Scout Camp Ahoy

Tanner is in Scout Camp all week this week.

As you can see, there is a Pirate theme.

On Day 1, we had Pirates talk to us about all the different tools and things they used.

Tanner and a real-life pirate - missing teeth, peg-leg and all!

Taking the Pirate Oath

I volunteered on Monday, so I brought Lacey with me so that she could do a day of camp with the girls group.

Showing off her BB gun skills with her friend, Ava.

Archery

Lacey's group on Webelos Island.

 Tanner learning drafting and flag-making

 Knot-tying

 Posing nicely

 And showing their true personalities!

Writing letters to scouts in other countries

Owen, Tanner and Matthew

Scout friends are the Best friends

Vieux Montreal

We left QC early this morning and headed 2 1/2 hours south to Montreal!  Once we got checked into our hotel, we made our way to Old (Vieux) Montreal. The Basilica of Notre Dame is in the center of town and is truly a sight to behold!

We went inside and were amazed at all the ornate detail.

This is where Celine Dion and Rene Angelil were married on Dec. 17, 1994 and also where Rene's funeral was held on Jan. 22, 2016.

The Notre Dame church was first built here in 1672, but once the congregation outgrew it, plans were made for this basilica on the same site and was started in 1824 and finished in 1843.  At the time of completion, it was the largest church in North America and remained so for over 50 years.

Check out that organ!  The organist was there while we were there and it was such a treat to hear him play.

After seeing the basilica, we spent time in the Place d'Armes.

And we noticed there were horse and buggy rides offering rides around the Old City.

And, well, we're on vacation, so why not do something memorable?!

What a fun way to see the city!

After our ride, we got to pet Duke and feed him carrots.

And then we started the long walk back to our hotel, stopping to dance along the way.

Sainte Paul Street

I love this candid picture Dave snapped because it shows how Tanner is.  He is almost always holding my hand.  If he's not holding my hand, because my hand is otherwise occupied, then he is either holding Dave's hand or the stroller I'm pushing.  But one way or another, he is holding.  And I love it.  He's 10 now, so those days are numbered, but I'll hold that sweet hand for as long as he's still reaching!

Montreal is known for it's summer festivals. In fact, Montreal's Summer Festivals is in my 1000 Places book, so I was excited to check it out.  Sadly, several festivals (Fringe Festival, Mural Festival, Montreal Folk Festival) just ended 3 days ago and the Jazz Festival is getting ready to start next week, so I was super bummed that I just missed a festival on either side of when we are here (the one I REALLY want to go to is the Fireworks Festival from July 7- Aug 8th!)

So, anyway, I had to settle for going to the Place Des Arts on Sainte Catherine St where it all goes down.  We walked all around and saw them taking down and setting up for the festivals that just were and are about to be and got a feel for it all.

Vieux Montreal: 222 down, 778 to go!

Quebec City

I did it!  I found a way to drive to Europe!

Okay, so technically Quebec City is in Canada, but it smells like Europe, it tastes like Europe, it looks like Europe, it sounds like Europe and it feels like Europe, especially Old Quebec City, where we are staying.

Our first stop - crepes!  We hyped the kids up about this, but sadly it didn't pan out the way we envisioned.  They accidentally switched Ella and Tanner's orders and, without any of us noticing, Ella reached for the salt and pepper shaker and sprinkled them all over "her" crepe and then we realized the error and switched hers and Tanner's crepe.  Tanner took one bite and practically spit it out saying how it tasted like pepper was all over it.  Oh Ella.....  So, anyway, it was a bit of a flop.  We tried!

Then we explored the city and walked around the gates.

 This is a monument that marks the Quebec Conference held here in Quebec City on Aug. 17, 1943.  It was a highly secret military conference held during WW II between British, US and Canadian governments. 

Ella with the beautiful Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in the background.

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac and the statue of Samuel de Champlain, the "Father of New France" and the founder of Quebec City.

Another view of the Samuel de Champlain statue

Walking Terrace Dufferin hand in hand.

Terrasse Dufferin is an elevated area offering panoramic views of Old Quebec and the St. Lawrence River.

We came across this mural in Lower Town and loved it.  The artist incorporated people in the "olden days" amongst modern day people all using the streets and town for the purposes they used them then and now all incorporated together.  It really is a remarkable piece of artwork.  We came back here a couple times to look at it and noticed something new each time.  The kids tried to "blend in."  See if you can spot them..... ;)

My favorite street in all of QC!

We walked all over Old Town and soaked in as much as we could, stopping frequently to taste the city as much as possible.  QC is known for Poutine, so we had to try it.  It's basically french fries with cheese curd and gravy.  We're glad we tried it, but all agreed it was a one and done for us.

But it was still fun to sit outside at Queues de Castor on Champlain Blvd on a gorgeous day!

After lunch, we hopped in the car and headed out to Montmorency Falls.

We rode the cable car to the top.

The falls are at the mouth of the Montmorency River where it drops over the cliff shore into the Saint Lawrence River.

It is 84m in height, making it taller than Niagra Falls.

There is a suspension bridge that goes across the falls and we all loved walking across it.

The view from above. Rainbow and all!

After walking over the bridge to the other side of the falls, we were walking around and found this!  Dave and I are both big Amazing Race fans, so we quickly recognized this as an Amazing Race clue box!  Sure enough, this was the sight of a Road Block on the Amazing Race last year.

We decided to walk down instead of take the tram and I'm so glad we did!  The highlight of the day was that when you reach a certain point on the nearly 500 step staircase, you can go right to get wet or go to the left to stay dry.  Of course we Chose the Right!  It was so much fun!  It was an absolutely beautiful, perfect weather day, so the mist felt great!

I'm up high with Ella and I'm watching Dave, followed by Tanner and Riley walk down the stairs on the left hand side of this picture.

And then we capped off the day with ice cream!  Dave found this place where you choose your soft serve flavor and "coating" and you watch them dip your ice cream into the coating flavor and it immediately hardens all over your ice cream like a shell. Lacey got Cotton Candy and Tanner and I got Oreo coating.  Yum!

And then we went to play in the fountains.

I love that they are all at ages where they love to do things like this together.  It was a great way to wrap up our QC experience!  Our highlight has been staying in Old Town.  It has been so nice to just come and go from our our apartment as needed, never needing to leave the city walls (aside from visiting the Falls).  Location, location, location!