MONTREAL MOMENTS

MONTREAL is a very vibrant city and there is so much to see, however the best part is just relaxing and enjoying family and taking a few side trips.





Well one of the above pictures is of Colins' "Swiffer" and the other of a very large Lynx at the BioDome we visited, I hope you can figure out which is which.

In the next photo you can see how tired Marin was of all the calls she was receiving after the exhausting task of opening presents, eating Christmas brunch and waiting for Uncle Kevin and Auntie Chelsea, she managed to revive after a short one hour nap.



Christmas week was fun. We took a few drives, viewing all the beautiful homes on the Ottawa River etc, quaint villages and such different architecture, it was so nice to see houses with land around them as well. We took one afternoon and toured the city, as Colin had only been as far as St Lazare before. The different architecture, winding streets are so unique. Tenement buildings, condos all mixed together, Some with twisting wrought iron stairs outside, other with two front doors or maybe even four. There is an amazing abundance of churches in every shape, form and religions, busy shopping centres, some very ethnic areas, cobbled streets, sidewalk cafes', also the stores were so well decorated as was the city itself, it really was an amazing sight. After the sightseeing day, we decided that the very next day we would visit the BioDome as Colin had not been and Calli was so excited when we mentioned it. Although this would be her third visit (or was it fourth?). We also decided we should then enjoy a nice supper out somewhere as Adam was not working that evening.

This church is very famous in the old part of the city leading onto the water. A friend was married there in the summer and Adam said it is beautiful inside as well, seating about 150. There has been a church on this site for over a hundred years apparently. On Christmas Eve, one had to have a ticket to enjoy the evening mass there!



We went back to a restaurant that we had tried to get into last time I was in Montreal called Baton Rouge. Today we were lucky, due to the fact we were there early as half an hour later, the line up started. We ordered a red wine which was delicious, and between steaks, tuna, chicken fingers and succulent ribs, a great dinner was enjoyed by all.



As you can see in the following photo, Marin was being the usual "Ham" enjoying some water and fun, once she was released from the bonds of her booster seat.



Calli had decided to wear one of her new headbands Santa brought her for the day and coordinated her outfit accordingly, she told us that the fries were the best she had ever, ever tasted and the chicken was "pretty good". Colin enjoyed his steak and wine and Calli and him were singing a few songs, and playing rock, paper,scissors. Due to some very "Calli" moves, Colin didn't do so well with that one!



After all this we braved the highway traffic and it was then we realised this was Friday before New Year and sure enough it was a bit slow as there was one stalled vehicle, which created quite the traffic jam. We finally made it home to a very relieved "Nellie" who had been in her cage all day, well five hours anyway. She quickly made a patch of brilliant snow, very yellow in no time, what a good puppy. I am sure I could see steam coming out of her ears, she had held it in so long!

One lunchtime we decided to try and duplicate the incredible Brotzeit lunch we had in Munich at our friend Evelyns. We think we did very well, right down to the beer, Calli loved the salami, but not the cheeses, whereas Marin ate just about everything we offered her.



Colin left for home on the 30th, Adam worked two evenings, and today was home early. Aftera relaxing morning, we had some lunch and then Adam decided to go outside with Calli and Nellie to build an igloo with Adams new snow brick plastic cast. Sorry I mean Calli's snowbrick plastic cast. Suffice it to say, Calli was back in the house after an hour, while the other big kid was still building his igloo as dusk set in! We did ask if he wanted his sleeping bag and toothbrush, and if we should give him a chunk of moose to eatas well. To which he replied "yeah, I don't need to come inside anymore tonight" and to which, Calli immediately got upset and said she didn't like her Dad staying outside in that "eggloo".



This is the igloo, ready for habitation. I think we have to print up a " For Rent" sign tonight. The following photo is a riot, how three people can get in there is amazing.



Please be warned the following two photos are not for sensitive or claustrophobic people....this is not a pretty sight. After getting Marin out and Calli, it was time to get the "big kid"out......



I want to know how he ever got IN??????



Yes, it was a struggle, a great deal of huffing, puffing, pulling was involved, but we finally extracted the third kid! Much to Marin and Calli's relief.

Marin decided she wanted her toque off and I obliged, she then wanted her mitts off and then was unzipping her coat, so I took that off too (it was not cold out at all and no wind.....this was not a neglected child moment!).....she then happily posed for a few pictures in her little dress that Calli wore for her first birthday in the snow, before deciding it was time to go inside!



HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.