On the Road

As we drove to Moncton, NB on Saturday we took a couple of detours - to the Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company where we had a tour of their factory and enjoyed some yummy fresh kettle-cooked potato chips and then to the Hartland Covered Bridge - the longest in the world! We pulled in late to Moncton, a quick swim and bed. Sunday was church at Lewisville Baptist Church (interestedly, the pastor was a professor at TBS for four years) and then onto PEI.

Chips coming out of the oil.

Seasonings for the chips!

The longest covered bridge in the world

Canada’s Beginings

Quebec City – We spent Friday walking around the beautiful old walled city of Quebec – seeing the magnificent Chateau Frontenac, sparkling St. Lawrence River, cobblestone streets, star shaped Citadel (built by the English after the War of 1812 to protect Quebec City from the Americans), unique stores and restaurants. We enjoyed a delicious supper at the French restaurant Le Lobby  - 5 courses including salmon tartar, baked brie, soup, entrees, and dessert!

Samuel de Champlain's statue

In front of Parliament

At the Citadel

The Governor General's second residence in the Citadel

Beautiful Old Quebec City

A shout out and big thanks to the Nickerson family who are generously pulling our trailer to Alberta on their holiday west.  The trailer broke in Sault Ste. Marie and they spent two days getting a new one and transfering all of our stuff before they were able to get on the road again. We are so thankful for their help and continue to pray for them for travelling mercies for them.

The long way around!

We are moving back to Alberta via Ottawa, Quebec City, and the Maritime Provinces! We will be on the road for three weeks as we take a family vacation (truly a family vacation as my Mom was able to fly into Ottawa and join us!). God has faithfully seen us through three years in Toronto and Daniel has finished his Master of Divinity degree so our time in Ontario is over and we will be moving in with Daniel’s parents while he applies for a church to pastor.

Ottawa - We just finished three days in Ottawa and enjoyed seeing our capital city! We were blessed to stay with two different families and share a meal with a third family (thank you to the Duckering and Constant families!)

Here are some highlights of our time there:
Day 1: The Canadian Tulip Festival - the world's largest tulip festival commemorates Canada's role in liberating the Dutch during WWII. The tulips were beautiful and the sun was shining as we strolled through the park at Dow's Lake.

 

The Canadian Museum of Civilization: We were really impressed by this museum! We enjoyed the First Peoples displays (including the special touches like the ceiling being in the shape of a canoe). The Canada   Hall with its realistic buildings covering the history of Canada from the Vikings to today was amazing! We could have spent more than an afternoon there.

In the Museum of Civilization there is a Children's Museum that the kids loved! We sped around the world in an hour but barely scratched the surface of the activities. The kids loved dressing up as they stamped their "passports" at each "country".

Nathan in Nigeria

Noelle in Japan

Noelle in India

Jeremy in Egypt

Day 2: Parliament Buildings - We thoroughly enjoyed our free tour through Parliament - even though there was so much to take in that we feel like we could go again right away. The detail in each room is amazing and the history so rich that we would have enjoyed spending more time there. 

Our Canadian kids up in the Peace Tower

We were disappointed that it rained most of the afternoon so we couldn't walk around Parliament and along Rideau Canal but we did enjoy our time in The Currency Museum - something we wouldn't have done otherwise! The kids enjoyed the hands-on activities and seeing all the different types of money used over a few thousand years. Nathan has a coin collection so he was particularly interested.

Building a loonie puzzle

A mosaic made of shiny and dull pennies!

Our next stop is Quebec City!

Three New Tools!

Close To My Heart introduced three new tools this fall that I am excited about! I don't have them yet but they are now on my wishlist. Check out this short video to learn how to use the quilling tool, rub-on tool and chalk marker! If you have a Cricut and want a super easy way to make the rolled 3-D flowers then you need to watch this video!

Zoo Trip!

We went to the Zoo way back at the beginning of October and I've been meaning to share pictures of our great day with you ever since! I am actually already working on a scrapbook layout of our day on Studio J (thanks to the inspiration from my sister Janine who said I should work from most current backwards! It is rewarding to see pictures I just took scrapbook and journaled!)

We were able to participate in a Keeper talk at the Elephant enclosure and it was really exciting for me to watch all three of my kids ask great questions of the Keeper!

White lionness

 We were really this close to the Polar Bear - I did not zoom in on my camera - but there was a plexiglass in between us!

I find jellyfish one of God's more fascinating creatures!

Digging for dinosaur bones!

Ending the trip right - with Elephant Ears - one caramel banana and one Nutella! Yum Yum!

Christmas cards

Same layout - two different looks! I chose a layout from "Make It From Your Heart Vol. 1" and used CTMH's new Pear and Partridge paper. I love the sparkle from the self-adhesive Silver Shimmer Trim! The stamp set on the top card is C1510 Merry and Bright  - I stamped it in Olive and then a second time in Cranberry. I cut out the flowers and ribbon and adhered to the Olive wreath. I added a pearl to the ribbon. To make the bird I inked my stamp with sponge daubers using Cranberry pigment ink and in Cashmere pigment ink and then stamped. I added cocoa marker for the eye, beak and legs and cut it out.

For the second card I used D1483 Glory to God - my favourite Christmas stamp! I simply stamped the manager scene in black, the star image in yellow and added sparkles.

Let me know what you think!

New Organizing Tools

If you are like me and have wondered about CTMH's new organizing tools - what size they were, how much they would hold and so on, or if you need to organize your crafting supplies, then check out this short 1:49 video!


I love that the new craft boxes are larger so I can organize more than just brads or eyelets! When my supplies are organized scrapbooking and crafting are even more enjoyable.