Day 1: Montreal

We are in Montreal for a conference. It is a beautiful city. Check out the view from our room. 

It is nice to have my family tag along when I have to work out of town. But while I have to work, they get to play. Great for them a little sad for me. So the first day I had some work to do and they headed off for some fun adventures.

They went shopping at the largest underground mall. I started with them before I had to head off to my conference and got a little lost trying to get out. 

As I worked, I received some texts of their fun time. They went on a bus tour around the city. 

They checked out the church next to the hotel that we can see from our room. 

When I was done with the conference, I met up with them and headed to dinner. 

They had a wonderful time and I am looking forward to getting some time in Montreal toward the end of the conference.

Bon voyage

So we headed off to our first international trip as a family. Our destination: Montreal, Quebec Canada. 

Ready to go. 

Early this morning we headed off to LAX. 

Ready to take off.

It was a nice flight. Lil J is getting to be a great traveler. This is her fifth time on a plane and she was just great. She is a seasoned traveler. 

We got to our hotel, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, and checked in. We got a recommendation for a place to eat. The best place for the local cuisine, poutine. 

We took at taxi to La Banquise. There was a long line and it got longer and was out the door a few minutes after we arrived. This was definitely the place to be. We had to try poutine. Poutine is French fries topped with a gravy, cheese curd, and a selection of toppings. I had bacon, green peppers, mushrooms, and onions - La Matty.  It was pretty good. What is not to love; French fries! 

Looking forward to what else Montreal has to offer. 

Time goes by too quickly

Can't believe how big my girl is now. It is amazing what a few years can do. I miss that little baby. At the same time I love my big girl.

Her first trip to the pumpkin patch in 2009 (left) and just a few weeks ago (2013).

I just wish we could freeze time. 

Trick or Treat 2013

This afternoon they were having a special Halloween trick or treat event at the student apartments at the college I work at. So we headed over with Lil J's BFF. 

Beautiful princesses and a little lady bug. 

We had such fun going trick or treating and scoring some yummy candy. It was great fun to run into students and colleagues.

Stopping by at Claudia's apartment. 

 

There were fun activities for the kids as well.

After the festivities we headed out to dinner. Lil J loved getting to hang with her BFF. And since we will be in Montreal during Halloween I was glad we got to fit in trick or treating locally. 

Pumpkin Patch 2013

So on Sunday we headed over to the pumpkin patch. We actually hadn't been since Lil J's first Halloween. (My conferences always seem to fall around this time of year) She's seen the photo that we have on the wall but said it was her first time to go as a big girl.

It was pretty crazy and crowded. But it was still fun to see the sea of pumpkins. 

Once she picked out her pumpkin we got out of the crowds and headed home to decorate her pumpkin. Papa got her these face pieces to decorate her pumpkin. They are like pieces for a Mr. Potato Head. They are perfect and keep the pumpkin from shriveling and dying before Halloween arrives. 

Love it!

We aren't going to be around for Halloween since I have a conference in Montreal and so we will be spending Halloween there. But Lil J still wanted to put up some decorations. 

She's all ready to be Ariel in Canada. 

 

The birthday circuit

So Lil J has been invited to a lot of birthday parties. Her social calendar has been pretty busy. She gets invited to many parties. She went to four in the span of 4 weeks. My girl loves all the princess parties but gets invited to any boy parties as well. More than once she's been the only girl at a party. I love that she gets along with everyone. Just a few pics from some fun parties. Some of the girl parties were small play date parties and didn't get to capture a photo. 

Rescuing a kitty at a fireman themed party.

Space ship fun at an out of this world party. 

Lil J loves celebrating at birthday parties. She is the social butterfly. 

Daddy's hot wheels

Daddy busted out his hot wheels from when he was a kiddo. Lil J and him enjoyed playing cars. How fun to see some old hot wheels from the 70's. 

Who's the kid in these pics?

Morning Routine Chart

Last month we began a morning routine chart. Lil J mentioned to me that she needed a new potty chart. Well, we needed to work on getting ready in the morning so I made a morning routine chart and hung it up in her room. 

Each day that she completes the chart she gets a sticker. She has been great at this and we have been doing it for four weeks. She doesn't always do it in order but I can just ask her to start her chart and remind her through the morning. I spend less time trying to get her ready in the morning and telling her what to do. It has worked really well. She often needs some help with brushing her teeth and hair but she loves being independent. And it makes the morning run a little more smoothly. Really proud of her. 

Play date with the BFF

We invited Lil Js BFF over to the house. Lil J was so excited to show off her new bedroom to her BFF. As always they had a totally blast together and don't miss a beat even though they hasn't seen each other in a while. They have so much fun together and silliness ensues. 

Testing out the toy chest. 

At the horse races

Last month, we headed to the LA County Fair to meet Grandma, Johnny and some friends at the horse races. It was a ton of fun. Lil J even picked out some horses of her own.

Not any big wins, but a ton of fun. We picked out a horse named Faster Cat for our first bet in memory of Chase. Sadly this cat was not fast enough. 

We love hanging with friends and checking out the horses. 

After the horse races we started into the fair. It was so crowded, claustrophobic crowded. We wanted to have some bad fried food but didn't want to deal with the crazy crowd especially with 4 kids. I was afraid of losing one of them in the crowds. 

So instead we head out of the fair and to Pomona Mining Co for some dinner. A nice way to end a fun day.