronicling a bit more of the details here again.  I miss the greater depth blogging can add to a story.

Here's a bit of a look at October this year.  Halloween is tomorrow, so perhaps it will deserve it's own post.

Autumn in Connecticut

Celebrating Isabella's 8th birthday at Grandma & Grandpa's house.

Grandma came to celebrate Isabella's birthday and baptism

Celebrating at home

Brett, Alex, Kate & Annabell came to visit too

Isabella's Baptism Day

Bear Mountain

Wrestling on top of the mountain

Ramen at Ippudo

A different, but glorious day in the city.

Oh Canada!...Montreal

"With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free!"

For our finale in our grand adventuring we decided to take a trip up to Canada the end of August.  I had never been to Montreal or Quebec City and had heard great things about both.  Brian and I were both feeling rather fatigued with travel and were enjoying New York City and Connecticut that we almost didn't go.  But we both knew it would be great if we could get ourselves motivated, so we did!  And, of course, we are so glad we did it!  

Previous to this trip I had only been to Vancouver, BC and Toronto, ON (and the Canadian side of Niagara Falls) so traveling through Quebec, seeing much older parts of Canada and a lot of countryside was very different.  Not to mention everything was in French.  By the time we had reach Quebec City we really felt like we were in a completely foreign land (unlike the Canadian cities near the U.S. border...which don't really feel foreign at all).

We had three destinations in Quebec, so I'm going to do 3 different posts.  First up, Montreal!

It rained during half of our time in Montreal, which is always a bit of a downer.  But it was still warm so we did our best to get out and enjoy the city.

A favorite stop in Montreal was the Jean-Talon Market.  So much amazing, delicious, fresh food!  I dream of living near such a market someday.

Just enjoying the city...

The absolute highlight of our trip, and a night I hope to never forget, was our last night in Montreal.    It was a warm night, we had enjoyed a yummy dinner out.  We were all pretty tired, walking back to our hotel room.  And we happened upon musicians playing classical music in the square in front of the Notre Dame Basilica.  We danced for probably an hour.  Brian swinging the kids in the air, their sounds of glee and laughter were beautiful on that gorgeous night in Montreal.  It was perfect.  Absolutely perfect.

New Orleans

We had a great time in New Orleans.  My first impression was that it was bigger, dirtier, and stinkier than I had expectated.  And I worried that my expectations had been too unrealistic to enjoy what the city had to offer.  Friday evening we wandered a bit around the French Quarter and landed for a bite at Cafe Beignet and listened to some live Jazz.  That's when I began to like the place.  As soon as we woke up Saturday morning and started walking around the French Quarter I fell in love.  All that street music!    Every block was some kind of performance: magic, stunts, juggling, dancing.  But I loved the music: cajun, creole, jazz, etc.

We loved the French Quarter!  We also loved Audubon Park, the Garden District, making new friends at church, seeing the Mississippi (and learning more about its importance), trying gumbo and jambalaya, driving down Magazine Street.  And, I finally learned the difference between a Cajun and a Creole!  (hint: the definition of a creole is not definitive...) I would love to go back to New Orleans.

I never made the connection until I saw this.  My two boys combined make the "one of the most influential politicians in the history of the Americas"...almost.  :)  Although I'm still not quite sure why there is a statue of Simon Bolivar in the middle of New Orleans.

So many wedding bands/parades/celebrations.  Seriously fun!

Walking along the foggy Mississippi.

St. Luis Cathedral

A muffuletta sandwich at Central Grocery

Fog rolling in off the Mississippi.

Making friends.

He cut himself shaving...they grow up so fast.

The kids napped in the car and we enjoyed some sweet sunshine and green grass at Audubon Park.

A little alone time with hot cocoa and postcard writing one morning...bliss.

There's a claw in my gumbo!  

Cooling off in Jackson Square.

He fell asleep like this during quiet time...poor tired boy!

Inside St Luis Cathedral

Sunrise on our little balcony near Bourbon Street.

Love all the balconies.

Fun at the Louisiana Children's Museum

Beads were hanging from most of the trees in the Garden District.

Entertaining tired boys on a long trolley ride.

New Orleans, we will be back!